Industrial Careers Pathway (ICP) made itself known to the over 550 competitors and estimated 10,000 student visitors at the 23rd annual Skills/Compétences Canada on June 1-2, 2017, in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, with a booth staffed by two volunteer ICP Ambassadors. Tom Dielschneider, vice president supply chain, Motion Industries, Inc. and Scott Taylor, director of sales – Canada, Industrial Division, Gates Corporation. They spent the entire two days talking with young Canadians who stopped at the booth to learn about the field of industrial distribution. 

The two ambassadors estimated they talked with at least 400 attendees who stopped to see a unique mountain bike attraction. Both Dielschneider and Taylor also engaged with 20 educators who influence students’ career choices.  

“I brought a mountain bike that does not have a chain but rather a belt. These kids are intrigued by new things and this caught their attention. That way, I could talk with them about the product and the field. This was my first time attending Skills Canada and I thought it was great to interact with the students who stopped by,” said Taylor. 

Dielschneider, a third time participant in this event, said, “These attendees are exactly the kind of employees we are looking for–young, technically adept, and many of them don’t mind talking and asking questions--two needed characteristics for future salespeople. Hopefully when these young folks finish their education, they will remember to look at IDCareers.org when they are ready to find a job.”

Both Dielschneider and Taylor encouraged their fellow Canadians to contact ICP and find ways to get involved. In addition to providing visibility about the incredibly rewarding entry-level careers in industrial distribution, ICP develops resources to help industrial distributors recruit, on-board, hire, manage, train and retain entry-level employees. An example is the training program, Elements of Industrial Distribution, which is available at a discount for companies with membership in ICP partner associations. ICP also publishes the ICP Talent Tipsheet, a quick-read eBlast to help retain and manage Generations Y and Z. The ICP online job board is the only one focused solely on industrial distribution.