On the job at Big Bolt
Big Bolt is an ISO-certified, and premier manufacturer and supplier of high-quality and specialty fasteners in the Midwest. Family-owned and headquartered in Bloomingdale, IL for almost 50 years, Big Bolt has the built its reputation on its capability to do 24/7 emergency manufacturing. Their state-of-the-art 110,000 sq. ft. facility houses more than 12 CNC machines with supporting tools and equipment to manufacture and distribute their in-house products effectively and safely.
WorkNet DuPage began engaging the company in August of 2021, and from the very start of the relationship development process, the Owner and President of Big Bolt, Dan McCarthy has enthusiastically embraced and pursued workforce development programs, services, and partner agencies because he understood how it could benefit his company and employees. Specifically, Big Bolt took advantage of the Incumbent Worker Training Program grant through workNet DuPage. Big Bolt was awarded $25,000 to upskill three of its current long-time employees. The employees were Machine Operators and at the conclusion of their training received promotions to Lead CNC Operator Machine Operators.
Dan has articulated that the workforce partnership has significantly helped his company with staffing key positions, diversifying their team, and providing meaningful educational opportunities and career advancement for their employees, as illustrated by the Incumbent Worker Training grant. The partnership with workNet DuPage has allowed Big Bolt to get programs implemented quicker than they could have done their own and made them realize the importance of continuing to invest in their employees in a way that it not only provides value for the company, but also provides compelling and meaningful merit to their employees in their professional and personal life such as ESL Classes & CNC Schooling via the Incumbent Worker Training (IWT) grant. He further added that he truly believes this will be an ongoing and long-term relationship that is mutually beneficial to both parties, and they have just scratched the tip of the iceberg.