MILWAUKEE - In the midst of a national shortage of skilled building technicians, Springfield Technical Community College (STCC) has been selected by Johnson Controls Inc. to participate in a collaborative program dedicated to attracting and recruiting the next generation of HVACR technicians.

Through the CareerConnect program, Johnson Controls donates resources and equipment to partnering schools to simulate the work environment and enhance the program curriculum. The company’s contributions to STCC will include learning materials, instruction from industry experts, and faculty development opportunities. The market value of the CareerConnect program to STCC is more than $10,000 over three years.

In addition, Johnson Controls will team with the school through various community initiatives to increase awareness of local career opportunities available to skilled technicians. In Massachusetts alone, the total number of HVACR-related skilled trade positions will increase more than 7 percent by the year 2014, with 560 new job openings.

Students enrolled in STCC’s HVACR Technology program are also eligible for the Johnson Controls Future Hires Program. This opportunity provides exceptional students with tuition aid and a guaranteed job with Johnson Controls upon graduation. Up to five students from STCC can be selected annually for participation.

“Both current and future students will benefit from this program,” said Adrienne Smith, dean of the School of Engineering Technologies, STCC. “Current students have the opportunity to receive an employment offer with a Fortune 500 company upon graduation, and the cutting-edge learning tools will no doubt attract new students to the HVACR Technology program.”

The CareerConnect program also demonstrates the company’s commitment to the communities in which it serves. Through its local network of service professionals, including branches located in Windsor, Conn., and Springfield, Mass., Johnson Controls offers a team of experts and a range of service solutions designed to improve facility performance and keep customer facilities running right.

“These programs allow Johnson Controls to meet the needs of our growing service business by tapping into talent from the local community,” said Warren Sturm, service branch manager, Johnson Controls. “In addition, we reduce our recruiting costs and benefit from increased productivity of new hires.”

To date, Springfield Technical Community College is one of 11 CareerConnect partnerships that Johnson Controls has established throughout North America. Colleges are evaluated based on school and program demographics including diversity statistics, curriculum and ability to modify it, geographic areas served, enrollments, placement statistics, strategies, and its relationship with Johnson Controls.

Publication date: 06/30/2008