Skilled Trades Academy expanding to offer more training options for students

A celebratory event marked the start of the expansion of Tidewater Community College’s Skilled Trades Academy (STA) in Portsmouth.

The expansion will provide an additional 12,000 square feet of space for workforce training.

The STA opened in 2019 and is currently a 20,000-square-foot academy, located at 3303 Airline Blvd. It is one of the largest trade academies run by a community college on the East Coast and the only one of its kind in Virginia. It provides short-term workforce training for in-demand careers in construction, maritime trades and more.

Mayor Shannon Glover with President Marcia Conston.

“We are growing because we want to address our workforce needs in the community,” said TCC President Marcia Conston. “Students come here with no background in the skilled trades and leave with skills that enable them to provide for their families long term.”

TCC student Jacob Talmage came to the STA to train for a new career. “I saw the welding program on TCC’s website, decided to give it a try, and now I’m working full-time as a welder in the maritime industry,” he said.

The program included a ceremonial wall demolition with speakers using sledgehammers to knock it down!

The expansion of the facility comes at a time when 79 percent of Hampton Roads businesses express concerns about training employees.

Portsmouth Mayor Shannon Glover shared his enthusiasm for the expansion of the academy. “Thank you TCC team for direct action to meet the demand for skilled workers in our region,” Mayor Glover said. “We know that as we give people a future, we are saving their lives.”

The current trades offered at the academy are marine coating, pipefitting, pipe laying, welding, carpentry, roofing, sheet metal, wind energy and electric vehicle repair. The expansion will increase program capacity in these offerings by 63 percent.

In addition, the expansion will increase program offerings by 33 percent. New programs include building maintenance, heavy equipment operator, logistics, shipfitter, electrical and HVAC.

The event was sponsored by Elizabeth River Crossings OpCo (ERC) and Virginia Ship Repair Association (VSRA) and TCC’s Educational Foundation.

Event speakers included Tamara Williams, President Marcia Conston, Anna Bonnett, Delceno Miles, Mayor Glover and student Jacob Talmage

ERC Chief Executive Officer Anna Bonnet reflected on their commitment to supporting student success and now expanding that commitment to grow the academy. “We are proud to provide significant financial support for this expansion project,” she said. “As an infrastructure company that connects our cities through tunnels and roads, we are pleased to now connect our region’s workforce to higher-paying, more stable careers.”

TCC Educational Foundation board member Fred Pasquine noted that the STA is a place where people are able to work with their hands and their minds. Pasquine also serves on the VSRA advisory board, giving him a unique perspective on student success. “TCC is equipped to help students succeed with training opportunities,” Pasquine said. “But they can’t do it alone. It takes industry engagement to meet the needs of our community.”

To date, 96 percent of students who are certified in training programs through the STA are hired by regional employers. They are career-ready and have the in-demand trade skills, as well as the soft skills needed to succeed on the job.

Tidewater Community College Launches Rivian Technical Trades Program

Hampton Roads, VA (June 12, 2023) – Tidewater Community College has launched the Rivian Technical Trades program, a partnership program with electric vehicle maker Rivian designed to train the next generation of electric vehicle (EV) technicians. The program’s first cohort of students joined in March of this year and will complete their training as part of this program this summer.

The program involves five months of training with a focus on electric vehicle service and light repair. Upon completion of the program, students have the opportunity to become Rivian Service Technicians or enter the high-demand EV service job market in a similar capacity.

“We are thrilled to partner with Rivian to provide this quality training opportunity for future technicians,” said Tamara Williams, Vice President of TCC’s Center for Workforce Solutions. “With interest increasing for electric vehicles, this training is just what is needed to prepare the workforce of the future.”

This program is an earn-and-learn program, where students are paid $26 per hour as part of their internship at a local Rivian Service Center if they maintain at least a B average in their coursework.

Student technicians learn the latest electric vehicle technologies inside the classroom and put those theories into practice with hands-on training at the college’s Skilled Trades Academy, as well as at Rivian Service Centers during their paid internships. As part of this partnership, Rivian has provided two vehicle lifts, an alignment rack, and three Rivian vehicles – a Rivian R1T pickup, R1S SUV and one of the company’s custom electric delivery vans for Amazon – to the college for onsite training.

“The Rivian Technical Trades program provides training that will unleash students’ potential to become electric vehicle technicians,” says Nana Danso, Rivian’s Senior Manager of Workforce Development. “It’s specifically designed to spark careers in the burgeoning electric vehicle service sector by building on the skills needed to power the future through electric mobility with a flexible, bi-directional approach.”

The program caters to those who have already completed an automotive technology degree or transitioning military members with relevant experience. Participating students are also required to have a basic knowledge of electrical systems.

To learn more about the program, call TCC’s Center for Workforce Solutions at 757-822-1234 or email workforce@tcc.edu.

ABOUT RIVIAN
Rivian exists to create products and services that help our planet transition to carbon-neutral energy and transportation. Rivian designs, develops, and manufactures category-defining electric vehicles and accessories and sells them directly to customers in the consumer and commercial markets. Rivian complements its vehicles with a full suite of proprietary, value-added services that address the entire lifecycle of the vehicle and deepen its customer relationships. Learn more about the company, products, and careers at rivian.com.

ABOUT TIDEWATER COMMUNITY COLLEGE
Founded in 1968, Tidewater Community College (www.tcc.edu) helps students of all ages and backgrounds achieve their educational and career goals. TCC is the largest provider of higher education and workforce solutions in southeastern Virginia, serving both students and local employers with in-demand academic and career programs. It is one of 23 schools that make up Virginia’s Community Colleges.

