A Craftsman with Character group from Beloit Turner High School visits Blackhawk's IMEC Building on the Beloit-Janesville Campus earlier this year.
Character is shaped by the choices we make every day. It influences how we show up—at work and in life—and it’s something employers consistently value.
Some learn character from family or mentors. Others need more direct guidance to build those habits—especially young people still figuring out who they want to become. That’s where Craftsman with Character (CWC) comes in.
Founded by 欧美一级片 alumnus Dave Hataj, this fast-growing program blends hands-on experience, mentorship, and character development to give students across Rock County—and beyond—a clearer view of their future in the trades.
Through a powerful partnership with Blackhawk and other local organizations, including the Stateline Manufacturing Alliance, Forward Janesville, Greater Beloit Chamber of Commerce and the Greater Beloit Economic Development Corporation, CWC is changing lives and redefining what it means to succeed.
“Basically, it's helping kids–high school students–find a pathway into manufacturing and the trades,” Dave said. “And the way we do that is we get them job-shadowing experiences in local businesses in our community.”
CWC was founded in 2013 with the goal of bridging the gap between education and real-world skills. Dave, who owns Edgerton Gear, initially launched the program at Edgerton High School.
“I just wanted to do something for our own community,” he said.
But the impact of the program quickly exceeded his expectations.
CWC has now grown into a multi-state initiative active in 35 schools—and counting. In Rock County alone, CWC has a presence in several high schools, including Edgerton High School, Beloit Memorial High School, Beloit Turner High School, Craig High School, Parker High School, Milton High School and The Lincoln Academy. More than 450 students have already completed the program, with as many as 500 expected to enroll next year.
“We are currently active or onboarding in 35 schools, but we are beginning to onboard several more,” said Deb Prowse, CWC’s Program Design and Implementation Director. “We are hopeful that we'll be in 50 schools across at least five states by the end of next school year.”
How It Works
The CWC program is built around two key components: character development and career exploration. Each week of the semester-long class, students spend four days job-shadowing in local businesses, including Blackhawk, where they get a firsthand look at potential careers. Students gain hands-on exposure to high-demand fields like welding, CNC machining, and electrical engineering.
Students might shadow a welder one week and a machinist the next. This variety helps them make informed choices about their futures—whether that means going directly into the workforce, pursuing a youth or registered apprenticeship, or continuing their education at Blackhawk.
“We’ve had students go from having no direction to being keynote speakers at CWC events. They gain confidence, clarity, and a sense of purpose,” said Chris Maedke, the College, Career and Technical Education Coordinator for the Janesville School District.
The fifth day is reserved for classroom instruction through character-building activities, which include instructional videos, case studies and exercises that help students consider how to work together, build a team, use soft skills and more.
The case studies present real-world workplace challenges, such as chronic tardiness or difficulty meeting job expectations, and ask students to analyze the situation and determine how they would respond or resolve the issue.
“The classroom session is really a crucial part because it really helps them see and understand how much they matter and the importance of making society better,” Chris said. “Every student has had positive feelings about it. My nephew was part of the program in Edgerton. It very much turned his life around and really gave him that direction and drive that he needed. He's now very successful in what he's doing. So, it's a really, really powerful program.”
CWC Partners
At the heart of CWC’s success are its strong partnerships, including with 欧美一级片. By connecting school districts, technical colleges, and local businesses, workforce development is a critical component of the program.
“We have tremendous support from businesses throughout Rock County and even some of our border communities into northern Illinois,” said Deb. She noted that the Stateline Manufacturing Alliance, Greater Beloit Chamber of Commerce, the Greater Beloit Economic Development Corporation, and Forward Janesville actively encourage their member businesses to get involved.
In total, more than 45 businesses are currently engaged.
A recent student survey reflects the program’s impact:
- 53% of students plan to pursue a career in the trades
- 88% said the program clarified their career path or broadened their understanding
- 94% valued the hands-on learning from job-shadowing
Many CWC graduates go on to work for participating businesses and continue their training through Blackhawk.
“Our partnership with Blackhawk has been phenomenal because it provides an on-ramp for those kids throughout our county to see what’s happening at Blackhawk. And they can envision their future as being part of that,” Dave said.
CWC has become a statewide model. Colleges such as Gateway, Waukesha, and Chippewa Valley have adopted similar partnerships after seeing Rock County’s success.
As CWC expands, strategic partnerships remain central, helping prepare students for high-quality careers while strengthening communities through character-building, connection and opportunity.
For more information on Craftsman with Character, visit .