Hillary Clinton visits injection molding manufacturer in ColoradoHillary Clinton visits injection molding manufacturer in Colorado

Earlier this week, former secretary of state Hillary Rodham Clinton visited Intertech Plastics, the largest custom injection molding manufacturer in Colorado. Clinton met with local business and non-profit leaders, as well as, several current and former trainees from Intertech's workforce development programs to highlight the benefits for businesses providing training, mentoring and hiring initiatives to young people. Clinton also spoke with employees on the factory floor about their workforce experiences and their career pathways through their training initiatives.

Clinton is prioritizing youth employment as one of the key issues for her work at the Clinton Foundation, and believes that business-led initiatives will play a critical role in addressing this important economic challenge. The Clinton Foundation is working closely with businesses and leading nonprofits, economists, and advocates across the country to identify and scale effective ways for companies to address their core business needs through engaging our nation's opportunity youth. 

Intertech Plastics, founded by Noel Ginsburg in 1980, specializes in turnkey services. Intertech is comprised of four divisions: Intertech Plastics, Intertech Medical, Intertech Brands and Intertech Solutions. Intertech Medical, a contract manufacturer serving the medical device and disposable market, was purchased under the name Image Molding, in July 2013. The company employs more than 200 people and operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Ginsburg's commitment to the Denver community has lead him to play integral roles in the Mile High United Way, the Colorado I Have a Dream Foundation, the Denver Public Schools Foundation, and Colorado Advanced Manufacturing Alliance. 

For the past 20 years, Ginsburg has been providing internships, sponsorships, and apprenticeships to the at risk youth of Denver, many of which have gone on to take jobs for one of the four divisions of Intertech.

The morning began with a tour allowing for photo opportunities, after which Clinton and Intertech Plastics CEO Noel Ginsburg made brief remarks at the beginning of a roundtable discussion featuring members from the following organizations: Rose Community Foundation, Denver Public Schools, Colorado I Have A Dream Foundation, Intertech Plastics, Goodbee & Associates, CH2M Hill, Latino Communications, Small Business Majority, Clinton Foundation as well as several former interns.

Clinton spoke to the employees and commented, "The feeling I got here today, is that you have each other's back. That you care about what you are doing and how you do it. That you have pride in what you do. You set a great example of how to 'mold' a better world."

Last year, Intertech Plastics hosted the U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker. During the event, Ginsburg talked to PlasticsToday about workplace development. 

"One of our top issues is workplace development," Ginsburg said. "It's very important to get people trained."

He said the company has a school-to-career initiative, which is designed to engage students at the high school level in career interests and match them to local hands-on opportunities. Intertech Plastics works closely with Montbello High School to implement this initiative.

"For instance, one former intern is now running one of our divisions," he said. "If you want to be in this industry for the long haul, you must keep rebuilding."