Kalamazoo Valley Community College's Advanced Technology Center is hosting a November 7 Technical Trades Expo. During the expo, which runs from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Texas Township Campus, prospective students can learn about automotive technology; electrical technology; energy technology systems; construction; heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC); engineering, design and manufacturing technology; and welding technology. Information about the college's additional technical trade opportunities will also be available.

The event will include tours of the technical trades labs, demonstrations and information about financial aid, internships and apprenticeships. Visitors will have the opportunity to talk with current and former students, instructors and local employers.

Michigan's Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity projects more than 520,000 Michigan jobs and approximately 45,000 annual openings in the professional trades by the year 2030. Manufacturing, in particular, has a much higher share of 45+ year-olds than total statewide employment. More than 46% of manufacturing employees are in this age bracket, resulting in the need to train more people to fill these roles as current workers retire.

"A career in the professional trades lets you leverage your talents, work ethic and know-how to do things that matter - to help design and build our future in jobs that are vital to keeping Michigan healthy, strong and growing," said Provost and Vice President for Instruction and Student Services Dr. Paige Eagan. "While making a difference in the workforce, technical trades employees have the potential to bring home the kind of paycheck that really makes a difference."

Welding instructor Erick Martin welcomes the opportunity to showcase Kalamazoo Valley's labs to the community and is eager to talk about the benefits of pursuing a career in the technical trades. "For years and years, people were told not to go into the trades," said Martin, who has taught for the college for 29 years. "Now, we're the saving grace of the economy."

Martin is confident that technical trades graduates are well prepared to go to work in satisfying careers with competitive wages. "Our mission across the trades is to provide sound entry-level training so employees can fit in with an organization and also have the tools to learn the organization," he said.

The majority of Kalamazoo Valley's technical trades instructors have worked in the industry or owned and operated a business. "We have extensive field experience," Martin said. "That separates us from everybody else."

For more information about the Nov. 7 event, visit www.kvcc.edu/technicaltrades.