Northeast State and the Regional Center for Advanced Manufacturing (RCAM) welcomed new partner Westlake Royal Building Products in Bristol Tennessee with their first apprentice.
RCAM staff welcomed Trevor Nelson as the Westlake apprentice candidate at an event held in March at Royal Building Products site in Bristol. He signed his apprenticeship agreement earlier this fall to join. Northeast State Community College/RCAM will be providing the Related Training and Instruction for Westlake.
“There’s a lot to learn, but that’s what is exciting,” said Nelson. “You see so many things on the job while you are learning in the classroom; I am excited to learn a lot more and enjoy what I’m doing.”
Nelson becomes the first apprentice candidate from Westlake Royal Building Products in Bristol, Tennessee. Nelson holds an associate of applied science degree in Electrical Technology from Northeast State. He will pursue the Mechatronics apprenticeship path which requires 8,000 hours of on-the-job training.
“We are excited to welcome Trevor and Westlake Royal Building Products,” said Blake Montgomery, executive director of Economic and Workforce Development at RCAM. “Continuing to grow partnerships with our industries will strengthen our workforce and regional economy for the long-term.”
Northeast State worked with the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) Office of Apprenticeship to create the Group Registered Apprenticeship program established in 2017. The apprenticeship program unites Northeast State’s technical education with regional economic development. As a DOL registered apprenticeship sponsor, RCAM provides the structure and processes for employers of all sizes to take advantage of this proven workforce development model.
Westlake Training Supervisor Crystal Andrus said the company wanted to invigorate the apprentice opportunities for the company’s workforce. Like many industries across North America, the company recognized a trend of technical skilled workers preparing to leave the workforce. That need set in motion the desire to build a pipeline of new skilled workers and reinvest in the apprenticeship pathway for the future.
“We have eleven apprentices at Westlake facilities,” said Andrus. “By the end of the year we will have 28 apprentices across the U.S. and Canada.”
Candidates attend and pass coursework off-hours, attend hands-on labs at RCAM, demonstrate progress on the job, and submit monthly work progress reports. When completing all coursework and on-the-job work hours, apprentices receive a DOL certificate of completion.
The Westlake facility’s senior engineering process manager, Jamie Hunigan, noted a marked increase in demand by a variety of industries to employ individuals with hands-on technical skills. The apprenticeship program presented an excellent model to unite education with workforce development, he said.
“We are starting to get back to hands-on skills of all levels, aerospace, HVAC, and other different areas,” said Hunigan. “We want to develop our team members to build the skills for their career.”
Westlake Royal Building Products™ USA Inc., a Westlake company (NYSE:WLK) designs and produces a broad and diverse range of exterior and interior building products. Westlake Royal Building manufactures products that are used throughout the world by building professionals, homeowners, architects, and engineers.
Nelson advised anyone presented with the option to become an apprentice to go after the opportunity.
“You can sit down and read a book all day, but you don’t learn it until you get your hands dirty,” said Nelson. “It is a really great experience and definitely worth pursuing.”
Northeast State and the Regional Center for Advanced Manufacturing (RCAM) welcomed new partner Westlake Royal Building Products in Bristol Tennessee with their first apprentice.
RCAM staff welcomed Trevor Nelson as the Westlake apprentice candidate at an event held in March at Royal Building Products site in Bristol. He signed his apprenticeship agreement earlier this fall to join. Northeast State Community College/RCAM will be providing the Related Training and Instruction for Westlake.
“There’s a lot to learn, but that’s what is exciting,” said Nelson. “You see so many things on the job while you are learning in the classroom; I am excited to learn a lot more and enjoy what I’m doing.”
Nelson becomes the first apprentice candidate from Westlake Royal Building Products in Bristol, Tennessee. Nelson holds an associate of applied science degree in Electrical Technology from Northeast State. He will pursue the Mechatronics apprenticeship path which requires 8,000 hours of on-the-job training.
“We are excited to welcome Trevor and Westlake Royal Building Products,” said Blake Montgomery, executive director of Economic and Workforce Development at RCAM. “Continuing to grow partnerships with our industries will strengthen our workforce and regional economy for the long-term.”
Northeast State worked with the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) Office of Apprenticeship to create the Group Registered Apprenticeship program established in 2017. The apprenticeship program unites Northeast State’s technical education with regional economic development. As a DOL registered apprenticeship sponsor, RCAM provides the structure and processes for employers of all sizes to take advantage of this proven workforce development model.
Westlake Training Supervisor Crystal Andrus said the company wanted to invigorate the apprentice opportunities for the company’s workforce. Like many industries across North America, the company recognized a trend of technical skilled workers preparing to leave the workforce. That need set in motion the desire to build a pipeline of new skilled workers and reinvest in the apprenticeship pathway for the future.
“We have eleven apprentices at Westlake facilities,” said Andrus. “By the end of the year we will have 28 apprentices across the U.S. and Canada.”
Candidates attend and pass coursework off-hours, attend hands-on labs at RCAM, demonstrate progress on the job, and submit monthly work progress reports. When completing all coursework and on-the-job work hours, apprentices receive a DOL certificate of completion.
The Westlake facility’s senior engineering process manager, Jamie Hunigan, noted a marked increase in demand by a variety of industries to employ individuals with hands-on technical skills. The apprenticeship program presented an excellent model to unite education with workforce development, he said.
“We are starting to get back to hands-on skills of all levels, aerospace, HVAC, and other different areas,” said Hunigan. “We want to develop our team members to build the skills for their career.”
Westlake Royal Building Products™ USA Inc., a Westlake company (NYSE:WLK) designs and produces a broad and diverse range of exterior and interior building products. Westlake Royal Building manufactures products that are used throughout the world by building professionals, homeowners, architects, and engineers.
Nelson advised anyone presented with the option to become an apprentice to go after the opportunity.
“You can sit down and read a book all day, but you don’t learn it until you get your hands dirty,” said Nelson. “It is a really great experience and definitely worth pursuing.”
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