Manufacturing Day 24′ (M) Sylvester L. Hester with students
More than 200 enthusiastic Detroit Public School (DPS) students poured into LM Manufacturing’s expansive 300,000-square-foot facility in Southwest Detroit for the highly anticipated Third Annual Manufacturing Day 2024. The event offered a hands-on opportunity to explore STEM fields and uncover diverse career paths, from engineering to marketing, providing a glimpse into the dynamic world of manufacturing.
Detroit native Sylvester L. Hester, President and CEO of LM Manufacturing, enthusiastically expressed the career opportunities for every student present for the eventful day ahead while giving the students a warm welcome.
“I was able to go from a young person just like yourself, just like these wonderful people, young people here right now, and grow up, by God’s grace, to own this facility right here today that you guys are in,” Hester said.
“You can’t tell me that hard work and dedication does not pay off. Prayers from your mother, grandmother, and uncle all go into your success as well.”
Before the students put on their safety glasses and visited the stations within the facility, they were addressed by a dynamic lineup of speakers, including remarks from Bob Sherman, General Manager of LM Manufacturing, and Dante Crockett, Chief Engineer of Ford Motor Company, to encourage them even more about what the day had in store and what the future will bring in this industry.
“The fact that we have over 200 Detroit Public Schools mining students here is a testament to your commitment to building futures,” Sherman said.
During the guided tours, students had the opportunity to witness the inner workings of LM Manufacturing up close and personal. They participated in interactive workshops and engaged in individual conversations with professionals from various departments within the company. These experiences effectively brought to life the roles and responsibilities of each department, providing valuable insights into how their contributions directly impact the company’s overall success.
At the heart of the event was the opportunity for students to explore potential careers outside of STEM disciplines, such as engineering and technology. Some stations that awaited the students were Hollywood Square Assimilation and the Dream Room lobby, which included augmented reality and robots, a hands-on vehicle review, and even an interactive podcast.
DPS Students Manufacturing Day 24′
Crocket shared his journey of coming from a single-parent household, being good in math to pursue engineering but having no idea how big the world was outside of Detroit, and learning about all the opportunities that awaited him.
“I just encourage you all, when you hear everything going on today, to figure out, ‘How does it apply to me? How can I make a decision that I’m going to get the most purpose that I can out of my life through manufacturing, engineering, and technology? ‘Make the decision, and your future will be very very bright,” Crockett said.
This is the third year of Manufacturing Day, and there are many moving parts. Leadership and staff, including DPS educators, take a hands-on approach, and each year is bigger and better than the last.
Deputy Executive Director in the Office of College and Career Readiness at Detroit Public Schools community district, Shawn Hill, has been involved since the first year, helping to bring this day to life.
“I work with 22 high schools and three career tech centers, so all of them have opportunities like this. So, we built these programs inside all of the high schools,” Hill said.
“We’ve got a vet tech, pharmacy tech, advanced manufacturing, and 72 different programs across the district.”
Where LM Manufacturing now stands was once an empty building, officially opening and operating in 2018, and soon to follow a UAW strike and a global pandemic with COVID-19.
“To see the transformation to go from empty to all of these things going on is pretty amazing. I’m excited because we had students that went from Manufacturing Day, and then they can go and do a job shadow here and eventually internships,” Hill expressed.
“We’re just really excited to hear about the opportunities for all of our students to thrive and grow,”
Tanisha Bronaugh, the Work-Based Learning Placement Coordinator at Breithaupt Career and Technical Center, emphasized Black and Brown youth from Detroit often don’t get opportunities to see and experience how LM Manufacturing exposes the students to different aspects of manufacturing.
“One year, there were extenuating circumstances, so the line (plant) wasn’t in production when the students came, but LM made it happen anyway. They didn’t cancel. They promised the kids a Manufacturing Day, and we had a Manufacturing Day,” Bronaugh said.
“The LM team brought all our kids in from all over the city of Detroit. It was a huge Detroit Public Schools community district event, and they still put it on for our kids. They (students) got to see how the cars and the seats were made. They got to see production. They got to see the testing room. They got to test if it was heavy terrain if it was windy outside, it was rainy, icy; the kids thought it was such an amazing experience.”
Hester faced numerous challenges on his journey growing up in a city and time that was not kind to people of color, especially Black males. Still, he persevered through hard work and formed strong connections within the community. One influential figure he was able to connect with was the late Dr. William “Bill” Pickard, a well-respected entrepreneur and generous philanthropist.
During his senior year in college, Pickard took Hester under his wing and provided invaluable mentorship. Hester’s journey with Pickard was truly transformative as he progressed from being an intern to assuming leadership roles in several of Pickard’s businesses. Eventually, Hester established his own company, which we all know today as LM Manufacturing.
Pickard’s enduring legacy lies in Hester’s emphasis on imparting the wisdom of generational wealth, ensuring that his influence will continue to shape the future. Today, as a prominent leader in the region, Hester has set a standard and positive example by dedicating himself to addressing the various challenges that arise and striving to create a meaningful and beneficial influence. He aims to continue harnessing his company’s unique culture and people-focused strategy to achieve this goal.
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