Chris Blackshear, Utility Trailer; Garrett Groves, Anchor; Clayton Boler, Anchor; Justin Parrish, Anchor; Justice Beck, Anchor; James Ness, Southworth Products; Charles Jones, Tenneco/DRIV; Ben Luke, Tenneco/DRIV; Adrian Dees, Tenneco/DRIV; Andrew Carter, Anchor; Dana Bradford, BRTC
Not pictured: Chris Baugh, Jiggs Compton, Jessie Herron, Lee McMinn, John Petty
PARAGOULD, AR Oct. 6 — Fourteen Paragould industry employees recently graduated from Black River Technical College’s Industrial Maintenance Technician Program. This 9-month program was developed by BRTC’s Corporate and Community Education Department to help local industries “grow their own maintenance technicians.”
During the program, students gained knowledge and skills in the following: math/gauge & measurement, blueprint reading, mechanical maintenance, hydraulics/hydraulic troubleshooting, maintenance welding, electrical safety & schematics, motor controls, and electrical troubleshooting & preventive maintenance.
Five of the fourteen students completing the program also obtained AWS Welding Certifications. Dana Bradford, Coordinator of Corporate & Community Education at BRTC, voiced how pleased she is that BRTC is part of local industries upskilling their workforce by stating, “In our current climate, industries are choosing to advance their current workforce in these essential skills to keep their plants productive. They are literally Growing Their Own!”
For more information about BRTC’s Workforce Training and Community Education, visit https://blackrivertech.org/workforce-corporate-and-community-training.