My name is Steve Ritch and I am the Manager of the Job Placement Specialists at Harper College in Palatine, IL.  I was owner of a manufacturing firm for over 20 years and had at one point over 50 employees working in a 3 shift operation.  Since then I have joined Harper as a faculty member and have taught manufacturing courses as well as working with the iNAM grant by advising Advanced Manufacturing students as to their education path.  Now I lead a team of three who are tasked with visiting local manufacturers to find job opportunities for our students completing certificates or Associate degrees.

I truly enjoy speaking with business owners and their staff about their needs and concerns and also with students seeking careers in the manufacturing industry.  In this blog I wish to share experiences with you and address any concerns and questions you may have.  I look forward to hearing from you!