KCTCS, KAM Celebrate Kentucky Manufacturing Going Pro Signing Day

WKCTC's Signing Day Take Place as Skilled Craft Training Center

Paducah, KY (05/17/2019) —

Dalton James Leach beamed as he accepted a Briggs & Stratton cap at today's Kentucky Manufacturing Going Pro Signing Day at the Skilled Craft Training Center near Mayfield.

Leach of Benton was one of three West Kentucky Community and Technical College (WKCTC) graduates recognized as Going Pro by signing on for a new manufacturing career.

There are thousands of open positions in advanced manufacturing, and employers are having difficulty filling these jobs because of a lack of trained workers. KCTCS is the primary provider of manufacturing training in Kentucky and is the solution to the state's workforce shortage. KCTCS has more than 300 advanced manufacturing partners statewide.

WKCTC President Anton Reece said it's a continuous challenge throughout Kentucky to find skilled workers and to find individuals ready to be those workers. "It's a real challenge, especially for those of us in the west," he said, "just to have people prepared to seize these positions in high wage, high demand areas."

Reece said WKCTC prepares students to "go pro" in high paying, in-demand careers in advanced manufacturing that lead to a better life. "Because WKCTC aligns its programs with local business needs, our students are prepared to walk out of college and into a high paying career," Reece said.

The Kentucky Community and Technical College System (KCTCS) and the Kentucky Association of Manufacturers (KAM) sponsored celebrations for new hires in advanced manufacturing at all 16 KCTCS colleges across the state on May 17. Signees and companies who participated in today's event at WKCTC's Skilled Craft Training Center near Mayfield were:

• Leach with Briggs & Stratton of Murray has earned an associate in applied science degree and four advanced manufacturing-related certificates from WKCTC.
• Lucas Andrew Pannell of Mayfield with Progress Rail of Mayfield. He received five advanced manufacturing-related certificates from WKCTC.
• Calvin Joe Shelton of Fulton with Kayser Automotive Systems of Fulton. He received four advanced manufacturing-related certificates from WKCTC.

Each student received a "Going Pro" t-shirt, pens and other items.

WKCTC has 10 advanced manufacturing and business partners who offer work and learn experiences through the Kentucky Federation for Advanced Manufacturing Education (KY FAME), which is a partnership of regional manufacturers whose purpose is to implement career pathway, apprenticeship-style educational programs that will create a pipeline of highly skilled workers. WKCTC's KY FAME program started in Fall 2016.

"It is so exciting to see companies create pathways for their employees to advance within the company while continuing their education," said Jonathan Baker, KY FAME instructor at WKCTC. "Some companies have sponsored recent high school graduates from the local area technology centers and have provided them with an amazing opportunity. These companies are not only reaping the benefits of an educated employee, but helping to make western Kentucky a more attractive region to future manufacturers."

Richard Davis, operations management for Vanderbilt Chemical. He is also KY FAME - West Kentucky chapter. He said 24 of the100 employees at Vanderbilt have retired in the last three years, taking their knowledge and skills with them. "Those are those baby boomers and that's where my skills are going. I need other people, people who are younger to come in behind these people and be able to work on our machinery and keep our plant running."

In the 2017-2018 year, more than 300 WKCTC students graduated with a total of 874 credentials from the following programs.

• Industrial Maintenance Technology
• Computerized Machining and Manufacturing
• Welding Technology
• Electrical Technology
• Computer Assisted Drafting and Design
• Air Conditioning Technology
• KY FAME - Advanced Manufacturing

"Today we are celebrating graduates who are signing on with an employer for a professional degree in advanced manufacturing, which with an average starting salary of $34,000 - a median of $51,000," said Reece. "Nearly 90% of Kentucky FAME students are hired by the employing company a powerful example of supporting, 'a better life for a better Kentucky'."

More information and videos from today's event are available at the Going Pro website at https://goingpro.kctcs.edu/

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