New Training Program Resonates With Industry As It Celebrates First Cohort Graduation (Photo) -12/03/24
PORTLAND, Ore. – Tetiana (Tanya) Kishinets couldn’t stop smiling.
After immigrating to Oregon from Ukraine just prior to Russia’s invasion, Kishinets searched for a training opportunity to transition into a better career. She found what she needed in Portland Community College’s new CNC Operator Readiness Essentials (CORE) Program and is a member of the first graduating class – the cause of her happiness.
The CORE training program, based at the Sylvania Campus, provides a blend of essential skills and technical skills for success in manufacturing. The curriculum covered key manufacturing skills, such as general tool knowledge, precision measuring techniques, shop safety and cleanliness, and basic blueprint reading. Additionally, students received guidance in developing resumes, preparing for interviews and sharpening soft skills such as time management.
“It was well-organized and structured,” said Kishinets, who had been working as a social worker for the Ukrainian Foundation. “We covered a lot in such a short period of time. At some points it seems to be overwhelming and time consuming but we did it. We worked hard. By the end of the course, I’m much more confident.”
CORE was launched as part of the 10-month-old Community to Careers (C2C), a project of the Future Ready Oregon (FRO) Workforce Ready Grant funded by the Higher Education Coordinating Commission. C2C aims to support the education and training of historically underserved Oregonians and promote the accessibility of family-wage careers with a focus on manufacturing, healthcare and technology.
In 2022, a first round of Future Ready Oregon funding allowed staff to reach out to community based organizations about supporting the training needs of workers and industry partners in manufacturing. In 2023, a second round of Future Ready Oregon funding allowed PCC staff from the Opportunity Centers to collaborate with the Machine Manufacturing Technology Program and local employers on the CORE training development.
In this two-week intensive training, students gain technical and essential skills for careers as Computer Numerical Controlled (CNC) machine operators. The course employed a range of learning methods, integrating a self-paced online platform from Haas with in-class lectures, independent work utilizing packets and hands-on activities. Each student completed practical projects on a lathe and a mill, crafting a metal spinning top and a bottle opener. Each student got a 30-minute interview with a group of employers, which included A-dec, AGC, Align Precision, Coorstek and Davis Tool.
The first cohort consisted of nine students chosen from a list of 37 screened candidates from around the Portland metro area.
“Our goal is to connect folks to family-wage careers,” said Patti Hawkins, program dean of PCC Electronics, Mechatronics, Advanced Manufacturing. “And our industry partners are amazingly important in this process. At PCC, our goal is to provide industry-informed training and having that partnership piece is so essential.”
Executive Director of the Columbia Economic Team Paul Vogel said, “We are very pleased to be part of this effort, which is not only tangible but valuable to employers. I see the value of CORE being generated by PCC, accessing available funding to leverage its industry knowledge, education capacity and collaborative ethic to better serve its communities.”
After the group interview, Kishinets has accepted a new job at Align Precision. She said she will connect with her community so more can take advantage of the CORE training.
“So many incredibly smart Ukrainians here feel helpless because they don’t know the starting point for this career or how to enter it,” she said. “This course is perfect to just get started. It is a gentle push for people who need it.”
Learn more about PCC’s Opportunity Centers by visiting https://www.pcc.edu/opportunity-center/
About Portland Community College: Founded in 1961, Portland Community College is the largest post-secondary institution in Oregon and provides training, degree and certificate completion, and lifelong learning to more than 50,000 full- and part-time students in Multnomah, Washington, Yamhill, Clackamas, and Columbia counties. PCC has four comprehensive campuses, 10 education centers or areas served, and approximately 200 community locations in the Portland metropolitan area. The PCC district encompasses a 1,500-square-mile area in northwest Oregon and offers two-year degrees, one-year certificate programs, short-term training, alternative education, pre-college courses and life-long learning.
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