College of the Canyons officials have created the Employee Training Institute in response to the increased demand for skilled laborers in industry-specific positions, and have hired an industry expert to lead the initiative.

The new program will be headed by Justin Wallace, who will take the position of director of educational partnerships, a position created to help ensure the success of the program.

“I am very excited to work as a bridge between local companies and the college,” Wallace said. “By working together, we can help meet the needs of the Santa Clarita Valley businesses while also training the next generation of skilled workers.”

Wallace holds a Master of Business Administration from the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh and a bachelor’s degree in business administration and economics from Graceland University.

The Employee Training Institute at COC provides low-cost subsidized training programs for businesses that are specifically created with their needs in mind to increase efficiencies, productivity and reduce costs.

Wallace will work as a liason to the Santa Clarita Valley business community and the college, working to inform the academic affairs department of changes in the industry that impact the development of the curriculum.

“The demands for higher education are changing and College of the Canyons is adapting to the needs of business and industry by offering flexible programming and availability of courses to working students,” said Dr. Jerry Buckley, assistant superintendent and vice president of academic affairs at the college.

As director of educational partnerships, Wallace will work with Employee Training Institute partners Santa Clarita Valley Economic Development Corporation, Santa Clarita Valley Chamber of Commerce, Valley Industry Association and many more, to help build relationships within the community.

“Our partnership with COC greatly strengthens our ability to bring workforce training solutions to businesses in SCV,” said Holly Schroeder, president and CEO of the Santa Clarita Valley Economic Development Corporation. “Now, with a single point of contact to access COC’s breadth of training options, we can be more effective in helping companies achieve their workforce development goals.”

College of the Canyons Vice President of Economic Development Jeffrey Forrest said he believes the creation of this program will create a lasting impact on the Santa Clarita Valley.

“For nearly 50 years, College of the Canyons has been an integral part of the economic growth of the Santa Clarita region,” Forrest said. “This new position is an investment on the part of the college to continue that legacy.”

For more information about the Employee Training Institute at COC, call (661) 362-3245.

Ed. Note: This information was provided to KHTS by College of the Canyons.

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