Parkland College Business Training & Community Education (BTCE) has put together an Advanced Forklift Training Program intended to educate and produce skilled and successful operators. The program will consist of a 4-day (32-hour total) training that includes both classroom and extensive hands on driving exercises.
The training will take place September 18, 20, 25, and 27, and be open to 15 total participants on a first come first served enrollment basis.
The cost is $925 person. If you enroll two or more people in this pilot program, you’ll save $50 per person on each future enrollment. See attached flyer for details.
For more information and to register, call 217-351-2235.
Today we hosted JB Pritzker and Juliana Stratton in Champaign-Urbana to showcase our community & meet local employers. We heard from many about why they choose our community – low cost of living, great companies to work for, access to talent, no traffic.
Cathy Singer, VP Engineering, gave us a tour of Oath, the largest employer in University of Illinois Research Park. They are a Hadoop Center of Excellence & lead data projects for the company. Employees were happy to share their love for #chambana, one moving here from CA for better quality of life.
Next stop was Granular in their beautiful space (with live plant walls!). Landon Frye, Business Development, & team shared history of company & why #chambana – it’s the place where technology & ag thrive together. Many employees grew up on farms & went to University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
Heard from Ben, COO of EarthSense, about their advanced machine-learning and robotics products to manage urgent threats to agriculture. Their TerraSentia robot is currently being used by leading crop breeders & plant scientists.
Ron van Os, CEO of Inprentus Inc., shared their history, including growth from EnterpriseWorks into new location in Champaign. Provider of ultra-high precision optical components (diffraction gratings). The company was founded in 2012 by UIUC Professor Peter Abbamonte.
The LifeFoundry team shared their startup story which began in 2017. Company applies robotics, synthetic biology, & machine learning to accelerate the R&D of biotechnology. Since start, have grown to about 15 employees.They are located in EnterpriseWorks.
Ryan & Ryan at PhotoniCare, founded in 2013, shared their mission to revolutionize healthcare by providing physicians with better diagnostic tools. Complete with demo, showcased technology focused on ear infections – focuses on diagnosis, treatment & monitoring.
Lori, CEO of Pixo, shared company start & success in attracting talent. Located in Urbana, they have only ever needed to recruit two people outside of #chambana in 20 years. Here because: talent, cost of doing business, and culture of community/region.
As part of the II-VI Epiworks event, a Proclamation was read by Council Member Angie Brix (on behalf of Mayor Deborah Frank Feinen) declaring May 15, 2018 as II-VI EpiWorks Day in the City of Champaign.
From the press release:
PITTSBURGH, May 15, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) – II‐VI Incorporated (NASDAQ:IIVI), a leading provider of compound semiconductor epitaxial wafers, today announced the opening of its new high tech compound semiconductor material center of excellence in Champaign, Illinois.
This represents a significant milestone in II-VI’s ongoing investment in its manufacturing footprint to ramp up production capacity of high performance compound semiconductor epitaxial wafers. These products serve growing markets and are at the core of 3D sensing, optical networking, wireless communications and power electronics. Since the groundbreaking for this expansion, in November 2016, II-VI continues to actively recruit managers, engineers and technicians to join its experienced team.
Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner was present at the inauguration’s ribbon cutting ceremony.
“On behalf of II-VI, I would like to express my thanks to the Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity for its ongoing support and unwavering commitment to our success,” said Quesnell Hartmann, General Manager and co-founder of II-VI EpiWorks. “The completion of this phase in our expansion provides us with the critical infrastructure to scale our production, advance our technology, and enable us to serve the rapidly growing demand from our global customer base.”
“II-VI and the State of Illinois have formed a strong partnership, sharing a vision that businesses with leading edge technology and advanced manufacturing capabilities are the most competitive over the long-term,” said Dr. Chuck Mattera, President and CEO, II-VI Incorporated. “With support from Illinois, we expect to continue to invest in this Champaign facility, by adding state-of-the-art manufacturing capacity, improving process capabilities, broadening the product portfolio and recruiting and developing a lot of talent to fill the anticipated growth in jobs and opportunities for career growth.”
“It’s a thrill to participate in the opening of a manufacturing facility that will develop key technology enabling some of the most exciting new consumer electronics in the world.” Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner said. “It showcases how local industry, strong university systems and state government can partner to realize a bold vision for a globally competitive semiconductor manufacturing center of excellence that’s built right here, in the heart of our wonderful State of Illinois.”
II-VI develops and manufactures compound semiconductor epitaxial wafers that enable devices to achieve high bandwidth, power efficiency and reliability. II-VI’s global compound semiconductor production capabilities include multi-purposed 6 inch wafer fabs with both epitaxy and device fabrication capabilities for GaAs, SiC and InP compound semiconductors.
We celebrated two big milestones with Litania Sports Group yesterday – 100 years for Gill Athletics & 150 years for Porter Athletic. Champaign Mayor Deborah Frank Feinen read a proclamation declaring April 18, 2018 as Litania Sports Group Day.
