< Previous68 WORKFORCE 2024 Imperative – Workforce Pipeline Challenge, the three-year pilot program aims to attract 1,000 people annually to each of the 25 participating community and technical colleges, resulting in 75,000 or more qualified workers seeking careers in manufacturing. The colleges involved in the program will play a fundamental role in implementing innovative curriculums and solutions to address industry challenges. The initiative plans to work with the selected schools to conduct a labor analysis of the local, regional and state landscape to expand sector strategies to attract new populations — particularly those under-served and under- represented in the workforce. Wallace State and Calhoun Community Colleges (AL), Daley College from the City Colleges of Chicago (IL), WSU Tech (KS), Grand Rapids and Schoolcraft Community Colleges (MI), Wake Tech Community College (NC), Columbus State and Lorain Community Colleges (OH), Tulsa Community College (OK), Greenville Technical College (SC), Pellissippi State Community College (TN), Lone Star Community College (TX) and Patrick & Henry Community College (VA), are among the institutions selected to participate in the pilot program Successful Students, Successful State “There is not a more critical time to be actively involved in igniting the manufacturing workforce pipeline,” said Dr. Vicki P. Karolewics, president of Wallace State in a press release. “Industry 4.0 is creating rapid change in manufacturing environments, and community colleges are on the leading edge of developing the workforce of the future.” As one of the schools selected for the Workforce Pipeline Challenge, Wallace State has been redesigning and expanding its programs and career pathways with SME since the program launched in fall 2023. In addition to participating in the initiative, the college has been pouring funds into upgrading and constructing high-tech buildings dedicated to worker development in On September 6, Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America (HMGMA), Georgia Southern University and Ogeechee Technical College signed a formal agreement to work together to address regional workforce needs. Photo courtesy of Hyundai Motor Group WORKFORCE 2024 69 Hanceville, Alabama. In August, Wallace State celebrated the grand opening of its $8.8 million Center of Welding Technology, the largest training center in the Southeast. This is only the first of three additional capital investment projects, totaling nearly $49 million, currently in the works at the school. The largest project in the pipeline is a $35 million STEM Gateway Building, which will house first -year classes, the Culinary Arts program, a digital learning center and a tutoring center. The school has also dedicated $4.2 million to expanding and renovating its Machine Tool Technology Building and $9.6 million to constructing an Automotive Technology facility. Mercedes Benz, Nissan North America, Cullman Electric Cooperative and Tennessee Valley Authority have partnered with Wallace State on the latter project. With this new facility, the college aims to do its part in preparing Alabama’s workforce for the automotive industry’s transition to electric vehicles. In his speech during the grand opening ceremony, state Rep. Danny Garret made note of this. “If the market takes us there, we certainly want these manufactures who come to Alabama to stay here. We want them to expand here. We want Alabama to be in front of that issue. So as that market shifts, it’s important that we stay ahead of the curve, and I see that happening here today,” he said. Engineering the Perfect Employee Automotive suppliers throughout the U.S. strive to do the same. Many of the industry’s biggest names have taken the labor crisis into their own hands by partnering with community and technical colleges to develop a pipeline of workers trained in their technologies.70 WORKFORCE 2024 Tesla collaborates with multiple colleges across California, North Carolina, Washington, Colorado, Texas, Florida and Maryland to integrate its intensive training program, Tesla START, into automotive, collision and manufacturing curriculums. Designed as a multi-week course, this program allows students to develop technical experience and earn certifi cations necessary for a smooth transition from school to full-tine employment in the automotive industry. Ford Motor Company’s Automotive Student Service Educational Training (ASSET) program partners with more than community and trade schools throughout the country. e most recent additions to the program include Pima Community College (AZ), Wake Technical College, (NC) and Gwinnett Technical College (GA). rough this two-year program, students can earn up to % of Ford’s Service Technician Specialty Training (STST) credentials, complete an associate degree in automotive technology and gain one year of hands- on experience at a Ford or Lincoln dealership. Most recently, Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America (HMGMA) signed a formal agreement with Georgia Southern University and Ogeechee Technical College, announcing a collaborative eff ort to advance education and address regional workforce demands. “Together, we are not just building cars; we are building futures, strengthening the community and driving progress,” said HMGMA CEO Oscar Kwon in September. “ at is part of Hyundai’s mission: progress for humanity. Our partnership with these institutions refl ects our shared vision for a brighter, more innovative future.” rough