Manufacturer, Employer Benefit from ECC Program

Brian Miriani recently worked with East Central College’s Center for Workforce Development (CWD) to complete an apprenticeship program tailored to fit his skills and the needs of his employer.

CWD partnered with Miriani’s employer, Texwrap Packaging, Washington, to develop a Machinist Registered apprenticeship program through the U.S Department of Labor in 2017.

Miriani completed the program in July and received his certification this month.

According to Melissa Richards, CWD apprenticeship and business training program coordinator, Miriani continued to work with Texwrap, which manufactures shrink wrapping systems, while he took apprenticeship classes.

“Brian attended classes, usually after work, to complete the Precision Machining Certificate of Specialization,” she said. “He was able to earn while he learned, and work through the program at his own pace to balance work, life and education.”

Richards added that through the apprenticeship program, Miriani received progression wage increases while receiving the technical training at ECC.

There were many people who worked with Miriani to help him achieve the Machinist Registered certification, including Richards; Curtis Elliott, primary precision machining instructor; John Rucker, shop math for manufacturing instructor; Dr. Edward Shelton, executive director of workforce development; and Cindy Brinker, grant and program administrator.

“It truly took a team to help him complete one of these programs,” Richards said

To learn more about the ECC CWD apprenticeship programs visit www.eastcentral.edu/cwd/.