Blackstone Advanced Technology employees are pictured outside their business. The company is endorsing the Dream It Do It Advanced Manufacturing Program certification.

Blackstone Advanced Technologies is partnering with Dream It Do It Western New York to support efforts to build a talent pipeline into manufacturing careers.

Representatives of Blackstone Advanced Technologies officially endorsed the Dream It Do It Advanced Manufacturing Program certification. The certification is a regionally recognized manufacturers credential that has been designed by the Manufacturers Association of the Southern Tier in collaboration with students, teachers, counselors, principals and funders.

The certification requires students to engage in manufacturing technology camps and manufacturing technology tours, acquire work experience in a manufacturing facility, demonstrate a strong work ethic, participate in manufacturing career cluster courses while in school and graduate from high school. Students as young as 13 years old can enroll in the DIDIAMP and start their journey toward the certification.

The DIDAMP is designed to connect, engage, enrich, challenge and reward students on their way to manufacturing career pathways. Students enrolled in the program earn and accumulate electronic badges that can lead to one of four belt level certifications at graduation.

“We have worked with Dream It Do It to engage with students through tours of our facility and by participating in camps and events,” said Heather Turner, owner and president of Blackstone Advanced Technologies and Ulrich Fabrication. “The Dream It Do It Advanced Manufacturing Program Certification is a valuable resource in that it helps students showcase their talents and interests while enabling our company to connect and recruit them into career opportunities that we offer. We see the program as an essential part of our strategy to build a talent pipeline to careers here at Blackstone Advanced Technologies.”

Dream It Do It Western New York (DIDIWNY) is energizing and building the early talent pipeline. DIDIWNY is an initiative powered by the Buffalo Niagara Manufacturers Alliance and the Manufacturers Association of the Southern Tier. To learn more about DIDIWNY go to www.didiwny.com or contact Cindy Aronson at caronson@didiwny.com.

“We look forward to continuing our partnership with Blackstone Advanced Technologies toward building even stronger relationships among schools and strengthening connections between students and manufacturers,” said Todd Tranum, president of Dream It Do It Western New York and executive director of the Manufacturers Association of the Southern Tier.