PLATTEVILLE, Wis. — The University of Wisconsin System Board of Regents honored Plexus Corp. for its collaborations and contributions to the University of Wisconsin-Platteville Wednesday at the Markee Pioneer Student Center.
UW System President Jay Rothman, Board of Regents President Karen Walsh and UW-Platteville Chancellor Tammy Evetovich presented the UW System Regents Business Partnership Award to Plexus Corp.’s Senior Vice President of Human Resources Jamie Crouse and Senior Vice President of Engineering and Quality Mike Running.
“UW-Platteville’s partnership with Plexus is evident in multiple ways and a critical driver of the economy in Wisconsin,” Rothman said. “With dozens of Pioneers currently employed, student internships, and ongoing research and project collaborations, these two important pillars share a vision for the region.”
“This collaboration places a great emphasis on students and their success,” Walsh said. “The company’s focus on women in STEM careers is a model.”
The Neenah, Wisconsin-based company sponsored the Plexus Women in STEM Center in fall of 2022 in the new Sesquicentennial Hall. The Plexus Women in STEM Center creates a supportive community where women will prosper at both UW-Platteville and then in their careers. The center is a hub of mentoring, outreach and success programs that engage over 1,000 UW-Platteville students and thousands of students in grades 5-12.
“We’re appreciative for this recognition and for the strong partnership with UW-Platteville,” Crouse said. “Our ability to partner in support of advancing STEM-based learning and the career development of women is a critical component in helping Plexus succeed in fulfilling its vision of helping to create the products that build a better world.”
Eighty-nine alumni currently work at Plexus, with a combined tenure of approximately 750 years. In addition to employing UW-Platteville graduates, Plexus has 42 internships in the last five years to current students. Global leaders in complex product design, supply chain, manufacturing and sustaining services, Plexus is also a frequent senior design partner in mechanical engineering and electrical engineering student projects. In addition, Plexus is a supporter of other UW-Platteville endeavors such as career fairs and Women in STEM banquets.
“We are so incredibly proud and appreciative of Plexus’ time, philanthropy, and dedication to the Pioneer community,” Chancellor Evetovich said. “In making these collaborative connections, we are living our mission by promoting student learning and success. On behalf of UW-Platteville, I offer my sincere thanks to Plexus Corporation for all they have done and for all we will do together moving forward.”
The UW System Regents Business Partnership Award recognizes the innovative collaborations between a university and a business and their reciprocal beneficial impacts on curricular, program, or service efforts that reflect the changing needs of our universities, workforce and communities.
For more information about the Plexus Women in STEM Center, visit www.uwplatt.edu/department/plexus-women-stem-program/plexus-women-stem-center.
About Plexus
Since 1979, Plexus has been partnering with companies to create the products that build a better world. We are a team of nearly 25,000 individuals who are dedicated to providing Design and Development, Supply Chain Solutions, New Product Introduction, Manufacturing and Sustaining Services. Plexus is a global leader that specializes in serving customers in industries with highly complex products and demanding regulatory environments. Plexus delivers customer service excellence to leading companies by providing innovative, comprehensive solutions throughout a product’s lifecycle. For more information about Plexus, visit our website at www.plexus.com.