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Joshua Nelson found himself in familiar territory when he arrived at Northeast State’s Regional Center for Advanced Manufacturing (RCAM) Friday morning.
The J.A. Street construction superintendent and Northeast State graduate returned to campus to join over a dozen other apprentices by committing to a one-year project management program made possible through a partnership between J.A. Street and the College.
Nelson will begin his journey toward senior superintendent at J.A. Street with training courses at RCAM one Friday a month for a year. The program consists of 11 modules ranging from leadership skills, safety, construction planning, scheduling, interpersonal skills, and continuous improvement.
“There’s a job push for multi-faceted training in the construction industry,” Nelson said. “Having many different skillsets and vast knowledge is a must due to how broad the field is.”
His degree in electrical technology from Northeast State comes into play years later while he’s working in the field, according to Nelson.
“I finished all my core classes at Northeast State and was also able to complete the Electrical Technology program during my time there,” Nelson said. “Now, if I’m on a job site as a superintendent, I can take the knowledge I gained through that program and help my team.”
J.A. Street apprenticeships through Northeast State involve a curriculum developed by the National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER). Electromechanical lab instructor Greg Williams will direct the training.
RCAM and Northeast State launched the Group Registered Apprenticeship Program in 2017 thanks to a collaborative effort with the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL). Northeast State partners with dozens of companies, such as J.A. Street, Silgan Closures, Bell Helicopter, Cardinal Glass, and Snap-on, to name a few, to deliver dynamic training opportunities to working professionals.