Students Complete First SOD WorkAdvance Program

SALEM – The SOD Center celebrated two graduates from the first WorkAdvance Class with a graduation ceremony on July 12.

The program geared toward industrial employees or prospective employees teaches students computer numerical control (CNC), programmable logic controller (PLC), electronics, math, team building interviewing skills, conflict resolution, professionalism and many other skills. Those completing the course receive their OSHA 10 Certification, the Mahoning County Career and Technical Center’s 168-hour Certified Production Certificate and a $1,000 incentive check.

The two-month class started with five students from Mahoning and Columbiana County, culminating with the graduation of Issac Smith and Jacqueline Anderson.

Anderson is from Ventra Manufacturing in Salem, while Smith is from Lake Park Tool and Machine in Liberty.

Applications are currently being accepted for prospective students, who are either currently employed and looking to advance or are unemployed and seeking new skills for a new career. The next class starts in August.

Those who are interested can go to the SOD Center website https://sodcenter.com/, the SOD Center Facebook page or call 330-337-7669 to learn more about the program. Started in 2018, the program expanded with the industrial maintenance readiness program in 2020. A computer lab was added for the program in 2021.

The SOD Center’s mission is to facilitate growth to advance economic vitality and improve the quality of life for Salem residents. The center holds courses and workshops to help people in the area to develop workforce skills, as well as help businesses and industry make connections with the resources needed to flourish.

Pictured at top: Jacqueline Anderson and Issac Smith completed the SOD Center WorkAdvance program July 12.

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