Building A Skilled Workforce
Northern Michigan University and Able Medical Devices Collaborate to Drive Talent Retention in Michigan
The Upper Peninsula community of Marquette, idyllically located on the shore of Lake Superior, is home to three medical device manufacturers. Its relatively small population of about 21,000 limits the pool of prospective employees, so the companies have devised innovative approaches to training and retaining a qualified workforce to fuel their rapid growth. One example is their collaboration on a Work Scholars pilot program with Northern Michigan University's Engineering Technology Department.
From their freshman year forward, NMU students receive paid, work-based learning experiences under the guidance of professional mentors. The goal is to prepare them for a successful career in a well-paying, high-demand sector that will allow them to remain in this desirable area of Michigan after graduation. The manufacturers benefit by providing curriculum insight that ensures students acquire the necessary skills and knowledge to meet evolving industry demands. They also maintain impactful connections with these potential employees throughout their education, which will hopefully aid in recruitment and retention. Able Medical Devices is one of the companies that has focused on reviving a collaboration with NU that was originally established by Pioneer Surgical Technology in the 1990s, based on the vision of founder Matthew Songer.
"Matthew had a vision of creating a high-skilled labor force that required people around here get up to speed on CNC equipment," said Adam Paltzer, vice president of Business Development at Able, who worked at Pioneer and has more than 25 years' experience in medical device manufacturing. "There was no other place to draw talent from, so we had to develop something ourselves. Our management worked closely with NU's CNC program and, based on that success, Able wanted to reignite that relationship and align with the university in a similar way. This partnership requires a two-way investment by both sides-not just financially, but in time, energy and passion-to have the impact it does on creating jobs, acquiring talent locally and keeping people in the area."
NMU has a full CNC lab, a full manual machine shop lab, a print lab and 3D modeling. Able, a portfolio organization of Michigan-based asset manager Longyear, made a financial contribution so NMU could purchase two Swiss turn machines to add to its arsenal of training tools. Robert Kinney, an Able employee with expertise in their operation, spends his afternoons as an adjunct instructor in NMU's Engineering Technology Department, mentoring students on the machines' use in manufacturing.
"Having an industry presence in the classroom is key to this whole system," said NMU Engineering Technology Professor Cale Polkinghorne. "It's a huge advantage for students to know that they're learning from a professional in the field who has day-to-day technical expertise in CNC machining. It also helps me because it keeps me connected to the industry and confirms that we're doing things correctly in terms of educating their future workforce. Having that direct link to industry adds legitimacy to the curriculum and the work our students are doing in the labs."
"It used to be that students completed one semester and were hired; there was no incentive to stay and get a degree," Kinney added. "At Able, we promote the degree and make sure education comes first. We'll provide work-based experience around their school schedules and support them on their educational journey, but a job only becomes available to them after they fulfill their obligation to Northern. We also continue to promote education after they're hired full time, allowing them to enroll in four credit hours per semester to advance to the next degree level."
Dave Nyberg, NMU executive director of Business Engagement and Economic Development, said the university is fortunate to collaborate with the medical device manufacturing cluster in Marquette on the Work Scholars pilot program. It began in fall 2024 and offers a student experience that is more expansive and impactful than a typical internship.
"Research shows that if students have an opportunity to try out a work environment and build good relationships within it, they are more likely to stay with that employer and in the region," Nyberg said.
"This aligns with Northern's mission and core values, as well as the Growing Michigan Together Council's emphasis on retaining talent and increasing the state's population. The higher education work group to the council called out work-based learning and post-graduation incentives from employers as critical opportunities to help students stay in Michigan."