this initiative, Georgia Southern and Ogeechee Tech strive to develop and implement academic programs designed to meet specifi c labor needs, including degree pathways such as Advanced Manufacturing Engineering and a variety of certifi cation courses. Ogeechee Tech plans to incorporate programs such as the Electric Vehicle Professional Technical Certifi cate of Credit and Hybrid/Electric Vehicle Repair Technician Technical Certifi cate of Credit. It also aims to develop Industrial Maintenance Noncredit Training for HMGMA employees. Georgia Southern will also off er professional development certifi cations and courses for HMGMA through its Continuing and Professional Education programs as well as provide recruitment services, including on-campus interview opportunities and events. “ is partnership stands as a testament to the value of collaboration between academia and industry in driving holistic growth,” said Georgia Southern President Kyle Marrero in a press release. “By uniting forces, HMGMA and Georgia Southern University are forging a path that not only elevates educational opportunities but also cultivates a thriving community equipped to meet the challenges and opportunities of the future.” Together, we are not just building cars; we are building futures, strengthening the community and driving progress.” — Oscar Kwon , HMGMA CEO Together, we are not just building cars; WORKFORCE 2023 71 by MARK AREND S TEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) programs have been part of education curricula for more than two decades as businesses exert pressure on schools to better equip students for entering the 21st century job market. Schools got the message, and today, not only do most traditional middle and high schools offer STEM STEM EDUCATION Students in elementary schools in Hillsborough County, Florida, are able to take STEM education classes in very early grade school. Photos here and on p. 74 courtesy of Hillsborough County Schools in Tampa, Florida Fixing the ‘Missing Millions’ Problem72 WORKFORCE 2023 programs, but STEM-specific schools can be found in many communities. The L&N STEM Academy in Knoxville, Tennessee, and the Paul Duke STEM High School in Norcross, Georgia, are two examples. But a challenge has emerged in recent years, particularly in higher education. A growing body of evidence points to a significant underrepresentation of several demographics — including women, Blacks and Hispanics — in STEM programs, leaving them unlikely to achieve science and engineering degrees. Greater representation among these groups would go a long way toward meeting industries’ workforce needs. The challenge is perhaps best explained in an October 2021 National Science Foundation report, “The Missing Millions: Democratizing Computation and Data to Bridge Digital Divides and Increase Access for Underrepresented Communities.” The research was led by Alan Blatecky at RTI International, a nonprofit research institute in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina. From the executive summary: “In the context of the cyberinfrastructure for science, addressing the missing millions includes racial and gender diversity as well as diversity in fields and disciplines served, inclusion of tribal communities, expanded access for citizen scientists, and applications of the cyberinfrastructure in ways that more extensively address broader impacts in society. All of this will take a concerted effort — democratizing computation and bridging digital divides. “Computing and data infrastructure — part of what the NSF terms cyberinfrastructure — is relevant to virtually all fields and disciplines and is essential for 21st-century science and research. Thus, progress (or lack of progress) in this domain is integral, impactful and informative to any efforts to address the missing millions across the science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) workforce.” Similarly, a November 2023 National Science Board (NSB) report, “Higher Education in Science and Engineering,” 20 40 60 80 100 U.S. Population, ages 10-34 Certificate Recipients Associate’s Degree Recipients Bachelor’s Degree Recipients Master’s Degree Recipients Doctoral Degree Recipients American Indian or Alaskan NativeAsian Black or African AmericanHispanic or Latino Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific IslanderWhite More than one race Race and Ethnicity of U.S. Population Ages 20-34 and S&E Award Recipients by Degree Level, 2021 source: National Science Board74 WORKFORCE 2023 makes the case that higher education must work harder to increase demographic diversity in their science and engineering programs. “Demographic diversity in some S&E fields has increased over the past decade,” reads an excerpt of the report’s conclusion. “As of 2021, women earned more than 50% of S&E awards in the agricultural and biological sciences, multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary sciences, psychology and social sciences. On the other hand, women remained underrepresented among award recipients in such fields as engineering and computer and information sciences. American Indian or Alaska Native, Black and Hispanic individuals were also underrepresented, although the percentage of S&E awards that they collectively earned increased at every award level between 2012 and 2021.” Heather Wilson, National Science Board member and president of the University of Texas at El Paso, noted in NSB’s press release, “It’s clear we are not moving fast enough to reach