Gary Greubel recognized for empowering youth with career readiness by Junior Achievement.

(Waupaca, Wisconsin) October 14, 2024— Junior Achievement of West Kentucky has awarded Gary Greubel the 2024 Bronze Presidential Volunteer Award for positively impacting the lives of young people. This is the second consecutive year Greubel has been honored for volunteering between 100-499 hours with the organization. Junior Achievement of West Kentucky works with youth in a 26-county area to prepare them for success in school and careers.

Greubel has been supporting the organization’s mission for more than six years and currently serves as the local board president for Junior Achievement in Perry County, Indiana, and Hancock County, Kentucky. He is the human resources manager for Waupaca Foundry Plant 5 in Tell City, which employs 1,000 people in the region. Greubel became involved in Junior Achievement shortly after his promotion from plant safety manager to human resources manager at Waupaca Foundry in 2015.

“These kids really need a chance,” Greubel said. “They need to understand the expectations in a working environment, so we do mock interviews, discuss resumes, determine priorities and goal setting, and address communication, collaboration, and conflict resolution.” In his 154 hours of volunteer service, Greubel spends most of his time at Perry Central High School and Tell City High School. 

“I see my role as an investment in the future,” Greubel said. “If I can get kids interested in a career in manufacturing, it’s good for the foundry and good for the economic health of the community.” 

Other Waupaca Foundry team members also volunteer for Junior Achievement. Assistant Human Resources Manager Nick Montgomery teaches career courses with him at the high school level. Plant Manager Cody Axton and Assistant Plant Manager Ross Hendershot teach in the middle and elementary schools.

“It’s important for girls to see women in manufacturing roles so they understand that career options are open to everyone and it’s possible to have a good work/life balance in manufacturing,” Axton said. “It’s important for students to see that manufacturing isn’t just hot and dirty work. There are many opportunities,” she said. 

Annually, the Waupaca Foundry team dedicates over 260 hours to helping young people connect what they learn in school to real-life experiences, inspiring and empowering them to pursue their passions and dreams. Since 2017, the gray and ductile iron supplier has also invested more than $40,000 in Junior Achievement of West Kentucky.

Autumne Baker, Vice President of Area Operations for Junior Achievement, said that the partnership with Waupaca Foundry has been a win-win situation for all involved.  “Waupaca Foundry has been a wonderful partner with JA.  By going into the schools and teaching students about work and career readiness, JA has seen that 1 in 5 students go into the same field as their JA volunteer.  Plus, the volunteers get to see what school “looks like” now and make a connection with the local students,” she said.

As for Greubel, he says his objective is to make a difference, no matter how small.

“If I can get a young person to take away only one or two concepts that will help them take a better path in life, I’ve succeeded,” Greubel said.

For more information on Waupaca Foundry’s community involvement, please visit https://waupacafoundry.com/blog/category/community. 

Photo credit: Shiraz Mukarram, Perry County Development Corporation.

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