HRWC’s $75,000 donation will increase program offerings at the Skilled Trades Academy

It was a celebration at Tidewater Community College’s Skilled Trades Academy with community leaders, workforce partners and friends gathering to recognize the partnership between TCC and the Hampton Roads Workforce Council (HRWC).

“We are here to celebrate and highlight the relationship we have with the Hampton Roads Workforce Council,” said President Marcia Conston. “This partnership enables TCC to continue to serve as one of the training engines for our region,” said President Marcia Conston. “Working together we ensure that residents receive career training to build long-term career success.”

TCC students with President Marcia Conston (center) and VP Tamara Williams (left) and Mayor Glover.

During the gathering, HRWC President Shawn Avery presented President Conston with a new gift of $75,000 for the Academy in support of new program offerings.

“We’ve been part of this great facility since day one and are proud of the work we are doing together,” Avery said. “TCC is one of our strongest partners and this gift is just the tip of the iceberg of what we do together. A lot of regions in the state have competitive relationships, but we’ve always been friends and partners.”

HRWC President Shawn Avery and board member Mark Johnson just before the big reveal.

The Academy offers hands-on, short-term instruction for in-demand trade jobs. Programs are offered in welding, sheet metal, pipefitting, roofing, marine coating and more.

This donation will directly support:

New Programs that address emerging in-demand careers, with short-term hands-on programs. Added programs include electric vehicle technical, logistics, ship fitter and heavy equipment operator.
Expanded offerings by increasing capacity in current programs and exponentially growing the talent pipeline in the region.

The event also included remarks from Portsmouth Mayor Shannon Glover. “This is a great opportunity to talk with students and make sure they understand that the work they are doing is good for their families, and also for our region and our nation,” he said. “As a champion for the workforce, we want to be a place that provides hope and a future for residents.”

Skilled Trades Academy students join the celebration.

The Skilled Trades Academy opened in 2019 and currently provides training in 10 trades. The facility offers hands-on training in spaces that mimic a variety of job sites. To date, a total of 96% of students who complete industry-recognized credentials are hired by regional employers.

“We are proud of our partnership with HRWC,” added Tamara Williams, TCC’s vice president of Workforce Solutions. “They provide a vision for our region and work hard to create a well-equipped and stable workforce for Hampton Roads. By working together, we are leveraging support from federal and state sources. That means that oftentimes residents in need receive the training at no cost to them.”

Over the past three years, HRWC has given $125,000 to TCC.

ERC’s $400,000 donation will double the size of TCC’s Skilled Trades Academy

Elizabeth River Crossings OpCo, (ERC), the operator of the Downtown and Midtown tunnels, continues its commitment to supporting the community and higher education with a new $400,000 donation to Tidewater Community College.

The gift is designated to support the expansion of the Skilled Trades Academy in Portsmouth. The Academy offers hands-on, short-term instruction for in-demand trade jobs. Programs are offered in welding, sheet metal, pipefitting, roofing, marine coating and more.

“We are grateful to Elizabeth River Crossings for its continued generosity in support of our students,” said TCC President Marcia Conston. “This gift ensures that even more students will be able to take short-term programs that have long-term gains.”

This donation will directly support:

New Programs that address emerging in-demand careers, with short-term hands-on programs.
Facility expansion that will double the size of the academy creating a 40,000- square-foot, fully equipped facility in Portsmouth.
Expanded program offerings by increasing class offerings and capacity.

“We are proud to help fund quality training for in-demand jobs and invest in the vibrancy of the Hampton Roads workforce,” said Anna Bonet, chief executive officer of ERC. “As an infrastructure company, we strongly value skilled trades and safety training programs. There is such a high demand across multiple industries in this region right now, and we want to help eliminate any barriers for these students to get the training they need and find higher-paying, and more stable careers. These students are truly the future of our economy.”

ERC is also a long-time supporter of TCC’s STEM Promise Scholarship program, helping to provide full scholarships for 20 students each year as they earn their associate degrees in STEM-related fields.

“We appreciate that Elizabeth River Crossings has been our pioneer scholarship supporter in the STEM fields for the past six years,” said Christopher Bryant, TCC’s vice president for Institutional Advancement. “We are thrilled that this new gift will expand the physical footprint of the Skilled Trades Academy and increase student opportunities for hands-on training in the trades.”

“It’s been an amazing transformation and so fast.” – Jasmine Quinones, TCC student

Jasmine Quinones gave herself a life-changing career for her 37^th birthday.

“I had a cleaning business before COVID. After the pandemic hit, I found myself out of work because many of my clients didn’t want me coming to their homes,” Jasmine said. “I decided I had to find something that would never leave me in that place again.”

Fast forward six months and Jasmine has a new career and for the first time, she and her three children are financially stable.

“Before I was working three jobs and barely making ends meet. We didn’t have extra money even for something from the Dollar Store,” Jasmine said.

Jasmine found support through the college’s Job Skills Training Program, where she learned soft skills, time management and was connected with TCC’s Skilled Trades Academy and short-term programs.

She started taking the Carpentry course in May 2022 and will complete the program this October.

Amazingly, Jasmine was recruited by Precon Marine, Inc, for a paid position during her second month in class. A representative came to the Skilled Trades Academy to speak to students about available positions.

