SRF 1718 Annual Magazine

The
Shop Rat
Foundation

"Igniting Interest In Manufacturing
Careers Among Youth Through
Innovation And Outreach"

2017-2018
Annual Magazine

8 In-School 2,000+
Programs
Offered Students Served

14

Extra- curricular
Programs
Offered

Programming Offered In 5 Counties

A Message From Our Board Chair:

Amanda Hutchings

Greetings Friends and Colleagues,

The world is FINALLY starting to wake up! The lack of skilled trade workers, an issue we have
been so passionate about for over a decade, is finally starting to make its way into news
and politics and is at the forefront of critical topics threatening many industries in
manufacturing across the globe. With your help we will continue to carryout our mission and do
everything in our power to try to combat this issue. During the 2017-2018 school year we offered 8
in-school programs, 14 extra-curricular programs, covered 5 counties in Michigan and served over
2000 students.

We are not doing this alone. In the last 18 months, collaborations took center stage, with
program partnerships extending from the Hillsdale Area Career Center, Lansing Community
College's West Campus (bringing Shop Rat to 2 new counties), as well as those within Jackson
such as the Jackson YMCA, Lomar Machine and Tool and with JAMA/AMC in the facilitation of our
Intro to Competitive Robotics program.

Now more than ever, as the longevity of our program expands, we are starting to see the effects
of our programing as our students enter the local workforce. Not only are we introducing students
to skilled trades, but also our students continue to grow through our programs and offerings
from our community partners (such as the JAC3 program) entering our local workforce and
providing skilled service to local manufacturing companies.

This is driving our evolution and continuous improvement, taking the community need into
consideration, we have reshaped the in-school and extra-curricular offerings of the Shop Rat
Education program for the 2018/2019 school year.

Lets work together to continue our mission, our passion and show the rest of the world
that we have been here and will be here to combat this issue. We cannot do this alone.
Please read on to learn more about how the Shop Rat Foundation is working to make a difference
for our youth and community today and tomorrow.

Thanks,

Amanda Hutchings Chairperson

The Shop Rat Foundation & The Jackson YMCA

Building
Bright Futures
Through
Partnership

The Shop Rat Foundation and the Jackson YMCA have
joined forces to bring manufacturing focused learning
opportunities to downtown Jackson. Through this
partnership, a greater number of urban youth are
provided opportunities to explore and prepare for careers
within the manufacturing and professional skilled trades
sector. These programs eliminate barriers such as
transportation and support comprehensive wellness for
families.
Currently, the partnership applies to the Future Leaders/
Manufacturing 2 U Programs.
Both entities are working collaboratively to design a
Youth Innovation Center to host future classes within the
proposed new YMCA building.

82% of students who participate in Shop Rat after-school classes and
summer camps enroll in subsequent trades related educational opportunties

Collaboration
Is The

Key To Success!

Thank you to the organizations listed below
for working with us to further our mission

through the facilitation of unique and
innovative programs!

Shop Rat Introductory STEM Camp at Howell High School
in partnership with the Livingston Educational Service Agency
Inside Innovation Manufacturing Facility Tours with MACI and
Technique, Inc.
Introduction To Competitive Robotics Camp with JAMA/AMC
Introduction To Welding & CO2 Dragster Engineering with the
Hillsdale ISD
Industrial Robotics & Machining Camp with LCC West Campus
Jackson County Manufacturing Day with the Enterprise Group of
Jackson and MANY local partners.

Student Spotlight: Wesley Brattin

"The Shop Rat Foundation
has exposed me to the vast

world of manufacturing.
Without Shop Rat I would not
be where I am today, working

towards my Associates in
Advanced Manufacturing
through the JAC3 program. In
short, Shop Rat has played a
major role in shaping my

future."

How long have you been involved in Shop Rat, Wes?
I started Shop Rat February of 2014 during 6th grade. I was in Shop Rat for 4 ½ years.

What classes/camps have you taken?
I have taken the following classes/camps in the order listed below. Intro to Shop Rat Machining
101 Construction Summer Camp Mechatronics & Robotics Summer Camp Advanced Machining
Developing Shop Rat Advanced Engineering & Machining Advanced Machining

What has been your favorite class?
Machining has been my favorite class.

What has been your favorite project?
I made a Christmas tree in my first advanced machining class under the guidance of the instructor
John Sultini and that is my favorite project to date.

Have any of the Shop Rat instructors inspired your decision to pursue a manufacturing
career? If so, who and why?
I chose manufacturing because I enjoy machining. All my machining instructors have helped to
grow my passion for machining and have increased my knowledge in the trade.

