Business View Magazine - October 2018

78 79 army alone will turn out 200,000, this year. These men and women getting jobs right away is what they need.” “There are about 150 career skills programs in the U.S. Army, offered by about a hundred differ- ent organizations,” adds Duff, “and Airstreams is now the third most-offered program across that platform. They take our program, we line them up with jobs, and then they go out and start a new career. Now, that program is being offered at six active duty military bases across the country (Joint Base Lewis-McChord,WA, Fort Bliss, TX, Fort Irwin, CA, Fort Riley, KS, Fort Hood, TX, and Fort Benning, GA). And Camp Lejeune in North Caro- lina just signed an MOU for opening a campus in the first quarter of 2019. So, we’re continuing to grow, following the DoD’s pull and the indus- try’s demand for the workforce. And we have our main campus, here in Tehachapi, which is open to the public, serving mostly veterans. Tehachapi is considered to be the birthplace of wind power in North America which makes our campus ideal for AIRSTREAMS RENEWABLES, INC. training.” Yet another program that ARI is working to associate with is the U.S. Department of Labor’s registered apprentice program, sponsored by the Wireless Infrastructure Association (WIA). “We are in the process of becoming an approved pre-ap- prenticeship program,” says Duff. “Apprenticeship is two-fold; there’s technical instruction which the students are getting from us, and then, on- the-job training. Any employer that participates in the program would be able to hire a graduate of Airstreams, who would then continue through the apprenticeship program. Formally participating in the nationally recognized process could bring both employers and the new hires additional benefits, which we see as a win-win for our grad- uates.” ARI’s Renewable Energy and Communications Tower Technician Program offers a complete complement of safety and technical modules designed to pre- pare each student for an entry-level position in the wind, communication tower, and many other industri- al-focused industries. Em- phasis is placed on working safely in all aspects of the technician job and the basic technical skills required when working with electricity and hy- draulics. The lecture and lab course consists of 240 hours. Tower climbing exercises, conditioning, practice, and practical evaluations take place on JEFF DUFF PRESIDENT AND CFO TKK Communications & Services, LLC Wireless • Satellite • Telecommunications Maintenance • Construction • Management No matter what industrial problem you have, we’ve already been part of the solution. TKK maintains a strong foundation by focusing on delivering a quality product on time and on budget. From site installation, integration and testing. TKK is there to complete your projects. www.tkkcommunications.com TKK Communications & Services, LLC • 1385 Admiral Place, Ferndale, WA 98248 Office: 360-746-8948 • Fax: +1.360-746-8983