Mainebiz

V O L . X X I I I N O. X I M AY 1 5 , 2 0 1 7 18 E D U C AT I O N / T R A I N I N G F O C U S e results can be seen in MCCS's enrollment — up 71% since 2003. Accommodations for students — who are generally older, low-income and working at least part-time — include low tuition, fi nancial aid, online options and fl exible scheduling. "We essentially provide workers who form the bedrock of the Maine economy," says Langhauser. At General Electric's Bangor site, which manufactures components for power plants and gas turbines, Nathan Sheranian, who handles HR for the site, is an enthusiastic proponent of the industry-MCCS relationship. " is is an area we feel passionately about," he says. e power-plant steam and gas turbine component manufacturer off ers three to four paid internships to preci- sion machining students at Northern Maine and Kennebec Valley commu- nity colleges, he says. (GE also off ers power technology maintenance intern- ships to EMCC students.) Precision machining comprises 75% of the work- force. Recruitment ramped up rapidly after the recession, and GE's commu- nity college partnerships stemmed from the need for a robust pipeline of talent. " ey're placed with an experienced trainer and they're learning from day one how to run multi–million-dollar machinery," Sheranian says. "In a month or six weeks, our interns are running these machines by themselves. So we say, 'If you perform well, we'll give you an off er to join us full-time after graduation.' On top of that, for folks we give an off er to, we reimburse their tuition for their second year. at's a huge benefi t for the students and a tremendous boon to our recruit- ment eff orts. Everyone we've off ered to has accepted so far." One of those new employees is KVCC graduate Amelia Loureiro. A Maine native who studied preci- sion machining in high school, she attended Maine Maritime Academy for a while, then enrolled in 2015 at KVCC for its focus on the skills that would feed her directly to a job. After an internship with GE in 2016, she was off ered a position that started in January, along with reimbursement of her second year's tuition. Now age 21, working full-time and completing her last KVCC class, she's looking for- ward to returning to school at some point for a business degree. GE also off ered to pay some of tha t tuition, she says — and she'll probably stick with the community college system. "I've done the big-college, expen- sive route," she says. "At a community college, you take the necessary courses to get into the job you want. And I like the small community college feel. You feel like you're being helped. I never felt like I was just another number." L S , M a i n e b i z s t a f f writer, can be reached at @ . a n d @ M R E I » C O N T I N U E D F RO M P R E V I O U S PA G E Toll-free 1-866-HAMMOND www.hammondlumber.com Knowing where you can dig around buried utilities is good safety and smart. When it comes to cutting concrete, the same applies. Knowing where you can cut concrete, and more importantly not cut concrete, is also smart and can cut concrete, is also smart and can save you thousands of dollars — and countless hours — on your next project. • Electronic Locating • Concrete Scanning • Ground Penetrating Radar WE KEEP WORK AREAS SAFE To learn more about who has the expertise and equipment to help you safely dig and cut, visit digsmartofmaine.com or call Glen at 207.749.7231 www.digsmartofmaine.com REBAR RADIANT HEAT PIPES CLEAR BULLSEYE FOR CORING Private Utility Locating Hinckley Yachts hires workers skilled in fi ne woodworking, composite technicial work and marine electrical systems. It has 260 employees in Trenton, 350 in Maine and 650 in New England. P H O T O / DAV I D C L O U G H

• Cover