Starting or Growing Your Student Run Business Workshop

Cardinal Manufacturing in Strum Wisconsin is a school-based manufacturing program that operates both as a class and a business as well. The students gain real world life experiences while enrolled in the program. These experiences include problem solving and working in professional roles. This is all done by the students in the program, who run the class as a business. The students are assigned a role in the class that may include the following business tasks:

• Quoting manufacturing jobs

• Ordering materials and supplies

• Shipping final product

• Customer service  

• Manufacturing components

Craig Cegielski is the class teacher for the technical education program. He is a very motivated teacher who started the program back in 2007. From the beginning stages in 2007 to now, it is now a company with significant annual sales. This impressive program model has a few key factors that help develop the success.

To build a successful program like Cardinal Manufacturing, there are a few considerations to drive success. They are:

• Motivated Tech Ed teachers who can provide clear communication to the students and community

• Engaged students who understand that their role in the business and class is especially important

• Parental understanding of the many benefits of the program for their child

• Community and business involvement to assist the program with their needs from time to time

There are many skills the students can learn and develop from the program. From career opportunity understanding as it relates to manufacturing, to soft skill development for future employment opportunities, this program has many benefits. Here are some of the soft skills the students learn in the program:

• Attitude is everything

• Show up on time and be reliable

• Be willing to take on different tasks

• Communicate positively