Staff Reporter

RESERVE - In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, and with a growing number of retirees, Louisiana's chemical industry is suffering a severe workforce shortfall.

“We have struggled for quite some time, even before Katrina, to find an adequate number of qualified applicants,” said Lisa Pulizzano, assistant director of the Louisiana Chemical Industry Alliance (LCIA). “It's been difficult to get people enthusiastic about going into this workforce.” In an effort to combat the shortfall, LCIA, and members of the Louisiana Chemical Association (LCA) have been working with the Louisiana Community and Technical College system to develop an adequate curriculum and training program for technicians in the petrochemical industry, the state's largest single employer in the manufacturing sector. The issue was recently discussed at a meeting between local industry representatives and Louisiana Technical College faculty from region three in Reserve.

“As long as we have the community support, anything can get accomplished,” said River Parish Campus Dean Richard Cox. “We want to find ways we can improve the skills of our graduates, and we need industry to partner with us.”

According to Gregory Garrett, region three director for Louisiana Technical College, the focus of the meeting was on the state's desperate need for industrial maintenance mechanics, multi-skilled technicians who work in the petrochemical industry and specialize in pipefitting, boiler making, and other trades.

“Every so often we need to look at what we are doing and how we can improve,” said Garrett. “The school is looking for support from industry to ensure the curriculum is adequate.”

Garrett said the school needs the input from industry representatives to ensure that the school is adequately teaching its students to perform up to industry certifications and standards. He said the school is also open to incumbent employees in the industry who want to further their education.

Greg Spooner, maintenance instructor for Louisiana Technical College, said the school offers various tests and simulations, along with hands on instruction in the school's maintenance assessment trailers, an effort to assess the skills of the school's students. He said the trailers are broken up into eight tables with a specific skill at each station.

“The trailers show us what they know, and how well they know it,” said Spooner. “The best way to assess that is by putting students in actual scenarios.”

In addressing the representatives of the community, Cox said there is a small number of industrial maintenance mechanics statewide. He is hoping to acquire help from the industry community to get more high school students interested in industrial maintenance.

Garrett agreed and added that all industry needs to do is get the word out.

“These are good, high paying jobs,” said Garrett. “An entry level graduate in industrial maintenance can pull in about $18 and hour. It's a career that offers long term employment and a good quality of life.”

Officials with the school said there would be a follow up meeting in September to create an advisory committee of industry representatives who will address the curriculum and determine what should be adopted, added or subtracted to best suit their needs. The new curriculum will then go to the Louisiana State Board of Education for final approval.