the ‘Missing Millions’ in STEM, in spite of the fact that more students are studying science and engineering.” WORKFORCE 2023 75 Resources to the Rescue Eff orts are under way to fi x the problem. In February , for example, Carnegie Mellon University and the Norman and Ruth Rales Foundation announced the CMU Rales Fellows Program to facilitate STEM graduate education by removing cost as a barrier by providing underrepresented students with full tuition, a stipend and professional development resources. e $ million program aims to underwrite graduate students annually in STEM programs at the university. “ e United States faces a critical shortfall of students pursuing advanced degrees in STEM fi elds, particularly among underrepresented and under- resourced individuals, including fi rst-generation college students,” noted CMU President Farnam Jahanian. “ ese students report cost and debt as signifi cant barriers to seeking Masters and PhD degrees in fi elds critical to our nation’s future. is is a loss of opportunity for individuals and a loss of talent and creativity for society.” STEM investment for niche markets is also under way, such as Electrify America’s March investment of $. million to support STEM workforce development programs targeting the zero-emission vehicle industry. e company operates the largest network of fast charging stations for ZEVs in the country. e organizations benefi ting from the investment are Acterra and Ecology Action, both of which are California- based environmental advocacy groups; EVNoire, which focuses on e-mobility best practices and diversity; Sinclair Community College in Dayton, Ohio; and Valley Clean Air Now, which works to reduce emissions in California’s San Joaquin Valley. “Investing in STEM education and workforce development is essential to ensure we have the talent necessary to drive the electric vehicle revolution,” said Gabriela Gugiu, corporate social responsibility senior specialist, Electrify America, in announcing the grants. “ e future of transportation is electric, and we want to ensure that our youth and workforce of both today and tomorrow have the education and training necessary to succeed in this rapidly growing industry.” ese students report cost and debt as signifi cant barriers to seeking Masters and PhD degrees in fi elds critical to our nation’s future. is is a loss of opportunity for individuals and a loss of talent and creativity for society.” — Farnam Jahanian , President, Carnegie Mellon University ese students report cost and debt as 76 WORKFORCE 2023 Central Virginia Workforce Fuels Nuclear Firm’s Growth T o say that nuclear fuel processor BWXT’s growth is going to the moon would be an understatement. e Lynchburg, Virginia–based company is expanding on multiple fronts, and at least part of that growth is designed to one day propel astronauts to Mars. With revenues of $. billion and a market cap of $ billion — up from $. billion just one year ago — the Fortune company is on a trajectory to take the fi rm to heights not seen before in this industry. by RON STARNER INDUSTRY PARTNERSHIP BWXT “The outdoor lifestyle opportunities in the Lynchburg area are tremendous,” says BWXT Advanced Technologies President Joe Miller, including views like this to the north of the region along Skyline Drive in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Photo: Getty Images WORKFORCE 2023 77 During an extended sit-down interview with Joe Miller at BWXT’s Advanced Technologies headquarters in Campbell County in Central Virginia, he shared the secret sauce that is driving his company’s current expansion wave: people. Miller, who serves as president of BWXT Advanced Technologies and two subsidiaries — Dynamic Controls Limited in the UK and Cunico in Long Beach, California — says BWX employs nearly , people in Greater Lynchburg, which includes the Mount Athos plant site he oversees in Campbell County. ere, the fi rm performs mission-critical work including the processing of the nuclear fuel used to power submarines deployed in the oceangoing fl eet of the U.S. Navy. Before answering my questions about workforce talent development and recruiting, he took me on a guided tour of the plant expansion under construction just off Mount Athos Road. e sprawling complex tucked between Blue Ridge mountainsides in a very scenic stretch of the Old Dominion is not there by accident, says Miller. “Admiral Hyman Rickover, e Father of the Nuclear Navy, was fl ying over this part of the country in the s when he looked down at this site, fell in love with it, and said, ‘ is is where we should build our energy plant,’ ” Miller says. And so, they did. Onboarding Pace Accelerates e complex has been growing ever since to over million sq. ft. In May , BWXT bought a ,-sq.-ft. facility on Mount Athos Road from Framatome, another nuclear services company based in Lynchburg. A year and a half later, BWXT announced it would invest $ million to convert that facility into the new headquarters of the company’s Advanced Technologies division, headed by Miller. It is being called the BWXT Innovation Campus. e conversion is a three-year project that should be completed sometime in and add about new jobs to the company. About employees will work there upon the new plant becoming operational, Miller says, noting that “we We don’t even have to do the recruiting in a lot of instances. e spouses do that for us.” — Joe Miller , President, BWXT Advanced Technologies, Lynchburg, Virginia We don’t even have to do the recruiting in a Next >