To the editor,

Why is a business owner from Woodville interested in a referendum in Ellsworth? It’s simple, our team members come from across the region including Ellsworth. The same is true for many other businesses in the region.

Our company works with many school districts in western Wisconsin and we are excited about working with the Ellsworth School District at all levels of education because they are interested in opening up great opportunities for their students.

OEM Fabricators and other employers like us provide family supporting careers that include welders, machinists, CNC operators, fabricators, inspectors, supervisors, customer service, technicians, quality engineers, accounting, manufacturing engineers, managers, sales engineers, estimators, information technology, buyers, and many more.

OEM is certified as a Family Friendly Workplace which means understanding how to balance work and home life and making time for family. With great benefits and a culture that supports our team members, we are a great place to work. For full time folks, our average annual income is well of $70,000 per year, and the last couple of years OEM paid out four-week bonuses based on its team’s stellar performance.

All that being said, OEM and other employers need a pipeline of students to support these great careers. OEM and other local employers have worked closely with the folks at the Ellsworth Schools to make sure their investments in student success are in a direction that supports great opportunities for students with careers that are near home.

As a parent, I feel for friends whose adult children and grandchildren are a plane ride away. It doesn’t have to be like that. Ellsworth is headed in the right direction. They are partnering with Technical Colleges and the University, partnering with employers, and guiding our students to great careers that are close to home.

Please vote yes!

Mark Tyler

Woodville