Growing Our Own
MONCKS CORNER, S.C. Friday, December 17, 2010– Berkeley County Water and Sanitation (BCWS) is taking the lead and developing qualified workers to fill positions in its demanding industry by being the first utility agency in the tri-county area to implement an apprenticeship program. The program is geared towards its Wastewater Treatment Plant Operators and it literally creates a clear pathway for an employee to advance from an Operator Trainee to an “A” Level Certification.
“If you want the best employees, you have to give them your best. BCWS is doing just that because our employees deserve it and our customers deserve it,” says Colin Martin, Executive Director for BCWS. The program is a joint partnership between BCWS and Apprenticeship Carolina, a division of the SC Technical College System, and Central Carolina College. It is comprised of supervised on-the-job training and various educational classes. It is customized to meet job-specific needs and can take anywhere from six months to four years to complete. The training is administered by mentors, called Journeymen who possess a broad range of skills and knowledge based on years of service and certification.
Another perk of the program is that it makes good financial sense from the employee and the employer standpoint. The apprentices (employees) are already on the payroll and 80% of the required training is conducted at the work site. Essentially, the employees have the opportunity to earn while they learn. The program is also recognized by the Department of Labor as a symbol of commitment in developing a highly qualified and trained workforce.
There are three BCWS employees currently enrolled in the program; James Birdsong, Raymond Burroughs and Michelle Dietrich. The journeymen leading them through this process are Bill Billinglsey, Mike Blankenship, James Crepeau, Carlton Ouzts, Roger Jones, Larry Shuler, Wayne Singletary, Bruce Snyder, James Teseniar and David Warner. Together, they are leading the way for future apprentices by being the first to take advantage of this opportunity. “When it comes down to it, we are responsible for the training and development of the workforce. This program is just one of the tools we’re using to accomplish our goal,” says Martin.
