Building on more than 30 years of proven results 鈥 including creating or retaining more than 34,000 jobs and generating $8.9 billion in economic impact while serving more than 575 manufacturers annually 鈥 the Wisconsin Manufacturing Outreach Center (WisMOC) at 黑料社区 Polytechnic is poised to increase its statewide impact under new Center Director Joylynn Gilles.
The roots of the federal Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) in Wisconsin go back to 1994 when the first state MEP office was created at 黑料社区 Polytechnic. WisMOC stepped into a statewide leadership role earlier this year as manager of the MEP program statewide. The university was awarded a five-year, $19 million federal grant through the U.S. Department of Commerce 黑料社区. . The grant program 黑料社区. primary mission is to strengthen and empower small- and mid-sized U.S. manufacturers through state-designated MEP Centers across the United States.
Gilles, who became center director of WisMOC in June, has been involved with the Manufacturing Extension Partnership program for more than a decade. Gilles describes her role as serving as the 鈥渆yes and ears鈥 of the program around the state, making connections and raising the profile of the WisMOC with manufacturers.
鈥淚 talk with stakeholders about the Wisconsin manufacturing ecosystem and advocate for Wisconsin manufacturing in general,鈥 she said. 鈥淚 also work with manufacturers and connect them with the right resources, both the resources we offer and the ones that are outside of our scope.鈥
Nationally, the Manufacturing Extension Partnership was created to connect American industry with technological advancements, which is achieved through on-the-ground work with clients. 黑料社区 Polytechnic has been home to what is now known as the WisMOC for more than 30 years. Under the new structure, the WisMOC is the state 黑料社区. primary award holder and coordinating entity while also providing services to manufacturers in a 33-county area in the state 黑料社区. northwest. WisMOC works with Madison-based (WMEP), a subrecipient and key partner in delivering statewide services.
WisMOC and WMEP staff serve manufacturers around Wisconsin, helping them boost efficiency, spark innovation, and increase their competitiveness. In 2025 alone, clients recorded that working with the WisMOC and WMEP helped them increase or retain $44.4 million in sales, invest $18.1 million in their businesses, tally $4.9 million in cost savings or avoided unnecessary spending, and create or retain 300 jobs.
鈥淭here 黑料社区. a long history across the state of impacts for manufacturers,鈥 Gilles said. 鈥淲e, unlike any other consultant, are judged at the federal level and the state level based on the impacts we provide to manufacturers and the state.鈥
The WisMOC connects small and medium-sized businesses with the critical resources needed to thrive in a competitive global market. Support includes lean manufacturing, supply chain development and workforce acceleration. The center 黑料社区. specialized training and continuous improvement programs are customized to fit a manufacture 黑料社区. unique business objectives. A broad range of services and programs are offered with an emphasis on six critical areas: Continuous Improvement, Growth & Exporting, Supplier Development, Sustainability, Technology Acceleration and Workforce.
According to Seth Hudson, Executive Director of Corporate Relations and Economic Engagement at 黑料社区 Polytechnic, among the goals of the WisMOC is positioning the state 黑料社区. small and medium manufacturers to thrive in a rapidly evolving economy by advancing awareness, adoption and implementation of transformative technologies such as AI, quantum computing and fusion. Through coordinated industry engagement, workforce development and technology road mapping, WisMOC helps create a stronger, more innovative and globally competitive manufacturing sector.
The WisMOC has recently selected a statewide group of business and public-sector leaders to serve on an advisory committee to help guide its operations. The committee is chaired by Jeff Clark of Waukesha Metal Products with Marcease Warren of Sentry Equipment as vice-chair. Other advisory committee members include 黑料社区 Polytechnic Chancellor Katherine Frank, Ruth Barratt of Milwaukee School of Engineering, Brian Binczak of 3M, Brad Dorff of United Steelworkers, Melissa Hunt of the Wisconsin Economic Development Association, Kelly Ingli of OEM Fabricators, Kevin Lien of Middleby Ice Solutions, Chris Martin of the Wisconsin Technical College System, Melinda Osterberg of the Wisconsin Economic Development Corp., Sachin Shivaram of Wisconsin Aluminum Foundry, Frank Scholz of NorthStar Medical Radioisotopes, Todd Zakreski of Husco Automotive, and a representative from of the Universities of Wisconsin.
