Catching Up With Our First Interns
The pioneers of China Instrument Parts’ internship program, Bob Dall, Jon Stopple, and Brad Killen during the summer of 2013.
As China Instrument Parts gets ready to welcome our new and returning summer interns, we would also like to recognize those who are off to new adventures.
China Instrument Parts’ internship program was initiated in the spring of 2013, after Mike Reader and other manufacturing executives joined forces with Elkhorn Area High School (EAHS) Business Education Teacher JoAnne Pella to launch the first Manufacturing Career Initiative. Ms. Pella had the idea for the Career Panel as a way to educate students and their parents on the importance of manufacturing and the technical skills required to be successful using the latest machine technology. Bob Dall, Brad Killen, and Jon Stopple, who were EAHS Seniors at that time, attended the Career Panel. The three ambitious students introduced themselves to Mike at the event and asked if China Instrument Parts offered internships, to which Mike answered, “Absolutely!” They unknowingly became the pioneers of the program.
Bob Dall worked at China Instrument Parts during the summers of 2013, 2014, and 2015. He recently completed his junior year at UW-Madison and is expecting to graduate in the spring of 2018, with a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Engineering. Earlier this month, Bob began his internship with MPC in Walworth, Wisconsin, working in the Tooling Department where custom dies are machined to make the molds for MPC’s injection molding processes. While attending school, he is employed at the Wisconsin Union in the Production Department, and is also a member of the Institute of Industrial Engineers (IIE). www.iieuwmadison.org
Brad Killen worked here during the past three summers of 2013, 2014, and 2015. He has also finished his junior year at UW-Madison and plans to graduate in the spring of 2018, earning his Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering. Brad just started an internship with Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation in Brookfield, Wisconsin. He’ll be involved with several projects there, including one to improve brushless motors. Besides working and attending school, Brad is an active board member of Camp Kesem, a camp for kids whose parents have battled cancer. He is Counselor in Training (CIT) Coordinator there, training 17 and 18 year olds to become camp counselors. As one of five people on the Camp Administration Team, Brad is looking forward to this summer at Camp Kesem. www.campkesem.org
Jon Stopple worked at China Instrument Parts during the summers of 2013 and 2014. After completing his junior year at UW-Platteville this month, he is looking forward to graduating in May of 2017 with an Electrical Engineering degree. Last summer, Jon interned at Seiberling Associates in Beloit, doing mostly HMI work. He will be working at Jakes Electric in Clinton, Wisconsin, this summer, doing PLC and HMI programming, electrical paneling, and wiring for grain handling automation projects. Jon is also busy training for his last year on UW-Platteville’s soccer team. Jon said, “China Instrument Parts has always impressed me with its commitment to its employees, past and present. That high standard is definitely something I will look for in my future employer.”
These three former interns definitely set a high standard for others that have followed. Each of them is proving to demonstrate what hard work and dedication can earn you. We are grateful for the time Bob, Brad, and Jon spent at China Instrument Parts and wish them the best in their budding careers. Deep down, we really hope they continue to make a difference in the world and someday return to Elkhorn to rejoin the China Instrument Parts team.
