LBCC’s facilities department, a new program, will offer students the opportunity to gain hands-on experience to those interested in the wide variety of careers in maintenance. They opened their doors with a Lunch & Learn workshop on April 23.
The lunch and learn workshop was able to kick into its inaugural year through not only grant funding, but also the work and effort put in by LBCC’s maintenance group and Deputy Director of Operations and Maintenance, Maria Slaughter.
At the beginning of the workshop students were able to fill out a sign in sheet with their names and contact information, this way the department of facilities would be able to contact attendees and bring them in for hands-on experience with LBCC’s maintenance group.
“I was in this position when I was a student, no one wants to hire you if you don’t have any experience in these positions, so this gives students the opportunity to put on their resumes that they worked in facilities,” said Slaughter.
The lunch and learn workshop was also supported by facilities maintenance workers, who showcased what kind of skill goes into different maintenance jobs like carpentry, plumbing, and electrical with mini demonstrations located across five different garages in building Z.
A facilities maintenance worker, Steven Adams, was one of the workers who volunteered to demonstrate to attendees about electrical trades and their timeless importance.
“In the next couple of years AI is going to take over everything, our trades will still be ours,” Adams stated.
Among the workshops demonstrated was the executive director of commercial operations of RIZON Truck USA, Peter Tawil introduced by Brian Fuertes, the grounding transportation manager at LBCC.
The campus facilities hope to acquire new zero emission vehicles with a voucher from Cal Star. The voucher would allow public sectors like community colleges to acquire these new zero-emission vehicles, to, as Brian Fuertes said, “help navigate our pathway towards sustainability.”
The workshop included a presentation by Peter Tawil, where he spoke more about what electric vehicles offer environmentally and how they work and what their outlook would be in the future, for trades in the electrical field.
“I think for the students, this is an important introduction to the electrification of vehicles, not just for cars, but it’s actually coming for commercial vehicles too,” said Tawil.
Saughter emphasized there was no contract with RIZON vehicles, but there was still a connection with the school and other technical career areas, allowing the department of facilities to grant connections with interested students.
“They don’t work for us, we don’t have a contract with them but we know folks all over the place and in every arena that’s related to technical careers.”
A student in attendance, Ivan Esquivel, noted his interest in the workshop and how he felt it would support his career decision.
“Im trying to look for, I guess, experience in my field and well im majoring in electrical engineering technology and knowing this job space is very competitive and since your only getting, like a bachelors for instance, they’re gonna be like, well where’s your experience?”
The facilities and maintenance department play a critical role in keeping daily operations running on campus.
Through workshops such as this one, the department is not only highlighting its work, but also opening doors for students to explore careers that are sometimes underrecognized but essential.
“My team does a lot to support the campus, everyday they’re here, we have people working three shifts so there’s people here 22 hours a day.. And they’re keeping the campus running for everybody,” Slaughter stated.
The second session for the lunch and learn workshop spring series will be May 7th from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m., open to students interested in pursuing hands-on experience in maintenance and technical trades.
