Miller Electric president recognized for commitment to technical education

Miller Electric Mfg. Co. President Mike Weller has received the Technical Education Champion Award from the Wisconsin Technical College District Boards Association. Weller was recognized for his work with local institution Fox Valley Technical College (FVTC), which has its main campus in Appleton, Wis., where Miller Electric is located.

The award, given annually for outstanding service to a member institution of the Wisconsin Technical College System, recognizes business leaders for their support of area technical schools and partnership in addressing key industry issues.

Among other initiatives, Weller recently served as treasurer and team leader for Friends of FVTC, an advocacy group spearheading support for FVTC’s successful $66.5 million public referendum in 2012. Weller recruited and chaired the 39-member steering committee for the referendum’s proposal to build more than 240,000 sq. ft. of new facilities in Appleton to help meet the school’s growing program enrollment needs.

Weller has led the 30-year Miller-FVTC partnership, including coordination of several million dollars' worth of welding equipment since 2000. Recent equipment contributed as part of the partnership has been used to establish the school’s Advanced Manufacturing Technical Center, which opened in 2011. The Center enabled FVTC to expand its core welding training programs.

Weller has also served as an adjunct instructor at FVTC, is active in the school's K-12 engagement programs, and is an advocate for Wisconsin technical institutions with the governor’s office.