Small Business Weekly Podcast — Episode 526 (11:04)
Workforce development partnerships are helping manufacturers bridge the skills gap while strengthening local communities and talent pipelines.
On the latest episode of The Small Business Weekly Podcast 041526, Michael Rogers talks with Drew Petro, owner of Fortress Manufacturing in Benton Harbor, a company recently named a Michigan 50 Companies to Watch for 2026. The conversation focuses on the critical role industry and higher education partnerships play in developing a skilled workforce – particularly in the trades.
Fortress Manufacturing specializes in sheet metal and machining services, producing order volumes ranging from 1,000 to 12,000 pieces annually. Petro emphasizes that sustaining this kind of manufacturing operation depends heavily on access to trained, job-ready talent, something he says local community colleges have been instrumental in providing.
Petro points to strong relationships with institutions such as Lake Michigan College and Southwest Michigan College, highlighting their apprenticeship programs, student funding efforts, and willingness to collaborate directly with employers. “Lake Michigan College, Southwest Michigan College, have been phenomenal between apprenticeship programs as well as providing funding for students, and just really trying to partner and make it a two way street between what the university or the colleges offer and what the industry needs,” he says.
That collaborative approach, Petro explains, benefits both students and employers by aligning educational offerings with real-world industry demands. By working together, manufacturers and educational institutions can ensure students graduate with relevant, hands-on experience while businesses gain a more reliable and prepared workforce.
Listen to The Small Business Weekly Podcast – Episode 526 and hear the full conversation with Drew Petro.
About the Small Business Weekly Podcast
The Small Business Weekly Podcast, presented by the Small Business Association of Michigan, delivers a new interview with an entrepreneurial expert each week – featuring practical advice and success stories designed to support and inspire Michigan’s small business community.
Visit SBAM’s Media Hub for past episodes of the Small Business Weekly Podcast.