Magna honored for its commitment to hiring Michigan talent

Global tier one supplier Magna International Inc. was recognized with a Michigan Works! Association Impact Award for its commitment to hiring Michigan talent for its $56 million assembly plant in Lyon Township.

The award was given to Magna International and its wholly owned subsidiary, Cosma Body Assembly of Michigan, by the Michigan Works! Association during a luncheon held Wednesday in Lansing. They were nominated for the award by Oakland County Michigan Works!

"I congratulate Magna on receiving this recognition," Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson said. "The company has long been an industry leader and remains an important employer and valuable corporate citizen in Oakland County."

Magna, which has its U.S. headquarters in Troy, has received more than $845,000 in Skilled Trade Training Funds from the state since 2014 to train existing and new workers for the Lyon Township and other facilities. The company partnered with the Oakland County Michigan Works! to recruit employees using social media and shared postings with Pure Michigan Talent Connect and its regional partners including colleges, universities, nonprofit organizations and the Michigan Works! system.

"Magna is proud of its partnership with Oakland County Michigan Works! and the entire Michigan Works! system," said Paul Myles, Magna senior manager, government workforce development and training programs. "We are working together to solve some of the most important workforce development challenges facing our industry."

Magna engineer Michael Potempa was also honored with an Impact Award, as were Oakland County Michigan Works!, the Oakland County Department of Economic Development & Community Affairs and the Michigan Economic Development Corp. for the Lyon Township project. Oakland County Michigan Works! has eight service centers in the county: Ferndale, Highland, Novi, Oak Park, Pontiac, Southfield, Troy, and Waterford.

Published: Thu, Mar 02, 2017