Lancaster: On Friday, August 1, six Lancaster County residents graduated from Printing 101, a pre-employment program for careers in the printing industry that is co-sponsored by the Lancaster County Workforce Investment Board and Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology in cooperation with the PA CareerLink of Lancaster County and RR Donnelley at a ceremony held at Stevens College.

Those graduating included Chris Haldeman, Donald Lane, Cornelius Bryant, Allen Butler, Justin Flaharty, and Sandor Smith.

Participants completed a program over six weeks that included the Ready2Work program of the PA CareerLink of Lancaster County which includes foundational skill development and work skills reinforcement; a HOT (hands on training) Laboratory where they learned about basic tools and the maintenance of machines; and an Introduction to Printing which emphasized the various kinds of printing and the elements of the printing process. They also received a 10-hour certification in OSHA requirements.

Bradley Adams, Raymond Buckwalter, Donald Hart, and James Knapp are the instructors for this program and provided the supervision in the laboratory. "This program provides non-traditional students with a great opportunity to develop a base of knowledge and experience that helps them be more successful as they enter into employment in the printing industry," said Dr. Michael Gerfin, Director of Workforce Development and Continuing Education at Stevens, recently.

The RR Donnelley Foundation provided a grant to fund the implementation of the HOT Lab, the development of the curriculum, and the orientation of the instructors. Christine Hertneky, Regional Human Resources Manager, and William Montani from the Human Resources staff led the initiative at RR Donnelley. The Lancaster County Workforce Investment Board added additional funding to run the training through an Industry Partnership Workforce Training Grant from the PA Department of Labor and Industry.

Scott Sheely, Executive Director of the Lancaster County Workforce Investment Board, commented that "these well-prepared folks are finishing their training at an important time for the printing industry as it faces an aging population of skilled machine operators that it will need to replace in the next ten years. There are tremendous opportunities in this industry in the near future for persons of color and women."

Future classes will run on a regular basis. Contact Martin Wubbolt or Brenda Chavez at the PA CareerLink at 717-509-5613 ext. 385 or 717-391-3570 (TTY) for enrollment information.

Lancaster: On Friday, June 27, thirteen Lancaster residents graduated from Construction 101, a pre-apprenticeship program for careers in the construction industry that is co-sponsored by the Lancaster County Workforce Investment Board and Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology in partnership with Lancaster County Adult Probation and Parole Services, Neighborhood Services, the PA CareerLink of Lancaster County, SACA, and the Keystone Chapter of Associated Builders and Contractors, at a ceremony held at Stevens College.

Those graduating included Ronald Gant, Pedro Colon, Jorge Camargo, George Rodgers III, Tyrone Rankins Jr., Richard Parish, Quentin Murray, Stephen Morales, Dennis McCain Jr., Shaun Marsh, Donald Gochenauer, Daniel Hernandez, and Frank Lofton.

Participants completed a six-week, 240 hour program of classroom instruction and on-the-job training that qualifies them to work in the construction industry and that provides a curriculum which is at the introductory core of the apprenticeship programs for carpenters, electricians, masons, plumbers, HVAC, and other construction careers. Coursework includes safety, hand and power tools, construction math, and other topics.

Charles Byers and Dan Noel, carpentry instructors at Stevens, are the instructors for this course and provide the on-site supervision. "This program provides non-traditional students with a great opportunity to develop a base of knowledge and experience that helps them be more successful as they enter into employment in the construction industry," said Byers recently.

Over 200 students have graduated from the program this year with some dramatic success stories that include students who are now working in the industry and enrolled in apprenticeship training with Associated Builders and Contractors as well as graduates who are continuing their education at the Lancaster County Career and Technology Center, Thaddeus Stevens College, and Penn State University. Scott Sheely, Executive Director of the Lancaster County Workforce Investment Board, commented that "these well-prepared young people are beginning their training at an important time for the construction industry as it faces an aging population of skilled tradespersons that it will need to replace in the next ten years. There are tremendous opportunities in this industry in the near future for persons of color and women."

In this class, George Rodgers III received honors for having the Highest Grade Point Average while Ronald Gant was honored as Most Improved Student and Richard Parish was selected at Most Competent in his skill mastery. George Rodgers III, Richard Parrish, Stephen Morales, and Shaun Marsh were recognized for their Perfect Attendance.

Lancaster: On Friday, July 11, thirty-two Lancaster County residents graduated from Ready2Work, a workforce readiness program that is sponsored by the PA CareerLink of Lancaster County at a ceremony held at Liberty Place. Community partners include the Spanish-American Civic Association, Brightside Baptist Church, the Urban League, and Neighborhood Services.

