Today is Wednesday, which means hundreds of Lippert employees will be heading to class this afternoon at Lippert University.
Students—on what is now known across the company as “Lippert Wednesday”—attend sessions ranging from English as a new language and welding to human resource management and OSHA 30 certification. The program was launched in 2022 by Lippert Director of Learning Matthew Jerlecki, who partnered with Ivy Tech Community College in Elkhart, Indiana, to enroll an initial group of 34 students. Jerlecki worked closely with Ivy Tech to harness its educational and technical resources to make these offerings accessible to Lippert employees.
“It has continued to grow because we were able to create a model that worked for all parties involved—the team member, our operational teams and our educational partners,” Jerlecki said. “That structure allows us to add additional learning opportunities, including offering our team members the chance to earn their high school diplomas.”
Originally, Lippert University offered eight-week classes, requiring students to attend a once-weekly session on Wednesday afternoons. To support participation, management worked with team members to adjust schedules throughout the week, ensuring they were still able to work their full hours. In addition, Lippert covered all program costs using state and federal grant funding.
“We had to figure out how we could upskill our existing team members to keep pace with innovation, rapidly changing work environments and even legal changes in the workplace,” Jerlecki said. “We also wanted to do something that would make it attractive for a new person to come work for us.”
Jerlecki came to Lippert with a background in education, having worked in technology integration roles for area school districts. That experience helped shape a practical, employee-first approach to adult learning.
“I knew the program would only succeed if it worked around the realities of our team members’ lives—full-time jobs, family responsibilities and limited access to traditional evening college classes,” he said. “That is why we prioritized in-shift learning and flexible formats.”
“And so, the model just worked,” Jerlecki said. “We had a great partner in Ivy Tech in northern Indiana. Now, we needed to find additional partners to continue expanding across the country.”
This working model allowed Lippert to partner with other colleges across the country—particularly near the company’s production facilities—to offer similar programs. It also enabled Lippert to expand virtual learning options for employees nationwide and even for those based in Europe. In addition, the company has grown offerings to include longer, targeted training programs such as welding and fabrication.
An example of that expansion is Lippert’s Fast Track welding program developed in partnership with Chippewa Valley Technical College in Wisconsin.
“I am pleased to share that over 40% of the welders at our 500-team member Eau Claire facility have come through that program,” Jerlecki said. “It has worked exceptionally well—we have qualified for numerous state grants, and Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers recently visited the plant to see the program in action and speak directly with team members who participated.”
Jerlecki said the program provides Lippert with a strong advantage in recruiting entry-level employees, many of whom enter the workforce with limited technical skills.
“We have a plan to help them develop the skills they need to be successful,” he said. “Not only are they learning skills that will benefit them long-term—we also pay them while they train.”
Lippert has expanded programs into Florida, Illinois, New York and Texas, with plans to grow further as demand and opportunity allow. For locations where an in-person model is not feasible, the company continues to expand its virtual learning options to ensure all employees have access to training, regardless of geography.
The program has even grown beyond Lippert’s walls. An expanding number of other businesses in the RV and manufacturing industries are enrolling their own employees through the same courses.
“We now offer learning cohorts that include team members from a variety of local companies. Typically 12 or more in a group, which allows us to deliver more targeted and sustainable training,” Jerlecki said. “We believe business should be a force for good in the community. Supporting education across the broader industry aligns with that belief. We truly want to be a model in the communities where we live and work.”
To learn more, visit www.lippertuniversity.com.