How did you learn about the JAC3 program that you are now enrolled in?
My parents and I attended an open house at the Jackson Area Career Center when I was in 7th
grade. This open house was when we first discovered the JAC3 program. I was intrigued by the
program and the opportunities it offered.

"We thought it (Shop Rat Foundation) would be a good program for
Wesley. We had no idea it would take him to where he is today."

What words of wisdom would you bestow What is your focus area within the JAC3
upon a student considering the program or program and what company are you working
starting their first class with Shop Rat? with?
Give it your all and try as many disciplines as My focus area is precision machining. I am
you can. sponsored by and will be working for Orbitform.

John and Brenda (Wesley's Parents), how Do you feel that Shop Rat has been a
did you first learn about Shop Rat? significant part of your life?
We first learned of the Shop Rat program Most definitely. The Shop Rat Foundation has
through another parent in the Jackson exposed me to the vast world of manufacturing.
homeschooling community. Shortly, after that Without Shop Rat I would not be where I am
conversation we accessed the website to learn today, working towards my Associates in
more about Shop Rat. We thought it would be Advanced Manufacturing through the JAC3
a good program for Wesley. We had no idea it program. In short, Shop Rat has played a major
would take him to where he is today. role in shaping my future.

What has been your favorite aspect of your In addition to your time as a student, you have
Shop Rat experience as parents? volunteered. Do you feel your volunteer
The opportunities it has afforded Wesley. We experiences within the program have
enrolled Wesley in Intro to Shop Rat as an influenced you? If so, how?
extracurricular activity with hands on learning. Volunteering made me feel like a member of the
We had no idea that Wesley would be so Shop Rat team. It also helped to further my
interested in the skilled trades. Shop Rat has machining knowledge. As they say, one of the best
exposed Wesley to the different fields of skilled ways to learn something is to teach it. Being able
trades. After experiencing different classes he to share both my passion and knowledge of
quickly realized that machining was what he machining is something I take great pride in.
wanted to pursue.

Would you recommend Shop Rat to other
families? If so, why?
Yes! Shop Rat has been a excellent program
for our son and we feel it would be for any
student who has any intesterest in the skilled
trades. If one doesn’t want to go into the skilled
trades as a career it still gives students good
hands on experience for everyday use. In our
opinion, it fills the void that was created when
shop classes were eliminated from school
curriculums.

A Tale Of Two Brothers:

John and Nic Debose build
family tradition through
Shop Rat

It was 2013 when Nic Debose, a sixth grader, was first introduced to Shop Rat. The Program
Coordinator for the organization, Rachael Wingle had set up shop during lunch at Northwest
R.W. Kidder Middle School with a table full of student projects and flyers for the upcoming
session of after-school classes.

Fast forward 5 years and Nic is now a Precision Machining student within the JAC3 Program
and working at Technique Inc. in Jackson. His middle school years participating in Shop Rat left
not only an impression on him, but also his younger brother, John. In 2017, when John entered
sixth grade, he followed Nic's footsteps and enrolled in the Shop Rat Education Program too.

We interviewed John, Nic and their mom, Heidi to hear more about the role Shop Rat has
played in their family:

Heidi, Do you feel that Shop Rat has been a
significant part of your children's lives?

"Yes, I think it has opened many doors for Nic and
will do the same for John. Shop Rats has also
helped build the boys' confidence in doing things by
themselves. For example, we have welders and
shop equipment at our house but most people don't
think at 12 and 13 years old to let kids start using
that stuff"

What has been your favorite aspect of John and Nic, what words of wisdom would you
your Shop Rat experience as a parent? bestow upon a student considering the program or
starting their first class with Shop Rat?
"Seeing how accomplished and excited the
boys are about finishing their projects and John: "It's easy if you pay attention"
getting all the cool stuff they have made." Nic: "Don't give up. Keep trying and push yourself."

The Shop Rat Foundation Hosts
First Annual Clay Shoot
Fundraiser

On Saturday, May 19th the Shop Rat Foundation hosted the
first (of what will now be an annual event) Clay Shoot
Fundraiser at the Brooklyn Sportsmans Club. 16 teams
participated in the shoot, with Ed Cooper and the team from
Wire Wizard winning the shoot. Through the purchase of
team registrations, sponsorships and raffle tickets, over
$10,000 was raised in support of the Shop Rat
Education Program.

Lunch Sponsor: Gerdau
Raffle Sponsor: Peak Manufacturing
Station Sponsors: Wire Wizard Welding
Products, Production Saw & Machine,
Peak Manufacturing, Technique, Inc.,
Willis & Jurasek
Host: Brooklyn Sportsmans Club

Thank You To Our Host, Sponsors & Teams

Thank You For Your Support!

