Black River Technical College (BRTC) is pleased to announce Greenbrier’s Steven Kiker of Paragould is the welding instructor for BRTC @ The Armory.
“I’m excited to work with young people, to pour knowledge and experience into them,” Kiker said. “If they want to pursue a career in welding, I can help prepare them.”
Kiker has worked at Greenbrier for 17 years and has taught welding for Greenbrier’s welding school for several of those helping people qualify to weld for the Greenbrier company.
“I have been fortunate to work with some very smart people. They have educated me way more than I ever dreamed,” Kiker said. “I like to pass on the knowledge that I have accumulated over the years, especially things that would have benefitted me when I was young.”
The BRTC @ The Armory opened welding classes for high school students August 14.
The Armory is a career and technical center (CTC), the only one in Clay County, offering certification opportunities to area high school students who want to fast track to a high-wage, high-demand job straight out of high school. However, if day time class enrollment isn’t full, there may be seats available for adults in the community who want to change their career or earn certifications.
The facility will be used for workforce training, both introductory and advanced. Classes in the evenings and during weekends will be available to the public as well as students.
Programs offered will be welding, industrial maintenance/automation, industrial electricity, and robotic automation focused on distribution and logistics.
The BRTC @ The Armory would not be possible without the donations and leg work of local community leaders including Piggott School District Superintendent Freddie Bowen. The Arkansas Department of Education provided a $350,000 grant to construct a welding lab classroom as well as purchase equipment. The Arkansas Office of Skills Development has invested $2.383 million thus far for renovations of the armory, welding smoke exhaust systems, engineering, installation, a forklift, electrical trainers, instructional supplies, and robotic/conveyor equipment. Additional grant funding has equaled $50,700. The City of Piggott donated labor and materials to install a three-phase transformer.
BRTC has partnered with Fidus Global, Greenbrier, and Hytrol to provide the highest quality training for students and individuals in electricity, robotics, industrial automation, controls, and welding. Fidus Global utilized its business partnerships to help BRTC obtain top-of-the-line, current robotics and automation equipment at a discounted rate. Hytrol has provided insight and resources developing and implementing a sophisticated conveyor system so students/trainees can reap the benefits of cutting-edge training. Greenbrier has committed to providing human resources in the form of welding teachers and industry knowledge to help BRTC curriculum stay on top.
For more information about BRTC @ The Armory or the CTC program, contact Director of Career, Technical, and Concurrent Education Darenda Kersey at (870) 248-4184 or darenda.kersey@blackrivertech.edu.