Greater Cheyenne Chamber of Commerce Business Journal Q3 2014 | Page 59

“not only are
employers now able to
hire from a well trained
workforce, this very
valuable effort also
benefited
Wyoming workers
who now possess the
technical and safety
skills needed to �
supportthe industry.”

Issue Sponsor:

“middle-skills” that often require no more than an Director Maryellen Tast, who visited with one of the
employer partners, “they described their selection process
associate degree.”
going from 200 applicants with little understanding of fit
Even anecdotally, some of the jobs for these associate and background to nearly 20 strong applicants who are
degree holders start in the $50-60,000 range, with ‘the cream of the crop’ from LCCC.”
opportunites for quick promotions and raises, depending
Not only are employers now able to hire from a well-trained
on the field.
workforce, this very valuable effort also benefited Wyoming
Additionally, the cost of tuition and fees at LCCC and workers who now possess the technical and safety skills
other community colleges is significantly less than that needed to support the industry.
of a four-year institution.
One student from LCCC’s first cohort exemplifies the
Locally and regionally, companies are facing a dire success of this program. A veteran, he actually sold his
shortage of technology specialists. Partnering with car to cover living expenses for the eleven weeks spent in
various business leaders and government agencies, the process technology training program, with little income
LCCC is working overtime to help meet the needs of for his living expenses. However, after completing the
these employers by providing well-educated graduates program, DynoNobel hired him immediately in a position
who can step into these jobs and begin immediately starting at $21.75 an hour, where he continues to find
success in this new position.
helping the company.
In fact, LCCC joined forces with two other Wyoming
community colleges, the Wyoming Refining Safety
Alliance and the Wyoming Department of Workforce
Services on designing, developing and launching a
certificate program in Process Technology. In the
program’s first year, 33 students earned certification.
LCCC has just completed its second cohort of
students, and these students have interviewed with
local businesses DynoNobel and Holly Frontier. This
program is looking at a 97 percent completion rate and
is currently at an 80 percent placement rate.
According to LCCC Outreach & Workforce Development

The team at LCCC isn’t resting. Thanks to voter-approved
bonds, a new flexible industrial technology will be built on
campus to respond even more immediately to the needs
of industries and employers in the area. Additionally,
programs are in place or are arriving soon for pipe welding,
workplace safety, power production and energy systems,
and manufacturing.
LCCC and other community colleges are leading the
charge in the new economy. Students in these programs
and those getting their associate degrees have every
reason to feel hopeful and positive about their prospects
for solid, stable futures.
Q3 2014 BUSINESS JOURNAL

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