For Carl Kidder, completing Craven Community College’s HVAC Pathway Class was more than an opportunity to learn a new skill. It became a pathway to a new job and a milestone for the College’s Volt Center.
Kidder was offered a job with East Coast Power & Lighting in Kinston, making him the 1,000th Volt Center student to receive a confirmed job offer after completing workforce training at the campus. On Wednesday, Aug. 19, Craven CC staff gathered to recognize Kidder and present him with a certificate commemorating the achievement.
His success is one of many stories that have emerged from the Volt Center since it opened in 2019. Located near downtown New Bern, the workforce development campus provides hands-on training designed to give students the practical skills employers are looking for.
“Carl’s achievement represents exactly what we envisioned for the Volt Center,” said Craven CC President Dr. Ray Staats. “Reaching 1,000 job offers is a tremendous milestone, and it reflects the dedication of our students, instructors, staff, and the employers who continue to partner with us.”
The Volt Center combines that employer connection with training in fields where skilled workers are needed. Students can explore short-term programs in HVAC, electrical, welding, forklift operation, construction trades, and heavy equipment operations, among other workforce training opportunities.
The six-acre campus has its own story of transformation. Its main facility dates to 1947, when it operated as an electric plant. Today, the site has been reimagined as a place where students can build skills, explore new possibilities, and prepare for their next chapter.
For Kidder, that next chapter is already beginning. His job offer may be number 1,000 for the Volt Center, but behind that number is an individual accomplishment and a reminder of what workforce education can mean for a student, a family, and the community.
Learn more about the Volt Center and find your pathway at CravenCC.edu/Volt.