December 8th, 2008
As Industry Doors Begin to Close, Bidwell’s Door Is Always Open
(PITTSBURGH) – With a steady reputation in the Pittsburgh community for fostering professionalism in students representing diverse cultures, age groups and financial backgrounds, Bidwell Training Center has kept its focus on career training for jobs that are in demand.
Bidwell Training Center (BTC), a division of Manchester Bidwell Corporation, was established in 1968 and incorporated in 1972. A non-profit organization, BTC is accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges of Technology (ACCSCT), and supported primarily by state and local funding.
For a significant number of single income families – some who live below the poverty line or have experienced a job loss due to downsizing—Bidwell provides them with the resources they need to secure stable employment and create a better quality of life. Approximately 200 adults enroll annually in one of eight career training programs: Chemical Laboratory Technician, Culinary Arts, Office Technology, Horticulture Technology, Medical Claims Processor, Health Unit Coordinator, Medical Coder, and Pharmacy Technician.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, projections for the top 50 occupations with the largest employment that do not require a four-year degree include 12 career choices that are offered by Bidwell Training Center: office clerks; food preparation and serving workers; bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks; secretaries and administrative assistants; landscaping and grounds-keeping workers; receptionists; cooks, chemical technicians; nursery and greenhouse workers; billing and posting clerks.
Bidwell’s success is demonstrated through its 81% class completion rate and 79% job placement rate for its graduates, who are consistently placed in career positions with companies such as Alcoa, Bayer, UPMC and NOVA Chemicals. Success stories of former students illustrate the impact that has been made on the lives of those who have completed Bidwell’s programs.
Michele Praytor graduated from Bidwell’s Office Technology program in 2004, and quickly found job placement as a receptionist. “Bidwell was a very positive experience. The teachers were wonderful. Spending six months at Bidwell was an investment for a lifetime.”
Michele’s teenaged son Jamelle also reaped the benefits of his mother’s decision to learn new skills and prepare for the marketplace. “Seeing my mom go back to school gave me a sense of pride. She showed me that there are always other options instead of failure. Bidwell gives you a chance to change your life.”
Forging strong corporate partnerships is an intrinsic component of Bidwell Training Center’s role as a catalyst for economic impact in the Pennsylvania region.
Jack Forsythe is a Senior Technical Specialist at Bayer Material Science, where he works in the Innovations Lab on Polyurethane Coatings Products. While at Bidwell, he gained confidence in his abilities to learn new things and to interact with people from a variety of backgrounds. “My experience at Bidwell was a life-altering one. The comfortable and open learning atmosphere enhanced the experience of preparing for a new life. A key to the success of Bidwell is their ongoing relationship with the Pittsburgh business community and industries in the area. I left Bidwell with a strong feeling of gratitude, and I felt the least payback I could give was to be the kind of employee that would make employers want to hire more people from the program.”
Dr. E. Peter Benzing, a retired vice president of Bayer Corporation, helped establish Bidwell’s Chemical Laboratory Technician program in 1990 to provide skilled workers for the chemical industry. “It’s a partnership that makes sense. We ask employers what they need and then provide hands-on training for those jobs. At Bidwell, people who want to help themselves can find help. Regardless of their backgrounds, students are encouraged to strive for excellence.”
“Neville Chemical Company has been involved with Bidwell Training Center’s Chemical Laboratory Technician Program since it began,” said Paul S. Sauers, Manager, Raw Materials & Special Projects at Neville Chemical Company. “We have hosted several student interns and found that they were very well prepared and eager to learn what they were being taught. As the years have gone on, the students have gotten even better, which is a testimony to the continual successful efforts to improve the program. Bidwell Training Center provides a unique job skill-centered education to their students, which better prepares them for actual employment in the field. A large advantage of Bidwell Training Center is that local industry representatives are actively involved in course curriculums, so there is a direct link between what is being taught at Bidwell and what skills local employers are looking for.”
For hundreds of BTC beneficiaries, the organization is a unique haven – a center for learning that fosters a sense of belonging within the community. For more information, please visit BTC’s website at http://www.bidwell-training.org. Now celebrating its 40th Anniversary, Bidwell Training Center encourages donations as it continues to impact lives and shape new career opportunities.
