CCBC Partners With Regional Leaders To Host Cracker Plant Training and Career Expo

Monaca, PA – In a proactive effort to inform residents about current and emerging job opportunities – including Shell’s ethane cracker plant in Potter Township – Community College of Beaver County and regional leaders are hosting Cracker Plant: Building/Construction Trades and Manufacturing Career Expo on Thursday, November 17, beginning at 6:00 p.m., in CCBC’s Dome.

“CCBC and our regional partners recognize the immediate need for our region to promote awareness and understanding of the various types of education and training programs that will prepare residents for short, intermediate, and long-term employment opportunities associated with the ethane cracker plant,” said CCBC President Dr. Chris Reber.

Career Expo attendees will have opportunities to meet with trade unions, local colleges, and other training providers; hear from a panel of labor, industry and education professionals; and discover what the jobs are, where to find them, and how to prepare for them.

Panelists include:

Dr. Chris Reber, President, Community College of Beaver County

David A. Wytiaz, Administrative Director, Beaver County Career and Technology Center

Jason Fincke, Executive Director, Builders’ Guild of Western Pennsylvania

Ron Stefaniak, Cement Masons Local 526 Training Director

Jim Gallik, Iron Workers Local 3 Training Director

Greg Hojdila, Electricians Local 712 Training Director

Laborers’ District Council of Western Pennsylvania

Dale Glavin, Steamfitters Local 449 Training Director

Dave Plutt, Keystone+Mountain+Lakes Regional Council of Carpenters Training Director

Jim Haitz, Operating Engineers Local 66 Apprenticeship Coordinator

Bill Birmingham, Insulators Local 2 Training Director

Short-term, intermediate, and long-term career opportunities will be available at the cracker plant, in other manufacturing organizations, and throughout the economy in future years. An estimated 6,000 workers from building and construction trades, including bricklayers, boilermakers, carpenters, electricians, welders, installers, ironworkers, pipefitters, steamfitters, and general laborers, will be needed during the cracker plant’s construction phase. Additional full- and part-time employees will be hired within the manufacturing community and beyond in future years.  These will include positions paying family-sustaining wages in career areas such as process technology, engineering, mechatronics, maintenance, and beyond. Certificates, two-year, four-year, and graduate degree programs will prepare employees in many parts of the future Beaver County workforce.

This one-stop Career Expo aims to help address the region’s need to recruit and train these near term and future employees. Residents in attendance will learn about education and career training, which will prepare them for potential full- and part-time careers at the operational plant and within related industries.

“CCBC is honored to host professionals from labor, industry, and education who will share information and success strategies from their respective organizations to help Beaver County prepare for a new and vibrant future,” said Reber.

The Career Expo is open to everyone. Interested attendees are encouraged to preregister online by visiting ccbc.edu/expo.

For more information about the Expo, email workforce@ccbc.edu or call 724-480-3443.