East Peoria, IL — IMEC and the Land of Lincoln Workforce Alliance (LLWA) were honored for excellence in workforce collaboration during the Illinois Workforce Summit, held at the Embassy Suites in East Peoria. Hosted by the Illinois Workforce Partnership and the Illinois Workforce Innovation Board, the Summit brings together leaders from across Illinois to celebrate innovation and impact in workforce and economic development.
During the Summit’s Workforce Awards ceremony, Deputy Director Julio Rodriguez of the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO), Office of Employment & Training, presented the award recognizing a high-impact, sector-based manufacturing partnership between IMEC and LLWA, Local Workforce Area (LWA) 20.
Paola Velasquez, Director of Organizational Culture, proudly accepted the award on behalf of IMEC, alongside Michelle Griebler, Executive Director, and Michelle Brookens, Assistant Director, of the Land of Lincoln Workforce Alliance.
Partnership Driving Workforce Innovation in Central Illinois
This award celebrates a state-funded initiative that addresses the critical workforce needs of manufacturers in Cass, Christian, Logan, Menard, and Sangamon Counties. Through the partnership, IMEC and LLWA have delivered highly customized training solutions to help employers engage, attract, retain, and upskill employees—while building defined career pathways and driving long-term growth.
In a recent program year, the collaboration resulted in:
- 17 training sessions
- 198 employees trained
- 6 manufacturers served
Key training areas included:
- Continuous Improvement: Lean 101 with Simulation, 5S Kaizen, Process Mapping, Quick Changeover (SMED), and Just Do It projects
- Quality Systems: Blueprint Reading and Geometric Dimensioning & Tolerancing (GD&T)
- Workforce & Leadership Development: Training Within Industry (Job Instructions/Job Relations), DiSC Behavioral Assessments, Change Management, Supervisory Training, Executive Coaching
To further support business needs, IMEC also coordinated CDL training for a local employer to reduce transportation costs—showcasing the program’s flexibility and responsiveness.
Ongoing Impact and Future Growth
The momentum of this successful partnership continues, with nine sessions already completed and 106 employees trained to date. The project is on track to reach 179 employees trained by the end of the program year.
“This partnership is an example of how workforce innovation and employer collaboration can transform regional economies,” said Michelle Griebler, who nominated IMEC for the award. “We’re proud to work with IMEC to support manufacturers and workers in our communities.”
A Model for Sector Strategy Success
“The work IMEC and LLWA have completed together exemplifies what’s possible when organizations unite around a shared goal—developing a stronger, more skilled manufacturing workforce in Illinois,” said Dr. David Boulay, President of IMEC. “We’re honored to receive this recognition and remain committed to helping Illinois manufacturers thrive through talent development.”
The award underscores the value of regional, sector-focused strategies in solving workforce challenges—and reinforces the role of IMEC as a trusted partner in building the workforce of the future.
