2026 UPMW Shining Star Award Recipient: Tom Autio
Last week Michigan Works! agencies from across the State gathered in Mt. Pleasant, MI for the annual Michigan Works! Conference. One of the highlights of this gathering is the presentation of Shining Star awards which recognize frontline staff who “through dedication and outstanding contributions to workforce development, personify the Michigan Works! mission.” Please join us in celebrating UPMW’s 2026 Shining Star Award Recipient, Communications Manager Tom Autio!
There are people who do their job well, and then there are people whose work quietly expands the potential of everyone around them. Tom Autio is one of those people.
In a region as large and isolated as Michigan’s Upper Peninsula (UP), opportunity does not advance on its own. It must be conveyed intentionally, consistently, and carefully across hundreds of miles, into small towns, onto screens, into inboxes, and into the hearts of people who may not yet believe their future can be impactful. Tom functions as an opportunity crafter every single day.
Through his leadership in building and sustaining our communications ecosystem, Tom ensures that Upper Peninsula Michigan Works! is not just a service, but a visible, trusted presence across the UP. His social media outreach reaches thousands, connecting job seekers to hope and employers to solutions. His employer newsletters and job seeker newsletters serve as lifelines that open doors to training, funding, and careers that bolster lives. His work is the conduit that connects people to possibility.
Tom’s work behind the scenes fuels the success of our most impactful initiatives. His Going PRO Talent Fund promotion ensures that employers invest in their talent to maximize their success. His storytelling and outreach for programs like Hammer Time Bootcamp highlight pathways that empower individuals to rebuild confidence and reinvent their future. His Mind Trekkers promotional campaign inspires young people to envision themselves in advanced careers they may never have dreamed of. His partnership in promoting the Upper Peninsula Economic Development Alliance augments a broader environment that maximizes economic growth.
He ensures that our work reaches UP living rooms through thoughtful planning and coordination of TV6 segments, bringing inspirational stories of real people and programs into public view. He elevates the accomplishments of others through internal UPMW initiatives like the Impact Awards, ensuring that our staff feel seen, valued, and inspired to continue.
Tom does all of this with humility, grace, and an unwavering sense of purpose.
This past year, while carrying the full weight of communications responsibilities during a time of temporarily reduced staff, Tom never let the mission falter. He unhesitatingly leaned in. He showed up every day with quiet determination, knowing that if he excelled, others might find the courage to walk through our doors, enroll in training, or believe in themselves.
Tom is not a frontline contact, but because of him, people come and people succeed.
Because of Tom, an employer finds the support they need.
Because of Tom, a young person achieves their dream.
Tom Autio does more than communicate the Michigan Works! mission, he makes it real. He vivifies it. He advances it.
He is, in every sense of the word, a Shining Star!
Congratulations, Tom–we’re so lucky to have you on our team!