Displaced workers realize silver lining in plant closings

By ERICA MILLER

Canadian Valley

Technology Center



Since 2005, three major plant closings dealt a devastating blow to more than 1,000 area workers who were left jobless after announcements came from Arvin Meritor, Dayton Tire and Delta Faucet that they would be closing their doors.

Disbelief, devastation and uncertainty were on the minds of Arvin, Delta and Dayton employees when they learned their jobs would soon be gone as a result of reduction, consolidation and relocation. For many dislocated workers, that fear gradually opened to the idea of going back to school for re-training. Fortunately, most employees of the two plants qualified for Trade Adjustment Assistance, giving them the financial means to attend school.

Over the past three years, nearly 200 people, ranging in ages from 20 to 70, have taken advantage of their new opportunity by enrolling in one of Canadian Valley Technology Center’s full-timea career programs. For many, the plant closings were a blessing in disguise, an opportunity for adults who had known only one job to learn something new. It gave them an opportunity to challenge themselves. A common theme among these displaced workers was reluctance about going back to school, followed by careful consideration, to finally making the decision to take that leap of faith and enroll.

CV Tech – Responding to meet a community’s needs

The Canadian Valley Technology Center administration knew immediately they would need to prepare for the influx of displaced workers who would be acquiring information, shadowing, testing and enrolling in the months following the announcements of both plant closings.

Teresa Williams, financial aid officer at CV Tech, was often the first person potential students met at Canadian Valley. “I saw so many emotions coming from these people when I met with them,” Williams said. “Most had only known one job, and the thought of going back to school was terrifying for them. However, I also discovered that a lot of our students were excited at the idea of starting over and learning something new.”

Though the new students began enrolling in all of CV Tech’s full-time programs, there was an extremely high interest in the Business Office Technology program. This program focuses on teaching students computer fundamentals and basic programs such as MS Word, Excel and PowerPoint, as well as bookkeeping, filing and accounting skills.

In response to the large number of enrolled students, CV Tech formed a second Business Office Technology class in the summer of 2006, creating new slots for those people desiring computer and business-related training.

BOT II- Learning and adjusting together

With a new class offering came the need for a new instructor. KEYS Center tutor Kathy Winham had no prior teaching experience, but with her home-based business background and tech center experience, Winham decided to give teaching a try. Winham was hired and began her class in August of 2006 with 28 adult students, nearly all of whom were former employees of Arvin or Delta, some of them for more than 20 years.

“The experience we had was a unique one,” Winham said of her specially-created program. “It was an amazing experience, helping to guide these amazing people to reach goals they never even dreamed of having before now.”

Last May, two years and 24 graduates later, Winham’s students all completed the BOT II program. All 24 of her students attended the graduation ceremony to walk across the stage at Canadian Valley to receive their diplomas. More than 100 friends and family turned out in support of these students, many of whom were not only mothers and fathers, but also grandmothers and grandfathers, graduating with a post-high school education for the first time.

Vivian Holder, a student in Winham’s BOT II class, summed up her decision to attend CV Tech in a letter to Arvin employees who were about to lose their jobs, “Coming to Canadian Valley is one of the best things I have done in my life… Sometimes life takes a turn, and you think it’s for the worst, but sometimes it’s for the better. I realized I had to be the one to decide what I was going to do, and I did it. Now, I’m so glad that I did.”

Success follows uncertainty

Canadian Valley’s Foundation Student of the Year for 2008 was a former Delta employee and a graduate of the BOT II program, Julie Stockstill. She received the honor as well as a check from the foundation for $1,000. Stockstill completed the program three months early and went to work for Industrial Compounding in March of 2008.

In all, 15 of CVTC’s outstanding student awards went to former Arvin, Delta and Dayton Tire employees in 2008. They included students from Business Office Technology I and II, Health Careers, Interactive Media and Web Technology, Practical Nursing, Precision Machining, Surgical Technology and Welding.

The experience has impacted more than just the displaced workers. Ronnie Bogle, precision machining instructor, has had a small handful of Arvin, Delta and Dayton employees pass through his program over the past three years. “I’ve really enjoyed having them in class,” Bogle said. “They already have a strong work ethic, and so it sets a really good example for the high school students in the classroom.”

For Jallane Link, Business Office Technology I instructor, having most of her class over the past three years as displaced workers was both a challenging and rewarding experience. “Most of my students were scared to death when they first came to class,” she said. “It was very hard for them at the beginning, but I told them that we would all work together, and make this work, no matter what it took. When they realized all of the other students were in the same boat as they were, it started to get easier for them.”

Link’s class has grown to be much like a family-type support system, because so many of her students came from Arvin and Delta. “My students put 100 percent effort into everything they do,” Link said. “They always want to help one another and always have encouragement for each other.”

“The students that I’ve had since the layoffs started have just amazed me. They have made incredible strides and I am so proud of all of them,” she said.

Making the most of a new opportunity

Michael Meloy’s Computer Information Systems program has included many displaced employees over the past few years. Most of his students had been with their previous employer at least 15 years, and several more than 20 years.

Lawrence Barton worked at Arvin Meritor for 15 years before taking voluntary layoff when word came that the plant would eventually be closing its doors.

“The layoff offered me the option for re-training in the field of my choice, and also provided TAA funds until the completion of a two-year program,” Barton said.

Having heard of the success rate for job placement and training at Canadian Valley Technology Center, Barton chose to explore the program options available. Barton was one of the first displaced workers to begin his quest for retraining when he decided to enroll in Meloy’s Computer Information Systems program, and began classes in August of 2005.

“It was difficult having to learn how to learn again, having been out of formal education for so many years,” Barton said. “With all of the learning tools available through the school, it was easy to find a method that worked for me, and I had no other trouble.”

Barton received A+ Certification while attending CV Tech, and had nearly completed Net+ Certification when he began the job he has now at Nicola Banking System in February 2007.

Before finishing out his two years in the Computer Information systems program, Barton had already been offered a position at Nicola Banking System as the Network Installation and Setup Technician. He is responsible for installing banking software and server systems in banks across the country.

“When I’m not on the road installing software, I’m in the office configuring the servers needed for future installation, or on the phone providing support for the banking software,” he said.

Barton will have been with Nicola Banking System for two years in February 2009, and has been an advocate of Canadian Valley since his experience. He was named Computer Information Systems Student of the Year in 2007, and was a finalist for Foundation Student of the Year.

Barton also serves on the CIS advisory board for Meloy, and spoke to the advisory dinner audience recently at the annual meeting and dinner event. He shared with audience members his appreciation of the opportunity for re-training he received at Canadian Valley.

“I feel so lucky to have had the opportunity to go back and choose a career field that interested me, and to be able to do it here at Canadian Valley,” he said. “Without the CIS program and Mr. Meloy, I wouldn’t have the career I have today. I am very proud of the decisions I made, and I truly enjoy going to work every day.”

Barton’s story is just one of many successes that have come as a result of what many viewed as a devastating series of events. New careers, new interests and new-found confidence has been the result for many former Delta, Arvin and Dayton employees, through the opportunities and training offered at Canadian Valley Technology Center.

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