Johnson College to take part in Building Futures Skilled Trades Coalition Johnson College was invited to participate in the Lowe’s Foundation Building Futures Skilled Trades Coalition, the largest cross-sector skilled trades coalition in U.S. history. The coalition brings together more than 75 organizations from across the country to help train and develop 1 million people for skilled trades careers by 2035. The coalition comes as the United States faces a significant skilled trades workforce shortage, with an estimated 2.1 million skilled trades jobs potentially going unfilled by 2030, according to the U.S. Department of Education. For Johnson College, the initiative builds on more than a century of preparing students for careers in the skilled trades and its continued commitment to meeting workforce needs through career and technical education. “Preparing skilled technicians and technologists for meaningful careers has always been at the heart of what we do,” said Dr. Katie Pittelli, president and CEO of Johnson College. “Being invited to join this coalition allows us to work alongside organizations across the country to create more opportunities for people to discover, prepare for and succeed in the skilled trades.” The coalition brings together educators, businesses, workforce organizations, corporate leaders, industry vendors and other stakeholders, including NVIDIA, AT&T, Bank of America, Carrier, General Motors, DEWALT and Duke Energy. The Building Futures Skilled Trades Coalition will focus on three key areas: Changing perceptions of careers in the skilled trades; Investing in, connecting and scaling proven training and credentialing solutions; and Collectively measuring progress from training to employment. The coalition builds on the Lowe’s Foundation’s Gable Grants program, which launched in 2023 and has grown into a national network of 73 community colleges and nonprofits across 30 states. Johnson College was one of just 12 institutions of higher education nationwide selected to receive a Lowe’s Foundation Gable Grant in 2025, receiving $450,000 to support skilled trades education. The success of the Gable Grants program helped lead the foundation to expand its national mission to train and develop 250,000 tradespeople by 2035 through a $250 million investment. Coalition members will work across industries, including construction, automotive manufacturing, telecommunications, energy, HVAC, technology and financial services, to strengthen the skilled trades talent pipeline from recruitment through career advancement.
Outreach – Center for Community Resources to host Children’s Career Fair Outreach- Center for Community Resources will host its annual Children’s Career Fair on Saturday, August 22, from 10 am to 1 pm. The career fair will be at 431 North 7th Avenue in Scranton and will have the theme “Professions for Parents, Too!” Kids ages 2 to 12 and their parents will be able to explore more than 40 career options and discover their interests in a fun, hands-on environment. Professionals from local industries will lead interactive activities. Parents and caregivers will also be able to speak with local employees to learn about potential career pathways and opportunities in the area. This year’s “Professions for Parents, Too!” component will allow adults to explore careers alongside their kids. Each child will complete a “career passport” as they move through the booths at the event. When it’s complete, they can choose an educational item from the free children’s store. There will also be face-painting, live music, STEAM projects, free back-to-school haircuts, back-to-school supplies, take-home career materials, and complimentary food and treats. “We believe that every child deserves the opportunity to dream big and aspire to greatness,” said Lori Chaffers, MSW, President/CEO of Outreach. “The Children’s Career Fair gives children the chance to explore different professions, spark their imaginations, and picture a bright future. By connecting parents with local employers at the same time, we support the whole family in working toward stability and self-sufficiency.” For more information about this event, you can contact Liz Ratchford at (570) 558-7562 or lratchford@outreachworks.org.
PennDOT Highlights Career Opportunities PennDOT District 4 highlighted opportunities to join the PennDOT team in Lackawanna, Luzerne, Pike, Susquehanna, Wayne and Wyoming counties. The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation is seeking hardworking individuals to work from September 2021 through April 2022 in the Winter Maintenance Program! If you enjoy working in a fast-paced and dedicated environment on a seasonal basis, or with the potential for promotion into a permanent position, this is the job for you. Please go to www.employment.pa.gov or click here to apply today. Watch this video to see how you can make a difference in the Winter Maintenance Program! “Engineering District 4, which is responsible for Lackawanna, Luzerne, Pike, Susquehanna, Wayne and Wyoming counites has immediate openings for transportation equipment operators with commercial driver’s licenses (CDL), diesel and construction equipment mechanics, auto mechanics, laborers, and radio dispatchers in all counties. We need to fill almost 100 CDL operator positions and 23 non-operator positions, District-wide for this winter.” said Jonathan Eboli, Assist District Executive of PennDOT District 4. Starting hourly rates are: · Transportation Equipment/CDL Operator ($19.24)· Diesel & Construction Equipment Mechanic ($20.40)· Auto Mechanic ($18.08)· Semi-Skilled Laborer ($16.05)· Tradesman Helper ($16.05)· Welder ($18.08)· Radio Dispatcher ($14.25)· Custodial Worker ($14.25)· Stock Clerk ($14.25) Motorists can check conditions on major roadway miles by visiting www.511PA.com. 511PA, which is free and available 24 hours a day, provides traffic delay warnings, weather forecasts, traffic speed information, and access to more than 1,000 traffic cameras. 511PA is also available through a smartphone application for iPhone and Android devices, by calling 5-1-1, or by following regional twitter alerts accessible on the 511PA website. Subscribe to PennDOT news and traffic alerts in Lackawanna, Luzerne, Pike, Susquehanna, Wayne and Wyoming counties at www.penndot.gov/District4. Information about infrastructure in District 4, including completed work and significant projects, is available at www.penndot.gov/D4Results.
CANPACK Group Hosts Ceremonial Event The CANPACK Group held a ceremonial event on Friday March 19 with state and local officials along with community leaders. A short program was presented marking the 908,000-square-foot aluminum can manufacturing plant being completely under roof with final construction expected to be in May. In July of 2020, The CANPACK Group – a subsidiary of Blandon, PA-based GIORGI GLOBAL HOLDINGS, INC. (GGHI) – announced the construction a state of the art aluminum beverage can body and ends manufacturing plant. President and CEO of GGHI Peter Giorgi remarked that “this is CANPACK’s first plant in the United States and will feature a North American Center of Excellence which will demonstrate our R&D and lithographic capabilities. In anticipation of this ceremonial event, Mr. Giorgi added: “We are extremely excited to be bringing CANPACK to the United States and to my home state of Pennsylvania, and we are very pleased that Roberto Villaquiran, CEO of the CANPACK Group, will be joining us in person for this event as well as our leadership team for CANPACK US.” The new $366 million facility in Olyphant will create more than 400 skilled and semi-skilled jobs. CANPACK will open the first of its assembly lines in September with further lines to follow.Roberto Villaquiran, CANPACK’s CEO, notes that “providing life sustaining jobs while creating essential packaging products which can be recycled again and again is foundational with respect to CANPACK’s focus on sustainability, being a responsible corporate citizen, and passionately serving the needs of our customers.” Brooke Lipperini, HR Manager o f CANPACK US, added, “We are hiring passionate and dedicated individuals to join our team. This is an exciting time for CANPACK and we welcome those who want to be a part of the creation of a major manufacturing facility that brings great sustainable product to our great country.” Learn more at Canpack.com.
