{"id":2261,"date":"2014-12-04T14:23:38","date_gmt":"2014-12-04T20:23:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bestofswla.com\/?p=2261"},"modified":"2014-12-18T18:13:34","modified_gmt":"2014-12-19T00:13:34","slug":"sparks-flying","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bestofswla.com\/2014\/12\/04\/sparks-flying\/","title":{"rendered":"SPARKS ARE FLYING"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u00a0As SWLA Gears Up For Massive Industrial Expansion, What’s Being\u00a0Done About The Need For Welders? \u00a0\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

By Karla Wall<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

It\u2019s estimated that 86,000 skilled craftsmen \u2014 welders, pipefitters, machinists, millwrights \u2014 will be needed along the Gulf Coast over the next five years, during the construction phase of the expected industrial expansion.<\/p>\n

And a good portion of those will be welders.<\/p>\n

Dr. Joseph Fleishman, vice chancellor of economic and workforce development at Sowela Technical Community College, says about 5,000 new welders will be needed here in SWLA, where the expansion is expected to top $80 billion in projects.<\/p>\n

Given that, according to the American Welding Society, the age of the average American welder is 54, and about 45 percent of welders in the U.S. is age 50 or older, it\u2019s not difficult to see that there will be a dire need for welders in the next few years to not only fill the additional positions created by the upcoming expansion, but to replace welders who will soon be retiring.<\/p>\n

Is there any way the area\u2019s three trade and technical education institutions can train that many new welders?<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s absolutely no question about it: We cannot meet the demand,\u201d says Roger Creel, director of the Calcasieu School System\u2019s College Street Vocational Center. \u201cThere will be a tremendous demand over the next five to seven years, and there\u2019s no way we can meet that. What we can do is train all the students we can here in this area, and prepare them to settle into permanent positions \u2014 for maintenance and turnaround \u2014 once the construction phase is complete. We want to train Southwest Louisiana\u2019s young people who want to stay here and take permanent positions.\u201d<\/p>\n

Fleishman, however, is more optimistic, saying that between the state\u2019s community colleges, as well as the local Associated Builders and Contractors School, and the parish school system program, it won\u2019t be as difficult to meet the need for welders as some might imagine.<\/p>\n

\u201cSowela is only one of 13 technical community colleges in Louisiana,\u201d he says. \u201cThey\u2019re all at capacity in their welding programs, as we are. We communicate each month on the programs in the college system. If we utilize the community college system correctly, we can meet the demand.\u201d<\/p>\n

And it\u2019s important to remember, says Fleishman, that the influx of jobs probably won\u2019t occur at one time.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe jobs will come in in a staggered way,\u201d he says. \u201cThey won\u2019t happen at once.\u201d<\/p>\n

Here are a few ways that ABC, Sowela and the parish vo-tech program are preparing to train enough welders to meet the coming demand.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

A Joint Effort<\/strong><\/p>\n

The area\u2019s three trade education schools are cooperating in an effort to meet the coming demand for workers.<\/p>\n

ABC and the parish vo-tech center, for instance, are holding evening classes, for those who are out of high school, at local high schools in outlying parishes.<\/p>\n

And students taking classes at ABC and the vo-tech center can receive credit for those classes at Sowela.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Expanded Programs<\/strong><\/p>\n

All three schools are beefing up their welding programs at record pace.<\/p>\n

The vo-tech center, says Creel, has five welding programs, all at capacity, and there\u2019s been a \u201cbig increase\u201d in interest in the programs, says Creel.<\/p>\n

Courses are being offered at Westlake, Starks, DeQuincy and Sulphur. All students are provided with safety gear, including boots, helmet and gloves.<\/p>\n

The courses don\u2019t prepare students for immediate employment, says Creel, but to attend ABC and Sowela for secondary training.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou have to be trained at level 2 to go into industry, and serve a 3-5 year apprenticeship,\u201d says Creel. \u201cOur goal is to get students through core training, then through level 1 training.\u201d<\/p>\n

