Chicago—The Power Transmission Distributors Assn. Educational & Scholastic Foundation is celebrating several major milestones in its mission to address the industrial distribution channel's need for entry-level employees with industry-specific skills and knowledge.

Through its initiative to introduce an industrial distribution curriculum at community colleges throughout the United States and Canada, the Foundation is recruiting entry-level employees; developing programs to teach business, technical and distribution basics; and creating affordable resources for current employee development.

Highlights of the Foundation's 2003 accomplishments include: enrolling the first students for industrial distribution certificates at pilot programs in Detroit and Omaha, Neb.; expanding support of the initiative to 10 distribution associations to ensure placement of all program graduates; and hiring a project manager with proven success at launching curriculum and securing private and government grants.

"In both Detroit and Omaha…we are extremely pleased with the strong, positive reaction from local distributors and manufacturers," said Stephanie Kaplan, executive director of the PTDA Educational & Scholastic Foundation. "We recognize that the involvement of industry companies and individuals is critical to ensure the curriculum meets their needs, to provide on-the-job training through internships and co-ops, to use the programs for professional development for current employees, and to hire program graduates."

Students began enrolling at Henry Ford Community College in Detroit in August, and more enrolled at Metropolitan Community College in Omaha in December. At both locations, the curriculum drew from existing business and technical classes, and included a new "Introduction to Distribution" course developed with input from local distributors.

Building support across the industrial distribution channel is critical, and given the overlap in job activities across the industry spectrum, the Foundation has aligned with other organizations that serve the industry to ensure that the curriculum is as widely applicable as possible.

In May, the Foundation hired John Cook as project manager to research and apply for grants, identify target locations, market the program to potential schools, build support with local distributors and manufacturers, and oversee implementation of the curriculum at each school.

"Too many people have no idea about the critical role distribution plays in the economy, and the challenging and rewarding careers available in our industry," said Kaplan. "Making this program successful demands an active campaign to toot our own horn, and educate potential school partners and students about our distribution industry and all we offer."

The Foundation has committed itself to promoting the finalized curriculum to community colleges and vocational-technical schools throughout the United States and Canada—targeting four pilot sites in the States and two in Canada. Cuyahoga Community College in Cleveland has been identified as the next pilot site.