Northwest Tech Addresses Lack of Qualified Tradesman Throughout NW Oklahoma

By Melinda Barton
Northwest Technology Center

Northwest Leading Results, a leadership and community development group coordinated by Northwest Technology Center met recently to discuss the issue of the lack of qualified tradesman throughout Northwest Oklahoma.   The group is comprised of city officials and administrators from Alfalfa, Woods and Major counties.    Barclay Holt, Northwest Technology Center's Ag Business Management Instructor facilitates the meetings.

With its initial meeting in October the group has met four times over the past few months, targeting three common problems between the participating communities. The issues include increasing tourism, addressing legislative issues and the need to train more tradesmen. The group's most recent meeting held at Northwest Technology Center in Alva featured a panel discussion including:  Dr. Phil Berkenbile, director of the Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education; Kathy McRee, transition coordinator of the William Key Correctional Center, and Vicki Ewbank, guidance counselor Fairview schools.  Those city administrators attending included:   Tom Danielson, representative from Capron; Richard McElhatten, Carmen Town Board; Arden Chaffee, Mayor of Alva, Dale Sides, Fairview City Manager and Ken Carmack, Mayor of Fairview.   Also, invited to attend were guidance counselors and parents from area high schools.

Each city administrator summarized the issues facing their respective community.   Carmack led the discussion by addressing the process of directing students into careers as tradesman.  Danielson discussed the small city scenario.   He used Capron as an example, which has approximately 16 households within its city limits.  

McElhatten presented the idea of integration of recently released inmates from the Department of Corrections and integrating them into various communities.  Many of the inmates released from DOC facilities have earned certifications in areas like plumbing, electrical or construction while they were incarcerated.     The need for increased manufacturing tradesman was addressed by Sides.   Evidently, a great number of people with welding skills are needed in the Fairview area.   Chaffee addressed the effects of the decline in tradesman on city government.  

Each member of the panel addressed and then responded to the presentations.   The group's discussion focused mainly on the need for skilled and licensed tradesman such as electricians, plumbers and masons in the respective communities.   

"We came out of this meeting with two specific tasks.  The group wants to conduct a reliable and useable wage and salary survey.   They also want to gain access to legislators to help us utilize entities such as the Department of Corrections and CareerTech in cooperation with the small communities to help develop and maintain our infrastructure." stated Holt.

Holt continued, "Each of our participants has been actively involved in the process of identifying issues and working toward solutions.   Each one of the meetings are another small step in the process we formulated last summer.   The proof will really come at the end of this process in March.  We will see if we found solutions and not just, like we do so many times, identified the problems."

The group will meet next in February when they visit the state capitol to dialog with legislators.