Marion program addresses area need for welders
MARION – Joseph Campbell had never welded before, a fact that became abundantly clear when he accidentally caught his pant leg on fire.
But 17-and-a-half weeks later, Campbell and seven classmates had completed a welding, fabrication and allied processes program at Tri-Rivers Career Center. Those classes should help him obtain a better-paying, more skilled job, said Campbell, 34, who previously worked in customer service.
"I want to take more classes in welding and machinist to keep learning," Campbell said.
The program, formed to help the employees who lost their jobs because of the plant closure at ConAgra Foods Inc., was the first of its kind in the area, said Ronald Meade, administrator of Ohio Means Jobs - Marion County.
Tri-Rivers staff took a 900-hour welding program and shortened it into a time frame that would benefit people receiving assistance from Marion County Job and Family Services, which typically runs out after 26 weeks. To do that, they cut out skills that weren't in demand in the area, instructor Levi Retterer said.
"We also had to look at what the industry needed around here. We're trying to service Marion County and the surrounding counties. Unless you move away from that, there's not a demand for pipe welding," Retterer said.
Across Ohio, communities are working to connect employers with skilled employees by identifying where candidates' skills are lacking, building relationships between employers and schools, creating niche programs and inspiring children to look at local industries when selecting a career.
The Governor's Office of Workforce Transformation creates regular reports on in-demand jobs, provides career advice through one-stop centers in each county and creates incentives for businesses that work with educational institutions. Last year, six pilot programs received grants to place more than 75 percent of the 500 trainees into jobs by the end of the programs, which range from training health care workers in Appalachian Ohio to insurance workers in central Ohio.
In Sandusky County, Century Die Co. offers a soapbox derby for younger children that exposes them to the manufacturer and hands-on work. In Licking County, a new program took dozens of high school students on tours of three local manufacturers to educate them about job opportunities in their area.
The classes at Tri-Rivers include basic math, which is critical for welding, because many students graduated from high school years ago. The classes also taught students soft skills, such as showing up to work by requiring 90 percent attendance.
"(Employers) look for attitude, ambition and attendance. If they have skills, that's extra on top," Retterer said.
John Hook, who was laid off when the ConAgra plant closed, said welding required a different pace than his former job, which depended on his speed.
"It's about taking your time," Hook said of welding.
Meade said the program addressed an immediate need because of the layoffs at ConAgra but it also addressed a long-term need for skilled laborers in the manufacturing fields. Many young adults do not realize the job opportunities available in the area in manufacturing and the high level of education provided at RAMTEC, which provides industrial robotics and advanced manufacturing skills training.
"We need to re-glamorize manufacturing. A lot of kids don't think it's sexy. That's not the case," Meade said.
Retterer responded quickly: "It's sexy when you can bring home a fat paycheck." A welder makes about $35,000 in Ohio, according to PayScale.com.
Jay Byrd, vice president RobotWorx in Marion, is working with Tri-Rivers Career Center to funnel skilled workers to his business. The business employs many people from adjacent Richland and Crawford counties.
It might take two or three years to benefit from the partnership, but Byrd said it's worth the wait.
"It's almost too early. We haven't seen the benefits in the area yet," Byrd said. "We have a good relationship with them. That's a beautiful thing that our area has those capabilities going on."
Those relationships with area businesses have helped Marion Technical College students find careers as well. A cooperative experience was required for Erin Galyk to graduate with his two-year degree in business with a focus on software development.
Galyk said he interned at Nucor Steel Marion while going to school and was later hired by the company as a software engineer.
Staying in the area wasn't extremely important to the Marion Catholic High School graduate, but he said there are benefits to living close to family and friends.
"It's nice to know there are still professional opportunities in small towns," Galyk said. "There are always opportunities to get out if that's what you want to do, but leaving isn't always solving the problem."
jbalmert@gannett.com
740-328-8548
Twitter: @jbalmert
Looking for a job?
The Multi-County Job Fair will offer opportunities for job seekers from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. April 9 at Giauque Auditorium, 2222 Marion-Mt. Gilead Road, Marion.
For information, call 740-389-4682.
Details about local job openings are available at OhioMeansJobs.com.
Looking for information?
To find out about Tri-Rivers Career Center programs, call 740-389-4682 for details about adult education or 740-389-4681 for details on high school programs. The center's website, tririvers.com, is another good source of information.
Ohio Means Jobs Marion County offers assistance for job seekers at 740-382-0076.
Marion Technical College and The Ohio State University at Marion offer a variety of classes to train individuals for job-ready skills. For more information on Marion Technical College, call 740-389-4636 or visit www.mtc.edu. Ohio State Marion can be reached at 740-389-6786 or osumarion.osu.edu. The next campus visit day is April 3.