Marine-Trades trainees from throughout R.I. graduate on August 16

by Cynthia Goss on 15 Aug 2014 Graduates of three marine-trades training programs coordinated by the Rhode Island Marine Trades Association (RIMTA) will matriculate on August 16 in a waterfront ceremony in Newport.

The three programs—the Marine Trades Pre-Apprenticeship Training Program, Boat Building Summer Work Experience Program, and the newly launched Marine Trades Marketing Summer Work-and-Learn Program—are focused on both skill development and exposing young people to career opportunities. Together these programs represent the breadth of programming that RIMTA and its industry partners have put in place to cultivate the workforce that will fuel the future of Rhode Island’s marine industry.

'These programs cover a wide range in both age and aptitude—from people in mid-career training for a new field, to college students considering their career choices, to High School students who love to work with their hands,' said Wendy Mackie, CEO of RIMTA. 'The marine trades are a critical industry in our state, and these programs are a building block of a stronger workforce.'

Thirty-two students will graduate at the IYRS Newport campus (449 Thames Street, Newport), beginning at 10 a.m. on Saturday, August 16. Students come from hometowns throughout the state (see list, below).

Presentations by RIMTA’s Wendy Mackie, IYRS Industry Relations Coordinator Holly Ashton, and Owner/Manager of Pirate Cove Marina Brandon Kidd will be followed by the bestowal of certificates and awards. After the ceremony, the crowd will migrate to the IYRS docks to launch the wooden skiff built by students in the Tiverton High School Boat Building Program.

The Marine Trades Marketing Program was launched this summer and run in conjunction with the University of Rhode Island College of Business. Targeted to Millennials, the six-week program had a novel design: the program gave participants real-world exposure while increasing their employability with internship experience, field trips to local businesses, and workshops with industry experts. Students then used what they had learned to develop a career-marketing plan for the marine trades, to in turn draw more individuals in their age group to careers in this statewide industry.

Launched in 2013, the Pre-Apprenticeship Program draws Rhode Islanders who are over 18 and looking to gain the skills needed for entry-level positions in the marine trades. The intensive, six-week curriculum is focused on hands-on training in areas such as painting, varnishing, composites, forklift operation, marine systems, job-readiness preparation, and other areas and is coordinated with area employers and educational providers; the program also includes a stint of job shadowing that often leads to full-time employment. Ninety-five percent of the program’s former graduates are in full-time jobs that resulted from their participation in the program.

The Boat Building Program is run under a partnership between Tiverton High School and RIMTA and targeted to youth ages 14-16. Students learn hands-on boat building skills while gaining an introduction to the marine industry through local field trips. Lessons in leadership, team work, math and science are also woven throughout the curriculum. Students build a wooden skiff in the program, which will be splashed into the water on graduation day.

All of the training programs are a work-and-learn experience for students. The Marketing Program and the Boat Building Program were made possible by a grant from the Workforce Partnership of Greater Rhode Island. The Pre-Apprenticeship Program was made possible by an Innovative Partnership grant from the Governor’s Workforce Board of Rhode Island.

2014 Summer Graduates

Marketing Summer Work-and-Learn Program:
Amy Andrews (Saunderstown, R.I., Freshman/University of Tampa)
Julian Bessinger (Portsmouth, R.I., Freshman/New York University)
Joshua Concepcion (East Providence, R.I., Freshman/Boston College)
Alexandra Duke (Newport, R.I., Senior/Prout School)
Samuel Handy (East Greenwich, R.I., Senior/Salve Regina)
Timothy Johnson (Bristol, R.I., Junior/The Met School)
Michael Ludwig (Newport, R.I., Junior/Portsmouth Abbey)
Lylah Pearce (Newport, R.I., Senior/The Met School)
Spencer Ruekberg (North Kingstown, R.I./Freshman, CCRI)
Alex Skiffington (Wakefield, R.I., Senior/The Met School)
Zachary Smith (North Kingstown, R.I., Freshman/University of Rhode Island)
Adam Sowden (West Greenwich, R.I., Freshman/Rochester Institute of Technology)

Boat Building Summer Work Experience Program at Tiverton High School:
Peter Babcock (Tiverton, R.I.)
Michael Belanger (Tiverton, R.I.)
Nathan Cabral (Tiverton, R.I.)
Sam Cabral (Tiverton, R.I.)
Devin Crawford (Tiverton, R.I.)
Leo Feliciano (Tiverton, R.I.)
Caleb Miller (Tiverton, R.I.)
Danny Moore (Tiverton, R.I.)
Kyle Paquette (Tiverton, R.I.)
Kyle Peckham (Tiverton, R.I.)
Mitch Simoes (Tiverton, R.I.)

Marine Trades Pre-Apprenticeship Training Program:
Jason Arcoraci (Coventry, R.I.)
Emmanuel Barada (Providence, R.I.)
Esmeraldo Concepcion (East Providence, R.I.)
Liam Falvey (Warwick, R.I.)
Frank Fernandes (Pawtucket, R.I.)
Brian Guckian (North Providence, R.I.)
Mark Kelley (Narragansett, R.I.)
Leroy Mogardo (Warwick, R.I.)
Candy Nhoybouakong (Providence, R.I.)

For more information on RIMTA and its training programs, visit RIMTA.