NMTI celebrating 8 years of training students

The Northern Marianas Trades Institute is celebrating its 8th year of offering trades courses in the CNMI. NMTI was chartered as a non-profit organization on April 7, 2008, but began its first class on July 15, 2008, to 45 enthusiastic trainees. The institute’s first class that year was in the area of construction safety. The school has made significant strides since then as they now offer a diversified construction curriculum backed by the National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER) through its sponsorship from the Guam Contractors Association.

The school was the “brainchild” of the late entrepreneur Anthony Pellegrino who not only organized its chartering as a legal nonprofit entity, but also drove its overall expansion. Pellegrino was a visionary who believed that under the right circumstances and with the right tools our residents can become skilled workers themselves. Pellegrino looked for ways to garner community support for the school in both public and private arenas and believed that one day the school would be a sustainable endeavor.

The school has endured much over the years as on many occasions Pellegrino would finance much of the operations to keep the educational entity afloat. At one point, the school considered closing its doors all together, but somehow managed to find individuals willing to carry the work forward. Under the leadership of former Northern Marianas College president, Agnes McPhetres, the school has grown to include larger training facilities, more course offerings, and a faculty pool poised for further expansion.

The school has branched out beyond teaching specifically to the construction trades as they now offer certificates in hotel and restaurant operations, automotive technology, and culinary arts. The hotel and restaurant program is backed by the American Hotel & Lodging Educational Institute (AHLEI) as it uses the curriculum prescribed by the internationally acclaimed hospitality organization. NMTI is listed in the AHLEI website as a North American educational institution along with schools like Guam Community College (GCC) and Kapiolani Community College (KCC). The school touts a strong curriculum backed by organizations such as the Hotel Association of the Northern Mariana Islands (HANMI), the Workforce Investment Agency (WIA), and various other small businesses.

The Hyatt Regency Saipan has taken our school to a whole new level, according to Ross Manglona, director of Continuing Education & Workforce Development. Manglona further stated, “The Hyatt is our biggest catalyst as they have not only helped in the overall creation of the culinary and hospitality side of the programs we offer, but they have actively engaged the process by offering their professional staff as instructors; for this we are truly grateful.”

Agnes McPhetres, chief executive officer said, “As we continue to strive for growth, we see the continued need to partner with the private sector as students need the hands on experience in order to be successful at their career endeavors.” Currently, NMTI has its eyes set on another expanded program in the area of heavy equipment operations as part of its construction trades program. The institute sees this field of study as a major demand due to the hotel expansion efforts going on presently in the CNMI.

Victorino Cepeda, director of External Relations, has been with NMTI since its very inception and can lay witness to the growth currently being seen. Cepeda said, “I know my dear friend Tony would be proud of where we are today. The growth at the school is astonishing as we continue to see new faces and our aggressive stance are backed by our overall concern for our community. Only we residents can steer our islands on the right course and I feel our team here at NMTI is equipped to do just that. We are grateful to those who have supported us and thank them for their continued patronage as we chart a new course in the area of vocational education.”