News

Local Community College Touts Warehousing Certificate Program

via The Craney Island Connection, Volume 3 Issue 12 June 2010.
Page 4

Earlier this year, Paul D. Camp Community College (PDCCC) rolled out a new warehousing and distribution certificate program. The program was developed to equip students with the specialized skills needed to work in these sectors. It is funded by the Department of Labor WIRED Grant through the Workforce Investment Board, Opportunity, Inc.

The certificate was established in response to growth and planned expansion at The Port of Virginia. With the planned Craney Island Marine Terminal (CIMT), The Port is poised to become a leading East Coast Port. Accordingly, the demand for warehouse and distribution facilities in Hampton Roads is on the rise. This certificate program will help ensure that Hampton Roads has a qualified entry-level workforce for these facilities.

According to Rick Sciullo, Vice President of Opportunity Inc. and the WIRED grant administrator, “The WIRED Grant has allowed us to enhance workforce development and economic development in the region by training individuals in the Port-related industries of Transportation, Warehousing and Distribution. The Paul D. Camp Community College certificate program is an outstanding example of that effort.” The program includes three courses: Introduction to Business, Team Concepts and Problem Solving, and Studies in Warehouse and Distribution Operations.

With the completion of its inaugural semester, faculty is optimistic about the program’s future. According to Randy Betz, Vice President of Workforce Development at PDCCC, the College plans to expand in response to the first semester’s success. “We’d like to work with our corporate and government partners to create a permanent warehouse instructional facility, around 10,000 sq. ft., closer to The Port of Virginia and near more warehouse and distribution facilities. We’re also exploring the option of creating a second level of study in supply chain management and supervision,” he explained.

The program represents a strategic partnership of public and private resources. Other organizations that helped fund the program include MSC Supply; Safco; Cost Plus World Market; Computerized Inventory Systems Specialists Ltd.; International Paper Franklin Mill; Smithfield Foods; and the Material Handling Industry of America. Wes Foy of the Regional Workforce Development Council and Bob Hayes from PDCCC’s Workforce Development Division led the initiative, with the support of adjunct faculty members Al Will, Jeff Jacobs, Bill Pierce, Tracy Davis, Carolyn Crowder, and Wayne White.

Go to http://www.pdc.edu/ for more information about the program.