As a student at Annandale High School and Edison Academy, Jose Florian promised his mother that, after graduation, he would take college courses.
But how to do that when also needing to work full-time?
An opportune connection at an event with Robin Wade, manager of labor and employee relations at the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, gave Florian the direction he needed – joining the Airports Authority through its skilled-trades apprentice program, which allowed him to work (and be mentored) full-time while having the the Airports Authority covered the cost of higher education.
“It hit all my checkmarks – I took this opportunity and ran with it,” said Florian, who earned two degrees and multiple certificates at Northern Virginia Community College on the way to becoming a heavy-equipment mechanic for the authority.
“I’m now 25 and have all this experience with zero student debt,” said Florian, also noting that he – unlike most in his age group – has been able to afford the purchase of a home.
“I couldn’t be happier,” he said.
The efforts of Florian and others like him were saluted at the June 21 meeting of the authority’s board of directors, where officials praised efforts to nurture and develop workers and talent right out of the gate.
“This is the way,” Airports Authority president/CEO Jack Potter said at the board meeting. “We’re a role model in Virginia and nationally. We’re very, very proud.”
Although there is an investment of time required in training personnel from the ground up, “across the board, everyone understands the value,” Potter said.
“The staff is to be commended for the effort,” said authority board member Joslyn Williams (District of Columbia).
Efforts to connect with future machinists and other personnel working on the unique equipment at the airport continue. On June 8, the authority donated 20 of its used vehicles to Fairfax County Public Schools’ auto-technology program, another opportunity to get people like Florian (a 2016 FCPS graduate) in front of more students, telling their tales.
At the June 21 meeting, board members also heard stories from those who are in the authority’s management-training initiative.
In the current environment where hiring and retaining both white-collar and blue-collar personnel is an increasing challenge, having a built-in pipeline is a necessity, authority board chair William Sudow (Virginia) said.
“Everybody wants to do it, and we’re doing it,” he said. “It can be done.”
