Chris Scalf of Johnson City, Sam Potter, welding instructor, and Nathan Rosenbalm of Bluff City, from left, discuss welding techniques in the night welding class at the Tennessee Technology Center at Elizabethton. Scalf and Rosenbalm said they look forward to receiving welding certification after 12 months of study at TTC–Elizabethton.
"The region is experiencing a high demand for skilled labor, such as welders, in manufacturing and construction jobs," according to Dale Hicks, welding instructor at the Tennessee Technology Center at Elizabethton.
In an attempt to help meet the demand for welders certified in structural and pipe welding techniques, TTC–Elizabethton added a night welding class last September to complement its day welding class.
A total of 34 students are currently enrolled in day and evening welding classes. Graduates of the one–year welding program at TTC–Elizabethton earn from $12 to $20 per hour, locally, and up to $35 per hour if they are willing to travel on construction–related jobs, Hicks said.
The welding program teaches techniques of welding processes commonly used in industry, such as Shielded Metal Arc (STICK), Gas Tungsten Arc (TIG) and Gas Metal Arc (MIG).
Students are taught flame and plasma cutting, grinding, metal preparation and use of tools and equipment, related math, physical properties of metal, effects of heat thickness allowances, shrinkage, basic joint design, layout and fabrication.
After completing one year of study, welding students should be able to certify as a structural welder in STICK and in pipe welding, both carbon and stainless, in TIG, Hicks said. TTC offers certification in structural welding from the American Welding Society and in pipe welding from the American Society of Mechanical Engineers.
In the last five years, approximately 100 students graduated from welding classes at TTC–Elizabethton and 95 percent of them began work, immediately, as welders. The number of welders to be trained at TTC–Elizabethton could be increased if additional training facilities are obtained.
Jerry Patton, director, said the long range plan for TTC–Elizabethton called for two buildings to be constructed on state-owned property at the Main Campus, located at 426 Highway 91. Reedy and Sykes Architects of Elizabethton prepared an architectural drawing in support of the concept.
Subsequently, only one of two buildings in the strategic plan was funded by the state of Tennessee. TTC's first and only building expansion, located at the Main Campus, opened in 1996. It houses administrative offices, classrooms and labs for Business Systems, Electricity and Electronics and Millwright Skills training programs.
The building has since been named in honor of former state representative Ralph Cole of Elizabethton, a member of the Finance Committee of the Tennessee House of Representatives at the time construction funds were appropriated.
The Tennessee Technology Center began operations in 1965 as the State Area Vocational Technical School, located at 1500 Arney Street, in Elizabethton. Training programs taught at the Arney Street campus include Automotive, Diesel Powered Equipment, Computer Information Technology, HVAC/Refrigeration, Nursing and Welding.
"The strategic plan calls for all training programs to be centralized, where possible, to maximum efficiency of operation. We would like to move the existing training programs at the Arney Street campus to the Main Campus, provided sufficient classroom and lab facilities are found either in vacant buildings nearby or in a new building to be constructed, subject to funding from either public or private sources," Patton said.
One possibility is the Workforce Development Complex, the former Great Lakes Buildings, obtained by Carter County government in the 1990s and sub–leased for three years to Carter County Tomorrow. However, building modifications, including the addition of elevators to meet ADA accessibility requirements and installation of ventilation and air handling systems for automotive, diesel, HVAC/Refrigeration and welding labs would be required to meet TOSHA and OSHA standards.
In 2006, TTC–Elizabethton established a foundation to raise private sector funds for student scholarships, lab equipment and to construct a new campus building. That fundraising effort is still underway.
"We remain optimistic that the TTC Foundation Board of Directors will help take the Tennessee Technology Center at Elizabethton to the next higher level to meet the training needs of the area. The jobs are out there. We just need more training space to accommodate the demand for more trained workers," Patton said.