Workforce development was on display Tuesday afternoon for Hall County business leaders as they heard from two students and the manufacturers that employ them.
Christian Johnson, an apprentice at IMS Gear Georgia, is in his first year with the company. He recently completed the manufacturer's "metal bootcamp" and has moved into training in the pneumatic and electrical wiring business units in the four-year program.
"After the electrical, I will do a few months in CNC programming (computer numerical control of machine tools), and then I'll be working a few months individually in each of the business units around the plant, so by the end of the four years, I should be able to work in any area within the plant," Johnson said.
When he completes the program, he'll be a journeyman and have a Lanier Technical College degree. Johnson, a North Hall High School graduate, gets paid while he's training and his schooling is free.
Johnson is in the first cohort of the German-based company's apprenticeship program in Hall County. Jürgen Moller, General Manager of the IMS operation in Hall County, said moving the apprentices around the plant is good for the company and the student.
"The apprentice can decide, 'oh, I like the metal working better, the robotics better,' and we can determine, 'yeah, Christian is more cut out for that or that particular area,'" Moller said.
While IMS began its apprenticeship program in Hall County last June, Moller said they've been doing it in Germany for roughly 20 years. Plans are to grow the program from the current cohort of four students.
Not all students employed locally in manufacturing are high school graduates just yet.
Johnson High School Senior Yajaira Rondan is employed by MP Equipment in Hall County in a work-based learning program.
"I've had a great experience with work-based learning. I feel like it doesn't only teach you responsibility, but it teaches you a lot with having a mentor," Rondan said.
MP provides equipment, parts and service to the meat and poultry industry. Rondan works afternoons in the company's inventory area after spending mornings at school.
Company human resources manager Cindy Fendley said MP has been involved in work-based learning since 2015, employing 2 to 5 students at a time.
"This is our way to put back into our workforce, our future workforce," Fendley said.
The comments came during the Greater Hall Chamber of Commerce's 3rd annual Workforce Development Program.
