The Shack Saipan hiring NMTI prospects

Northern Marianas Trades Institute culinary arts student Michele Francis doing her on the job training at The Shack Saipan. (Contributed Photo)

Students seeking certificates from Northern Marianas Trades Institute undergo a grueling on-the-job-training experience as part of their education. On a recent visit of a student enrolled in one of NMTI’s programs, NMTI was given a glimpse into the overall hands-on learning experience students undertake.

While visiting Michele Francis, culinary arts student at The Shack Saipan located in Oleai yesterday, NMTI noticed that she was basking in array of different responsibilities way beyond the normal duties of a chef. Francis was actively engaging customers by taking their orders and following those orders until they were served to the respective customer.

According to Ross Manglona, NMTI director of Continuing Education & Workforce Development, “the dynamic experience that Francis is currently undergoing is what the program is all about. A student taking courses in the culinary arts in this case undergoes 240 hours of OJT to give them the actual application of theory learned in the classroom. In order to successfully earn a certificate in our program, students undergo a full 324 contact hours, thus showing potential employers that the student understands theory and has successfully applied such theory in a real world setting.”

The Shack, owned and operated by Glen Hunter, is one enterprise that has a long standing with NMTI dating back when the institute was still being actively managed by the late Tony Pellegrino, a well renowned Saipan entrepreneur. According to Hunter, the front patio was built by NMTI construction trades students when he first opened operations a few years ago. When asked about his thoughts on the OJT program requirement set upon students, Hunter said, “as a small business operating in the CNMI, I don’t have the luxury as larger businesses of hiring a large amount of staff. The training arrangement gives us smaller establishments the ability to staff our restaurants with the help of the Workforce Investment Agency’s financial support. WIA pays a portion of the OJT while I pay a portion, thus it gives us the ability to adequately staff our operations while being able to provide students with the experiential learning they need to succeed in their choice of career.

Hunter actively engages his OJT students as he is actively supervising their progress at the restaurant. He encourages other businesses to be involved in the program as he believes in the overall intent of which NMTI was established. NMTI produces trained individuals aspiring for demanding careers currently being vacated as a result of the CW worker phase out. He further stated that he welcomes WIA’s involvement in the program and hopes that this continues as it will encourage further student engagement and the overall longevity of the OJT program at NMTI. Manglona further stated, “that NMTI’s successes are a direct result of partnerships built. It’s the symbiotic relationship between the public and private sector that allows us to provide such opportunities. We thank Glen and The Shack for their continued support by believing in our product. We also thank WIA for seeing this as a viable means of training for island residents. We hope to see other businesses take on our students in the other technical trades as we continue to grow along with their staffing needs.”