For Immediate Release:
September 12, 2024
Primary Media Contact:
Sally Voth
Public Relations Specialist
[email protected]
Phone: 540-868-7134
Laurel Ridge showed off its new fiber optics lab at the Skilled Trades Center to industry leaders on Wednesday. The college’s first fiber optic installer credential program launches Oct. 14, said Samantha Brill, program manager for Laurel Ridge Workforce Solutions. The program qualifies for both G3 and FastForward funding, so eligible Virginia residents could end up taking it for no cost to them.
Fiber optic installers serve in the telecommunications, internet service, cable TV and data center sectors, installing, maintaining and repairing fiber optic cables and related equipment. During the 50-hour program, students will learn about fiber and transmission theory, the various cables and connectors used, splicing, installation and safety practices.
Laurel Ridge is one of seven colleges in the Virginia Community College System (VCCS) to benefit from $5 million awarded through the U.S. Department of Labor’s Building Pathways to Infrastructure Jobs Grant Program. The funds are for expanding training capacity at the colleges and preparing skilled workers. Amazon Web Services is collaborating with Laurel Ridge – as well as other VCCS institutions – in offering expertise on data center operations.
“We really appreciate the opportunity to be here to both launch the fiber optic training program and also to see the skilled trades facility,” said Nick Lee-Romagnolo, principal, economic and workforce development for Amazon Web Services. “It’s really exciting and inspiring work for us.”
His role with AWS is to focus on the infrastructure demands of the information economy, which requires a skilled workforce to maintain and expand upon. Northern Virginia is known for being a hub for data centers. According to the Virginia Economic Development Partnership, more than 35 percent of the world’s “hyperscale” data centers are in the commonwealth.
“Where there are data centers, we can build data center programs,” said Lee-Romagnolo.
Hands-on learning opportunities are a must, he said, and sites like the Skilled Trades Center can provide those.
“There’s real opportunity in Virginia,” Lee-Romagnolo said. “There’s a $35 billion investment just from AWS in the communities that you all serve.”
The skills needed to support data center infrastructure are highly-technical, he said.
“People can get into the industry and get great jobs, sometimes via short-term workforce development training opportunities,” Lee-Romagnolo said.
There are also opportunities for students to enroll in courses that offer college credits, he said.
“Whenever you see that a project is shovel-ready, ask yourself who’s holding the shovel,” said Lee-Romagnolo. “Because it’s the work of Laurel Ridge Community College, it’s the work of the Virginia Community College System, the high school career and technical education programs, local universities, to create the workforce which can build this infrastructure on behalf of us all.
“It’s not just about who will be full-time workers at Amazon. It’s also about all of these contractors and sub-contractors, the vendors. Every single one of these industries needs to have a skilled workforce in order for Amazon, Amazon Web Services and all these systems of Amazon Web Services to provide those services to all of us, whether it’s the maps on our phones, our finances, our healthcare, cloud computing servers, every vertical in every industry. In order for that to work, we need enough people in these centers, in this industry.”
Program Manager Brill said the fiber optics installer course lasts just five weeks with students spending two evenings a week at the Skilled Trades Center. At the end of the program, students will take the fiber optic installer certification exam credentialed through the Electronic Technicians Association International (ETA). Only four seats are left for the class starting Oct. 14, said Brill, but more classes are being added.
The median salary for technicians is $39 an hour.
“Any telecommunications company is in need of fiber optic technicians,” said Brill. “We’re very excited about this program. It’s definitely a growing industry with great opportunities.”
Workforce Solutions is planning to expand class offerings beyond the installer program. These plans include a Level 2 program. Other course plans include specialized certificate programs for fiber splicing equipment and certified mission critical operator.
Learn more at laurelridgeworkforce.com/fiber.
*************************
Founded in 1970, Laurel Ridge Community College is a multi-campus public institution of higher education. With three locations — Middletown, Warrenton, and Luray-Page County — the College serves eight localities in the Shenandoah Valley and northern Piedmont regions. The localities are the counties of Clarke, Fauquier, Frederick, Page, Rappahannock, Shenandoah and Warren and the city of Winchester. Laurel Ridge offers more than 75 associate degree and certificate programs in a wide variety of disciplines, in addition to providing access to bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degree programs offered on site by a four-year institution. Laurel Ridge also serves the business community by offering workforce preparation programs for employees and employers. Laurel Ridge serves more than 9,000 unduplicated credit students and more than 11,000 individuals in professional development and business and industry courses annually.
Laurel Ridge Community College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award associate degrees. Laurel Ridge Community College also may offer credentials such as certificates and diplomas at approved degree levels. Questions about the accreditation of Laurel Ridge Community College may be directed in writing to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, GA 30033-4097, by calling (404) 679-4500, or by using information available on SACSCOC’s website (www.sacscoc.org).
Laurel Ridge Community College is an equal opportunity institution providing educational and employment opportunities, programs, services, and activities. Laurel Ridge shall promote and maintain equal employment and educational opportunities without regard to race, color, religion, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, ethnicity, marital status, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions including lactation, age (except when age is a bona fide occupational qualification), status as a veteran, national origin, or other non-merit factors. Laurel Ridge also prohibits sexual misconduct including sexual violence or harassment. Inquiries may be directed to the Associate Vice President, Human Resources, [email protected], 173 Skirmisher Lane, Middletown, VA 22645, 540-868-7226.
Laurel Ridge Community College was known as Lord Fairfax Community College until June 2022. For consistency purposes, the college will be referenced as Laurel Ridge going forward.
###