Employers in Green County are now able to take advantage of industrial maintenance-related courses at Blackhawk Technical College’s Monroe Campus. This type of training was identified as an area of interest in Green County during Blackhawk’s workforce and community development team's employer training needs survey in late 2024.

Employers in the county were informed of the new opportunity late this summer, and two companies have already enrolled employees in classes.

Kuhn North America, Inc., located in Brodhead, has seven employees enrolled, according to Amy Charles, Blackhawk’s workforce development and Monroe Campus coordinator. She added that Sabrosura Foods of Monroe also has a student enrolled. 

“We have a significant need for Maintenance Technicians in the future due to upcoming retirements,” shared Jill Leitzen, Kuhn’s director of human resources. “We have great people here at Kuhn who just need the technical skills, so it is great to have this technical training delivered in a convenient, condensed schedule so close at the Monroe Campus.”

This first year, the classes are offered as contracted sections, meaning employers are paying for their employees' courses. Those enrolled have online lectures, coursework, and a lab each Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

While the number of students is limited right now, Blackhawk is applying for an industry grant from the Wisconsin Technical College System to hire another instructor, which will allow the program to expand in fall 2026.

Ryan Martin, a Kuhn employee who is enrolled, said, “The pneumatics and DC circuits classes were great, and I learned a ton that I can use at work and in my personal hobby projects. This program is a great way for individuals to get a jump start in the Blackhawk Industrial Maintenance program when they have an interest in a future career in maintenance.”

All classes are 1 credit each and add up to a pathway to industrial maintenance careers. Students can choose programs that result in a certificate, a diploma, or a two-year degree. Fall 2025 classes include DC Circuits 1, Mechanics of Learning, and Fluid Power 1–Basic Pneumatics.

Five new classes are being offered for the spring 2026 semester. They include:

• Schematics
• Blueprint Reading
• Relay Logic
• DC Circuits 2
• Fluid Power 3–Intermediate Pneumatics

Businesses interested in the training can contact Amy Charles at 608-329-8202 or acharles2@blackhawk.edu.