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AmSkills Workforce Training & Apprenticeships wraps up another Bootcamp program

AmSkills completed yet another Bootcamp program on Friday, May 6, 2022. Looking for a new career? AmSkills uses workforce training to help Tampa Bay residents find well-paying careers in the manufacturing industry

Nikki was a single mother of three looking for a way to support her family. Tabitha was formerly incarcerated and was working as a waitress, barely making it paycheck to paycheck. Justyn was a recent high school grad who found himself uncertain about what to do next in life.

These three very different people had two things in common. First, they were searching for a career that they not only would enjoy, but one with the potential for upward mobility and financial security. And second, they all were introduced to AmSkills.

About AmSkills:

AmSkills is a nonprofit organization that teaches high school students and adults the foundational skills needed for a career in the manufacturing industry using hands-on training. It also gives these students the chance to explore multiple career paths in the manufacturing field. Once completed, candidates are eligible for paid, semi-skilled jobs or skilled apprenticeship opportunities.

AmSkills primarily does this through free, two-week, Career Discovery Bootcamps. These mobile bootcamps consist of multiple hands-on projects, blueprint and measurement reading, intro to soldering, attending tours of local manufacturers and obtaining an OSHA Safety Certificate. During the program, participants also receive guidance in preparation for a job interview. All participants who successfully complete the bootcamp receive a Certificate of Completion and are guaranteed a job interview on the last day.

“This is a life-changing opportunity for people that lost their jobs due to the COVID-19 pandemic, have been considering a new career path, or don’t know what career path to pursue” said Tom Mudano, President, and CEO of AmSkills. “The problem is that most people have no idea how many manufacturing opportunities are available within their community because they aren’t familiar with the industry or don’t believe they have the necessary skills to seek employment. This program is dedicated to providing participants with the information, skills and opportunity they need to launch a career at the end of the bootcamp.”

According to the Manufacturing Institute, the education and workforce partner of the National Association of Manufacturers, there were a record 1.9 million open manufacturing job postings in October 2020, up from 950,000 in September. Stakes are high to fill manufacturing jobs and numbers like these reinforce the importance of workforce training programs like AmSkills.

“On the final day of bootcamp, each candidate is guaranteed interviews with multiple hiring companies,” said Mudano. “We don’t guarantee jobs, we guarantee job interviews, and we help prepare participants to feel confident during the process. The rest is up to them.”

“While our goal is to help manufacturers build jobs, we’re really about transforming lives,” said Mudano.

And transforming lives is exactly what is happening. In 2021, 89% of the people that participated in bootcamps were hired by a local manufacturer. What’s even more exciting is that 80% of those hired are still working! These statistics are much higher than the industry standard.

In addition to the bootcamps, AmSkills offers high school students an opportunity to learn about the manufacturing industry as part of its High School Manufacturing Academy. These academies are currently being offered in two high schools, including Anclote High School, with the goal of expanding of the program to more schools. These programs are giving high school students hands-on learning opportunities that they can use should they decide to pursue a career in manufacturing.

Recently, AmSkills was awarded $3 million in the federal budget that was just passed. This money was earmarked by Congressman Gus Bilirakis, who has been a longtime supporter of AmSkills.

The $3 million federal earmark will help construct the new AmSkills Workforce Training Innovation Center. This facility will be used to educate youth and adults on the numerous opportunities available in the manufacturing industry. This will be done using virtual reality, simulators, hands-on activities and with robotics.

Programs at the AmSkills Workforce Training Innovation Center, which is located in Holiday, FL, will be designed to offer summer and holiday camps for youth, where they can explore new technologies like building drones or 3-D printers. These new skills may encourage these young people to consider careers in fields like robotics and Mechatronics. The facility is also expected to become a destination training center from around the country for robotics and to become the first Simulator Training facility of its kind in the United States.

“We envision both youth and adults visiting to explore and learn new careers that they had never considered before,” said Mudano.

So, whatever happened to Tabitha, Justyn and Nikki? Tabitha graduated from the bootcamp and is now a Production Assembly Tech II at Formulated Solutions. Justyn finished the AmSkills training program and was hired by Pharmaworks, where he completed a Mechatronics Apprenticeship. Once completed, Justyn became a Field Service Tech, and now travels the world for the company.

As for Nikki, the single mother of three who was looking for a way to support her family? Well, after her successful completion of the AmSkills program, she was hired at TRU Simulation + Training in Odessa and has been with the company for the past 3 years. And her son recently graduated from the AmSkills Career Discovery Bootcamp, and is looking forward to following in his mother’s footsteps.

The next Career Discovery Bootcamp will take place in West Pasco, beginning April 25 and running through May 6, 2022. Prior to the start of the bootcamp, a one-day workshop will take place to help introduce potential bootcamp participants to the manufacturing industry and what they can expect in the two-week bootcamp. This workshop is scheduled for Saturday, April 16, 2022.

For more information about AmSkills and to register for the free Career Discovery Workshop, visit www.AmSkills.org.

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