“It was the biggest blessing of my life to start at Precon. I’m still in training there, but I’ll soon be using my carpentry skills in shipyards,” she said.

It’s long days for Jasmine with work, school and family responsibilities. She’s on the job by 7 a.m. And two days a week she heads to class after an 8-hour workday. On those days, she returns home both tired and energized by what she is learning. “It’s a struggle on those days, but 100 percent worth it,” she said.

Additionally, Jasmine earned her OSHA 10 safety certification through the Carpentry program. She has also learned how to read blueprints, install wall systems, floor systems, and use all the tools of the trade. At the end of the course, she will be a certified, entry-level carpenter.

“It’s been an amazing transformation and so fast. After six weeks on the job, I was able to pay all my bills and still have money left,” Jasmine said.

“It is night and day. We don’t have to have those conversations about money like we used to,” she added. “My kids have been humbled by the lack of things I was able to give them and I’m grateful to no longer be in that lifestyle.”

Jasmine’s skills and success have made her a standout in class, according to Michael Vander Werf, the Skilled Trades Program Manager for TCC. “Jasmine has demonstrated leadership abilities and is thriving in class and at her place of employment,” he said.

Jasmine hopes to inspire other women to give the skilled trades a try. “There are some amazing opportunities for young women who enjoy working with their hands and building things. I’m making it my mission to encourage women to get out there and just do it,” she said.

Jasmine is considering taking a heavy equipment operator class next. She’d like to operate a crane and work in the air conditioning!

Long term, Jasmine hopes to someday own her own business making custom furniture and housewares.

“Right now, I just want to get some extra sleep and enjoy time with my sons,” Jasmine said with a laugh. “But it’s wonderful to see the opportunities ahead.”

TCC grad trained for construction career in just a few weeks

Alexander Williams has a hard hat that he’s quite proud of. He has a full-time construction job with benefits, and great hours thanks to training offered through Tidewater Community College’s Center for Workforce Solutions.

TCC’s program provides introductory training as part of the National Center for Construction Education and Research. The class covers topics like basic safety, communication skills and introduction to construction drawings. Completing this curriculum gives graduates the basic skills needed to get a job or continue their education in any craft area of their choosing.

Williams learned about the program from his sister. “I enjoyed interacting with others in my classes and gaining those soft skills that are essential on the job,” he said.

Williams works for Hampton Roads Connector Partners where he is part of the environmental team. “Our job is to protect the land and the water supply. It’s a good job, with consistent hours and competitive pay,” he said.

Thanks to new funding from the state, more qualifying students can enroll in “G3” programs – Get a Skill, Get a Job and Get Ahead – for several fields, including construction. And many students can get the training using “G3” tuition assistance, allowing them to gain the skills they need for a good career without worrying about the cost.

Tamara Williams (no relation to Alexander Williams) is vice president of TCC’s Center for Workforce Solutions. She says, “Students who go through this construction portion of our program have jobs before they have credentials. The employers come in and they stay engaged. We don’t have anyone left for placement when the course ends.”

Williams is proud of how his new career will position his entire family for success. “The program was a great stepping stone into a career with forward mobility,” he said. “I have a 10-month-old son, a significant other and we are making it through,” Williams said.

“A lot of doors opened for me, and my life is significantly improved because of TCC,” he added.

According to Build Your Future Virginia, a carpenter in the commonwealth earns about $44,000 a year while an electrician earns about $67,000 a year.

The next introductory construction course begins this week. To register, visit here. Registration specialists are available Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., by calling 757-822-1234 or emailing workforce@tcc.edu.

TCC to offer first plumbing program

Tidewater Community College is offering its first plumbing program. The program is designed to quickly train students for careers in the field and is suited for transitioning military or anyone interested in the skilled trades.

The 204-hour hands-on program is being offered at TCC’s Skilled Trades Academy and when completed, students will receive an industry-recognized credential through National Center for Construction Education and Research, along with 20 continuing education units awarded from TCC.

“Plumbing is an essential job,” said instructor Cody Whitlock. “We currently don’t have enough skilled workers, so companies are always looking for trained and competent people. This program will help build a pipeline of skilled workers.”

Students will learn the basics of plumbing, as well as safety, tools of the trade, and how to use plumbing math and drawings. Students will work with plastic, copper and cast-iron pipes, specific fittings, and drain, waste, and vent systems, to name a few.

Students will learn in this training “house,” newly built in TCC’s Skilled Trades Academy.

“This is the first plumbing class TCC has ever had,” added Whitlock. “To facilitate learning, we’ve built a mock house where we will teach students the hands-on techniques used when working with pipes and fittings.”

The first class starts on April 12 and ends August 17. The class will meet Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays from 5:30 – 9:30 p.m. The registration deadline is April 9.

“Learning plumbing is something no one can take from you,” Whitlock added. “You can take it anywhere and everyone needs it.”

For more information, call TCC’s Center for Workforce Solutions at 822-1234 or email workforce@tcc.edu.

Live! Inside the Skilled Trades Center

In this series, we provide a closer look at hands-on learning during COVID-19.

While COVID-19 means online learning for most Tidewater Community College students, some are back in the classroom for hands-on training. In fact, more than 400 sections of classes in interior design, automotive, health professions, welding, veterinary technology, culinary arts, visual arts, electronics technology and other programs have on-campus components.

