Tri-State businesses and organizations will gain expanded access to affordable customized training and professional development services close to home through a new partnership between the Robert C. Byrd Institute (RCBI) at Marshall University and Mountwest Community & Technical College.
Expert instructors from RCBI and Mountwest will deliver training in such areas as business, education, healthcare, hospitality, information technology, manufacturing, transportation and other sectors through the one-stop initiative. RCBI’s team of outreach specialists will engage directly with businesses and organizations across the region to assess their training needs and connect them to the resources needed to help boost employee performance, improve efficiency, save time and money, and achieve certifications needed to grow their businesses and pursue new contracting opportunities.
“Our program is unique in that it establishes a centralized hub to coordinate training to all departments of an organization, from the business office to the machine shop floor,” said Carol Howerton, RCBI senior strategic advisor for workforce development. “We deliver the training on a timetable that fits your schedule either at RCBI or Mountwest facilities or on site at your location.”
Training participants are eligible to earn industry certifications and college credits in some areas as part of the professional development process, Howerton said. “Businesses often contract with out-of-state providers and work with strangers for their particular training need. We are local experts providing flexible training right here in our own communities,” Howerton said.
Through the program, businesses can leverage funding from state and federal programs to hire new employees or upskill current workers at a fraction of normal cost, explained Dr. Kristy Wood, executive director of Workforce Development at Mountwest.
“Our college is excited to expand our partnership with RCBI to provide employers and local organizations access to quality workforce training,” said Mike McComas, chief academic officer for Mountwest. “Our highly qualified, dedicated faculty are eager to work with participants in this program in order to help build a better workforce for the Tri-State area.”
This RCBI/Mountwest partnership is just the latest in a series of joint ventures to bolster workforce training and spur economic development across the Tri-State region. RCBI and Mountwest offer nationally recognized Machinist Technology/CNC and Welding Technology programs that prepare students for in-demand careers in manufacturing. In addition, RCBI and Mountwest in conjunction with Marshall University will launch an Aviation Maintenance & Technology Program in spring 2022 to meet a growing demand in aerospace manufacturing and maintenance operations.
To learn more about any of the training offered by RCBI and Mountwest, contact Howerton at or 304.781.1680.