Gill Athletics, founded in 1918, is the official Track Equipment Corporate Partner of the NFHS and the Official Equipment Supplier of the NCAA Indoor and Outdoor Track & Field Championships. Gill equipment is used all over the world including all levels of competition from colleges to high schools to masters’ competitions.
Porter Athletic, founded in 1868, is recognized by coaches, architects, contractors and school administrators as the leader in the gymnasium equipment market. Porter equipment is featured in more award-winning athletic facility construction projects than any other brand.
Fun facts about the company:
• Gill Athletics founder, Harry Gill, helped organize the NCAA, and then won the very first NCAA championship as coach of the University of Illinois track & field team.
• Porter Athletic was the originator of the first fan shaped basketball backboard and first glass basketball backboard.
• Men’s and Women’s javelin world records were set with Gill manufactured implements.
• Gill Athletics is the largest pole-vaulting pole manufacturer in the world.
Litania Sports Group is the parent company of two market-leading brands in the sports facility market, Gill Athletics and Porter Athletic. Learn more at http://www.litaniasports.com/.
CHAMPAIGN, IL, March 30, 2018 – Over 300 people gathered at Parkland College for the 13th Annual Innovation Celebration on the evening of Thursday, March 29th to recognize those individuals and organizations that have made significant contributions, taken risks, and provided leadership to ensure the continuing economic success of Champaign County, the ongoing success of the University’s economic development mission, and the growth of entrepreneurial talent and energy in our community.
Innovation Celebration is not merely an award for accomplishment, but a benchmark of success for those outstanding individuals, organizations and corporations who are nominated and selected to receive this prestigious award.
Innovation Celebration is hosted by the Champaign County Economic Development Corporation in partnership with the University of Illinois, Parkland College, and community sponsors. For more information, visit www.innovationcelebration.com.
Entrepreneurial Excellence: Social Venture Award Serve as change agents by creating and implementing sustainable solutions to reshape society, benefit humanity, and address social concerns.
Salt & Light
Entrepreneurial Excellence: Student Startup Award Formed by students in the last three years and demonstrates a commitment to continuing success through entrepreneurial talent, creativity and energy.
Mesh++
Entrepreneurial Excellence: New Venture Award Formed in the last three years, and demonstrates a commitment to continuing success through entrepreneurial talent, creativity and energy.
SNOOZ
Entrepreneurial Excellence: Paul Magelli Advocacy Award Actively engage, encourage, coach and mentor entrepreneurs in the community, and provide extensive support to help them achieve success.
Stephanie Larson
Carly McCrory
Entrepreneurial Excellence: Management Award Demonstrates expertise in assembling resources, creating an organization, and working to build and implement effective action plans.
Cindy Somers – Spherion Staffing
Innovation: Economic Development Impact Award Has made a significant economic development impact in the community and continues to demonstrate their commitment to Champaign County.
Busey
2018 Innovation Transfer Award—University of Illinois Recognizes an individual or group from the University of Illinois whose research has resulted in either a discovery or a work with the potential for significant societal impact.
Dr. Donna Cox – Advanced Visualization Lab at National Center for Supercomputing Applications
2018 Alexis Wernsing Innovation Award—University of Illinois Recognizes an individual or team from the University of Illinois that has channeled their experience living with a disability into positive change through the creation of new products, environments, or protocols that enhance quality of life.
Mark McCarthy – Access Illinois
2018 Innovation in Engagement Award—Parkland College Recognizes an individual or group at Parkland College who has shown support of the college’s community engagement mission.
Adam Porter – Perimeter Road Sound Recordings
The EDC was pleased to work with the following sponsors of our 13th annual Innovation Celebration: the University of Illinois’ Technology Entrepreneur Center, Research Park, Office of Corporate Relations, and Office of Technology Management, along with Parkland College, Lodgic Everyday Community, Carle, Serra Ventures, Surface 51, Singleton Law Firm, City of Champaign, Ramshaw Real Estate, Litania Sports Group, Pixo, Hatch Ag Group, IllinoisVENTURES, Huawei R&D USA, Aqueous Solutions LLC, Personify, AARP, Hanson Financial, Community Solutions Incubator at the Community Foundation of East Central Illinois, II-VI EpiWorks, Illinois Small Business Development Center at Champaign County EDC, and Busey.
Champaign County, home to the University of Illinois, features world-class technological resources and superb location and transportation benefits that make it a strategic hub for technology and industrial development.
Founded in 1991, Taylor Studios, Inc. began as a mail-order business creating museum-quality artifacts, fossil reproductions, and exhibits for museums and other clients. Quickly recognized for the passion and expertise brought to each project, the company initially carved out a niche in the paleontology, archaeology, and natural history fields. Today, Taylor Studios is recognized as an industry leader in exhibit planning, design, fabrication, and installation, serving a diversity of clients throughout the country and internationally. Their 3D storytelling now reaches beyond natural history to cultural history, history walls, and immersive environments of all kinds. Read More »
Frasca International manufactures flight simulators for all aircraft types, fixed and rotary wing, used for pilot training for airlines, flight schools, colleges and universities, military, law enforcement, air evac and commercial organizations. Since its founding in 1958, over 3,000 Frasca simulators have been delivered worldwide. Read More »
