CA DIDI

08/14/2026

Like many of life's greatest adventures, our 2026 Drone Certification Class was both memorable and educational. This unique experience was made possible through our partnership with Salamanca City Schools, the generous support of local manufacturers, and, most importantly, the expertise and leadership of FAA-certified instructor Matt Schnaufer. With a passion for aviation and a gift for teaching, Matt guided students beyond the basics, helping them understand not only how to fly drones, but also the responsibility, regulations, and career opportunities that come with the technology.

From August 3-7, our CA‑DIDI interns traveled to Salamanca to participate in hands‑on training alongside SNI Marshals, the SNI Tribal Historic Preservation Office, Allegany Fire, and Allegany EMS. Under Matt's instruction, CA-DIDI interns gained real-world experience and valuable insights as they prepared for FAA drone certification. What began as a week of training became an opportunity for CA-DIDI interns to see new career possibilities, build confidence, and gain career-based skills.

08/13/2026

Today kicked off the CA‑DIDI 2.0 CNC Class, a two‑week Fusion 360 intensive that is giving students a firsthand look at how ideas become products. In partnership with JCC's Manufacturing Technology Institute (MTI), ten students from across Cattaraugus County began their journey into 3D design and advanced manufacturing under the guidance of instructor Xavier Smith.
In just two hours, students downloaded Fusion 360, created their first models, imported canvases, traced designs with splines, applied constraints, and learned to navigate Fusion's workflow. And most importantly, how to save!
What began the day as a blank canvas quickly transformed into 3D modeled designs. With every click, curve, and constraint, students moved worked to turn ideas into something real.
The best part? Today's digital sketches are not destined to stay on a computer screen. Over the next three training sessions, students will follow the manufacturing process from design to production, giving their creations the potential to become real, tangible products made in the JCC MTI lab.

08/13/2026

We’re off to a great start with our DIDI 2.0 CNC class at MTISUNY JCC, led by the talented Xavier Smith! We have an incredible group of creative, curious teens who are already bringing their ideas and imagination to life.
It’s inspiring to see their enthusiasm and potential. The future of Cattaraugus County is looking bright!

08/01/2026

You were terrific! Thank you!

Today, Jason and I had the opportunity to speak with the teachers attending the CA DIDI Summer Teacher Experience about Workforce Development, our One Stop Career Centers, and our Manufacturing & Tech Grant.

The funny thing about these events is that we always show up thinking we’re there to teach… and somehow, we leave having learned just as much.

Today’s conversations were honest, thought-provoking, and centered around one goal: helping students succeed.

One topic that came up repeatedly was attendance. Several teachers shared that chronic absenteeism is one of the biggest challenges they’re facing. They also see a connection between poor attendance in school and attendance issues later in the workforce. Showing up is a habit, and like any habit, it starts young.

We also talked about preparing students for life after high school, not just college, but LIFE. Resume writing, interview skills, financial literacy, communication, professionalism, and exposing students to careers they may not even know exist.

One idea that generated a lot of excitement was bringing local manufacturers and employers into schools to talk about careers available right here at home. Some of the teachers shared that many of their students don’t realize the opportunities that exist in our own backyard. Helping students see those possibilities could make all the difference.

A huge thank you to the school districts that dedicated an entire week of their summer to the Dream It Do It Teacher Experience. Investing that time to learn about local industries and career opportunities will undoubtedly benefit the students they serve.

Interested in CA DIDI: https://www.cadidi.org/

Now we’d love to hear from you...

⚙️What do you think is the biggest barrier to good school attendance?
⚙️What life skills do you wish every student learned before graduating high school?
⚙️If you could change one thing to better prepare students for the workforce, what would it be?

Let’s hear your ideas. The best solutions often come from conversations like these. ⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️

08/01/2026

It’s a wrap!

Five incredible days of tours and visits to our local manufacturers came to a close with a fantastic visit to MTI at SUNY JCC, hosted by Xavier Smith.

This year’s group of teachers brought thoughtful questions, great ideas, and an inspiring passion for their students. Their enthusiasm and commitment made this experience even more rewarding.

Thank you to everyone who helped make this week such a success. We appreciate your partnership and support in connecting educators and their students with the amazing career opportunities right here in our region!

07/29/2026

Day two of Summer Teacher program was a splash - literally!! Everyone headed out to Ellicottville and despite the torrential rain, had an awesome tour of Fitzpatrick & Weller. Joe Snyder welcomed everyone to the facilities and included a math lesson in the tour. Thank you for the lovely cutting boards 🥰. Somehow we made it back to Olean through the rain and had lunch (thank you!) and a great tour at Pierce Steel and Turbo Machining. Then off to Cutco for a wonderful tour that included marketing, fabrication, and a full circle moment. We watched the knife blocks being made with wood from Fitzpatrick & Weller 🪵. A wonderful day!

07/29/2026

Week-long Young Manufacturers event a ‘great success’ Before delivering her “Five Whys” of engineering presentation to an awaiting student group, Katie Kuzniar had envisioned two potential outcomes. In the first, the kids would be disinterested, and she’d be talking to several blank faces....

07/28/2026

07/28/2026