Eric Joseph Esoda, who is the president and CEO of the Northeastern Pennsylvania Industrial Resource Center, mentioned that the agency is always seeking ways to promote advanced manufacturing programs to local teachers and students.
Esoda and NEPIRC recently launched the Northeastern Pennsylvania Manufacturing Education Guide which promotes the various certificate and degree programs available locally for students interested in pursuing a manufacturing career.
Esoda stated that the guide supports the work of NEPIRC’s Manufacturing Ambassador Dream Team program.
The Manufacturing Education Guide will be given to high school students through NEPIRC’s Manufacturing Ambassador Dream Team presentations in classrooms and at career fairs, as well as made available digitally through NEPIRC’s social media channels and website.
Esoda explained, “We made this guide to emphasize to high school students that many everyday products they use are manufactured in northeastern Pennsylvania. The guide is expected to reach thousands of students and their parents this school year, connecting students with manufacturing career opportunities and promoting high-quality, affordable education from these institutions.”
Susan Spry, associate vice president of academic affairs at Luzerne County Community College, immediately saw the value in being part of the guide.
Spry expressed, “We have been a longtime partner with NEPIRC on many initiatives. We believe the Manufacturing Education Guide and the Dream Team program are very impactful. The ambassadors talk to students, parents, and teachers about the high-tech activities they do in their work, inspiring students to consider manufacturing careers, beginning with programs of study like the ones we offer that prepare students for today's and tomorrow's manufacturing jobs.”
Another college involved in the guidebook is Lackawanna College, whose Continuing Education Department has been involved with manufacturers from the region for many years.
Bill Schoen, director of continuing education at Lackawanna College, mentioned, “NEPIRC partners with over a thousand manufacturers in the region. By working with NEPIRC on the guide and other initiatives, we are essentially partnering with those thousand-plus manufacturers.”
The guide currently includes information for manufacturing career programs offered by Johnson College, Keystone College, Lackawanna College, Luzerne County Community College, and The Pennsylvania College of Technology, and invites other institutions to participate by promoting their advanced manufacturing programs.
The guide also includes a list of 70 local manufacturers offering tuition reimbursement to their employees and a direct link to NEPIRC’s Job Board featuring around 100 local manufacturers who are currently hiring for various positions.
For more information about NEPIRC’s Manufacturing Education Guide and the Manufacturing Ambassador Dream Team program, visit the NEPIRC Dream Team website. www.NEPIRCDreamTeam.com, or by sending an email to Dream Team project coordinator Jenelle Osborne at [email protected].
