More than 400 forklift drivers are newly certified and ready to work safely, and Milwaukee Bucks SBP Engauge Workforce Solutions is to thank.
Engauge, based in Menomonee Falls, WI, has been offering weekly comprehensive forklift training in its warehouse facility in its mission to increase workplace safety and OSHA compliance. Participants – 50% of which have come from underserved populations – have the opportunity to become certified on sit-down forklifts, stand-up reach trucks, and cherry pickers.
“There is no better way to ensure employee loyalty than to provide them the skills they need to increase their overall earning potential,” says Katie Malnight, Engauge’s chief operating officer. “We recognize that there is a significant shortage of skilled forklift drivers in the greater Milwaukee area and understand that many companies simply do not have the time or resources to train inexperienced associates themselves.”
Milwaukee-based frozen pizza manufacturer Palermo’s Pizza has seen great success since the beginning of their partnership. Since May 2023, 73 individuals have passed Engauge’s forklift certification class seeking Palermo’s opportunities, with 60 of these individuals passing Palermo’s final on-site evaluation with offers to start at Palermo’s, 52 ultimately starting at Palermo’s in forklift positions, and 14 having been officially hired after completing their Contract to Hire period.
“We saw an opportunity to partner with a great local company like Palermo’s to expand the opportunities given to associates with strong soft skills. The result was a company and employee ‘win win’ in terms of significantly higher retention rates coupled with higher employee satisfaction,” explains Malnight.
The training provides participants with pre-assessment drug screening, a classroom session with videos, presentations, and a written exam, more than four hours of hands-on training in Engauge’s production facility, and a final assessment and compliance – a format that has worked wonders for Palermo’s.
“Thanks to Engauge, we were able to establish training classes that helped us revamp our onboarding process for temporary employees,” shared an HR Generalist at Palermo’s. “This helped us improve our staffing numbers in the warehouse and allowed the team to work on implementation of new processes. Associates coming out of the class were grateful for the opportunity and appreciate the work they are doing for the company. We are looking forward to having them become part of the family.”
Learn more about Engauge’s forklift certification program here.

