Santana Textiles, STC partner to train 330 workers adding fuel to Valley economy

May 22, 2012 No Comments
A the TWC Skills Development Grant presentation in Edinburg are from left Dr. Alejo Salinas Jr., Member of South Texas College’s Board of Trustees; Mayor of the City of Edinburg Richard Garcia; Texas House District 40 Representative Aaron Pena; Texas Workforce Commissioner Representing Employers Tom Pauken; Wanda Garza, Executive Officer of the North American Advanced Manufacturing Research and Education Initiative; Santana Textiles CEO James Michael Aiken; Texas District 15 Senator Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa; Workforce Solutions CEO Bonnie Gonzalez; Dr. Shirley A. Reed, STC President; Claudio Motta, Operations Director for Santana Textiles; Texas District 36 Representative Sergio Munoz Jr.; Silas Rocha, Administration Director for Santana Textiles; and Lilvette Santos, EHS Manager for Santana Textiles.

Santana Textiles has partnered with South Texas College to provide job training using a $600,313 Skills Development Fund grant from the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC). In early May, TWC Commissioner Representing Employers Tom Pauken presented a check to South Texas College President Shirley A. Reed and representatives from Santana Textiles at a special ceremony at the City of Edinburg City Hall Council Chambers. “TWC makes these grants available each year, helping hundreds of Texas employers and thousands of workers succeed,” said TWC Commissioner Representing Employers Tom Pauken. … Read More …

Filed Under: Around Campus, College News, Community, Featured

STC, Regal Beloit partner to offer executive training

March 22, 2012 No Comments
Vice President of Learning for Regal Beloit’s Packard Learning Center Fritz Hollenbach (left) and Director of Advanced Manufacturing Technology for Regal Beloit’s Packard Learning Center Vijay Chahar (right) with TWC Commissioner Andres Alcantar.

South Texas College’s Institute for Advanced Manufacturing recently hosted a three-day training seminar for members of the leadership team for internationally acclaimed manufacturer, Regal Beloit. The company, which specializes in electrical and motion control products for several industries, recently opened manufacturing operations in McAllen. “Because of our location in McAllen, we hoped to create great partnerships in the community,” said Fritz Hollenbach, vice president for learning for Regal Beloit’s Packard Learning Center. “We wanted to construct a training for some of the … Read More …

Filed Under: Community, Featured

ALPS employees earn national certifications

September 21, 2011 No Comments
At the NIMS credentialing ceremony at STC’s Technology Campus. From front row left are Ulysses Chavez Medrano and Jose Antonio Garza of ALPS Automotive. From back row left are STC IAM Regional Manager Carlos Margo, STC IAM NIMS Instructor Douglas Schelbert, NAAMREI Executive Officer Wanda Garza, ALPS Automotive Tooling Engineer Feroz Ummer and ALPS Automotive Training Manager Fernando Gomez.

By: David Ramos, Training Specialist for South Texas College’s Institute for Advanced Manufacturing Two engineers from ALPS Automotive of Reynosa, Mexico have been recognized by South Texas College’s Institute for Advanced Manufacturing for earning their National Institute for Metal Working Skills (NIMS) certifications as Level 1 Machinist. Ulysses Chavez Medrano and Jose Antonio Garza, both ALPS Automotive Tool Room employees, earned their NIMS certification through a rigorous 160 hour lab and lecture course developed by STCs IAM in McAllen. The certifications earned are … Read More …

Filed Under: Academics, Around Campus, Community, Featured, Honors/Awards

Grant will help STC and partners create, upgrade 236 regional jobs

April 15, 2011 No Comments
Dignitaries at the check presentation. From left are City of McAllen Mayor Richard F. Cortez; Workforce Solutions, Lower RGV CEO Bonnie Gonzalez; North American Advanced Manufacturing Research and Education Initiative Executive Officer Wanda Garza; Hidalgo County Judge Ramon Garcia; South Texas College President Shirley A. Reed; Texas Workforce Commissioner Representing the Public Andres Alcantar; STC Institute for Advanced Manufacturing Regional Training Manager Carlos Margo; Doctors Hospital at Renaissance Associate Administrator John Rustick; McAllen Medical Center Administrator Ryan Jensen; EMMSA Branch Manager Jose Luis Balleza; UTPA Engineering Intern for Doctors Hospital at Renaissance Max Alvarez; McAllen Economic Development Corporation Vice President of Business Recruitment Janie Ramos; and Metal Processing International President Sam Adkisson.

