Brandon Ramey, Site Director for Quad MKE; Amy Pechacek, Secretary-designee of the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development; Joel Quadracci, Chairman, President & CEO of Quad; Kelli Williams, CEO of The Brand Lab; Chawnett Hicks, Office Manager of 30th Street Industrial Corridor Corporation; and Lafayette Crump, City of Milwaukee Commissioner of City Development
By Karen Stokes
On Tuesday, Quad hosted an inaugural open house of QuadMKE, a recruiting and training hub located in Century City Office Tower, 4201 N 27th St.
Quad is leasing nearly 4,300 square feet of office space in the former Eaton Corp. building that serves multiple roles.
Community partners, city and state officials and neighborhood residents convened for the event to celebrate and learn more about Quads commitment to the Century City neighborhood.
Chairman, President & CEO of Quad, Joel Quadracci said, “This has all taken place from lessons learned, Quad is a learning company. We’re one of the largest employers in the state. We’ve recruited from this part of the city for years. I’d love to tell you we’ve always done it right but that’s not the truth. We took for granted the individual needs of people from this part of the community.”
Joel Quadracci, Chairman, President & CEO of Quad. (Photo by Karen Stokes)
The company is focusing on recruiting and training individuals in financial increase in wage inequality, the top 10 percent, their wages have grown more quickly than the bottom 10 percent and just in the last 2 years we have seen that gap close by 25 percent. It’s because we’ve had this really positive job market where employers had to
literacy, work culture, and overcoming challenges. The newly designed office aims to serve as a gateway to entry-level manufacturing careers, as well as positions within Quad’s administrative and creative marketing agency units.
The space showcases artwork by renowned Milwaukee artists Vedale Hill and Reginald Baylor, including a mural featuring quotes from Milwaukee Public School elementary students who collaborated with SHARP Literacy, an organization promoting STEAM education. (Photo/Karen Stokes)
“The site also serves as a gathering space for Quad employees being transported to jobs at printing plants in West Allis, Sussex and Hartford,” Quadracci said. “Quad provides free meals in the morning for those workers.”
Quad MKE provides a company-run shuttle service from the near north side to select Quad manufacturing locations not served by public bus routes.
Quad runs what it calls its “Project Impact Program” for entry-level, part-time employees in the finishing department at printing plants in partnership with Running Rebels and JobsWork MKE.
The event featured keynote speakers and offered networking opportunities accompanied by refreshments and tours of Century City Tower organizations. Additionally, DJ Nic Stokes provided music throughout the event.
Quad serves more than 2,900 clients, Quad has approximately 15,000 people working in 14 countries around the world.
Removing barriers to employment is a primary focus for Quad MKE.
“We’re focusing on the challenges of transportation, skill building and safety by making sure we build a welcoming environment within our own four walls,” Quadracci said. “Quad has always been about being part of the community, it starts with being present in the community.”