1000 x 90

CCC&TI and Caldwell Career Center Middle College Hosted An Advanced Manufacturing Open House Tuesday

April 11, 2013. Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute (CCC&TI), in partnership with Caldwell Career Center Middle College (CCCMC), hosted a special event Tuesday evening to highlight advanced manufacturing training opportunities for local students. 

From left, Bob Witcher, Director of Career and Technical Education for N.C. Community Colleges, and Frank Scuiletti, Program Coordinator of Construction, Engineering, Industrial, Transport, Criminal Justice and Fire Protection at N.C. Community Colleges, meet with local educators Dr. Mark Barber, Department Chair of Industrial and Public Services, and Kathy Jo Eckard, Director of Career and Technical Education for Caldwell County Schools, during Tuesday’s Advanced Manufacturing Open House at CCC&TI.
From left, Bob Witcher, Director of Career and Technical Education for N.C. Community Colleges, and Frank Scuiletti, Program Coordinator of Construction, Engineering, Industrial, Transport, Criminal Justice and Fire Protection at N.C. Community Colleges, meet with local educators Dr. Mark Barber, Department Chair of Industrial and Public Services, and Kathy Jo Eckard, Director of Career and Technical Education for Caldwell County Schools, during Tuesday’s Advanced Manufacturing Open House at CCC&TI.

Middle school and high school students from across Caldwell County participated in the event, which included guided tours of the electronic engineering, furniture technology and welding labs at CCC&TI as well as the engineering labs and classrooms at CCCMC. Students, some with their parents, also heard a presentation on the role of advanced manufacturing in the economy and learned about CCC&TI’s hybrid car used for training future mechanics.  

Bob Witchger, Director of Career and Technical Education at the NC Community College System, and Frank Scuiletti, Program Coordinator of Construction, Engineering, Industrial, Transport, Criminal Justice and Fire Protection at the NC Community College System, also attended the event. 

The CCC&TI, CCCMC joint program was part of a statewide effort by North Carolina’s community colleges to raise awareness of advanced manufacturing career opportunities as part of Manufacturing Awareness Week. 

“Fifty years ago, our community colleges were founded on the concept of diversifying our economy to include industry,” said Dr. Scott Ralls, NC Community College System President. “Today’s manufacturing is a high-tech, high-skill industry and in need of qualified workers.  The programs at our community colleges are a gateway to emerging career opportunities.” 

The manufacturing industry in North Carolina continues to expand, creating the need for more workers with technical training. 

Manufacturing Awareness Week (April 8-12) seeks to increase knowledge among students of career opportunities in advanced manufacturing fields through demonstrations, discussions with leaders in manufacturing and hands-on labs. 

A group of Caldwell County students and their parents hear a presentation by Welding Instructor Gary Hudson during Tuesday’s Advanced Manufacturing Open House at CCC&TI.
A group of Caldwell County students and their parents hear a presentation by Welding Instructor Gary Hudson during Tuesday’s Advanced Manufacturing Open House at CCC&TI.

“The number of students completing technician programs at our colleges recently increased by 60 percent,” Ralls said. “Yet there is still a need to attract students into these fields. We want to make sure that young people who are just beginning to think about post-secondary education and adults who are looking for new careers are aware of the opportunities available to them.” 

Increasing the number of workers trained for technical careers in North Carolina is a system-wide priority. In the past year, the Community College System implemented a complete restructuring of its technical education curriculum in an effort to increase efficiencies and enable students to earn nationally recognized industry credentials. North Carolina is also a lead state for the National Association of Manufacturers Endorsed Skills Certification System, a system of stackable credentials that can apply to all sectors in the manufacturing industry.  

For more information about Advanced Manufacturing training opportunities at CCC&TI, including engineering, furniture technology and welding, please call 828-726-2200, or visit www.cccti.edu on the Web.