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Shannon Swift, Renegade Materials

Ohio Third Frontier Helps Former Auto Worker Retool Skills for Technology Business

After getting laid off from his job at General Motors, Shannon Swift was searching for a new way to support his wife and five children. With his unemployment about to expire, Shannon was desperate to find a job. Fortunately, a new company was just getting started in the Dayton, Ohio region, thanks in part to Ohio Third Frontier, an unprecedented and bipartisan commitment to expand Ohio's technological strengths. The company was Renegade Materials Corporation, a developer of polymer materials for high-temperature applications. Recently, Shannon spoke to us about his transition into the technology business and what Ohio Third Frontier means to him.

Q. In what way has funding from Ohio Third Frontier help shape your career?

A. I had planned on working my entire career at General Motors. When I got laid off, I had no idea how I would transition my manufacturing skills into a new line of work. Around this time, Ohio Third Frontier was helping Dayton-area Renegade Materials Corporation complete construction of a new facility to bring the next generation of advanced materials for the aerospace and defense industries to market. To recruit labor to handle this new working capacity, Renegade tapped into the pool of displaced workers from the GM plant where I had worked. That's how I landed a job at Renegade.

After being hired at Renegade, I received on-the-job training to transition my skills to the new technology business, and now I am working for Renegade's high temperature polymer business. Essentially, Ohio Third Frontier was the bridge that brought me to work with Renegade. Without Ohio Third Frontier, I would still be searching for a career where I could apply the skills that I acquired in the automotive industry. Really, it's a win, win, WIN for everyone. The state doesn't have to pay unemployment, the company gets help training their employees from Ohio Third Frontier, and I get an opportunity to learn a new trade!

Q. How has Ohio Third Frontier helped Renegade get started?

A. Ohio Third Frontier had been with Renegade at each step in the development process: from support for its initial research and development, to ensuring help from the Innovation Ohio Loan Fund to build the $5 million state-of-the-art facility, to securing business advice from the Dayton Development Coalition's Entrepreneurial Signature Program, which was funded in part by Ohio Third Frontier. They have also helped to develop job-training programs like the one that I went through when I joined Renegade. This formalized job training was critical to ensuring my effectiveness at the company.

Q. What partnerships with Ohio-based organizations have helped Renegade flourish in the technology business?

A. Working through Sam Wainscott, a State of Ohio Workforce Development Specialist, Renegade was consulted to tap into the pool of displaced workers, like me, from the General Motors DMAX plant. A series of recommendations, tests, and interviews follow, and I was offered a position with Renegade. With its strong working relationship with the State of Ohio Workforce Development, Renegade was able to efficiently find skilled workers for its technology business.

Q. What are the top three things that you believe Ohio uniquely offers its workers?

A. I really can't think of any other state that could support its labor force like Ohio does. Here, a number of different organizations work together to constantly improve job opportunities. Job markets are dynamic, and Ohio proactively works to ensure that the state's labor pool is prepared for the future. The public-private support eliminates obstacles, accelerates start-up and feeds business growth. Additionally, Ohio has a strong, unmatched history of expertise in advanced manufacturing excellence. The abundant manufacturing opportunities here helped to jump-start my career as well as launch it into the next phase in the technology business. Finally, on a personal level, I have five children. Ohio's work-life balance enables me to spend valuable time with my family. I have a quality of life here that I really don't believe I could achieve anywhere else!