There are quite a few training opportunities that have come to our region recently or are coming up soon.
If you have thought of obtaining a new skill in some of the up-and-coming industries, there is no better time.
Pagosa Springs started last week with the opportunity to be trained in broadband and fiber splicing. This may have been a difficult class for some to attend as it required two weeks of commitment from 9am to 5pm. However, the outcome for the student would have been a certification in the industry and the opportunity to walk right into a job.
If you are still interested in pursuing this type of career and want to make the commitment, there is still another class; however, it will be held in Mancos, Colorado, March 3-14. It is the same training, just a different location. To find out more, contact Emily Lashbrooke at (970) 264-3023.
Fort Lewis College is also offering some free or competitively priced courses from management to technology.
Through a Project RUN grant, there are three free courses being offered: ‘Fundamentals of Leadership and Management’, where you will learn strategic planning, budgeting, decision making and more; ‘Essential Tech and Workplace Skills’, where you will learn to create, manage and share information online and professional communication and computer skills; and ‘AI in the Workplace’, which teaches you AI literacy, data literacy and automation skills.
Each of these courses have a training time associated with them; however, you can access the courses online, you do not need to travel to Fort Lewis College.
These next two courses are much more detailed-oriented and focus on another very targeted industry: ‘Photo Voltaic’ and ‘Solar Fundamentals’. These two courses are offered at a self-paced timeframe and there is a cost involved. For more information about these classes, visit gowork.fortlewis.edu.
More courses will be becoming available, so check back at that site to see what has been added.
For our employers, Fort Lewis will also be hosting a hiring expo on April 10. Not only can you interview students, but you can also apply for internship funding. You can create an account and preview applicants. You can reserve a table at Fort Lewis to conduct multiple interviews or have a presence for your company.
Whether it be a career and technical skill, management position or specific trade like accounting or communications, this would be a great opportu- nity to get in front of students who are interested in staying in our region of Colorado. You can also post your positions on their platform so students can learn about your business.
Visit careers.fortlewis.edu/blog-events/upcoming-events/career-intership-expo-6 for more information and to register through its hiring platform.
Many businesses are looking for dedicated students or graduates, and students are looking for a good match for their skills. You can also contact Janae Hunderman, director of career and workforce at Fort Lewis College, to find out more about what career trainings are on the horizon. She can be reached at jhunderman@ fortlewis.edu or (970) 247-7321.
Take advantage of both of the hiring and training opportunities. If you are looking to change careers, now may be the time.