Craftsman With Character

Invest in the next generation of talent — and your future workforce.

Craftsman With Character (CWC) is more than a job shadowing program — it’s a transformative experience for students and businesses. Built on the belief that character can be taught through mentorship, CWC gives high school students in the School District of Janesville the opportunity to spend four days a week inside local businesses, learning alongside skilled professionals, and gaining purpose, confidence, and direction.

Why It Matters

Two decades ago, Dave Hataj, President of Edgerton Gear, recognized a troubling trend: the erosion of shop classes and skilled trades in education, paired with a toxic workplace culture that struggled to retain talent. His solution? Focus not just on teaching skills, but on cultivating character. That shift sparked the creation of Craftsman With Character.

Now, CWC is helping rebuild the talent pipeline — one student, one mentor, and one local business at a time.

Buoyed by the success in Edgerton, CWC expanded to other high schools, including coming into the School District of Janesville for the 2023-24 school year.

“We can teach the skills — what we need are people with character.”
— Dave Hataj, Founder of Craftsman With Character

How It Works

Each semester, local high school students:

• Job shadow four days a week at participating businesses

• Spend one day per week in a character-building classroom setting

• Learn about professionalism, humility, ethics, self-confidence, and relationship-building

• Build lasting connections with adult mentors in the trades

And every step of the way, they’re learning what it means to be part of a workplace built on values and purpose.

“To me, that’s the exciting thing — that we can change a kid’s life by showing them a direction and a purpose.”
— Chris Maedke, School District of Janesville

Sign up for an informational Zoom session with Craftsman With Character

Why Host a Student?

Businesses who host CWC students aren’t just helping the next generation — they’re investing in their own. Many student participants have gone on to work for their host companies. Even more bring a fresh perspective, a willingness to learn, and a renewed sense of pride to the shop floor.

“Interacting with the kids was my favorite part... just seeing the light flicker a little bit when they realized there’s opportunity for them here.”
— Josh Biddick, Vice President, Rock Road Companies

Be Part of the Solution

Forward Janesville is proud to partner with area schools and businesses to bring CWC to our community. If you’re ready to inspire the next generation, strengthen your future workforce, and create a mentoring culture in your organization — join us.

Sign up to be a host business for the next semester

Help us give students direction, purpose, and pride — while building a stronger, character-driven workforce right here in Janesville.

Contact us today at [email protected] or 608-757-3160 to learn more about hosting opportunities or to schedule a conversation.