By Greg Bishop | The Center Square
The Center Square

(The Center Square) – A statewide tour kicking off this week from the Illinois Manufacturers’ Association and the Illinois Manufacturing Excellence Center unveils a bus featuring artwork by a Springfield student.

On Monday, the “Makers on the Move” bus tour stopped in Springfield at Ace Sign Company to celebrate Manufacturing Month. David Boulay, president of the Illinois Manufacturing Excellence Center, said manufacturing is at the heart of advancements in society.

“It built the communities we live in, the economy we depend on and a tradition that we’re proud to carry forward,” Boulay said. “That tradition has made Illinois a manufacturing powerhouse.”

But, Boulay said the landscape continues to change and evolve.

“Within the next decade, the industry will look very different,” Boulay said. “But that’s not a challenge, that’s an opportunity for Illinois to grow and lead and to build on our heritage into the future.”

The “Makers on the Move” statewide bus tour is in its fourth year. The tour will visit manufacturing facilities, educational institutions and community centers across the state.

Lacy Glenn, principal at Capital Area Career Center in Springfield, announced the winner of the statewide Makers on the Move bus wrap artwork competition was CACC student Andrew Flickinger.

“Andrew was able to take that competition one step further. In the last month or so, he’s be able to intern here at Ace Sign Company and work with Todd [Bringuet] and the team to take part in the process of making his design from an idea to what you see behind us today,” Glenn said.

She said Flickinger’s experience is the end result of education and industry joining forces.

State Sen. Steve McClure, R-Springfield, said the CACC is “an incredible place.”

“It doesn’t just take these great companies to be here, we also have to have a great trained workforce,” he said.

McClure joined the tour at Ace Sign Company in Springfield. Employing 80 skilled designers and technicians, the company manufactured the decorative wrap from the design Flickinger created.