Workforce Development prominently featured at symposium

WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. – Two members of Pennsylvania College of Technology’s Workforce Development department were featured during the ninth annual Workforce Solutions Symposium held Aug. 5-6 by the Virginia-based Manufacturing Skills Institute.

Christopher P. Ray, executive director, business development, presented on the topic of modular apprenticeship and detailed the college’s innovative model that has allowed delivery of programs to scale on a national level.

“These programs are tailored to company needs and, as a result, we are delivering training to numerous companies in states from Arizona to Florida to New York,” he noted.

Awarded recognition as an MSI Fellow was Gerry Pena, industrial technology specialist, who was cited for his efforts to expand workforce training through industry-recognized credentialed programs.

“It’s an honor to receive such recognition,” said Pena, who hold two plastics degrees from Penn College. “Our relationship with MSI has allowed for multiple programs to be built that lead to our apprentices and other trainees receiving these valued certifications.”

This year’s symposium was a virtual event that included participants from the national MSI academic partner network, featuring workforce development and educational best practices from industry, nongovernmental organizations and academic institutions from across the United States. Participants had the opportunity to connect with practitioners and discuss best practices and ideas from manufacturers, agencies and schools, while showcasing strategies designed to get parties to move out of their silos and collaborate with their peers in other organizations.

Penn College has expanded its relationship with MSI to support apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship programs, provide numerous certification options to the manufacturing workforce, and to further align training with the expressed needs of companies.

For more information about Workforce Development at Penn College, visit www.pct.edu/wdce, email workforce@pct.edu or call 570-327-4775.

For more about the college, a national leader in applied technology education and workforce development, visit www.pct.edu, email admissions@pct.edu or call toll-free 800-367-9222.