Media Contact: Sherry Pritz EIGERlab | TechWorks 815.921.2054 or S.Pritz@RockValleyCollege.edu

TechWorks’ New “National Institute for Metalworking Skills” Credentials Yields Immediate Employment

After meeting with local manufacturers to determine what they desire in an entry-level CNC machinist, TechWorks intensified the assessment/entry-level steps and outcomes for its Fast-Track (F-T) CNC Machine training. The new curriculum includes Job Readiness training through Rock Valley College, additional time in both the classroom and hands-on time on the CNC machinery, and a National Institute for Metalworking Skills (NIMS) credential. This enhanced program has produced a more employable graduate.

In addition, with the extraordinary number of available CNC machine positions in the northern stateline area, TechWorks assisted its students, both current and recent graduates, by organizing a job fair with local manufactures and placement agencies; the results were impressive. A portion of the students were hired before the class graduates [March 3]. The remaining students have been asked to contact or visit the companies for longer, more in-depth interviews. One of the F-T students, who is also a military veteran, was hired and started employment while simultaneously completing his training.

Who is a good fit for the new TechWorks F-T curriculum? Any individual who:

• Has the desire to work in the advanced manufacturing field
• Has a high school or college education and is interested in a secure industry
• Is unemployed, underemployed or wants to make a change in a secure industry (must
• possess good reading and math skills)
• Is interested in the opportunity to potentially program CNC machinery
• Is interested in the opportunity to potentially supervise CNC machinists

For more information on TechWorks and program offerings, visit www.EIGERlab.org/TechWorks.html or phone Laura Grass at 815.965.3522.