Inside a sheet metal fabrication class at the Skilled Trades Center

Sheet metal specialists are responsible for the majority of the interior finish work on Navy vessels. The two-week training program at the Skilled Trades Center starts with the basics, all the way back to how to read a ruler. Students learn about measuring, how to use various wrenches and rivets and how to drill holes. They leave with the knowledge and know-how to lay out, fabricate, assemble, modify, repair and install sheet metal products related to ventilation on a ship.

Instructor Everett Wilkerson with student Sharia Hoffler

The training has a classroom component that includes basic mathematics – adding, subtracting, multiplying and dividing fractions and how this relates to measurements. Students learn how to use approximately 26 hand tools, including drillers and grinders. They are hands-on the very first day.

No prior knowledge required, yet by the end of the two weeks, students can see their results and refine their processes. Their finished product is its own work of a different kind of art.

“It’s very detailed work,” said instructor Everett Wilkerson. “You have to be good at measuring and particularly good at measuring angles.”

Student voices

“I was looking for a job and someone told me about this program. It’s working out.” — Sharia Hoffler

“I like working with my hands. It’s fun to use the tools. I like putting stuff together no matter how difficult it is.” — Christian Jones, who added, “The stuff we make in here is cool; it’s never boring.”

Kenneth Fitzhugh grew up tinkering with tools alongside his dad. “This is something different than most jobs. It gives me a goal.”

The sounds of the Skilled Trades Academy

About the instructor

Wilkerson is retired from Newport News Shipbuilding after working there 45 years as an outside machinist. Approachable with his students, he enjoys teaching students the proper techniques for using tools. “Once they’re finished, you can see they get a feeling of accomplishment,” he said.

“As they say, from here, you can pretty much go anywhere,”

Good to know

Some of the students in this program are part of Newport News Shipbuilding’s pre-hire program. That means they pay $250 and receive reimbursement upon successful completion of the class. After one-day of safety training, they have the green light to get hired and make upward of $19 per hour.

The female students in this cohort are part of the Women in Skilled Careers (WISC) cohort, a 12-week program that exposes women to six trades: marine coating, marine electrical, outside machinist, pipefitting, sheet metal fabrication and welding. After completion, graduates can earn industry-recognized credentials that make them eligible for immediate hire.

More information

Interested in learning a trade that leads to employment? Contact TCC’s Stan Ashemore at sashemore@tcc.edu. The Skilled Trades Academy is located at 3303 Airline Blvd., in Portsmouth.

Northam visits Skilled Trades Academy for bill signing

Tidewater Community College’s Skilled Trade Academy was the backdrop for Gov. Ralph Northam’s visit to Hampton Roads on Wednesday morning. Northam signed two bills that enhance worker protections with measures that increase the minimum wage, ban workplace discrimination and combat worker misclassification and wage theft.

“It’s great to be back in Portsmouth,” said Northam, whose message touted the importance of workers. “When we invest in Virginians who are preparing for a job, seeking to learn a new skill for a promotion or wanting to change career paths, we’re investing in Virginia’s economy.”

The Skilled Trades Academy offers short term training in the maritime and construction industry; Northam participated in the academy’s grand opening in December 2019.

President Conston at the Skilled Trades Academy

“We are truly honored you chose TCC’s Skilled Trade Academy for your event this morning,” said TCC President Marcia Conston. “We are excited you are here.”

This wasn’t Northam’s first visit to the Skilled Trades Academy, a 20,000 square-foot facility that offers short-term training in the maritime and construction industry that opened in December 2018. In May 2019, he toured the facility, met with students and signed bill HB2020, which called for Virginia’s Community Colleges to create uniform instruction for registered apprenticeships in high-demand fields.

“I remember well when I was here just a little more than a year ago,” he said.

Several state legislators were in attendance on Wednesday to champion both bills, which include raising the minimum wage to $15 an hour incrementally by 2026. Among them: Del. Cliff Hayes (D-Chesapeake), Chief Workforce Development Officer Megan Healy, Del. Steve Heretick (D-Portsmouth), Sen. Mamie Locke (D-Hampton), Del. Alfonso Lopez (D-Arlington), Sen. Louise Lucas (D-Portsmouth), Sen. Jennifer McClellan (D-Richmond), Sen. Jeremy McPike (D-Dale City), Portsmouth Mayor John Rowe, Sen. Lionell Spruill Sr. (D-Chesapeake) and (Del. Jeion Ward (D-Hampton).

“Virginia’s best asset is our workers,” Healy said. “We are in a little bit of an economic slump, but I know our workers and our skilled talent is really what’s going to help this economy rebound.”

President Conston talks with Gov. Northam.

Inside the Skilled Trades Academy: Sheet Metal

Tidewater Community College’s Skilled Trades Academy offers hands-on, short-term instruction for in-demand trade jobs. This is the first part in a series.

Kyle Cooke is ready to build a future. Navy wife Marcy Camacho wants to prepare for a leadership position. Devin Wilson needed a new career after more than a decade as a trucker.

All of them found opportunity at TCC’s Skilled Trades Academy where they are part of a two-week training program in sheet metal that will lead to full-time employment at Newport News Shipbuilding (NNS). As part of the pre-hire program at NNS, they pay $250, which they are then reimbursed for upon successful completion of the class. They receive safety training and are then hired, making upward of $19 per hour.

Sheet metal specialists are responsible for the majority of the interior finish work on Navy vessels. Instructor Frank Yandle says seeing your finished work is among the joys of the job.

“There’s a pride component,” he said. “These students come right in and are able to contribute.”

