Miller Electric President Recognized for Commitment to Technical Education
President of Miller Electric, Mike Weller, recently received a Technical Education Champion Award from Wisconsin Technical College District Boards Association.
Miller Electric Mfg. Co. (Appleton, WI) president Mike Weller recently received the Technical Education Champion Award from the Wisconsin Technical College District Boards Association at its summer meeting.
The annual award, granted for outstanding service to a member institution of the Wisconsin Technical College System, recognizes business leaders for their support of area technical schools and partnership in addressing key industry issues. Weller is being recognized for his work with local institution Fox Valley Technical College (FVTC), which has its main campus.
“Mike Weller is more than deserving of this award,” said Dr. Susan May, president of Fox Valley Technical College. “His vision and leadership have contributed toward the economic vitality of our region. Miller represents a business model that is committed to building a world-class workforce, as well as providing quality products that allow other enterprises to thrive.
“More than ever, employers like Miller rely on us for talent development, and working in close partnership allows us to provide extremely relevant programs and services,” said May. “The Wisconsin Technical College System District Boards Association clearly recognizes Mike’s incredible contribution to career and technical education through this prestigious award.”
Among other initiatives, Weller recently served as treasurer and team leader for Friends of FVTC, an advocacy group spearheading support for FVTC’s successful $66.5 million public referendum in 2012. He recruited and chaired the 39-member steering committee for the referendum’s proposal to build more than 240,000 sq ft of new facilities. The new facilities will help meet the school’s growing program enrollment needs.
Weller has led the 30-year Miller-FVTC partnership, including coordination of several million dollars’ worth of welding equipment since 2000. Recent equipment contributed as part of the partnership has been used to establish the school’s Advanced Manufacturing Technical Center, which opened in 2011.
The Center enabled FVTC to expand its core welding training programs. There, Weller has also served as an adjunct instructor and is active in the school’s K-12 engagement programs and is an advocate for Wisconsin technical institutions with the governor’s office.
“Our longstanding partnership with Fox Valley Technical College is a strategic one that I’m very proud of, and I’m honored to accept the Technical Education Champion award,” said Mike Weller, president of Miller. “We understand the labor challenges the industry is facing and we’ve always believed that this kind of direct partnership with a leading technical school can serve as a model for addressing the needs of regional and national manufacturers and other businesses.”
