National Park College (NPC) welcomed U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon, Arkansas Secretary of Education Jacob Oliva and other state and federal education leaders Tuesday, July 7, for a firsthand look at how partnerships with regional employers are shaping the college's workforce education programs.
The visit highlighted NPC's employer-driven approach to workforce education, where industry partners impact programs that address workforce shortages and prepare students for high-demand careers. Leaders toured the college's new Welding and Metalworks facility, scheduled to open this fall, which will significantly expand workforce training capacity by increasing academic instruction, customized employer training and opportunities to reskill and upskill Arkansas's workforce. They also toured the Marine Technology program, the only program of its kind in Arkansas and one of only a handful in the nation.
Bill Ritter, NPC vice president for workforce, said the college's new Welding and Metalworks facility represents a significant investment in meeting both current and future workforce needs.
"One of the things this facility allows us to do is expand incumbent worker training and provide additional short-term skills training to help reskill and upskill our local workforce," Ritter said. "This space will open up so many opportunities to strengthen our region’s pool of skilled welders and metalworkers."
The facility will also create additional capacity for customized employer training, allowing the college to respond more quickly to changing workforce needs while expanding opportunities for students pursuing careers in the skilled trades.
Industry partners said the college's willingness to develop curriculum around regional workforce needs has helped address specialized skills shortages across multiple industries. From aluminum welding to marine technology, NPC's programs are designed around the skills regional employers need today and the workforce demands they anticipate tomorrow.
"Most welding programs focus on steel, and that's been our challenge," said Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of Xpress Boats Jonathan Foster. "National Park College has been great to develop curriculum around specifically what
we need with aluminum welding. It is a great partnership."
Another example of NPC’s employer-driven approach is the Marine Technology program, which was developed in response to the needs of Arkansas's growing recreational boating industry. Located in Hot Springs, the program gives students direct access to employers and hands-on learning opportunities while helping address a statewide shortage of qualified marine technicians.
"It's a program our industry desperately needs," said Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Futrell Marine Ricky Kesterson. "There are a lot of different paths students can take as our industry changes. I've hired 15 to 20 National Park College graduates in the last five years."
Bill Barnes of Mountain Harbor Resort noted that demand for qualified technicians continues to outpace the available workforce.
"We store more than 1,500 boats at our marina on Lake Ouachita, and there are about 4,000 boats on the lake," Barnes said. "With only seven available mechanics serving that entire area, we desperately need more young people entering this profession."
Education leaders also discussed the importance of continued collaboration among educators, employers and policymakers to strengthen Arkansas's workforce pipeline. They emphasized expanding opportunities for students to pursue career and technical education alongside traditional academic pathways while meeting workforce demands across the state.
"There continues to be a stigma around CTE, but career and technical education is higher education," Ken Warden, Arkansas Department of Higher Education commissioner, said. “Don’t bifurcate them, we’ve been doing that for way too long.”
The campus visit preceded a statewide education roundtable and press conference at Hot Springs Junior Academy as part of McMahon’s “Returning Education to the States Tour.”
For NPC, the day's discussions reinforced the value of building workforce education programs in direct partnership with regional employers.
"The strongest workforce programs aren't built in isolation," NPC President Dr. Wade Derden said. "They're built alongside employers who tell us what skills they need today and what they'll need tomorrow. That's exactly what we're doing at National Park College, and it's why investments like our welding expansion and marine program are so important to the future of our region."
Top photo left to right: Arkansas Secretary of Education Jacob Oliva, U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon and National Park College President Dr. Wade Derden.
In-line photo left to right: Aries Nestor, student from Hot Springs World Class High School enrolled in NPC's Career Academy Welding Program, Nora Estright, Assistant Professor of Welding instructor Jeff Estright, President of FiberPro Josh Krauss, Xpress Boats and Veranda Luxury Pontoons CFO Jonathan Foster, Xpress Boats CEO Rory Herndon, U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon, Vice President for Workforce Development Bill Ritter, welding students John Hall and Nick Ellis.