Navy wife Marcy Camacho is preparing for a new career.

The training has a classroom component that includes basic mathematics – adding, subtracting, multiplying and dividing fractions – and teaching measures. Students learn how to use approximately 26 hand tools, including drillers and grinder and are hands-on the very first day.

Cooke, 24, enjoys working with his hands and grew tired of low-paying jobs that didn’t offer advancement. “I needed something that was going to give back to me in the long run,” he said.

Camacho returned to the area after her husband’s deployment ended. Her background was as a caregiver, but she’s embracing a different kind of challenge.

“I was a little intimidated at first, but once I got into learning the power tools, it was great,” she said.

Wilson drove a truck for 14 years but now wants a more stationary role. With a toddler, insurance benefits are increasingly important. “I need a career where I can grow,” he said.

A background in sheet metal or any other trade isn’t required. Yandle, retired after nearly 40 years working at Norfolk Naval Shipyard, works one-on-one with students when needed. “You’re not just learning a job,” he said. “You’re learning to be a craftsman.”

Working together

Employment of sheet metal workers is projected to grow 8 percent from 2018 to 2028, faster than the average for all occupations, according to the U.S. Department of Labor.

Interested in learning a trade that leads to employment? Contact TCC’s Stan Ashemore at sashemore@tcc.edu. The Skilled Trades Academy is located at 3303 Airline Blvd., in Portsmouth.

TCC awarded SunTrust Foundation 2019 Lighting the Way Award & $75,000 grant

Tidewater Community College’s Educational Foundation is the recipient of a $75,000 grant from the SunTrust Foundation.

The 2019 Lighting the Way Award recognizes select nonprofit organizations that work to build self-sufficient families and more financially confident communities through financial education, financial consulting, career readiness/workforce development and small business/entrepreneurship.

“We are thrilled and honored to be recognized by the SunTrust Foundation for our workforce training programs,” said Steven Jones, executive director of TCC’s Educational Foundation. “The foundation’s gift will have a significant impact helping hundreds of students better afford skilled trades training programs that will fundamentally transform the lives of these students and their families.”

TCC’s Skilled Trades Academy opened last December in Portsmouth, coinciding with a critical workforce shortage in Hampton Roads, which anticipates 68 percent more job openings in skilled trades over the next five years than workers trained to fill them. The academy offers a wide range of high-demand skilled trades training in marine coating, pipefitting, pipe laying, welding, framing, electrical, HVAC, roofing and sheet metal.

“The SunTrust Foundation is proud to recognize and support our local nonprofit partners that empower and strengthen the communities they serve,” said Stan Little, president of the SunTrust Foundation. “TCC is making a meaningful impact with their programs to improve the financial wellbeing of the people who need it most.”

The SunTrust Foundation will present the award to the college on Sept. 5 at a reception at the TCC Perry Glass Wheel Arts Center.

The SunTrust Foundation awarded a total of $2.7 million in grants to 36 nonprofits.

Gov. Northam visits TCC Skilled Trades Academy to sign bill that bridges gap between apprentices, skilled jobs

Tidewater Community College’s Skilled Trades Academy in Portsmouth received a visit from Gov. Ralph Northam on Wednesday and a gift from the Hampton Roads Workforce Council that will allow the new training center to better serve its apprentices preparing for some of the most in-demand jobs in the commonwealth.

Gov. Northam signed bill HB2020, which calls for Virginia’s Community Colleges, in consultation with the Virginia Department of Labor and Industry, to develop and deliver uniform instruction for registered apprenticeships in high-demand areas that include roofing, sheet metal, pipefitting, pipe laying, HVAC, welding, electrical and maritime trades.

“We used to talk about blue collar versus white collar; we really refer to these as new collar jobs,” said Gov. Northam, who stopped at the Skilled Trades Academy as part of his Build Virginia Regional Tour. “They are jobs that are paying very well and ones that don’t necessarily need a four-year college education.”

Gov. Northam touted Virginia’s Community Colleges for training the new workforce in response to regional demands in the construction and shipbuilding industries. “I applaud Tidewater Community College for their leadership,” he said.

The 20,000-square-foot Skilled Trades Academy opened last December and has since trained 300 students, many of them in pre-hire programs, including Jarvis Hyman, 35. Hyman is completing a 10-day training program in sheet metal for Newport News Shipbuilding.

“I worked in retail for 13 years and was looking for a career change,” he said. “I love the challenge of this, and I can see myself in it for a career.”

Following Gov. Northam’s remarks, Shawn Avery, president and chief executive officer of the Hampton Roads Workforce Council, presented the academy with a check for $25,000.

From left, Del. Matthew James, Megan Healy, Corey McCray, Delcino Miles, Mark Johnson, Gov. Ralph Northam and Shawn Avery

“Tidewater Community College is one of our strongest partners,” Avery said. “Our board is committed to the skilled trades. Every year, as long as we have the money, we will be committing $25,000 to support the Skilled Trades Academy.”

Corey McCray, vice president for Workforce Solutions, said the money will allow TCC to train more students and expand its offerings in the skilled trades.

Megan Healy, Virginia’s chief workforce development advisor, stressed the importance of strengthening pathways to skilled trades jobs. “We need to do a better job of helping middle-schoolers and high-schoolers and wandering adults figure out what the great jobs are,” she said.

Gov. Northam, Corey McCray and Megan Healy

Increasing access to apprenticeships and providing more opportunity for online instruction will continue to be priorities of the Build Virginia campaign, she said.

