16 VIRGINIA FORESTS Offerings developed will be accessible and affordable to new and incumbent employees, as well as those who wish to prepare for new employment opportunities within the industry. MGCC leads the initiative in consortium with Big Sandy Community and Technical College in eastern Kentucky and Glenville State University in West Virginia. AHTI training programs are designed to deliver high impact through short workshops to improve skills quickly. Focused instruction is provided for a wide area of needs and includes topics such as log and lumber grading, mill operation, safety, general and industrial maintenance, truck driving (CDL A and B), equipment training, welding, and management/supervision among many others. Topics are typically customizable, and they are intended to fit the specific needs of the employer. Courses are provided centrally at the participating institutions in Clifton Forge, Va., Prestonsburg, Ky., and Glenville, W.Va., and in many cases, they may be mobilized to meet distant needs. Depending on the training content, online delivery is also available. Recent AHTI successes include preparing drivers for their CDL Class B exam with Entry Level Driver Training (online) and Behind- the -Wheel Training, Railroad Tie Grading, OSHA for General Industry, and others. Upcoming opportunities include Basic Welding, a series in electrical troubleshooting that focuses on motors and PLCs, and leadership and supervision training in partnership with Tom Davidson, LeadershipNature. Mountain Gateway Community College is the only fully accredited two-year forestry training program in Virginia. Our Forest Management Technology program is accredited by the Society of American Foresters. For more information, visit www.mgcc.edu. For more AHTI information or to discuss specific training needs, contact: Davis Shofshtahl AHTI Workforce Coach, Apprenticeship Coordinator, Trades Program Mgr. dshofstahl@mgcc.edu (540) 863-2920 For more information on the degree and certificate offerings, contact: R. Scott Reigel Forest Management Technology rreigel@mgcc.edu (540) 863-2894 Billy Newman, CF, M.B.A. Forest Management Technology bnewman@mgcc.edu (540) 863-2891 “Beginning a career change in my early thirties was a tough decision to make, but starting it with the forestry program at Mountain Gateway Community College turned out to be one of the best decisions I ever made. The program and the professors excel in preparing you for the forestry and urban forestry workforce. The professors go above and beyond in working to get you the education, experience and credentials needed to have immediate impact in the industry. I had a job with a national tree care company immediately after graduation. Enroll, you won’t regret it!!” - Alex Burton, ’22
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