business backgrounder | education & workforce
“ We see what ’ s going to happen with labor shortages . There is not enough workforce . This initiative helps us to take a proactive stance .”
— Gabe Renville , resource planning and development manager for Whidbey Telecom
Because of that , he wants to help expand the program piloted at Sno-Isle Tech to other technical skills centers .
“ We can provide a solid pilot program that other people can copy from ,” Renville said .
A do-it-yourself spirit of innovation is nothing new for the company , which was founded in 1908 by a scrappy bunch of farmers and lumberjacks to bring telephone service to Langley and Whidbey Island .
It ’ s been owned since the 1950s by the Henny family . Co-owner and co-CEO George Henny considers their contributions to this program to be an important part of the company ’ s legacy .
As Sno-Isle Tech explores new territory in preparing its students for the modern workforce , it will have Whidbey Telecom as a faithful partner .
“ We ’ re going to keep supporting them and hope this keeps going on and on ,” Renville said . “ Fiber optics isn ’ t going away .”
about sno-isle tech
Sno-Isle Technical Skills Center is a public school in Everett providing technical training for high school students in their junior and senior year within Snohomish & South Island Counties .
Students from 15 school districts can apply to be part of the program . Students spend half their day at their local high school and 2 1 / 2 hours at Sno-Isle Tech .
It offers 24 different programs within five different career pathways : Business & marketing , human services , information technology , health sciences , and trade & industry .
“ Kids have pride in what they ’ re doing ,” said Trudy Swain , the school ’ s partnership coordinator . “ They ’ re building skills , they ’ re receiving some real-world responsibility , they ’ re meeting those expectations , and I think that makes them feel good . It builds a strong foundation for their mental health .”
48 association of washington business