Plans are to offer summer classes to introduce students to a career in welding, Creel says.<\/p>\n

A new welding building is being constructed at Starks High School, says Creel, and when it\u2019s completed, by the opening of next school year, it will house evening courses.<\/p>\n

ABC\u2019s welding classes are also at capacity, and the school is also expanding its class offerings.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve expanded the enrollment limit for our classes,\u201d says ABC director Kirby Bruchhaus.<\/p>\n

ABC is offering classes in Kinder for high school students, and is also offering night classes.<\/p>\n

Sowela\u2019s welding programs are full, as well, and the school is having to put students on a waiting list for classes.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have 53 students on the list to start our Chicago Bridge and Iron welding classes each day,\u201d says Fleishman. \u201cAnd by next year, we hope to have 100 or more in our two-year welding program,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n

Classes are offered 4-9 pm Monday-Friday for non-credit courses, and 8 am-3 pm Monday-Friday for credit courses.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re training from 8 am-9 pm Monday-Friday,\u201d Fleishman says, \u201cand we\u2019d like to add Saturday and Sunday classes. And if industry needs us to offer classes from 9 pm-4 am, we will do that.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sowela currently has 36 welding booths for students, says Fleischman, and has just upgraded the ventilation system. Plans are to double the number of booths very shortly, for a total of 66. And, within the next six months, Fleischman says the school plans to add another 50-60 booths after that.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re spending the money now,\u201d says Fleishman.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Sowela0714-8094\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Getting The Word Out<\/strong><\/p>\n

If there\u2019s any hope of getting enough welders trained to meet the coming demand, students (and, more importantly, their parents and families) have to know about what the area\u2019s vo-tech institutes offer. So publicity has been a major concern for all three schools.<\/p>\n

The Calcasieu school system\u2019s vo-tech Center system hired Lorna Albers as a career coach, and a big part of her job is to visit schools to get the word out about, and get students interested in, the center\u2019s programs.<\/p>\n

\u201cI speak to high school and middle school students about (the coming expansion), career planning, and high school courses that teach skills for jobs that are high pay\/high demand. By Thanksgiving week, I will have spoken in all of our high schools, then I will go back to speak to 10th graders, starting in January, just before they start registering for next year\u2019s classes.\u201d<\/p>\n

ABC also does presentations at area high schools, most recently spending three days speaking and giving video presentations at high schools in the five-parish area.<\/p>\n

Fleishman says he recently appeared on KPLC to talk about the new scholarship funding from Praxair for the Skills Pipeline Workforce Development welding course.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe already had 44 openings for that program,\u201d he says. \u201cWhen I went home that evening, we had 70 individuals on that list. At the end of a week, we had over 100. We now have 200 people on the list, all wanting to take advantage of the program.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Financial Aid<\/strong><\/p>\n

That type of financial aid program is another big key to helping train the workforce of tomorrow, and students in all three institutions are able to take advantage of financial assistance.<\/p>\n

ABC students, says Bruchhaus, can get financial help through the Workforce Investment Act, which helps not only with tuition but with childcare and travel expenses.<\/p>\n

There\u2019s also the TOPS Tech program, which, like the regular TOPS program, provides financial assistance through the state.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou have to meet the regular TOPS requirements,\u201d says Bruchhaus. \u201cIt\u2019s similar to the TOPS program, but for vo-tech students.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sowela students have a wide variety of options available for financial aid, including the Praxair funding, which has to date totaled $300,000.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Partnering With Industry<\/strong><\/p>\n

And the Praxair funding points to another key element in the push to train workers. All three agencies work closely with area industry to provide the specific type of training each organization needs.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe understand the industry culture, and we work with industry to meet their specific needs,\u201d says Fleishman. Sowela works with industry to develop programs, he says,\u00a0 to ensure that, when a student completes a course, he or she is guaranteed a job \u2014 they\u2019re ready to meet the specific needs of that company.<\/p>\n

