Matt Fieldman

Executive Director

Matt Fieldman is executive director of America Works, a nationwide initiative to coordinate the American manufacturing industry’s training efforts, generating a more capable, skilled, and diverse workforce. Based at MAGNET: The Manufacturing Advocacy and Growth Network, Fieldman works across the nation’s Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) system to increase collaboration, efficiency, and impact of local and regional workforce development efforts. Previously, he was vice president of external affairs for MAGNET, a nonprofit that helps Northeast Ohio’s small and medium-sized manufacturers grow locally while competing globally. 

Wed, 09/29/2021 - 19:33
Inclusive ExcellenceA road map to manufacturing success
Thu, 06/27/2024 - 12:02
If you look around your plant floor, I’m sure the layout, equipment, and technologies are different today from what they were 10—or even five—years ago. You’ve put time, effort, and money into improving every aspect of your operations. You’ve cut…
Want to Replicate the German Apprenticeship Model? Look no farther than Cleveland for inspiration
Wed, 10/25/2023 - 12:02
When I first started at MAGNET (part of the Ohio MEP) in 2015, I walked into my new office and saw a white paper sitting on my desk. In it, our former board chair Felix Brueck outlined how we could adapt the German apprenticeship model of workforce…
Middle-Schoolers Tell Us What’s So Cool About ManufacturingDrop what you’re doing and launch this manufacturing youth engagement program
Wed, 07/12/2023 - 12:02
A manufacturing youth-engagement program that excites local businesses, offers templates and guidance to effectively launch in new regions, has a 10-year track record of connecting hundreds of students annually, and is financially sustainable? Yes…
Training Recommendations From GermanyVocational programs and apprenticeships show the way
Mon, 06/05/2023 - 12:02
German manufacturing is a powerhouse, fueling 21 percent of the country’s economy and contributing nearly $1.4 trillion in exports. Given these facts, we in the MEP National Network have been studying Germany’s vocational educational training (VET)…
What Indiana Can Teach the Nation About Workforce DevelopmentIndiana focuses on connecting workers to manufacturing careers
Wed, 04/12/2023 - 00:02
I’m ashamed to say that I’ve only been to Indiana once—for a fun weekend in Indianapolis. I will say that its Children’s Museum is truly world-class, and it was great going duckpin bowling for the first time. Though I haven’t taken full advantage…
The 2023 Workforce Development Word of the Year Is...How one word can improve your work quality
Thu, 02/16/2023 - 12:02
As 2022 came to a close, I was as amazed as I am every year by all the “___ of the Year” lists. It seems like every media outlet creates its own list of the year’s 10 best books, and then there’s the Sherwin-Williams Color of the Year, the Merriam-…
Apprenticeships: Five Things We Learned in GermanyGerman system offers tips for U.S. counterparts
Mon, 01/23/2023 - 12:02
I’m sure you’ve heard the buzz around the German apprenticeship system—but does it really live up to the hype? That’s what a recent mission of 16 workforce professionals from around the United States set out to learn. Supported by the Transatlantic…
Three Lessons Manufacturers Can Learn From NASCAR RacingIntegrate teams to take the inside track
Wed, 01/04/2023 - 12:01
The NASCAR pit stop—it’s exciting, intense, and can mean the difference between winning and losing a race. Accomplishing the three simultaneous necessities of moving quickly, completing each job with perfection, and having a flawlessly coordinated…
Manufacturers, Forget CX. It’s Time to Focus on EX.‘Wow! I have a great job! I think I’ll quit and go somewhere else.’
Thu, 10/27/2022 - 12:03
Customer experience, or “CX,” is all the rage in marketing circles nationally. Customer experience refers to how a customer experiences your company at every point of their buying journey—from marketing to sales to customer service, and everywhere…
Eight Reasons Why You’re Struggling With Your WorkforceIt’s vital that we address social determinants of work
Wed, 09/28/2022 - 12:02
You’ve heard the questions from your manufacturing colleagues: “Where are all the good people these days?” “Why don’t people want to work anymore?” and, “Why can’t people show up on time and ready to work?” During a recent seminar at the City Club…