Cooperative Living January 2019 - 20

Mechatronics program.
" I was working at a Walmart
distribution center in North Carolina
when I heard about SVHEC. My goal
was to further my education and
increase my job opportunities, " he
says. " The program and the center are
great and I really like them. The
instructors are very supportive and
want to see their students do well.
They invite students to contact them
with any questions or problems after
we've finished the program. "
Allen Fallen, a student of SVHEC's welding
course, found a job in only two weeks after
completing his welding certification test.
PRODUCT DESIGN, RESEARCH,
OPPORTUNITY AND HOPE
David Kenealy is special assistant
to the executive director for research
and development. He came to SVHEC
in 2008 from the community-college
system in North Carolina to build
the center's Product Design &
Development Program.
In 2010, the PD&D Program was
expanded with the opening of the
Research & Development Center
for Advanced Manufacturing and
Energy Efficiency.
R&D CAMEE connects industry,
small businesses and entrepreneurs with
research and development, prototyping,
proof of concept and limited production
runs to support commercialization and
economic development.
Among projects developed through
Sharon Card enrolled in SVHEC's IT
Academy to enhance her job knowledge
and skills.
program and it was an amazing
experience. I was working and I would
go to class after work, and it never got
tiresome. I wanted to go to class.
I got a job in IT after I finished the
second course. "
Eric Thomas of Altavista works at
Georgia Pacific in Gladys, Virginia, as a
technician. He earned his Siemens Level
1 certification through the SVHEC
18 | Cooperative Living | January 2019
SVHEC's R&D center are design-andmanufacture
processes for a specialized
cabinetry stapler, reusable barrels for
brewing spirits, and a precisionmachined
part for Steinway & Sons
piano frames.
" The product is not the point, "
Kenealy notes. Rather, process is R&D
CAMEE's magic. " We bring a design,
engineering and manufacturing
experience based on today's digital
technology, " says Kenealy. " We work
with business and industry to help serve
that part of the new economy. "
" In the past 10 years, we've tried to
focus on training that will lead to
jobs in the region, jobs that already
exist or jobs that are anticipated to exist
in the future, " says SVHEC Executive
Director Adams, " in health care,
advanced manufacturing, information
technology, energy and education. "
In 2018, SVHEC workforce trainees
earned 416 industry credentials, with
almost 200 trainees finding new jobs or
advancing in current jobs. SVHEC
Kierra Watson attended the IT Academy
before being hired at GCAPS, the Halifax
County tire-research center.
Eric Thomas earned his Siemens Level 1
certification through the SVHEC
Mechatronics program.
workforce training programs produce an
89 percent completion rate and an 87
percent employment rate.
" When it comes to your career, having
choices is one of life's greatest benefits, "
says Mecklenburg Electric Cooperative
CEO Lee.
" The center provides great career
choices and also represents great hope to
those who are looking for a second chance
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Cooperative Living January 2019

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Cooperative Living January 2019
