IT&E, NMTI forge partnership to develop local workforce

Second line, third from left, IT&E Human Resources director Shirley M. Dotts, IT&E development officer Daphne Leon Guerrero, IT&E director of Network Velma Palacios, IT&E general manager–CNMI and regional controller Rose Soledad, and NMTI and IT&E staff are surrounded by future trainees. (Contributed Photo)

IT&E has partnered with the Northern Marianas Trades Institute to learn technical skills that would hopefully alleviate the CNMI’s labor and workforce needs.

The first batch of IT&E employees are set take the Combination Technician Program at NMTI on Monday, Sept. 18.

NMTI acting director of instruction David Attao said the program is meant to upgrade the technical skills of the current pool of IT&E technicians and employees.

IT&E head of network Velma Palacios said this is IT&E’s way of continuously investing in its employees and the community.

“This partnership with NMTI is another investment. We know the importance of training, developing and retaining our workforce. We have been working with NMTI to develop a curriculum that would benefit our company and employees in the long term,” she said

The Level 1 courses will last four months covering such topics as hand bending of conduit, introduction to the national electrical code, and low voltage cabling.

“The purpose of the training is to provide an opportunity to our employees to upgrade their skills and earn national certification at the same time to keep up with the changing technology,” Palacios said.

“We have many employees in various departments within our company who are interested in advancing their knowledge and skills. This will help our employees understand general theory and concepts while applying it to their everyday jobs,” she added.

The courses, accredited by the National Center for Construction Education and Research, would give participating students the ability to receive national certification in the field of electronics.

“As a premier employer in our community, IT&E has shown us a great deal of trust in training its employees,” said Ross Manglona, NMTI director of Continuing Education & Workforce Development. “We see this partnership as a means to get a steady flow of interested students, which will directly benefit them in the long run.”

The training has a two-fold purpose. Aside from training current IT&E employees, non-employees will get the chance to sit in class to have a learning environment of sharing experiences and exchange of ideas.

“Non-employees will get a chance to sit in class with existing IT&E employees, giving students insight into the industry, while exchanging real world experiences with those in the field,” Manglona said.

Local training and hiring are being encouraged and partnerships like this help resolve workforce issues.

“It is IT&E’s hope for as many of our IT&E employees to take advantage of these training classes. As we continue to develop and train our employees, it would benefit everyone,” said Palacios.

“We thank IT&E for this opportunity to work with them and offer our programs in hopes that this would spark other interests within the general public,” Attao said.