SLTech Careers That Work

It seems so long ago and at the same time just yesterday – October 2021 – that Utah welcomed and resettled roughly 1,000 refugees from Afghanistan, the majority of them settling along the Wasatch Front. Over the years the Department of Workforce Services (DWS) recognized the need for translators especially in the medical field. Five members of the Afghan community stepped up to fulfill that call completing the first ever Medical Interpreter for Pashto and Dari program and become eligible for the Tier 2 interpreter license.  This short-term licensure training is based on a Medical Interpreter course for Arabic developed by Salt Lake Community College and DWS. With the foundation for a new program already in place, DWS, SLCC and current Dari/Pashto Instructor Abdul translated the existing curriculum to best serve the Afghan community. One of Abdul’s biggest challenges was the lack of a written dictionary for Pashto or Dari. To solve this problem, he used his contacts in the medical fiel

 Among the noise of breaking fibers and the cheers from the audience, the University of Utah Materials Science and Engineering students were learning key skills and lessons related to advanced composites.  In a new partnership with the University of Utah, students were given the opportunity to take an Advanced Composites Technology workshop at the Salt Lake Community College Westpointe campus. Students were introduced to materials characterization and processing for various materials such as glass, ceramic and more.  Program manager and instructor Zachary Ingrey demonstrates how to properly vacuum seal. Claire Krammer, a junior in the Materials Science and Engineering program, found “the process of making composites is important for any material science application and the testing process. Zachary Ingrey, advanced manufacturing program manager, is a graduate of the University of Utah’s Materials Science and Engineering program. Zachary also took the SLCC Intro to Composites class, wh

  Megan Ware is no stranger to Salt Lake Community College (SLCC). She first partnered with SLCC’s Workforce & Economic Development in her prior role at Stadler Rail to create the first of its’ kind Talent Ready Apprenticeship Connection (TRAC) apprenticeship. Ware was impressed with SLCC’s commitment and responsiveness. When she started her new journey as the Workforce Development Director at the Utah Manufacturing Association (UMA) she heard there was an opportunity to partner with SLCC again and jumped right in to make it happen.  “When I first started at UMA I sent out a workforce survey to all of our member companies. The response was overwhelming: we need workforce, help with leadership, help with culture, help with all the things.”  Not unique to the manufacturing industry recent workforce shortages have companies looking internally to promote into leadership positions and quickly. Oftentimes, strong workers technical line find themselves in positions of leadership and sudde

   This is the first in a series highlighting the diverse backgrounds of students who have earned their professional teaching license through the Workforce Training & Education’s Transition to Teaching program.  Veronica Perez’s story of becoming a teacher in Utah was unusual and a first for the Elementary Teacher Transition to Teaching program .  Born a United States citizen, Veronica moved with her family to Venezuela when she was a young child. While in school herself, she discovered a knack for teaching and a passion for science while helping her classmates. “I always loved science and I was good at helping my friends with their school, so when I got to university, I put them together and thought why not teach.” She went on to study to teach chemistry and biology at Andrés Bello Catholic University (Universidad Católica Andrés Bello). After earning her degree, she taught biology for 11 years to students in grades 5 through 12 in Venezuela.  Moving back to the United States, bet

  Este es el artículo primero de una serie que destaca los diversos orígenes de los estudiantes que han obtenido su licencia de enseñanza a través del programa de 'Transition To Teaching' de Workforce Training & Education.   La historia de Verónica Pérez de convertirse en maestra en Utah fue inusual y una novedad para el programa de Transición a la Enseñanza.   Nacida como ciudadana estadounidense, Verónica se trasladó con su familia a Venezuela cuando era una niña. Mientras iba a la escuela, descubrió su habilidad para la enseñanza y su pasión por la ciencia mientras ayudaba a sus compañeros. "Siempre me ha gustado la ciencia y se me daba bien ayudar a mis amigos en la escuela, así que cuando llegué a la universidad, los junté y pensé que ¿por qué no enseñar?". Entró a estudiar para enseñar química y biología en la Universidad Católica Andrés Bello. Después de obtener su título, enseñó biología durante 11 años a alumnos de 5º a 12º grado en Venezuela.   Al volver

On a busy October Saturday, more than a hundred child care providers from across the state of Utah gathered at the Karen Gail Miller Conference Center to attend the “Building a Sustainable Business” Child Care Summit. Traveling from as far as Price, Hyde Park and Hurricane to attend, participants were provided with opportunities to learn from each other in addition to hearing from a variety of guest speakers. The participants were invited to attend three out of the five available breakout sessions, which covered topics ranging from communication to classroom management techniques. One provider from Lehi stated she wished she had the opportunity to visit more sessions.  "Basically, I am glad I went. I now have resources that will help my assistant as she is now learning the business." – provider, Pleasant Grove While enjoying lunch, the providers listened to Simon Bolivar, Director of the Office of Child Care Licensing for the Utah Department of Health and Human Services, give