Be Pro Be Proud, the Associated Industries of Arkansas workforce initiative, kicked off the 2019-2020 Workshop Tour and unveiled the Second Generation Be Pro Be Proud Mobile Workshop before a capacity crowd on Sept. 5 in Governor’s Hall IV of the Statehouse Convention Center in Little Rock.
The event included remarks by State Chamber President & CEO Randy Zook, Little Rock Mayor Frank Scott, Jr., Arkansas Business Publishing Group Publisher Rachel Pitre, Union Pacific Railroad Senior Vice President & Chief Administrative Officer Scott Moore, Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson, Delta Regional Authority Federal Co-Chairman Chris Caldwell and U.S. Sen. John Boozman.
The new 78-foot mobile unit will increase the number of stops and students served, resulting in a larger pipeline of prepared and energized talent choosing one of many high-value, high-wage professional, technical career opportunities available. The mobile unit is an engaging tool that provides information about training resources, available positions and descriptions, skills needed, and how to start the process of starting a skilled professional career.
Utilities have been added to the second-generation workshop as a focus due to the technical needs and income potential. The 12 in-demand professions that continue to be represented include truck driver; diesel tech; locomotive engineer; welder; machinist; computer numerical control (CNC) operator; tool and die maker; computer programmer; computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing (CAD/CAM) drafter; heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration (HVACR) tech; plumber; electrician and carpenter.
To date, the original mobile unit has made more than 450 stops, in 250 cities across the state at middle schools, high schools, two-year colleges, fairs and festivals, rural community events, job fairs and businesses. More than 60,000 students have visited the trailer.
The Workshop Tour is presented by Union Pacific Railroad. Other Capital Campaign team members are Ritter Communications, Delta Regional Authority, Arkansas Department of Career Education, AGC Arkansas, Altec, Arkansas Trucking Association, Cooper Tires, Daimler, Doggett Freightliner, Electric Cooperatives of Arkansas, Haas Automation Inc., Maxion Wheels, Naboholz Construction Services, Pace Industries, Pike Corporation, Technology & Maintenance Council (TMC), Tyson Foods, Inc. and Welsco, Inc.
Right now, tens of thousands of skilled jobs in Arkansas’s construction, manufacturing, transportation and utility industries are unfilled. Be Pro Be Proud, launched on March 8, 2016, is leading the movement to bring a new generation of pride, progress and professionals to Arkansas’s skilled workforce.
Be Pro Be Proud is operated through the Arkansas State Chamber’s Associated Industries of Arkansas Foundation. For more information on Be Pro Be Proud, contact Director Andrew Parker at aparker@arkansasstatechamber.com or 501-210-4202.
