Dale Gallagher, a dedicated employee at Broadcom, has been working at the company for nine years. Despite being a single father raising three children, he was determined to further his education and job opportunities. However, driving long distances to attend classes was not feasible for him. When the opportunity arose for classes to be brought to the workplace, Gallagher knew he had to seize it.
Gallagher, along with seven other employees in Broadcom’s fabrication operations division in Fort Collins, received certificates in electronics assembly from Front Range Community College in May. This initiative is part of a larger effort by FRCC to provide educational opportunities that meet the needs of both students and employers in the region, ultimately strengthening the workforce.
FRCC has partnered with over 200 businesses to provide the education and training needed by their employees. This includes collaborations with companies like PepsiCo and Fort Collins 4×4 to develop tailored programs that address specific skill gaps in the workforce. For example, PepsiCo is working with FRCC to train industrial maintenance technicians for their new facility near Denver International Airport, while Fort Collins 4×4 is creating an apprenticeship program in automotive technology to meet the evolving demands of the industry.
The certificate in electronics assembly obtained by Gallagher and his colleagues is just the first step towards earning an associate degree that will qualify them for higher-paying technician roles at Broadcom’s semiconductor manufacturing facility. This initiative is crucial as less than half of the company’s fabrication employees currently meet the educational requirements for these positions.
FRCC’s partnership with Broadcom is unique as it brings for-credit classes directly to the workplace, making education more accessible and less intimidating for employees. The tailored content and convenient scheduling allow students to progress towards their degrees while balancing full-time work commitments.
The collaboration between FRCC and businesses like Broadcom and PepsiCo highlights the importance of upskilling and reskilling the workforce to meet the demands of evolving industries. By providing relevant education and training opportunities, these partnerships are not only benefiting individual employees like Gallagher but also contributing to the overall growth and competitiveness of the region’s economy.
In conclusion, the success stories of employees like Dale Gallagher underscore the value of workplace training programs in bridging the skills gap and preparing individuals for rewarding careers in high-demand industries. Through strategic partnerships between educational institutions and businesses, opportunities for professional development and advancement are being created, ultimately shaping a more skilled and competitive workforce for the future.