🌟 Boost Your Career! CLTCC and RoyOMartin Renew Apprenticeship Partnership 🌟

Dr. Jimmy Sawtelle, Chancellor

RoyOMartin, a major timber and building products manufacturer based in Alexandria, and Central Louisiana Technical Community College (CLTCC) have renewed a partnership to provide students a continued apprenticeship program.

“RoyOMartin is an outstanding CLTCC partner and we are proud to continue and expand this innovative initiative. This is a partnership we plan to broaden for even more Cenla companies highlighting the tremendous opportunities to obtain the skills and training needed to get a high-wage high-demand career in Cenla,” said CLTCC Chancellor Dr. Jimmy Sawtelle. “We are proud of the fact that every year CLTCC supports hundreds of student internships across Central Louisiana from Manufacturing Allied Health Information Technology and more,” added Sawtelle.

“Our partnership with RoyOMartin represents the very best of what workforce education should be - students earning while learning gaining real-world experience in high-demand manufacturing careers and building a direct bridge from the classroom to long-term employment,” said CLTCC Executive Vice Chancellor of Academic and Student Affairs Dr. Heather Poole.

The apprenticeship program provides numerous benefits for students including:

• Earn While You Learn: Students earn wages while in school.
• Practical Hands-On Training: Real-world work complements classroom instruction helping students master skills faster and retain knowledge more effectively.
• College Credit Toward a Degree or Certificate: Apprenticeship experience counts toward graduation requirements allowing students to complete credentials more efficiently.
• Potential Immediate Employability: Apprentices graduate with both credentials and professional experience making them highly competitive in the job market. Some apprentices transition directly into full-time employment or continue education for advanced roles.
• Professional Networking: Students build relationships with employers and mentors often leading to permanent employment offers.

There are also numerous benefits to employers participating in apprenticeship programs. Some of the potential benefits to employers include:

• Workforce Development: Employers get access to trained job-ready workers who understand their operations and culture.
• Reduced Recruitment and Training Costs: Apprentices often stay with the employer after graduation decreasing turnover and onboarding expenses.

“Industrial manufacturing students at CLTCC are gaining valuable hands-on experience through a unique partnership with RoyOMartin’s Plywood Facility,” said Joel Byram Human Resource Manager for RoyOMartin. “On weekends these students work alongside industry professionals introducing them to real-world manufacturing processes. This collaboration not only provides them with practical skills and insight into the operations of a major industrial facility but also allows them to earn credit hours toward their academic programs.”

Dr. Poole added, “These apprenticeships not only strengthen RoyOMartin’s future workforce they empower our students with the confidence skills and financial stability to succeed after graduation. Together we’re proving that collaboration between business and education transforms both lives and local economies.”

Applications for the upcoming semester are now open. For information about enrollment visit www.CLTCC.edu/apply. For more information contact the school via email at info@cltcc.edu or call 800-278-9855.