Employers talk to VGCC Welding students about career opportunities

Students in the Welding Technology program at Vance-Granville Community College recently heard from a pair of employers about the many career opportunities for welders within their companies. The presentations by Prescient of Mebane and Clayton Homes of Oxford were part of a series of visits to the college, called the “TechLink Speaker Series,” featuring employers who hire students in the Mechatronics Engineering Technology and Welding fields. The college’s NC TechHire grant program sponsors the series.

First, Prescient representatives, including Human Resources Manager Deanna B. Yates, Operations Manager Kevin Tucker and Welder/Panel Cell Lead Michael Allen, told students and instructors about their company. Headquartered in Durham, Prescient is a manufacturing and technology company that builds structures like hotels, military housing and university student housing. Its Mebane production facility is about one year old and is quickly growing. Yates said that the company HAS 280 employees in the United States but plans to employ around 500 people in 2019. She said that Prescient is hiring welders, assemblers and machine operators.

Clayton Homes was represented by TMX Coordinator Leslie Dixon and Trainer Cefford Gilman. “I’m glad to see this class, because there aren’t enough skilled welders,” Dixon told the group of students. “Welding is our company’s foundation.” She said that Clayton Homes has been manufacturing homes since 1956, with plants across the country like the Oxford location. The company, the country’s largest builder of manufactured housing and modular homes, is now part of Berkshire Hathaway. The representatives noted that Clayton Homes provides skills training and internships, in addition to hiring skilled workers.

For more information on the TechHire grant program , contact Job Placement Coordinator Cherrelle Lawrence at lawrencec@vgcc.edu or (252) 738-3386. For more information on Welding, contact Program Head Rusty Pace at pacer@vgcc.edu or (252) 738-3375.

 

Above: From left, Prescient Company Human Resources Manager Deanna B. Yates and Operations Manager Kevin Tucker talk about their company to VGCC Welding Technology students during a presentation on the college’s Main Campus in Vance County. (VGCC photo)

 

Above: TMX Coordinator Leslie Dixon of Clayton Homes of Oxford (at podium, right) addresses VGCC Welding Technology students during a presentation on the college’s Main Campus in Vance County. (VGCC photo)