Fast Track Hub WI

NFPA’s Fast Track to Fluid Power is a workforce development pathway that partners local technical colleges with fluid power industry members and high school teachers. These networks create awareness and interest in fluid power and train students along a path that leads to careers in fluid power at NFPA member companies.

Wisconsin members can help build a fluid power educated workforce and industry awareness through hands-on events and activities that benefit middle school, high school, and Waukesha County Technical College (WCTC) students studying fluid power. Please review the volunteer and engagement opportunities below for more information. If you or colleagues are interested, please contact James Foster at jfoster@nfpa.com.

Workforce Engagement Groups serve as a forum to discuss activities and opportunities designed to connect NFPA members with the Fast Track to Fluid Power and Power Partner programs, giving participating members increased visibility to educational institutions in their region and recruitment opportunities to more successfully interact with students interested in fluid power.

Take part in one Workforce Engagement Group, or all of them, and you will receive targeted information about news updates and activities like this to support your company’s recruitment needs in these regions. 

Wisconsin Region Opportunities:

• July/August: Watch for the Wisconsin Workforce Engagement Group meeting invitation: NFPA will host a virtual meeting featuring a speaker from Milwaukee Public Schools, who will discuss how to establish a youth apprenticeship program at your company.

• October 3 – Meet & Greet with WCTC Students: Waukesha County Technical College has space for a limited number of members to attend this “first come; first served” event. Participating members will receive display space (6-FT table) and the opportunity to connect with students. More details to come. 

• October 4 – Manufacturing Day: consider planning and hosting a facility / plant tour for Wisconsin Fast Track to Fluid Power high school students. The event can help build awareness for your company, open positions, and allow the future workforce to better understand what it is like to work in fluid power related roles. James Foster is happy to share your event information with Wisconsin’s Fast Track to Fluid Power High Schools.

• 2024-25 Academic Year Speakers Bureau: Interested in sharing insights about the fluid power industry, career options, and your company with middle school, high school, and WCTC’s fluid power students? NFPA can connect you with educators seeking speakers for the 2024-25 academic year. For your benefit, NFPA created a presentation template found here.

• Spring Price Engineering & WCTC Fluid Power Action Challenge: Attend the event and see fluid power education in action as students learn about hydraulics, pneumatics, engineering, teamwork, and problem solving through this hands-on, team- based event. Taking place at WCTC Pewaukee Campus S-Building, times are to be determined.
  • February 7, 2025, Workshop Day: Teams are introduced to the program and fluid power.
  • March 14, 2025, Challenge Day: Teams recreate their fluid power prototype machines and compete with them on a challenge board.

• Spring MSOE Fluid Power Action Challenge: Multiple volunteers are needed for the Workshop Day and Challenge Day at the Kern Center in Milwaukee, WI. Volunteering will allow you to see fluid power education in action as students learn about hydraulics, pneumatics, engineering, teamwork, and problem solving through this hands-on, team- based event.
  • April 8, 2025 Workshop Day: Two to three volunteers to assist MSOE with the program introduction to middle school teams.
  • May 13, 2025 Challenge Day: Five to seven volunteers to judge the competitions and help teams think through final engineering work.