Nashoba Career Technical Institute ready to start

Jun 05, 2023

Students who successfully completed the NCTI Automotive Services training include, clockwise from left, Trevor Parsons, who now works for Greater Lowell GMC in Lowell; Obiukwu Onyeabor, who now works for Monro Auto & Tire Center in Lowell; and Adriel Lopez, who now works for Tyngsboro Muffler & Brake. All three are from Lowell. (COURTESY NASHOBA TECH)

Students who successfully completed the NCTI Plumbing training include, from left, Abdul Semakula of Dracut, who now works for Doug Anderson Plumbing & Heating in Billerica; Joel Chagnon of Athol, who now works for Roto-Rooter in Marlboro; and Jack Garrity of Woburn, who now works at Denommee Plumbing, Heating & Cooling in Tewksbury. (COURTESY NASHOBA TECH)

Scott Keeler will teach the CNC/Machine Operator program at Nashoba Career Technical Institute that starts in March. (COURTESY NASHOBA TECH)

WESTFORD — For two years, Nashoba Valley Technical High School has been helping adults jumpstart careers in auto repair and find a new pipeline to plumbing success.

Now, Nashoba Tech's Career Technical Institute is introducing a new pathway to another in-demand career — CNC machine operator.

With the help of several rounds of state grants, Nashoba CTI since March 2021 has been offering plumbing and auto-repair classes that have placed dozens of adults who have lost their jobs or wanted to change their careers in successful positions with local companies.

And the programs are offered free of charge to Massachusetts residents who qualify.

"We’ve offered four cohorts of automotive and five cohorts of plumbing, and students have had a lot of success being placed in jobs that offer great benefits and great rates of pay," said Jobee O’Sullivan, who manages NCTI as Nashoba Tech's director of postsecondary and community education.

"We’re excited about starting up the CNC Machine Operator class this spring, in addition to continuing with the Plumbing and Automotive Repair classes, and placing more students in well-paying careers with our local business partners," she added.

NCTI programs are offered in partnership with MassHire and the Middlesex 3 Coalition.

The CNC Machine Operator training program is a 200-hour training that runs Monday through Thursday, March 6 to May 18, from 3:30-8:30 p.m., at the Nashoba Tech campus, 100 Littleton Road in Westford.

Successful students will earn industry-recognized credentials and will be trained in CNC and manual mill and lathe operations, blueprint reading, micrometers and more.

Industry partners for the CNC program include Burkart Flutes & Piccolos in Shirley; Keystone Precision & Engineering in Pepperell; and ReMAKE 4.0 Advanced Manufacturing Consortium of Central and North Central Massachusetts.

In addition to the new CNC program, NCTI will continue to offer training in Plumbing (March 6-19, Monday through Thursday on-site and Fridays virtual, from 4-8 p.m.) and Automotive Services (March 14-27, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, from 5-9 p.m., and Saturdays, from 8 a.m.-2 p.m.)

Successful students in the Plumbing program will earn industry-recognized credentials and receive training in soldering, threading machines and more using the most up-to-date tools that are used on the job.

Industry partners for the NCTI Plumbing program include Basnett Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning in Littleton; Campbell Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning in Littleton; Eric C. Foster Plumbing & Heating in Chelmsford; J. Dias Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning in Westford; J. Ellis Plumbing & Heating in Townsend; Jerry Daley & Sons in Chelmsford; and MillTown Plumbing & Heating in Chelmsford.

O’Sullivan said NCTI has brought in a representative from the plumbers union to explain to the students about the arduous process of becoming a licensed plumber, how competitive the industry is and the benefits that come with it.

Students who successfully complete the Automotive Services program will be trained in 10 areas, including transmissions, brakes, electrical systems and engines, and will become certified in Automotive Services Excellence. Students have to pass at least one of the areas, but O’Sullivan said several have completed all 10.

She said one woman who successfully completed the Automotive Services program is working at McGovern Ford in Lowell, and another was placed with Peterbilt in Fitchburg.

Other industry partners for the NCTI Automotive Services program include Acton Toyota in Littleton; Boch Honda West in Westford; and Triangle Service Center in Chelmsford.

Also, coming this summer is NCTI's Electrical training, with industry partners that include Elliott Electrical in Groton and Matson Electric in Pepperell.

Call NCTI at 978-692-4711, ext. 11157, for more information.

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