TSC-Bechtel partnership leads to jobs for latest pipefitting cohort

BROWNSVILLE, Texas — The Texas Southmost College NCCER Pipefitting Level II cohort that graduated in early July has already made the transition from the classrooms and labs of the college’s ITEC Center to Bechtel’s plant at the Port of Brownsville.

 

The cohort was hired by the company, reflecting a growing partnership between TSC and Bechtel that continues to create career opportunities for local residents.

 

“I think it’s been a blessing to have an employer that cares about the community and wants to hire local people,” said Ricardo Treviño, Director of Industry Relations and Outreach for TSC’s Workforce Training and Continuing Education division.

 

Two weeks before graduation, Bechtel representatives visited the ITEC Center to interview students from the cohort.

 

“Part of the engagement with the industry partner involves sitting down with the student and reviewing whether they have the skills for the job,” Treviño said. “That really paves the way for them to move faster through the hiring process.”

 

David Garcia, lead trainer for the pipefitting program, said it is rewarding to see students’ dedication pay off.

 

“It’s a wonderful thing to see a cohort go through a Level I course and make the cut,” Garcia said. “We have a vetting process. We selected the top candidates to continue into Level II with an additional six weeks of instruction. It’s great to see their hard work and sacrifice result in an interview before graduation and ultimately employment.”

 

The program’s experienced trainers and flexible approach have helped strengthen the relationship between TSC and Bechtel.

 

“Every year we get more involved with Bechtel,” Garcia said. “The great thing is that Level II started as customized training. Bechtel reached out to us, reviewed our program, and explored what we could do to support the LNG plant.”

 

That customized training effort led to the creation of the NCCER Pipefitting Level II course two years ago.

 

“Part of what works well when engaging with industry partners like Bechtel is being able to meet their needs,” Treviño said. “Being able to quickly pivot, connect to those needs and meet the demand they have is important for growing the relationship. The doors are continuously open to engage in even more ways.”

 

More than 80 TSC pipefitting graduates have been hired by Bechtel since the partnership began.

 

“The great thing is Bechtel is looking for people who can grow with the company,” Garcia said. “They’re looking for quality students, which TSC provides, and they want to build them into long-term professionals.”

 

Garcia said the program’s trainers draw from extensive industry experience to prepare students for the workforce.

 

“Our trainers are highly qualified. We come straight from the field,” Garcia said. “Now we’re able to bring that knowledge back to TSC. Our program is designed around what we learned and experienced as pipefitters. Industry recognizes that. They come to our shop, see our curriculum, and see what we know.”

 

TSC encourages anyone interested in building a career in the skilled trades — whether they have an industrial background or have never picked up a tool — to explore WTCE programs such as pipefitting.

 

“Come as you are,” Treviño said. “You don’t need to know anything about the trades. We’ve met people who didn’t know how to use a measuring tape, knew little about math or had never used a wrench. They finish our program, and their families are amazed. They tell us, ‘In just 10 weeks, I learned all these skills and was ready to hit the ground running.'”