When Power Solutions International (PSI) opened its Beloit facility, the manufacturer of advanced engines and power systems knew it would need a skilled workforce to keep production running. That need brought PSI to Blackhawk Technical College, sparking a partnership that continues to grow.

PSI designs, engineers and manufactures a broad range of advanced, emission-certified engines, power systems and accessories. The company’s engines have displacements ranging from a small 1-liter, four-cylinder gasoline engine to a 110-liter, 20-cylinder diesel behemoth. They run on a variety of fuels, such as natural gas, propane, gasoline, diesel and biofuels, and the engines are used for off-road and on-road industrial equipment as well as power generation. 

Headquartered in Wood Dale, Illinois, PSI has operations in Illinois, Wisconsin, Michigan and Texas. In Beloit, employees have been learning new skills through on-site electrical training provided by Blackhawk instructors.

“The partnership we've had with Blackhawk for the electrical training has really provided a lot to our employees. It's allowed them to grow so they can take on new roles and earn additional income through those new roles,” said Allie Jeters, Human Resources Director at PSI.

Colleen Koerth, Workforce Development Manager at Blackhawk, also said PSI continues to support talent pipeline initiatives as a member of the Stateline Manufacturing Alliance.

“We had reached out to Colleen at Blackhawk,” Jeters said. “We were opening up a plant over in Beloit, and so we wanted to see how we could partner. She introduced us to the Stateline Manufacturing Alliance, so we got involved that way. Then, we started talking about training that we could do on-site at Blackhawk and also on-site at our facility. So, we have started using Blackhawk to do electrical training at our Beloit facility.”

The feedback PSI received from its employees about the training was all positive, Jeters shared. 

Jeters also said employees responded very positively to the training, appreciating the opportunity to learn from Brian Hauri, the Blackhawk instructor, whose deep knowledge and clear explanations helped them understand the reasons behind key concepts that might have otherwise been overlooked.

“In the field of electrical, I try to show my passion about the subject and inspire students to master a skill that will sustain whatever goals they want out of life … I also encourage them to explore the different areas within the electrical field to find their passion, which will help them stay dedicated to the job 20 years from now,” Hauri said.

In the future, Jeters said PSI may expand the partnership through more targeted talent pipeline activities, such as PSI apprenticeships for Blackhawk students participating in certain academic programs, such as welding or electrical-related programs.

“We're really thankful for the partnership. Blackhawk has really done a great job introducing us to other partners in the community as well. So, individuals at Beloit Turner High School, for example, or different resources that we otherwise may not have known about,” she said.

PSI awarded grant

PSI was recently one of three companies awarded a Workforce Advancement Training (WAT) grant from the Wisconsin Technical College System. The grants support employers in their efforts to retain and advance the skills of their existing workforce. PSI’s training program is focused on operational efficiency, manufacturing standardization, bilingual communication and safety.

“We have some electrical training that we'll be doing, lean training, safety training, Microsoft Suite training–so Word, PowerPoint, Excel and Outlook. And then we've got leadership training and English-Spanish training that we'll be doing,” Jeters said.

The grants, which total more than $155,000, run from July 1, 2025, through Oct. 31, 2026. The training will take place throughout the grant period via contracts administered by Blackhawk’s Workforce and Community Development team. Blackhawk faculty and corporate trainers will lead the training sessions for all WAT grant recipients.

“Had we not gotten this grant, we would not be doing this training. We would be doing the electrical training, but not the other training that is now available to us,” Jeters explained. “It will open up a lot of opportunities for our employees as well for growth and moving into different areas.”

Other companies awarded WAT grants include:

• Green County Nursing (SSM Health, based in Monroe). Their training program is focused on credit Nursing classes in Blackhawk’s Associate Degree in Nursing program.
• KANDU Industries (based in Milton). Their training program is focused on production improvement, project management, leadership development and safety.