Nick McWilliams reporting – As a part of a statewide tour of Ohio’s career centers, Governor Mike DeWine was in New Philadelphia Monday afternoon.
Touring the house Buckeye Career Center students are currently building and the new Energy Operations Center, DeWine met with various students and instructors, who discussed their programs and their passion for each skilled field.
DeWine, who also met with local manufacturing representatives at a roundtable discussion, had high praise for BCC, touting the importance of recruiting more students to consider skilled positions due to a job market that’s creating careers faster than it can higher.
“If Ohio is to grow, we not only have to create jobs, but we have to have people to fill the jobs. And what we’re seeing with Buckeye is training for real jobs, that exist in the real world, that exist right here in the local community.”
Some questions posed by the governor included how students are prepared for jobs like Energy Operations, Utility Lineman, Welding, Nursing, Culinary Arts, and more, along with expected starting salaries for graduates with credentials from Buckeye.
Superintendent Bob Alsept was pleased with the turnout for Ohio’s governor, and said that with over 900 students currently enrolled, there’s still plenty of room for growth at the career center.
“Down the road — and my board is awesome. They look at how they can invest in programs — down the road there will probably be more building or certainly more renovations in our healthcare [program.] That is such a need in that area, and we want to make sure that we do a good job in training students to meet that need.”
Local business representatives in attendance who participated in the roundtable discussion included Bob Sensal from Dover Hydraulic, Mike Hovan from Lauren International, Mike Haberman from Alamo Group, Craig Butler from the Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District, and Steve Stokey for Allied Machine.
More information about the programs offered by Buckeye and for enrollment information, visit www.buckeyecareercenter.org.
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