Others in attendance at the morning event included Virginia Sen. John Cosgrove; Del. Matthew James, sponsor of HB 2020 and newly appointed to the governor’s economic development team; Del. Steve Heretick; Vernon Tillage, outreach representative for Sen. Mark Warner; Dominic Melito, chief of staff for Del. Cheryl Turpin; Carol Curtis, founder of Noah Enterprises and chair of the TCC Educational Foundation Board; and Bill Mann, executive director of the Peninsula Council for Workforce Development.

For information about the Skilled Trades Academy, contact Stan Ashemore, program administrator, at sashemore@tcc.edu or 757-822-2116.

Stanley Black & Decker receives Chancellor’s Award for Leadership in Philanthropy

Stanley Black & Decker has been honored for its support of Tidewater Community College’s new Skilled Trades Academy.

The Standard and Poor’s 500 company, a diversified global provider of hand tools, power tools and related accessories, received the Chancellor’s Award for Leadership in Philanthropy during the 14th annual awards ceremony last month in Richmond.

Stanley Black & Decker donated $275,000 in new industry tools and equipment to the TCC Educational Foundation for the Skilled Trades Academy, which provides short-term training for in-demand construction and maritime trades, including marine coating, pipefitting, welding, sheet metal, pipelaying, roofing, framing and electrical.

The company is also giving students access to a library of instructional videos. The donation is the company’s biggest in-kind investment in Virginia and among the largest nationwide.

“Stanley Black & Decker is honored to have had the opportunity to donate to the new Skilled Trades Academy,” said Pam Martin, sales leader for the company. “We recognize the skills taught and developed in these programs not only enhance the community but contribute to our national defense. We are humbled by the work done by those that use our products and are proud to be a small part of the building of tomorrow’s workforce.”

In recognition of the contributions, Chancellor Glenn DuBois announced at the awards ceremony that the Virginia Community College System will provide a one-year scholarship in honor of Stanley Black and Decker to a TCC student this fall.

Corey McCray, TCC vice president for Workforce Solutions, said the college is appreciative of the investment for the 20,000-square-foot learning center that opened at 3303 Airline Blvd., in Portsmouth in December.

“These generous gifts strengthen our commitment to helping our students gain the skills and expertise needed to fill many of the in-demand jobs in the construction and maritime trades,” he said.

More than two dozen individuals, families, businesses and foundations from around Virginia were honored at the 2019 Chancellor’s Award for Leadership in Philanthropy. TCC President Gregory DeCinque and Steven Jones, executive director of the TCC Educational Foundation, were in attendance.

Hosted by the Virginia Foundation for Community College Education, the annual event recognizes leading philanthropists from each of Virginia’s 23 community colleges as well as the statewide foundation.

Donald Graham, keynote speaker and chairman of the board at Graham Holdings Company and co-founder of TheDream.US, spoke about the importance of Virginia’s Community Colleges and the ways that the philanthropists have contributed to the commonwealth.

“We are in this room today to tell you, whether you work for one of the colleges or have given to one of the colleges, that what you are doing is absolutely right,” Graham said during his remarks. “I am so proud of this crowd for what you’re doing, and I hope you are proud of yourselves and your fellow donors and of the leaders and teachers at the community colleges you serve.”

To learn how you can support TCC programs, visit the TCC Educational Foundation website or call 757-822-1080.

TCC’s Skilled Trades Academy to host open house on Saturday, April 27

Imagine training for a new career and being hired in just six weeks.

Tour Tidewater Community College’s Skilled Trades Academy on Saturday, April 27, for a firsthand look at available programs and specialized opportunities for in-demand construction and maritime trades that can lead to immediate employment.

TCC’s new Skilled Trades Academy at 3303 Airline Blvd., will host its inaugural open house and career fair from 9 a.m. to noon.

Meet our highly trained and qualified faculty, learn more about program and career options and talk with potential employers throughout that morning. Hampton Roads industry professionals will also have the opportunity to network with other business owners and apply for jobs.

The Skilled Trades Academy opened last December, coinciding with a critical workforce shortage in Hampton Roads, which anticipates 68 percent more job openings in skilled trades over the next five years than workers trained to fill them. Nationwide, 31 million skilled trade jobs will be vacated by baby boomers by 2020.

TCC offers a wide range of high-demand skilled trades training in marine coating, pipefitting, pipe laying, welding, framing, electrical, HVAC, roofing and sheet metal.

In some cases, participants can launch a new career with just six weeks of training.

“We can take people with zero background in skilled trades, put them through a three-week, pre-apprenticeship program and have them employed at a major shipyard making $18 an hour directly after,” President Gregory T. DeCinque said.

Thanks to funding through the FastForward Grant, many of the programs are available at little or no tuition cost. FastForward grants offset tuition costs so eligible students can earn an industry credential at one-third of the cost of tuition. In many cases, the student pays nothing.

“Many programs in these high-demand fields like welding, machine tool and HVAC are eligible for FastForward grant funding,” said Corey McCray, vice president for Workforce Solutions and interim executive vice president for Academic and Student Affairs. “That covers the vast majority of your tuition costs, so students would only have to pay about a third of the cost of their education.”

Reservations are recommended, but not required. RSVP at the Skilled Trades Academy open house page.

For more information, email workforce@tcc.edu or call 757-822-1234. For information on FastForward funding, contact career coach Alejandra Diaz-Rangel at adiazrangel@tcc.edu.

