Capital Region BOCES will celebrate national Career & Technical Education (CTE) Month throughout February with a series of events at its Career and Technical Education Center – Albany and Schoharie campuses.
The events will highlight the unique partnership Capital Region BOCES maintains with more than 300 businesses, education and labors organizations—a partnership that helps students not only achieve their career goals but helps employers address the critical shortage of skilled labor in this region and beyond.
Activities range from presentations by business partners, such as Milton CAT, to a career fair for aspiring cosmetologists to the first-ever “Shadow a CTE Scholar Challenge” in which area school administrators will become a CTE student for a session, taking part in the full class experience alongside a student from their district.
“We have a lot of great things going on and we are proud to celebrate not only our partners, but our scholars and the education-CTE-business partnerships that make CTE a success,” said Career and Technical Education Director Jeff Palmer.
As operator of one of the largest workforce development centers in Upstate New York and partner to more than 300 businesses, education and labors organizations, Capital Region BOCES takes seriously its role in equipping the next generation of workers with the essential skill sets needed to alleviate the critical shortage of skilled labor in this region and beyond.
Graduates of BOCES programs work in all facets of the workforce—from nurse practitioners and physicians to machinists, entrepreneurs, diesel technicians, fashion designers, video game designers, electricians, chefs, service managers, dietitians, and many, many more successful careers.
“BOCES connects education with everyday life and gives you the skills you need to succeed,” said Tom Rodick, a class of 2022 graduate of the Network Technology program who works for BBL Construction Services and is receiving a free college education through his employer.
Class of 2023 graduate Noah Marbley sounded a similar message.
“Going to BOCES really helped me figure out what I wanted to do and where I wanted to go. When I first started at BOCES, I wanted to be a welder, but I wound up in the manufacturing program and I really liked it,” said the Manufacturing and Machining Technology program graduate from Schenectady.
Marbley is also attending Hudson Valley Community College for free thanks to his employer and the skills he learned at BOCES.
Employers said CTE is a valuable tool for their workforce development and business growth.
“We hire a number of BOCES graduates and have more here for internships and work-based learning. What they have in common is a better grasp of the basics, the building blocks of what it takes to succeed,” said Bob Rowe, parts manager for Robert H. Finke and Sons, Inc. Contractors Equipment in Selkirk, N.Y.
Michael Visk, Vice President of Sales at Package One, echoed those sentiments.
“Capital Region BOCES has given us a competitive edge that is unmatched in the industry,” said Visk.
Package One has employed several BOCES graduates, including Christian Zautner, a 2017 graduate.
“Because of the manufacturing program, I was able to get a job right out of high school, move out of the house, not rack up debt and make good money. I couldn’t be more happy,” the Voorheesville High School graduate stated.