December 17, 2024

Community Colleges Fill Essential Local Workforce Needs

This story was originally featured by WMUR.

Recently, WMUR spent some time at Manchester Community College (MCC), talking to recent graduates of the college’s nursing program. Of the 52 most recent graduates, nearly all are currently working as Registered Nurses (RNs) at local hospitals. One of those nursing graduates, Kimberly Desrochers, spoke with WMUR after finishing a 12-hour shift at Catholic Medical Center.

“Honestly, it's probably the best thing in the whole world, besides being a mom. I care for others. I'm my patients’ person when they have no one, and it's probably the most rewarding job I've ever had,” Desrochers said.

This pattern is repeated across New Hampshire’s seven community colleges, where local students fill critical workforce roles in high-need fields like healthcare, technology, business, hospitality, social services and more.

The success of MCC’s nursing grads is a proud accomplishment for Kimberly Perrotta, who is MCC’s director of nursing. “The community college system puts out hundreds of registered nurses each year that are filling the needs right here in New Hampshire,” Perrotta said. “One of the things that's really nice is that our graduates are from the greater Manchester area, and they choose to live, work and play in the greater Manchester area when they graduate.”

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GBCC and Prominent Portsmouth Chefs Launch One-of-a-Kind Culinary Training Program

In response to tremendous demand for culinary professionals in New Hampshire’s Seacoast area, Great Bay Community College (GBCC) has added an innovative, 12-week certificate program in culinary arts and sustainable foodways to its Business and Training Center offerings. Taught by leading chefs at some of Portsmouth’s best-known restaurants, the program offers a unique opportunity to learn from these culinary masters in the classroom and apply acquired skills in kitchens and restaurants through externships.

The Culinary Arts and Sustainable Foodways program grew out of conversations between Dr. Cheryl Lesser, president of GBCC, and three James Beard-nominated chefs and restauranteurs: Evan Mallett, chef and owner of Black Trumpet in Portsmouth; David Vargas, chef and owner of Vida Cantina and Ore Nell’s; and Jay McSharry, founder and CEO of JGroup Hospitality. “These visionary chefs saw an opportunity to alleviate the workforce shortages that they and other restaurant owners were experiencing by investing their own time and energy to train people interested in the restaurant industry. Led by Evan Mallett in partnership with other chef instructors, we are excited to offer a unique program that opens doors for New Hampshire residents looking to expand their career opportunities in the hospitality sector,” said Dr. Lesser.

The first 12-week program will launch in February 2025 and will feature 10 hours of classroom instruction per week taught by top Portsmouth chefs. Instructors include Chef Mallett; Matt Louis, chef and owner of Moxy and The Franklin; Brendan Vesey, chef and owner of Botanica Restaurant and Gin Bar; and an online nutrition course taught by Registered Dietician Hannah Wolf. The classes will also feature a range of guest speakers and trips to visit local farms and purveyors. Classroom instruction will be supplemented by five hours per week of on-the-job training through externships at local establishments.

LRCC Hosts Roundtable for Female Automotive Technicians

Lakes Region Community College (LRCC) recently welcomed the Toyota Boston Region Female Technician Roundtable to its state-of-the-art automotive technology facility, celebrating the achievements and increasing presence of women in the automotive industry. Attendees engaged in discussions about Toyota’s career growth pathways, which encompass e-learning modules, instructor-led classes, ASE certifications, and recognition for tenure. A standout moment was the unveiling of new uniforms designed specifically for female technicians—a symbol of equality in the field. Participants also shared valuable insights on employee retention.

“I am very thankful to be a part of these fantastic events fostering the personal and professional growth of female technicians. The group has been able to come up with so many actionable items, and I look forward to helping more women confidently pursue careers in automotive.” said Kim Stevenson, LRCC faculty, T-TEN.

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Want to learn even more?

For more information, please contact:

Shannon Reid

Executive Director, Government Affairs and Communications

Community College System of New Hampshire

sreid@ccsnh.edu

CCSNH.EDU

The Community College System of NH is NH's statewide system of community colleges offering associate degree and certificate programs, professional training, transfer pathways to four-year degrees, and dual-credit partnerships with NH high schools. The System’s colleges are Great Bay Community College in Portsmouth and Rochester; Lakes Region Community College in Laconia; Manchester Community College; Nashua Community College; NHTI – Concord’s Community College; River Valley Community College in Claremont, Keene and Lebanon; and White Mountains Community College in Berlin and Littleton.