Eyes on industry
This is the fourth year the Franklin County Career Technical Center has put a concerted effort into introducing FC ninth graders to industrial-based job opportunities in the county during February – in observance of February as Career and Technical Education Month.
All ninth graders toured G&G Steel and Tiffin Motorhomes to learn about the job opportunities available and the products made, with an eye toward encouraging them to pursue education in a career technical field. Ninth graders can begin career-tech based electives in the tenth grade, and FCCTC Principal Scott Wiginton said it’s important for them to begin those classes their sophomore year in order to start on the track to complete all their courses and even get a jumpstart on college credits.
G&G, he said, is a great company for students tour because “it’s a local company that has so many facets of jobs” – like engineers, billing agents, welders and more. “At the career tech center, we teach some facet of this, whether it’s an engineering class, a welding class or business classes.”
Wiginton said the visits really open the students’ eyes to the job opportunities available; the products that are being made in the county; and the number of Franklin County people employed in Franklin County industries.
Photos by Alison James
McNatt explains G&G processes and equipment to Belgreen ninth graders on Friday’s tour. All ninth-grade students in Franklin County toured G&G and Tiffin Motorhomes and other facilities for February as Career and Technical Education Month
G&G Steel project manager Mark McNatt was one of the tour guide for the students, and he said the tours can be beneficial for G&G, as well.
“We have a hard time finding qualified workers,” McNatt said. “The workforce is getting older, and we’re just trying to interest kids at a young age to go into something like manufacturing … It’s not just us. Every industry is having the same problem (with workforce availability). And we want to hire local people, but there just aren’t enough local qualified people to hire.”
McNatt said he hopes they can “plant that seed” that there are opportunities in Franklin County.
That’s what the FCCTC hopes, as well.
“I hope they find something that interests them and will look into going into career tech,” said career coach Mimi Wood.
