BUSINESS NEWS
Recognizing current employment trends, Fuller Industries Inc. and Barton Community College are joining forces in a strategic partnership to cultivate and retain STEM talent in the Great Bend area. This collaboration aims to address the growing demand for skilled workers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields, which now account for a quarter of all jobs nationwide.
According to Bureau of Labor Statistics projections through 2032, employment in STEM occupations is expected to grow faster than in non-STEM occupations by over two to one, and STEM jobs will grow by 23% by 2030.
These are statistics of which Joe Mann, Fuller’s vice president and general manager, and Marcus Garstecki, BCC’s president, are keenly aware. That is why Great Bend-based Fuller and Barton are partnering to help find, educate and keep students with a penchant for STEM subjects in this area.
The two cutting-edge institutions are eyeing internships, scholarships and mentorships. It was the right move to work together, officials said.
“We know that is the direction the economy is going, and it is the way we are going as well. So, working with Barton only makes sense” Mann said. “We are excited about this relationship and know it will strengthen both of us as we move into the future.”
"Barton Community College is proud to partner with Fuller Industries to develop opportunities for our students who are passionate about STEM,” said BCC President Marcus Garstecki. “Our collaboration with Fuller will open doors to internships and mentorships that support students on this path.”
“If we can find talent locally, and keep them in the area, we all stand to gain,” Mann said. This taps the skill pool of the local employees, and they have ties to the community and are more likely to remain here.
A scant distance away at Barton, educators, and administrators have seized these trends as well. The college is positioning itself to meet this demand through program development and community outreach.
“Employers are seeking a workforce with a combination of these skills in order to compete in the marketplace,” said Elaine Simmons, Barton’s vice president of instruction. “Barton Community College offers STEM programming in addition to STEM activities such as its annual Jack Kilby STEM Day, STEM Club, and STEM Outreach to area school districts. The college offers an Associate of Science in STEM and STEM Education.”
As the longtime Great Bend manufacturer expands, Fuller is adapting to this reality as it retools and repositions itself as “a leader in the global environmentally sustainable commercial cleaning product market.”