The South Texas College Partnership for Workforce Training and Continuing Education (Partnership) demonstrated its commitment to enhance the skills of the Rio Grande Valley workforce with the success of 37 graduates that completed the General Facilities Maintenance Technician Pilot Program.

The pilot training program was created in September 2005 by the Partnership in collaboration with the McAllen Independent School District, Mission Regional Hospital, South Texas Health Systems and Texas State Bank.

"A year ago, we committed ourselves to continue improving our skills and knowledge," said JD Vela, plant operations supervisor of McAllen I.S.D as he addressed the graduates during the certificate ceremony. "STC offered a variety of disciplines in the facilities maintenance program. They saw an opportunity to develop your skills so you can jump ahead of the competition and earn a certificate that can possibly lead you to the career that you are most passionate about. Today is the beginning of that remarkable accomplishment."

The 37 graduates were exposed to the basics of facilities maintenance, preventive maintenance, code compliance and security tactics, blueprint reading, commercial electricity, plumbing, building maintenance, boilers and kitchen equipment, and heating, ventilation and air conditioning fundamentals.

"Our efforts are toward enhancing the skills and opening new career opportunities in the Valley workforce," stated Carlos Margo, training manager of the STC Partnership. "These programs are a new path for employees to be up-to-date in workforce techniques and be able to reach higher career goals with their newly acquired knowledge and skills. Of course, this success would not have been possible without the support of our sponsoring companies. They believed in this project and enrolled their staff to receive our instruction and training."

The success of this program has led the Partnership to create and offer a level two certification for the 37 certified technicians starting in August along with the existing level one General Facilities Maintenance certification program.

For more information about the General Facilities Maintenance certification program, contact the Partnership at (956) 872-6197. For general information about STC, please visit www.southtexascollege.edu.

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