South Texas College has partnered with a consortium of Rio South Texas businesses to provide job training using a $512,079 Skills Development Fund grant from the Texas Workforce Commission. The business partners include Azteca Milling L.P., Doctors Hospital at Renaissance, EMMSA Co., McAllen Medical Center and Metal Processing International. “This is a great day of celebration for not only the college, but the entire region,” said STC President Shirley A. Reed. “TWC has invested millions of dollars in our region to provide skill training that creates opportunities for employers and … Read More …

Filed Under: Around Campus, College News, Community, Faculty/Staff, Featured, Honors/Awards

Rio Queen Citrus tasting sweet success because of employee trainings

April 6, 2011 No Comments
Rio Queen Citrus employees attend a recent training provided through South Texas College’s IAM.

By: David Ramos, Project Training Specialist for South Texas College’s Institute for Advanced Manufacturing Rio Queen Citrus of Mission, Texas has partnered with South Texas College’s Institute for Advanced Manufacturing through a Skills Development Grant provided by the Texas Workforce Commission. With several trainings currently underway at their Mission headquarters, Rio Queen is focusing on employee development, which has become a top priority company-wide. “The biggest thing is a culture of personal growth and we are creating an environment for people to strive, … Read More …

Filed Under: College News, Community, Featured

Manufacturing workers find their voices through new English program

March 30, 2011 1 Comment
At the program graduation from left standing are Daniel Barron from AMMEX; Raul Ruiz from STC; Larry Garver from Hi-Tech Plastics; Carlos Margo from STC; program graduates Elizabeth Hernandez, Belia Perez, Enedelia Hinojosa, Martha Rocha, Maria Gonzalez and Virginia Santiago; Janie Ramos from the McAllen Economic Development Corporation; Jennifer McNelly from The Manufacturing Institute; Wanda Garza from NAAMREI and STC; and Pat Townsend from the Mission Economic Development Authority. From left seated are Trung Nguyen from Hi-Tech Plastics; Idalia Cazares from AMMEX; Maryann Taylor from Hi-Tech Plastics; and program graduates Nora Caballero, Maribel Villalobos, San Juanita Lopez and Mitral Reyes.

“One thing they have gotten out of this, according to one manager I spoke with, is the ability to better make their arguments and stand up for their opinions,” said Jennifer McNelly, senior vice president of The Manufacturing Institute, as she recently spoke to a group of workers, employers and business leaders in Mission, Texas. “And that’s a good thing. This program has given you the voice to communicate and diversity in thought creates better manufacturing.” The program that gave 47 Rio South Texas workers a voice is the English for Advanced Manufacturing and the Skilled Trades … Read More …

Filed Under: College News, Community, Featured, Honors/Awards

IAM represented at small business summit

January 24, 2011 1 Comment
IAm staff Raul Ruiz, Carlos Margo and David Ramos manning the event booth.

South Texas College’s Institute for Advanced Manufacturing represented the college at the recent Rio South Texas Small Business Summit held in McAllen in mid-January. The event was put together by the Small Business Advocacy Office from the Governor’s Office and the Texas Workforce Commission. STC’s IAM had a prominent booth during the daylong event. The team educated small business owners about opportunities for skills upgrades through trainings in supply chain management, health and safety techniques, and technical trainings like welding and machining. “We made some news … Read More …

Filed Under: Community, Featured

Azteca Milling employees learn basic leadership skills

November 1, 2010 1 Comment

By: David Ramos, STC IAM Project Training Specialist Twenty-one supervisors from Azteca Milling, located in Edinburg, have completed the first level of the Manufacturing Leadership Academy from South Texas College’s Institute for Advanced Manufacturing. The successful leadership program was specifically customized to address the needs of Azteca employees. The class was composed of supervisors and managers from several different departments within the company from production, administration to line workers. Azteca turned to STC to help out its long-term employees develop better … Read More …

Filed Under: Community