February 2012

Education Council drives rural economic engine
The Derrick, Feb. 23, 2012

The Keystone Community Education Council continues its work in building a more competitive rural work force and a strong rural economy through its many programs.

It is one of eight community education councils in the state serving 13 rural counties.
KCEC covers Clarion, Venango, Crawford and Mercer counties.
The CECs — and Keystone CEC, in particular — have proven themselves to be essential in driving Pennsylvania’s rural economic engine. Acting as a facilitator/broker of employer-driven educational programs, KCEC has the unique ability to be fluid and provide needed educational programming.

KCEC prides itself on being a “Strategic Doer” in meeting the educational and training needs of the rural communities. Identifying and filling current needs as well as predicting future needs, the Keystone Community Education Council has been an integral partner in building a more competitive rural work force and strong rural economy. Through their collaborative efforts, they promote change and increase the skills of the local rural work force.

KCEC, in conjunction with Community College of Allegheny County and career and technical schools in its service area, coordinated the Technical Education Initiative to offer lower-cost community college technical programs in northwestern Pennsylvania. The challenge was in bringing the same affordable, quality technical education offered at the community colleges to the under-served rural areas without building a facility. Keystone accomplished this by using the career and technology centers as the “bricks and mortar” during the times that they are not regularly in use.

A basic electronics certification program was offered, as well as a welding technology certificate program and a basic machine certification program.

As part of the Technical Education Initiative, seven community college technical certificate programs were successfully concluded by using the local career and technical schools at times convenient for unemployed, under-employed and working learners.

Sixty-six students graduated and earned college credits and program certificates and 127 portable industry credentials were earned.

Students who were unemployed at the time of enrollment but are now employed are earning an average of $35,023 annually.

Foreseeing the importance of the Marcellus shale initiative, Keystone CEC began developing a strategic approach in 2009 to meeting the needs of the oil and gas industry in the communities of the Northwest Region.

Several events have been held in this endeavor including workshops, a Marcellus shale showcase for educational professionals, business-to-business connections and land owners and an oil and gas job fair.

Keystone CEC has talked with area school officials to promote curriculum needs in this area and also developed two new websites, www.nwpamarcellusshale.com and www.nwpaoilandgashub.com.

A Northwest PA Oil and Gas Hub task force was developed and expanded to include economic development, training facilities and chamber of commerce partners.

In June, Keystone CEC coordinated the Business2Business Forum, showcasing business opportunities with the oil and gas industry.

There have been thousands of individuals, as well as local businesses and oil and gas companies, who have participated in these events.

Other resources
Keystone CEC has additional resources available for businesses and community members. TrainingPa.com reinforces the Keystone Community Education’s position as a non-biased clearinghouse and referral resource for education providers. The website offers businesses and individuals a one-stop gateway to training and education opportunities in Northwest Pennsylvania.

The eLearning Center at Keystonecec.org offers the convenience of anywhere, anytime learning with more than 5,500 online work force training and continuing education courses. The eLearning Center provides self-study courses with open enrollment in nearly every subject imaginable.

The NWPA Oil and Gas Industry website offers a hub for oil and gas information. A monthly eNewsletter helps readers to stay informed about upcoming training/education opportunities and community events in the area.

The KCEC also has a training resource that is unique to this area — a portable laptop computer lab that can travel onsite to provide training in basic Windows applications, industry-specific skills, or provide access to computers for online training.

VTC is now offering a Class “A” CDL (Commercial Driver’s License) program is currently accepting applications. The program will consist of 40 hrs of prep course work and 160 hours of driver’s training.

Please download the flyer for additional information on the program and registering.

FLYER

The Keystone Community Education Council in Mercer County is moving location from Mercer to the–

Training and Workforce Development Center
Linden Pointe
3050 Prosperity Place
Hermitage, Pennsylvania 16148

Jim DeGenova, Assistant Director of Keystone CEC, is in charge of the Mercer office.

Please take the Virtual Tour of the facility at www.lindenpointe.com/trainingcenter/index.html to see what we can now offer.

Also, note that if you wish to use the facility without going through KCEC you will need to talk to Paul Young.  Paul continues to be the director of the facility and will negotiate any costs that you might incur.  His contact information is available on the web site.

This will be effective on Feb. 1, 2012.

FLYER
REGISTRATION FORM

Put your Business Ahead of the Competition!

March 21, 2012 – May 30, 2012
6 Wednesday sessions from 8-11AM
Cost: $250

Location: Klapec Auto Body Conference Room
180 Regina Drive
Cranberry, PA
Venango County (Turn between McDonalds and Bob Evans towards WalMart)

1. Wednesday, March 21, 2012: Oil and Gas Industry 101 (Knowing the Culture and the structure of the Oil and Gas Industry) -Speaker from PIOGA (Pennsylvania Independent Oil and Gas Association of Pennsylvania)
2. Wednesday, April 4, 2012: HR (Human Resource) Issues  – Speaker from PGE (Pennsylvania General Energy
3. Wednesday, April 18, 2012:  Compliance Requirement – Speaker from Gas Companies
4. Wednesday, May 2, 2012: Media/Public Relations - Speaker: Range Resources and Judy Etzel from the Derrick
5. Wednesday, May 16, 2012: MSA (Master Service Agreement)- Speaker: Richard Fontanesi Sourcing Manager, EQT Corporation
6. Wednesday, May 30, 2012: Accounting and Legalese - Speaker: Bud Shuffstall Esquire Senior Oil, Gas, and Mineral Officer of Northwest Savings Bank.

Must register to attend
To register, please call Lance Hummer at 814-677-4427 or
Deb Lutz at 814-677-3152 x 115