Tower Winter/Spring 2024 - 13

Erika has young children, so the
expedited nature of the Workforce
Center's program was a good
fit for her. Since starting the
program, she has been blown
away by how much content the
instructors pack into their time.
" For only six months, we're getting
out of here knowing way more than
we ever thought we would know, "
Erika said. " The teachers are all there
for you. Even though we're a big
group in the class, we get one-onone
time with the professors. "
As Erika looks to the future, she is
excited to put the knowledge and
skills she has gained over the past
six months into action. Ultimately,
she dreams of starting her own
business, flipping houses, and
investing in real estate properties.
With the insight she has gained in
the Facilities Maintenance program,
Erika is confident she can enter
the workforce with a well-rounded
understanding of how to accomplish
larger projects, like renovating a
house, without solely relying on
hired contractors.
" As a woman, we can be seen as more
vulnerable, and people may try to
take advantage of that by charging
high rates without providing the best
services, " she says. " I know it's a cliché,
but women can do anything. If you
set your mind to it, you can do it. "
Erika Reyes
The Workforce and Economic
Development Center operated
by Thaddeus Stevens College of
Technology and housed at Tec
Centro offers short-term training
programs that prepare graduates
for high-demand work opportunities.
The Center offers training for six
months in Commercial/Industrial
HVAC, Plumbing, Electro-Mechanical,
and Facilities Maintenance, along
with IT classes and a six-week
Production Welding course.
It's designed for those who want
to join the workforce faster than a
two-year degree program would
allow, creating opportunities for
students to balance work, family,
and education with greater
flexibility. Classes run from 8 a.m.
to noon on weekdays for all
programs other than welding,
which is held on Saturdays. This
enables students to manage
childcare and work hours
while pursuing education.
Thaddeus Stevens College : 12
Tower Winter/Spring 2024

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Tower Winter/Spring 2024
