MANSFIELD – Richland County’s workforce gained five new members on Tuesday with the graduation of the Mansfield Municipal Court’s Industrial Readiness Training program.
The Industrial Readiness Training program (IRT), in partnership with North Central State College, provides onsite training at the municipal building to individuals currently on probation.
Regional Project Manager Linda Hess explained the program teaches valuable workforce training and focuses on skills local employers are seeking, with the goal of providing individuals on probation with the training necessary to obtain gainful employment.
“This is a fantastic opportunity for us,” Hess said on Tuesday. “We knew there was a population a lot of people were missing, and those were folks who maybe had some issues or compromised backgrounds.
“This is a wonderful workforce, they have a lot of reasons to do well.”
Graduates from the program on Tuesday include Matthew Brain, Walter France, Ashley Keller, Robert Sampsel and Jacques Sutton. The five graduates were individually praised by Hess, Career Development Coach Famico Williams, and their instructors.
“These five were able to maintain, they came in and persevered and worked hard even through some of the less exciting things and were able to complete,” Hess said. “We’re very proud of these five.”
In September 2013, North Central State College was awarded a $2.9 million grant through the Department of Labor, allowing for the creation of the IRT program in July 2014. The program was created to develop training and help meet industry needs — as well as the needs of potential employees in the region.
Since its creation, the IRT program has graduated 19 classes.
Classes are taught by various instructors who have real-world experience in manufacturing and education. The program offers training in quality, mathematics, measurement, blueprint reading, mechanical aptitude, and soft skills classes that help prepare workers for employment attainment.
To date, 129 adults have taken advantage of the training and multiple area manufacturers have been involved in securing employment and curriculum consultation for the program. On Tuesday, Audrey O’Brien, HR Administrator at Stoneridge Electronics, made her pitch to the five graduates.
“I want to offer you guys the opportunity to take the next right step,” O’Brien said. “Stoneridge can offer you the next opportunity for what you’re trying to get into.”
O’Brien explained that Stoneridge offers tuition reimbursement for careers in engineering or customer service and human resource-type roles. She also invited the graduates to visit the Stoneridge facility and meet an IRT graduate who just graduated the program six months ago.
“Companies like Stoneridge and others in the area recognize the benefit of the IRT training – not only the skills you’ve acquired, but also the fact that you came every day and you learned the soft skills,” Hess said. “That you were willing to put effort into becoming a better employee makes you very valuable to companies.”
The program is also supported and valued by Mansfield Municipal Court Judges Frank Ardis Jr. and Jerry Ault.
“Everybody knows recidivism goes down when people work,” Judge Ault said. “This is a great program that I hope can continue.”
Hess expressed her thanks to the graduates on behalf of everyone in the program for sticking it out through the four-week program. But no one was more appreciative than the graduates themselves.
“Thanks to the students and staff for allowing us to develop new skills and contribute to society again,” said graduate Walter France. “This is proof that rewards do come with hard work. Thanks for supporting and believing in us.”