2017-2018 Shop Rat Education Program Sponsors

Jackson Tumble Finish Copper Tool & Die, Inc.
Stillion Industries

Charitable gifts from foundations contributed over 44% of the revenue
received in support of the Shop Rat Foundation in 2017

Michigan Masonic Charitable Foundation Keough Family Foundation
The Weatherwax Foundation HB Fuller Company Foundation
The Hurst Foundation Jackson Community Foundation
Bill & Vi Sigmund Foundation (Olive Merlin & Jacqueline Dulworth
Donor Advised Fund)

The Shop Rat Foundation Receives
$13,000 B.E.S.T. Grant

In December 2016, the Michigan Masonic Charitable Foundation
launched their B.E.S.T community grants. The Shop Rat Foundation is
honored to be among their early grantees, enabling the expansion of
programs and development of classroom resources to sites such as
Lomar Machine and Tool in Horton, Michigan.

Tuition for after-school classes and camps is set at a rate of 50% or less
than the actual cost per student.

Thank You To Our Generous Donors!

Michigan Automatic Compressor Bart Whiteman Tyler Laird
Inc. Elizabeth Dean Samuel Absher
Kelly & Pete Kofflin Andrew Coolbaugh Kelly Brockie
Pitch.Me Dakota Frey Brett Brockie
Peak Manufacturing Spencer Moulios Kyle Brousseau
Tim Exposito Flint Dunsmore Robert Moore
Brett Brockie David Wheaton Steven Carpenter
Liss & Jim Burr Sarah Hartzler Jerry Woolworth
Amanda Hutchings Scott Brockie James Adams
Tim Exposito Brad Zvonek Michael Swartz
Lock Joint & Tube LLC Theresa Graham Richard Dowding
Monica Bannasch Rikki Thomas Ronald Dowding
Douglas Backinger David Foust Aaron Beach
Michigan Corrugated Products Charles Hoard Grant Rabey
Copper Tool & Die Jason VanWormer Braden Marshall
D.L.McArthur Enterprises Jason Jacobson Kray Marshall
Brian Drummond Mark Zimmerman Lynard Oliver III
Lynn Matzen Anthony Fex Lucas Cain
ElCo Enterprises/ Wire Wizard Bobby Brewster Roderick Prior
Mary Warner Brandon Kurts Exsis Sanford
Connie Poisson Bruce Hawley Melissa Woerner
Erica Bills Bryan Macomber Jacqueline Demeuse
Kim Medlock Chris Bremiller Ayla Schnepp
L.E. Warren David Walker Quinn Campbell
Sue & Dan Kofflin Blair Wilcox Cheryl Gildner
Camiel & Ann Marie Thorrez Randy Sottovia Logan Freeman
Allied Chucker & Engineering Jason Sloat Gavin Roller
C.Thorrez Industries John Butterfield Kristin Butler
Echopix Paul Nagaj Jacob Bartol
Amazon Smile Romiro Fonesca Marrero Jacob Boatin
William Joseph Robert Gomolka Lucas Tappan
Morgan Stanley Shelly May
Kevin Brewer Tommy Wright
Colton Stepke Trevor Wright
Douglas Nall
Ryan Kofflin

"Igniting interest in manufacturing careers among youth through
innovation and outreach"

Shop Rat Foundation Shop Rat Foundation
Board Of Directors Staff

Chris Salow, Founder Kelly Burr Kofflin, Executive Director
Amanda Hutchings, Chairperson Rachael Wingle, Program Coordinator
Melissa Stroede, Treasurer Tom Bullock, Program Instructor
Dave McPike, Secretary Jeff Drushal, Welding Instructor
Doug Backinger, Director Ethan Hartnett, Welding Instructor (Ingham)
Erica Bills, Director Brian Owen, Precision Machining Instructor
Brook Bisonet, Director John Sultini, Precision Machining Instructor
Tim Exposito, Director (Ingham)
Tom Jurasek, Director Dione Tripp, Construction Trades Instructor
Kim Medlock, Director Josh Wowianko, Outreach Program Instructor
Connie Poisson, Director
Colton Stepke, Director
Scott Brockie, Director Emeritus
Sarah Hartzler, Director Emeritus
Bill Rayl, Director Emeritus
Camiel Thorrez, Director Emeritus

2017 Financial Snapshot

*For details, please feel free to view our 2017 Form 990, Publicly available

Revenue Expense

84,500 105,000
63,375 78,750
42,250 52,500
21,125 26,250
0
0

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Student Programs

Outreach
Operations

WWW.SHOPRAT.ORG

11855 Bunkerhill Road, Pleasant Lake, MI 49272 [email protected]
(517)769-2100