Industry-Based Credentials: Rockwell Automation and SACA Industry 4.0 Partnership

Please fill out the form below to view the recording of the webinar.

Rockwell Automation and SACA Industry 4.0 Partnership

Rockwell Automation is a Platinum Member which allows them to offer SACA certifications to their employees and provide scholarships to sponsor educational institutions when they start new certification Industry 4.0 programs.

Join Mary Burgoon, Business Development Manager for the Academy of Advanced Manufacturing, and Michael Cook, Director of Global Academic Partnerships at Rockwell Automation from Rockwell with James Wall, Executive Director at SACA as they discuss:

  • Up-to-date industry 4.0 requirements
  • Upskilling existing and new team members
  • Certifying high demand skillsets

“Technology disruption is widening the gap between student learning and industry relevance of learning. At the same time, it is also shortening the shelf life of degrees and opening up variable pathways of learning. To narrow this gap we are actively participating with the Smart Automation Certification Alliance and other industry stakeholders working alongside education to create relevant standards around Industry 4.0 and more importantly access to relevant stackable learning.”
- Michael Cook, Rockwell Automation

Meet the Presenters

Michael Cook

Director Global Academic Partnerships, Rockwell Automation

Michael Cook has broad experience in corporate strategy and global business development across emerging markets including EMEA, Latin America, and the Asia Pacific. Cook has early career experience as an attorney and advocate of the high court in South Africa with broad professional legal and commercial experience. He also worked for several years post MBA as a management and implementation consultant in a global management consultancy in heavy industries, manufacturing, and services as well as an independent consultant in Africa.

He then immigrated to the USA and worked at Rockwell Automation in a strategic development role and currently, he is Director Global Academic Organization for Rockwell Automation which centers on automation laboratories for engineering competency. Rockwell Automation laboratories strive to reduce the gap between theories and practice as well as the gap between classrooms and manufacturing plants. Rockwell Automation University Partnership Program cradles education and innovation in science and technology for students around the world across 80 automation labs touching over 30,000 students.

Our Global Academic Organization champions lifelong learning and inspires innovative thinkers and problem solvers to accelerate digital transformation and expand human possibility in our communities through workforce development programs, strategic partnerships, and investments in people, education, and innovation.

James Wall

Executive Director, SACA

James Wall is currently the Executive Director of the Smart Automation Certification Alliance (SACA). In that capacity, he is responsible for the development and deployment of the new SACA Skill Standards and Certifications.

Prior to joining SACA, he was with National Institute for Metalworking Skills (NIMS) serving as Executive Director and Deputy Director for 12 years.

Jim also has a background in education having been a faculty member at the Pennsylvania State University, Workforce Education and Development Program where he helped develop new career and technical education instructors. While at Penn State, he also directed a multi-year project to upgrade the metalworking programs across the state.

Jim was the owner of a company that did precision machining, welding, and fabrication of down-hole drilling equipment for the oil and gas industry.

Jim started his professional career as a high school career and technical instructor teaching machining.

Mary Burgoon

Business Development Manager for the Academy of Advanced Manufacturing, Rockwell Automation

Mary Burgoon is the Business Development Manager for the Academy of Advanced Manufacturing at Rockwell Automation. In this role she is responsible for leading the development and implementation of strategies and programs that address customer challenges with innovative solutions to address workforce challenges in Advanced Manufacturing.

Prior to her current role, she worked in Global Strategic Industry Marketing at Rockwell Automation and has broad experience in engineering, manufacturing, sales, marketing and government affairs for Rockwell Automation and other Industrial firms.

Mary is a graduate of Loyola University with a Masters of Business Administration and a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the Missouri University of Science and Technology.

Manufacturer: