GERMANNA INDUSTRIAL MAINTENANCE TECH PROGRAM ADDING TO LOCAL WORKERS' SKILLS, BOOSTING PRODUCTIVITY, SALARIES

Student Thomas Payette of Orange County works on electrical experiments in GCC's Industrial Maintenance Tech lab at the Daniel Technology Center in Culpeper.

Germanna Community College is offering a Career Studies Certificate in Industrial Maintenance Technology at its Daniel Technology Center in Culpeper. The program is designed to meet the growing need for trained industrial maintenance technicians and to help those already in such jobs upgrade their skills.

Thomas Payette, a 22-year-old Orange High School graduate who works at Eagle Eye Electric expects the skills he's learning to advance his career as an electrician in an industry hungry for young workers.

"Over 40,000 people will leave our industry over seven years," Virginia Manufacturers Association President Brett Vassey says. "We have the oldest working population of any sector-- including government-- in the Commonwealth."

Germanna's new lab boasts “mechatronics” technology combining mechanical and electrical engineering with information systems.

The program includes eight courses. Much of the work may be completed online.

Tim Walker, an instructor in the GCC program, said many local companies are paying for their employees to take the courses.

"They'll be getting back a better mechanic, a better worker," Walker said.

For more information on the program, call GCC at 540/937-2900 or 540/891-3012.