TCC’s Skilled Trades Academy recipient of gift to fund scholarships

Tidewater Community College’s Educational Foundation is the recipient of a $5,000 gift from Builders & Contractors Exchange that will fund scholarships at the new Skilled Trades Academy in Portsmouth.

The member-based organization that supports the regional construction industry wants to attract more candidates into the trades to address the critical workforce shortage in Hampton Roads, which anticipates 68 percent more job openings in skilled trades over the next five years than workers trained to fill them.

TCC’s Skilled Trades Academy offers a wide range of high-demand skilled trades training in marine coating, pipefitting, pipe laying, welding, framing, electrical, HVAC, roofing and sheet metal. In many cases, training can be completed in six weeks for workers who find immediate employment.

Paul Haveles, executive director of Norfolk-based Builders and Contractors Exchange, is hopeful that the scholarship money will pay off for his membership of 573, all commercial construction companies looking to sustain and grow their businesses and develop their employees.

“Investing in scholarships is something tangible that we can give back to our members to help their businesses grow,” Haveles said.

Previously, Builders and Contractors Exchange had only funded scholarships at four-year institutions. “We don’t always get an immediate payback. Partnering with TCC allows us to get those workers into the pipeline more quickly to benefit our members.”

Nationwide, 31 million skilled trade jobs will be vacated by baby boomers by 2020.

“We’re out in front of that initiative as evidenced by this building and its purpose,” Corey McCray, vice president for Workforce Solutions at TCC, said while standing in the 20,000 square-foot space at 3303 Airline Blvd. “We’re here because of industry partners who told us this is what they need. The shortage is just starting to be recognized nationally, but right here at TCC, we’re already on it.”

Mary Thompson, president of the Board of Directors for Builders and Contractors Exchange and vice president of Superior Marble & Stone, Inc., said encouraging young people to consider construction jobs must be a priority.

“As an employer, we have a hard time finding employees who can read a tape measure let alone trying to find a stone mason,” she said. “We need to educate young people about employment opportunities in the construction industry and encourage them to pursue careers in skilled trades.”

The Skilled Trades Academy will host its inaugural open house and career fair on April 27 from 9 a.m.-noon. For more details visit tcc.edu/tradeskills, email wdinfo@tcc.edu or call 757-822-1234.

Counting down TCC’s 2018 milestones

What a year 2018 proved to be for Tidewater Community College, which marked its 50^th anniversary with a number of milestones.

A few highlights: The college celebrated its new footprint in Norfolk’s NEON District with the announcement of a new visual arts, culinary arts and restaurant management center coming in 2021, and it will benefit from a major gift for its hospitality program. Thanks to the generosity of Pat and Doug Perry, the newly named TCC Pat & Douglas Perry Glass Wheel Studio will also expand TCC’s offerings in the NEON District.

There’s more: TCC opened an academy in Portsmouth dedicated to the skilled trades, launched a technical training center for nonviolent offenders and announced plans for major redevelopment at College Point.

Take a look back at our top 10 highlights from a very good year.

10. No wonder vets feel at home at TCC, where about one-third of enrollment is military-related students. Military Times named the college “Best for Vets,” and tops in Virginia among two-year schools. Gov. Ralph Northam visited TCC in March for a Women’s Veteran Roundtable. In the fall, TCC received a fourth federal grant to help veterans transition into trucking careers.

9. TCC welcomed its second class of STEM Promise Program scholars – 19 students who will receive tuition and fees for two years while working toward an associate degree. Our inaugural class of STEM scholars will graduate this spring.

8. Joined by Priority Automotive and the Norfolk Sheriff’s office, TCC opened the Priority Technical Training Center in September, a state-of-the-art facility that offers nonviolent offenders a pathway to good careers after their release.

7. TCC’s Early Childhood Education program earned its own milestone. Last summer, the program achieved first-time accreditation from the world’s largest organization working on behalf of young children.

6. Students at the Regional Automotive Center teamed together to finish a project car on behalf of their classmate, Jordan McNair, who died in a fatal automobile accident before graduation. Priority Automotive established a scholarship in his name.

5. A new partnership between TCC and Old Dominion University allows students to receive credit for knowledge, training and skills achieved in the workplace. TCC’s Associate of Applied Science in Technical Studies with a Specialization in Technical Supervision allows students to earn an associate degree in as little as three semesters.

4. New businesses along with residential and green space will be part of a dynamic new center with stunning water views thanks to the TCC Real Estate Foundation developing what’s been called “the last and best property available in Hampton Roads.” The northern Suffolk site, known as College Point, was TCC’s original home.

3. Sen. Tim Kaine and Rep. Bobby Scott joined TCC President Gregory DeCinque for the dedication of a unique academy in Portsmouth that provides short-term workforce training for in-demand construction and maritime trades. The 20,000-square-foot facility will teach students everything from welding to pipe fitting to marine coating and pipe laying.

2. A seven-figure donation from a Virginia Beach restaurateur will pave the way for the Houston “Hu” Odom Jr. School of Culinary Arts and Restaurant Management in the NEON District. Odom is president and founder of BOTH, Inc., a franchisee of Golden Corral restaurants. His gift will also be used to provide scholarships for students from Norfolk Public Schools who plan careers in restaurant management.