\u201cA job is not just a hope, it\u2019s a reality,\u201d he adds.<\/p>\n

Capital One last year gave $80,000 to Sowela for its welding programs. This year, it gave another $70,000. And Technip, an international engineering, management and construction firm, recently donated $100,000 in welding equipment.<\/p>\n

Sasol, of course, is building a new training center at Sowela, which will initially be used to train Sowela employees, but will eventually be used to train all students. And Sasol has also donated to ABC for its programs.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Sparks Will Fly<\/strong><\/p>\n

Meeting the demand for welders in the next few years won\u2019t be an easy task, but by getting the word out about the high-paying jobs opening up soon, partnering with and listening to area industry to meet its needs, and ensuring continued growth of facilities and course offerings, the area\u2019s trade schools are well on their way to meeting that challenge.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Return Of Rosie The Riveter<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0Is The Upcoming Expansion Enticing\u00a0Young Women Into Non-Traditional Careers \u00a0Such As Welding? \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

The overabundance of jobs that will come with the industrial expansion expected over the next few years, and the enticement of healthy salaries immediately after graduating from a three-month course, has many young people \u2014 and older adults facing unemployment or wanting a career change \u2014 thinking of a career in the skilled trades.<\/p>\n

That includes young women, who are increasingly opting to train for careers long considered male territory. Welding, for instance.<\/p>\n

But we\u2019re not exactly seeing the return of Rosie The Riveter \u2014 yet.<\/p>\n

According to the American Welding Society, only one in 20 welders in the U.S. is female, despite the long-held belief that women have the fine motor skills, patience, and hand\/eye coordination to excel at the skill.<\/p>\n

Young girls simply aren\u2019t conditioned to look at welders in hoods, boots and heavy gloves and think, \u201cI can do that.\u201d<\/p>\n

But women are beginning to consider careers in the skilled crafts, thanks to outreach programs such as Baton Rouge Community College\u2019s new Women in Welding course, which currently has 15 women training for careers as welders.<\/p>\n

And, if ever there was a time for young women to think about such a career, it\u2019s now.<\/p>\n

Its estimated that 86,000 skilled craftsmen will be needed along the Gulf Coast in the next few years, and Dr. Joseph Fleishman, Sowela\u2019s vice chancellor for workforce development, says that, in SWLA, a good percentage of those will be welders.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ll need about 5,000 welders here over the next few years,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n

Add to that need the facts that, according to the AWS, the average American welder is 54 years old, and about 45 percent of the welding workforce is age 50 or older, and that 111,000 new welders will be needed just to replace retiring welders, and you begin to see why the push is on to introduce young women to consider welding as a career.<\/p>\n

And, says Fleishman, companies today are interested in maintaining a workplace with a balance of male and female employees, and are thus eager to hire women, particularly in a male-dominated field.<\/p>\n

\u201cWomen get hired very quickly,\u201d he says. \u201cIt\u2019s very easy for a woman to find a job (in the skilled crafts).\u201d<\/p>\n

Lorna Albers, career coach with the Calcasieu Parish School System\u2019s College Street Vocational Center, says she\u2019s seen an increase in the number of female high school students interested in a trade and industry career.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere have always been a small number of female students in our T & I classes,\u201d she says, \u201cbut now it seems they are more serious about making it a career. I\u2019m getting more interest this year from female students in the high schools, so I definitely think we will have more (females) in our classes next year.\u201d<\/p>\n

Roger Creel, the College Street Center\u2019s director, agrees.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe do have some girls in welding,\u201d says Creel, \u201cthough not as many as in other craft areas. I have seen more interest in welding from girls, also in process technology. We\u2019re actively marketing non-traditional students.\u201d<\/p>\n

Heavy marketing by trade schools, the lure of a very good salary, and a workforce more than eager to hire might just have more and more women donning those heavy helmets and channeling Rosie The Riveter.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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