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| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE November 2009 |
For more information please contact: Muriel Mosher Tel: 207-623-0680 |
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Former Piper employees will refresh and enhance skills before returning to work VERO BEACH, FL - Thanks to the strategic vision and planning of Piper’s senior leadership team, improving market conditions for general aviation and training provided by the Florida Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP), Piper Aircraft, Inc., is beginning to restore some of its workforce back to work. Nineteen former Piper Aircraft employees previously affected by workforce reductions are taking part in a specially-designed training session offered by Florida MEP’s Mobile Outreach Skills Training (M.O.S.T.) program. Over the course of the two-week session which began November 30, trainees are refreshing and upgrading their skills and knowledge base in preparation for returning to work for the general aviation manufacturer. Housed in a state-of-the-art mobile training unit located on the site of the Piper Aircraft plant in Vero Beach, the M.O.S.T. program is providing training that consists of practical skills, theory and hands-on curriculum utilizing both computer-based 3-D simulations and self-paced training modules. Piper Aircraft anticipates being able to initially rehire all 19 trainees during the first quarter of 2010 for positions that include sheet metal assemblers, welders, fiberglass workers, machinists and painters among others. “Like so many companies across the state and country, Piper was affected by the significant downturn in the global economy and had to make some very agonizing decisions to ensure Piper could live to fight another day. During this period, Piper was fortunate to have both new top leadership and owners (Imprimis), whose vision is to see the company grow to match the size of its global reputation. At this point in time, it appears we are poised to take full advantage of the improving economic conditions and are preparing to realize a solid increase over this year’s current production numbers,” said Steve Johnston, Piper Aircraft Vice President of Human Resources. “With an increased production schedule, we can start slowly rebuilding our workforce, making sure to keep it sized to correlate with what the market requires. Florida MEP and the M.O.S.T. program offered exactly what we needed to get previous employees geared up to hit the ground running when they returned to work for us. The right training makes all the difference and we anticipate the weeks spent in the M.O.S.T. program will facilitate a smooth reentry to Piper for these employees. We are particularly excited about the LEAN manufacturing training component of their program.” The M.O.S.T. program has helped connect Florida employers with potential employees through training sessions previously held in Brevard and Palm Beach Counties. With the unique advantage of mobility, the M.O.S.T. traveling training facility outfitted with cutting-edge training equipment is able to take its services to the parts of the state where jobs and potential employees are located. According to data released last month by the state’s Agency for Workforce Innovation, Florida’s overall unemployment rate is the highest it has been in 34 years. With the third highest unemployment rate in the state, counties like Indian River have been hit especially hard demonstrating the need for targeted job training and placement programs like M.O.S.T. “With a state marketplace as diverse as its citizens and an unemployment rate continuing to climb, job training and placement opportunities need to be tailored to meet the specific needs of the communities and people we’re serving,” said Florida MEP Board Chair Gene Lussier. “Florida MEP and the M.O.S.T. program have that kind of flexibility. We can literally be in one part of the state one week providing training that connects participants with several potential employers, and then be on the opposite side of the state the next doing a customized training for a company like Piper. The best part is almost everyone walks away from our trainings with the promise of a job interview, if not a job.” Piper Aircraft, Florida MEP and the Workforce Board of the Treasure Coast worked collaboratively to pre-screen, interview and select candidates for this training. To be eligible for the program, each M.O.S.T. participant must pass a basic education test and drug screening. The program is funded in part by a U.S. Department of Labor grant of $856,000. Additional funds for this class were contributed by state, local and private-sector funding. |
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