Area Firefighters Keep Training Fresh With WMCC Electric Vehicles Class

This article was recently published in the Conway Daily Sun.



About 45 first responders from Coos County learned how to safely perform emergency rescues when electric vehicles are involved, a class where almost every adult student worked on the trending vehicles for the first time.

Troy Lachance, associate professor of automotive technology/program coordinator of automotive technology at White Mountains Community College, led the class for emergency responders including those from Berlin, Gorham, Milan and Errol.

The class was the brainchild of Berlin Fire Capt. Pat Tremblay, who identified a gap in what in-service first responders learn for vehicular rescues. Tremblay wanted to get the training course together so that the firefighters would be better prepared in case of an EV accident.

NHTI Workforce Education Promotes Essential and Growing Skillsets

New Hampshire’s seven community colleges work with local businesses to up-skill employees and build professional advancement pathways for the workforce. NHTI – Concord’s Community College has recently expanded its efforts by introducing Workforce Education, a new department designed to provide essential skills training and continuing education. The goals include increased opportunities and empowerment for community members looking to expand their career knowledge and learn a new skill. Previously known as the Business Training Center, the new Workforce Education department has been re-tooled to further encourage career and personal exploration with NHTI.

“The new Workforce Education brand communicates more clearly how NHTI delivers on its mission to foster economic and community development in the Greater Concord region,” says Dr. Patrick Tompkins, NHTI president. “With low unemployment in the Granite State and worker shortages in critical areas like healthcare, education, public safety, manufacturing, and trades, NHTI’s role is to provide the education that recent high school graduates and career switchers need to enter those fields with essential skills.”

MCC Extends TechWise Training Program

Building on a successful launch and continued student demand, the Manchester Community College Computer Science department is extending its partnership with the TechWise program, supported by TalentSpring and Google. This collaboration uniquely positions students from MCC’s Computer Science programs, including Artificial Intelligence for Cybersecurity, Cloud Services IT, Extended Reality, and Cybersecurity Investigations, to advance their careers. The tech giant chose MCC earlier this year for a virtual program designed to build entry-level software developer expertise.

The proven reputations of TalentSpring and Google, along with excellent results after the first round of training, created high demand for additional opportunities. The partnership also includes a stipend awarded to students at intervals over the course of the 18-month program.

“MCC’s participation in TechWise Cohort 2 demonstrated significant outcomes for students, reinforcing the college’s commitment to practical, future-focused education in computer science,” explains Brian Bicknell, President of Manchester Community College. “TechWise, with its blend of mentorship, scholarships, and industry-aligned training, complements the innovative teaching approaches of MCC’s Computer Science and Innovation programs.”

GBCC Nursing Graduate Jae’Wuan Horton

Jae’Wuan Horton had mixed feelings about going back to school. He had recently graduated from the University of New Hampshire with a bachelor’s degree in finance and was working in his field with a staffing firm. “I had a great time working there and had the opportunity to work with a lot of friends from college,” he said.



But he wanted more.

In fall 2020, he switched gears entirely, moving from finance to health care. Jae’Wuan enrolled in the nursing program at Great Bay Community College after watching his girlfriend go through the program and begin her career as a registered nurse. “Being able to see my girlfriend’s journey in nursing school to working as a RN inspired me to enroll and begin the journey myself,” he said. “I had zero healthcare experience, so I wanted to make sure I chose a program that had a smaller teacher-to-student ratio. This way I would have the best opportunity to learn.”