PCC’s CORE Program opens doors to manufacturing careers
Story by James Hill. Photos by Ric Getter.
Thanks to CORE, Tetiana Kishinets gained needed skills and now has a job with Align Precision.
Tetiana (Tanya) Kishinets couldn’t stop smiling.
After immigrating to Oregon from Ukraine just prior to Russia’s invasion, Kishinets searched for a training opportunity to transition into a better career. She found what she needed in Portland Community College’s new CNC Operator Readiness Essentials (CORE) Program and is a member of the first graduating class — the cause of her happiness.
The CORE training program provides a blend of essential skills and technical skills for success in manufacturing. The curriculum covered key manufacturing skills, such as general tool knowledge, precision measuring techniques, shop safety and cleanliness, and basic blueprint reading. Additionally, students received guidance in developing resumes, preparing for interviews and sharpening soft skills such as time management.
PCC Opportunity Centers
These centers are dedicated hubs for workforce development that connect people, employers, and community partners. PCC’s team of experts help community members get started in a new career with one-on-one coaching, holistic support systems, short-term training, and more.
“It was well-organized and structured,” said Kishinets, who had been working as a social worker for the Ukrainian Foundation. “We covered a lot in such a short period of time. At some points it seems to be overwhelming and time consuming but we did it. We worked hard. By the end of the course, I’m much more confident.”
CORE was launched as part of the 10-month-old Community to Careers (C2C), a project of the Future Ready Oregon (FRO) Workforce Ready Grant funded by the Higher Education Coordinating Commission. C2C aims to support the education and training of historically underserved Oregonians and promote the accessibility of family-wage careers with a focus on manufacturing, healthcare and technology.
In 2022, a first round of Future Ready Oregon funding allowed staff to reach out to community based organizations about supporting workers and industry partners in manufacturing about their training needs. In 2023, a second round of Future Ready Oregon funding allowed PCC to partner and create the CORE training. Staff from PCC’s Opportunity Centers collaborated with the Machine Manufacturing Technology Program and local employers.
In this two-week intensive training, students gain technical and essential skills for careers as Computer Numerical Controlled (CNC) machine operators. The first cohort consisted of nine students chosen from a list of 37 screened candidates from around the Portland metro area.
Demoriauna Jacobs readies to cut the cake, symbolizing her cohort’s graduation.
“Our goal is to connect folks to family-wage careers,” said Patti Hawkins, program dean of PCC Electronics, Mechatronics, Advanced Manufacturing. “And our industry partners are amazingly important in this process. At PCC, our goal is to provide industry-informed training and having that partnership piece is so essential.”
The course employed a range of learning methods, integrating a self-paced online platform from Haas with in-class lectures, independent work utilizing packets and hands-on activities. Each student completed practical projects on a lathe and a mill, crafting a metal spinning top and a bottle opener. Each student got a 30-minute interview with a group of employers, which included A-dec, AGC, Align Precision, Coorstek and Davis Tool.
Paul Vogel, executive director of the Columbia Economic Team, said, “We are very pleased to be part of this effort, which is not only tangible but valuable to employers. I see the value of CORE being generated by PCC, accessing available funding to leverage its industry knowledge, education capacity and collaborative ethic to better serve its communities.”
After the group interview, Kishinets said she was made an offer and accepted a new job at Align Precision. She said she will connect with her community so more can take advantage of the CORE training.
“So many incredibly smart Ukrainians here feel helpless because they don’t know the starting point for this career or how to enter it,” she said. “This course is perfect to just get started. It is a gentle push for people who need it.”
