Macon, Ga. – Central Georgia Technical College (CGTC) will be the learning site of a new training apprenticeship for Interfor Corporation, announced in an event at the College’s Macon campus on Wednesday.
The three-year program entitled the Millwright Apprenticeship Program, supports career development at Interfor sawmills across the southern United States. Additionally, the program addresses the current workforce shortage of millwrights, and ensures that Interfor will have skilled employees to handle equipment maintenance at its mills; thus improving efficiencies, ensuring safety, and mitigating quality issues.
“The Millwright Apprenticeship Program is an investment in our people and our infrastructure that aligns with our business strategy to build value by delivering operational excellence,” said Interfor senior vice president of Human Resources, Mark Stock.
CGTC is one of three learning partners supporting the apprenticeship. The College will offer classroom space for an interactive theory component delivered by the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT) and training from Georgia-based Charles Black & Associates.
Ann Lear, the director of Business and Industry Training at CGTC, completed an ACT WorkKeys Curriculum Profile that will also aide Interfor in screening for eligible program candidates.
Twenty-seven Interfor employees were selected – enabling them to earn while they learn, without having to leave their homes and families for extended periods of time.
The final component of the program is mentored, on-the-job work experience throughout the entire three years.
The program is open to Interfor’s maintenance and production employees in its mills in Georgia, South Carolina and Arkansas. Upon completion, apprentices will receive a Journey worker certificate. Training begins June 5, with additional intakes once per year.
This program is Interfor’s first U.S. Department of Labor registered apprenticeship program. The Company is working with state and local economic development offices to secure funding. Interfor’s involvement with CGTC stems from a partnership with the College’s Office of Economic Development.
Interfor hopes the success of the Millwright Apprenticeship Program will expand apprenticeship training to other positions in the future.
ABOUT INTERFOR
Interfor is a growth-oriented lumber company with operations in Canada and the United States. The Company has annual production capacity of 3 billion board feet and offers one of the most diverse lines of lumber products around the world. For more information about Interfor, visit www.interfor.com.
For further information, contact Tim Lowrimore Public Affairs Manager at Interfor at 478-244-0410.
ABOUT THE OFFICE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
CGTC’s Office of Economic Development serves Georgia’s new, expanding, and existing industries through training and developing solutions to the challenges facing Georgia’s businesses. We are especially focused on the development of a skilled workforce that can meet the needs of businesses in the communities that we serve. Officially established in 1962, with our first students beginning classes in 1966, CGTC has been in the business of workforce development for over 40 years.
For more information about CGTC’s Office of Economic Development, visit https://www.centralgatech.edu/business-industry/
State officials, Interfor apprentices, CGTC staff and Interfor representatives gather to recognize the beginning of the Millwright Apprenticeship Program.