1. TCC made a splash @NEON in a big way! The Patricia & Douglas Perry TCC Center for Visual & Culinary Arts and Hospitality Management will be a jewel and a gamechanger. Norfolk Mayor Kenneth Alexander announced plans for the innovative, 47,000-square-foot center during his State of the City address last spring.

The transformative project will expand TCC’s visual arts program, train the next generation of chefs with a comprehensive culinary arts program, inaugurate a program in restaurant and hospitality management in Norfolk, provide dual-enrollment opportunities for Norfolk high school students and create a wealth of opportunities for collaboration.

See more TCC news.

Sen. Kaine, Rep. Scott join President DeCinque to dedicate TCC’s Skilled Trades Academy

Sen. Tim Kaine and Rep. Bobby Scott used reciprocating saws to slice the ceremonial ribbon of Tidewater Community College’s Skilled Trades Academy at a Monday morning dedication event, presided over by President Gregory DeCinque in Portsmouth.

Corey McCray, vice president for the Center for Workforce Solutions, with Sen. Tim Kaine and President DeCinque.

The new 20,000-square-foot academy at 3303 Airline Blvd., is one of the largest run by a community college on the East Coast and the only one of its kind in Virginia. It provides short-term workforce training for in-demand construction and maritime trades.

Sen. Kaine, who grew up working in his father’s ironworking shop, has long pushed for increased access to career and technical education programs that prepare students for future careers. In July, key provisions from Kaine’s legislation to improve job training and career and technical education were signed into law by President Trump.

Sen. Kaine stressed the need to break down the stigma that prevents federal dollars from funding career and technical education. Under current law, Pell Grants cannot be used for short-term career and technical training.

“You can’t silo education and workforce training” he said. “We’ve got to break the silos down, and community colleges are where this is happening.”

Joining President DeCinque, Sen. Kaine and Rep. Scott on the platform were Portsmouth Mayor John Rowe, Chancellor Glenn DuBois of Virginia’s Community Colleges, and TCC Vice President for Workforce Solutions, Corey McCray.

The opening of the facility coincides with a critical workforce shortage in Hampton Roads, which anticipates 68 percent more job openings in skilled trades over the next five years than workers trained to fill them. Nationwide, 31 million skilled trade jobs will be vacated by baby boomers by 2020.

Rep. Scott said the academy “will provide the kind of transformational education that can take a minimum wage worker into someone comfortable in the middle class. The academy will be working with business and workforce officials who are here today to ensure that we’re training them for jobs that actually exist.”

Chancellor DuBois noted that a plethora of jobs are available that don’t require a bachelor’s degree. Community colleges, he said, play a role in giving everyone an opportunity to pursue the American dream.

“It’s great day to be alive in the commonwealth,” he said.

Oceaneering apprentice and TCC student Alicia Krampen worked for years in the construction field before making a career change into the submarine repair industry after undergoing training at the Skilled Trades Academy.

“I am thrilled that TCC is acting on the need for trained workers in our area,” she said. “In the trades industry, we have many people ageing out and retiring and not enough young people to take their place. The new Skilled Trades Academy will only help in the rebuilding of the workforce with the skillsets especially needed to continue to grow this type of industry.”

Current trades offered at the new academy are marine coating, pipefitting, pipe laying, welding, framing, electrical, HVAC, roofing and sheet metal.

Virginia Ship Repair Association, Colonna’s Shipyard, Newport News Shipbuilding, Lyon Shipyard, Oceaneering and Tecnico are among TCC’s regional partners in this effort, in addition to the school systems of Chesapeake, Norfolk, Portsmouth and Virginia Beach.

Construction partners include the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC), Virginia Association of Roofing Professionals (VARP), Virginia Builds, and Hampton Roads Utility and Heavy Contractors Association (HRUHCA).

The dedication included the announcement of a special gift from Stanley Black & Decker. The world’s largest tool company will furnish all of the tools used by the students, a $250,000 investment. The company is also giving students access to a library of instruction videos. The donation is the company’s biggest in-kind investment ever in Virginia and one of the largest nationwide.

Ashia Gurley, left, and Rachel Jones completed sheet metal working and are employed at Newport News Shipyard.

“Stanley Black & Decker is proud to support cutting-edge programs like the Tidewater Community College Skilled Trades Academy, which are critical to growing jobs, spurring new advances, and helping our communities thrive,” said Mark DeBlanc, the company’s national sales director. “We are committed to helping future tradesmen and -women gain the skills and expertise needed to secure jobs and revitalize communities.”

Since TCC began delivering apprentice-related instruction in 1973, more than 1,600 apprentices have graduated. Earlier this year, TCC and Norfolk Naval Shipyard signed a three-year contract for the college to continue the academic component of its apprenticeship program. TCC also trains the majority of Newport News Shipbuilding’s apprentices.

Mayor Rowe noted the importance of maintaining the Navy’s fleet of ships in addition to building new ones. Apprenticeship training provides that workforce. “Shipbuilding and ship repair are a great national industry for the United States,” he said. “And the region that has the greatest number of jobs for that? Hampton Roads.”

In 2017, TCC created a pre-apprenticeship trades program in Portsmouth dedicated to welding, pipefitting and marine coating. Because of increased demand, TCC outgrew the 5,000-square-foot facility, which will continue to be used for training.

To date, 277 students have completed the short-term apprenticeship training, and 98 percent of them found employment.

“Today is such a good day for the commonwealth; it’s such a good day for Portsmouth,” Sen. Kaine said. “It’s such a good day for Tidewater Community College.”