SCHAUMBURG – With the increased urgency to fill crucial vacancies left by retiring skilled mold makers, tool and die makers, and CNC machinists, TMA is once again turning its attention to building the next generation of manufacturers.
TMA’s Education Foundation, first incorporated in 1986, will be celebrating its 40th Anniversary with renewed energy led by Justine Ewald. Justine, who served previously as TMA’s Event Programming Director, is taking on this revival challenge with fresh ideas – all to spotlight the three key aspects of TMA’s Education Foundation:
• rekindling the Foundation’s BeNext connection effort,
• refilling the Foundation’s coffers to fulfill the growing number of grant requests and
• refreshing TMA’s annual Precision Machining Competition to excite and inspire area high schoolers.
“We’re connecting with the next generation student to help them become aware of how amazing the manufacturing industry is, how lucrative a manufacturing career can be, and how to manage the actual career pathways between the two,” Justine told TMANews.com.
The Foundation’s BeNext program will work individually with students to find apprenticeship opportunities and provide them with the skills training they need to pursue careers in manufacturing. At the same time, the program works with TMA members to determine the types of personnel and skills their facilities need to thrive.
The Education Foundation also receives grant requests from high schools to add or replace needed training machinery, to assist in funding high school robotics teams’ travel expenses, and to support women who are facing additional expenses as they pursue and advance in manufacturing careers.
“The grant requests are growing, making the Foundation more in demand and necessary,” Justine said. “We’re following up on any suggestions of persons or organizations that see the value of financially assisting these schools and people who need assistance to grow their skills.”
And the all-important annual Precision Machining Competition (PMC) is now under the full oversight of TMA’s Education Foundation – TMA’s charitable arm that oversees the organization’s high school outreach.
Every year, hundreds of high school students work at their school’s machinery to create items that are submitted and judged by experienced TMA member machinists. The event, usually held in May, attracts parents, families, friends, vocational instructors, manufacturing companies, and industry leaders.
“At the annual PMC event, parents, aunts, uncles, friends, and students get a chance to actually interact with company leadership. The students get to see what internships are going to be available, are able to celebrate precision machining, and create excitement around the industry,” Ewald said. “It’s also a chance for the students to see what the competition created with their learned skills and natural talents. The PMC opens up a whole new world to kids interested in making things – something we want to encourage, and we know our TMA members support.”
This year’s PMC is scheduled for May 7, 2026. Taxdeductible sponsorships are now available online, along with tax-deductible donations to the Education Foundation, which may also be made online at tmaillinois.org/education-foundation.html.
Those generous TMA members who donated to the Education Foundation in 2025 are included on the next page.