Those graduating included Manuel Abrante, Carlos Almanzar, Corneilius Bryant, Kimberly Burns, Allen Butler, Zina Carroll, Kimberly Dale, Shakeena Dixon, Justin Flaharty, Shelley Floyd, Gladys Gonzalez, Bradley Hall, Daniel Hartman, Shaun Marsh, Robert Martin, Justin Myers, Apryle Nichols-Banks, Elianelle Nieves-Lopez, Anthony Patterson, Angel Paz, Billy Phillips, Beverly Riehl, Denia Rivera, Joseph Romberger, David Roskow, Terry Shelley, Leah Smith, Sandor Smith, Nichole Spencer, Maireleiz Toledo, Maria Torrent, and Tiffany Williams.

Participants completed a program that usually takes from one-six weeks which includes career counseling; assessement foundational skills; remediation in reading, mathematics, and using charts and graphs; and a review of work skills around attendance, managing conflict, working with others, being prepared for transportation and child care emergencies, managing time and money, and other important issues. Participants receive a Career Readiness Credential from the Workforce Investment Board and the Lancaster Chamber upon completion of the WorkKeys standardized test of workforce skills.

Some of the graduates have gone on to other skill training programs in construction, welding, machine operation, printing, and food safety.

Counselors with the PA CareerLink help graduates make connections with Ready2Work employers who guarantee people with the Career Readiness Certificate a job interview if their skills match jobs that might be available. The list of 35+ employers which includes manufacturers, insurance agencies, long-term care facilities, and others is diverse and grows by dozens each month.

Tom Baldrige, President of the Lancaster Chamber, commented that "having a pool of people with a good foundation of basic workforce skills is a strong competitive advantage for our community. We think that this program begins to solve the problem experienced by employers of entry-level people not being ready to work."

Future classes run continuously. Contact Martin Wubbolt or Brenda Chavez at the PA CareerLink at 717-509-5613 ext. 385 or 717-391-3570 (TTY) for enrollment information.

Lancaster: On Tuesday, September 23, thirty-five Lancaster County residents graduated from Ready2Work, a workforce readiness program that is sponsored by the PA CareerLink of Lancaster County at a ceremony held at Liberty Place. Community partners include the Spanish-American Civic Association, Brightside Baptist Church, the Urban League, and Neighborhood Services.

Those graduating included Paivi Heinrich, Elizabeth Medina, Aurora Quinones, Yadira Rodriguez, Yelmarie Rolon-Rivera, Joseph Anderson, Joyce Bouldin, Victor Carter, Carl Christmas, Kelvin Dennison, John Dunn, Viordez Ellison, Lisa Felizzi, Nicole Forthman, Vondol Hammond, Janet Hostetter, Debra Jenkins, Yadira Jimenez, Eryn Kennedy, Lawrence Kowerski, Chris Lamison, Bampi Mallik, Charles, Mobley, Manuel Munoz, Craig Myers, Donna Nein, Lisa Ortmann, Ana Pagan, Tilson Ramos, George Reidel, Wilmynda Rodriguez-Rivera, Julia Siliezar, Anthony Taylor, Maritza Torres, and Alberto Troche.

Participants completed a program that usually takes from one-six weeks which includes career counseling; assessement foundational skills; remediation in reading, mathematics, and using charts and graphs; and a review of work skills around attendance, managing conflict, working with others, being prepared for transportation and child care emergencies, managing time and money, and other important issues. Participants receive a Career Readiness Credential from the Workforce Investment Board and the Lancaster Chamber upon completion of the WorkKeys standardized test of workforce skills.

Some of the graduates have gone on to other skill training programs in construction, welding, machine operation, printing, and food safety.

Counselors with the PA CareerLink help graduates make connections with Ready2Work employers who guarantee people with the Career Readiness Certificate a job interview if their skills match jobs that might be available. The list of 35+ employers which includes manufacturers, insurance agencies, long-term care facilities, and others is diverse and grows by dozens each month.

Tom Baldrige, President of the Lancaster Chamber, commented that "having a pool of people with a good foundation of basic workforce skills is a strong competitive advantage for our community. We think that this program begins to solve the problem experienced by employers of entry-level people not being ready to work."

Future classes run continuously. Contact Martin Wubbolt or Brenda Chavez at the PA CareerLink at 717-509-5613 ext. 385 or 717-391-3570 (TTY) for enrollment information.