PHOTOS: The Young Professionals program is celebrating a landmark summer of achievement with its 2025 Welding and Firefighting cohorts, offering local youth job skills and career pathways in high-demand industries. According to a Sept. 19 news release, the programs are funded by the State of Michigan and delivered in partnership with local school districts, and provide work experience and career exploration for youth ages 14โ24 in fields such as welding, construction, IT and public safety.
Every participant in the welding program, a partnership between Northwest Michigan Works! Cadillac and the Wexford-Missaukee ISD Career Tech Center, earned at least one professionally recognized welding certificate this summer. Students also reported personal growth. โThe passion of our instructors created a powerful learning environment,โ student Carter Helsel said. Classmate Alizay OโConnell added, โI was initially worried, but the instructors believed in me and taught me about positivity.โ
