Many companies give of their money and time when it comes to community service endeavors. Roger Sustar gives of those resources, too. But Sustar also gives of his expertise.
Sustar, the president and owner of Fredon Corp., has served on the board at Lakeland Community College for six years. In that time, he combined his passion for community service with his knowledge of the manufacturing industry to bring a new program to Lakeland’s core curriculum: the machine trades program.
Students wishing to achieve a higher level of education in the manufacturing field can now choose manufacturing as a designated area of study thanks to the initiative taken by Sustar and his staff at Fredon.
Sustar also takes his expertise to the high-school level. He is a sponsor and speaker for the annual Learning About Business weeklong workshop for high school seniors. In addition to educating local students about the manufacturing field, Sustar and his business are also strong supporters of the Mentor school district, serving on several business advisory councils.
Sustar is active in recruiting other business professionals to volunteer within the school. His efforts have made Fredon a go-to resource for the school district.
When the district needed business professionals to talk to high school seniors about interviewing, skills employers are looking for, and information about how to dress and act during the job-seeking process, Fredon was able to help.
Sustar called on the dean of business at Lakeland, a vice president of finance at an area business, the director of the Employment Resource Council and the president of the local United Way chapter. All four attended the school engagement, which was made possible by the involvement of Sustar and his staff at Fredon.
Sustar has become the main recruiter when Mentor schools need businesses and experts in various areas of business to participate in business expos or student career days. His passion, not just for serving the community himself but getting others involved, has spliced perfectly into his involvement with the Mentor Chamber of Commerce and Rotary Club, where he continues to connect area businesses and business leaders with community service opportunities — something he has done tirelessly for more than a few decades.
How to reach: Fredon Corp., (440) 639-1399 or www.fredon.com
