The Peru Gazette

L-R Keegan Hartman, Welding Expert and Technical Services, Alstom; Padraic Bean, Weld Process Consultant, The Lincoln Electric Company and Former Bombardier/Alstom Employee; Brett Hughes, Student and Current Alstom Employee; Ryan Bombard, Student and Current Alstom Employee; Sienna Brooks, Student; James Hammons, Student; Nilazjah Moore, Student; Marshall Turner, Student; Chuck Taylor, Welding Instructor and Former Bombardier Employee; Gavin Barber-Spoor, Student; Michael LeBeau, Student; Daniel Thompson, Student and Current Alstom Employee; Nick Strickland, Student; Derren Duke, Student (Missing from Photo: Austin Bradish, Student)

By John T Ryan

Over the past several years, the Plattsburgh region has become a manufacturing hub, especially in the transportation industry. With that success, there’s a need for special skills, such as welding. On Friday, April 26, North Country Welding Academy held its third graduation ceremony at Clinton Community College’s Institute of Advanced Manufacturing (IAM). It awarded certificates of completion to 12 more graduates, bringing the program’s total graduates to 36.

L-R Lincoln Electric instructor Padraic Bean congratulates 2018 Peru High School grad Marshall Turner

Marshall Turner, a 2018 Peru High School graduate, was one of the students. A family member told him about the welding program, saying, “We could use a welder in the family.”  Turner commented, “The camaraderie among the students was the best thing about the course. The teachers gave us a lot of information in a short period. I wanted to learn a trade I could go anywhere with.”

The program is unique because grants and local support pay all student costs, including tuition, support services, stipends, transportation, and childcare assistance. Graduates even get help writing a resume and applying for a job if they ask. Students have 120 hours of instruction, one week of intense classroom training, and two weeks in the shop. Instructor Padraic Bean remarked, “We had several students in this class go from zero welding experience to passing a code quality welding exam.”

The program’s success thrilled North Country President Garry Douglas. He commented, “I’ve been with the Chamber for 32 years… I take pride in many things we’ve accomplished…, but there’s nothing I take more pride in than this program. It impacts the lives of people here in the North Country and their future ability to have meaningful and fulfilling careers.”

Douglas is also proud of the program’s partnership between the business community, the federal and state governments, and Clinton Community College. The Chamber of Commerce secured a $285,000 Northern Border Regional Commission grant for training 50 individuals in partnership with Lincoln Electric and Clinton Community College. Another $200,000 in funding, equipment, and supplies came from various agencies and organizations, such as Empire State Development’s Office of Strategic Workforce Development, the Workforce Development Institute, Assemblyman Billy Jones, and local private employers. For example, Alstom, our local commuter/subway car manufacturer, and Jeffords Steel donated $30,000 in time and equipment.

Institute of Advanced Manufacturing’s impressive shop

Along with Garry Douglas, several other business and community leaders addressed the students, family members, and friends. They included Chris Saunders (Federal Co-Chair of the Northern Border Regional Commission), Mark Henry (Chairman of the Clinton County Board of Legislators), John Kowal (Clinton Community College President), Jeff Lambert (Alstom Plattsburgh Site Manager), Joel Wood (North Country Chamber of Commerce VP of Strategic Initiatives) Jon Carman (Representing Congresswoman Elise Stefank),  and Brandon Menard (Representing Assemblyman Billy Jones). Padraic Bean, Lincoln Electric’s Weld Process Consultant, one of the course’s three teachers, presented the graduation certificates.