S.T.E.M.(S!)

Promoting STEM-related jobs at the Science, Technology, Engineering Festival in Washington, D.C.

(I thought it needed another “S.”)

Here’s a link to press release full of exciting information that no one is ever going to read: mrW Joins Forces with USA Science & Engineering Festival on Pioneering Skilled Trades Pavilion

Why? Because the only people who read press releases are the people who write them, and, of course, the people mentioned in them. Since I fall into the second group – and since I want you to be informed of all my movements – I have provided for your convenience a brief synopsis. Fair warning though — I’m about to ask for your help, so hit backspace now if you don’t want to feel put upon. Here’s the skinny.

Next April, 400,000 people are expected to attend the USA Science & Engineering Festival in Washington, D.C. — 400,000 and 1, including me. This is the largest STEM event in the history of the universe, and I’ve agreed to give a speech and moderate a few panels. My purpose in attending is to elevate the role of skilled labor in many STEM-related jobs. Science, Technology, Engineering and Math are all great fields of study, but without a useful, hands-on skill, many jobs under the STEM umbrella would simply cease to exist. That fact has gotten lost.

So, on behalf of mikeroweWORKS, I’m going to D.C. to discuss the often-overlooked role of SKILL in today’s most desirable careers, and persuade the organizers to put another “S” in STEM. I’m thinking STEM(S). Clever, right?

However, what began as a simple agreement to show up and speak has now gotten completely out of hand. Mary Sullivan — president of mikeroweWORKS — has purchased a booth at the festival. She thought it would be a perfect venue to get the word out about our Work Ethic Scholarship Program. I agreed. Later, however — after the gimlets kicked in — Mary explained that my “booth” was approximately 12,000 square feet.

As you might imagine, I don’t need 12,000 square feet to discuss work-ethic scholarships. I need maybe … 2 or 3 square feet. Or perhaps 5, if I wish to move around and gesticulate. Mary then invited me to calm down, and explained that “everything would work out.” She said I would just need to “make some calls” to fill the remaining space with a few of my partners who share my interest in closing the skills gap.

Rather than fire Mary, I ordered one more gimlet, and slowly got my head around the notion of a mikeroweWORKS Pavilion — a separate space within the convention center specifically dedicated to celebrating the role of skilled labor in today’s STEM careers. I have since “made a few calls,” and I’m happy to report that most of my partners have responded with great enthusiasm. Caterpillar, Turner Industries, United Technical Institute, Midwest Technical Institute, Tulsa Welding, The Refrigeration School, Fair Oaks Farms and Go Build Alabama have all agreed to join me in The mikeroweWORKS Pavilion. Naturally, Mary has responded with a chorus of “I told you so’s,” and is now suggesting that 12,000 square feet probably isn’t enough. Oy!

Like I said, things are quickly getting out of hand, in a very good way. So, here’s where I could use your help — please share this post.

And if you work for a company (big or small) that values skilled work — or even if you’re just a customer of one — please tell them about this event. If they are serious about participating, ask them to drop me a line at info@mikeroweworks.com. Tell them to put “USASEF” in the subject line and we’ll hook them up. And yes – That’s the same Fair Oaks Farm featured on Dirty Jobs. STEM plays a huge role in modern agriculture, so please pass this on to any farmers who may be in your address book.

science-logoSeriously, this is the best opportunity I’ve ever seen for companies of all kinds to make a case for the trades in front of a huge audience that’s truly engaged. I want to make this BIG, and we’ll make room for anyone that wants to join us in the mikeroweWORKS Pavilion. Any company that’s serious can get booth space, as long as it’s available. There are various opportunities, depending upon the impact a company wants to make.

I’m gonna make a lot of noise about this, and I promise to do all I can to make sure the press, the politicians, and every other attendee understands that many great careers in STEM start with an individual who is willing to learn a useful skill. It’ll be a blast, I promise.

More details are in the official release, which unfortunately, I must now ask you to read: mrW Joins Forces with USA Science & Engineering Festival on Pioneering Skilled Trades Pavilion

Many thanks.

Mike

UPDATE 3/24/14: Read the new post with info on the schedule for the mikeroweWORKS stage, including Mike’s keynote and the panel he is hosting!

3 thoughts on “S.T.E.M.(S!)

  1. Dear Michael,
    If I could write a song for you, a poem, or a sonnet. If I could let you in to see what only my heart knows. You’d see the truth. My love would not exist for me if I didn’t know there was love inside of you.

    1. Wow, I have seen a few of your other so-called “comments” that have nothing to do with anything and you obviously have way too much time on your hands. And, you’re a loon…
      Or maybe, a stalker?

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