BEAVER DAM, Wis. (Oct. 23, 2026) — Be Pro Be Proud brought its Mobile Workshop to Beaver Dam High School Thursday for a career exploration event with Moraine Park Technical College, the Beaver Dam Unified School District and Dodge County, giving students a hands-on look at high-demand, high-wage technical professions. The visit is part of the organization’s 10th Anniversary Tour, supported by Meta.
The Workshop is a full-size tractor-trailer carrying interactive simulators and virtual reality experiences representing more than 16 highly skilled occupations across construction, manufacturing, transportation and utilities. More than 250 students took part.
“Ten stops, one workshop, one goal — helping students see technical professions as careers of first choice,” said Andrew Parker, executive director of Be Pro Be Proud. “Employers are projected to fill about 1.7 million openings in those professions every year through 2035, and building a pipeline that big takes all of us. This was our first stop in Wisconsin, and Beaver Dam was the right place to start.”
Each stop on the tour is tailored to regional workforce needs.
“Students benefit from opportunities to explore a career before deciding how to pursue it,” said Katherine O’Hara, principal of Beaver Dam High School. “Bringing this experience to our campus gives students another way to discover their interests and start conversations about the education and training available to them. We’re grateful to Be Pro Be Proud, Meta, Moraine Park Technical College and Dodge County for making this happen.”
Meta announced plans for a data center in Beaver Dam in November 2025.
“At Meta, we believe the future is for everyone, and that belief starts in the communities we call home,” said Matt Sexton, community engagement manager at Meta. “Beaver Dam is one of those communities, and more than 1,000 skilled trade workers will be on site at peak construction building our data center here. Be Pro Be Proud is showing students what those careers look like, and we’re glad to partner with them.”
The Beaver Dam stop is one of 10 on the tour, which continues through the fall with a $500,000 investment from Meta. Since 2023, the partnership has reached nearly 70,000 students across Meta data center communities.
About Be Pro Be Proud: Be Pro Be Proud, Inc. is a nonprofit workforce development initiative originated by the Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce/Associated Industries of Arkansas (AIA) that successfully connects students around the country to high-tech, high-paying technical careers. Through partnerships with state agencies, local industry and higher education
entities, Be Pro Be Proud is effectively working to replenish the professional workforce that has been experiencing a drastic decline. The initiative was launched in Arkansas in 2016 and has since licensed efforts in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, New Mexico, North Carolina, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee and Texas.
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