For years, local manufacturers struggled to find skilled operators. Now, with industry at the table, Eastern Iowa Community Colleges (EICC) has launched a fast-track program to deliver the trained technicians companies need to keep plants running strong. 

The new Process Technician program, a nine-month non-credit certificate, begins classes next week at EICC’s DeWitt Career Advancement Center. The inaugural class includes nine students, all receiving scholarships thanks to support from three local industry partners and the Clinton Community College Paul B. Scharer Foundation. 

The effort comes at a critical time for local industry, where employers have struggled to recruit skilled process operators. Without a steady pipeline of trained workers, companies face costly delays and extended on-the-job training. Leaders say the new program isn’t just for the nine students in this first class, but the start of a larger workforce pipeline that can expand to other industries as demand grows. 

Leallen Ehlers, EICC’s Engineering Technology Business Development & Training Specialist, collaborated with local powerhouse companies ADM, 3M, and LyondellBasell Industries to create the program.  

The goal is to keep talent in the region and meet the growing employment needs of industry partners, he said. “Many of these students might have left the area for work, but this program gives them the skills and opportunity to stay here, build careers, and contribute to the strength of our local economy,” Ehlers said. 

Students will learn workplace safety, applied chemistry, process equipment and instrumentation, plant operations, lean manufacturing, and quality control. Training includes hands-on labs and instruction in automation technology.  

Graduates will be prepared for roles such as process technician, manufacturing technologist, and quality control specialist — jobs that carry a median annual wage of nearly $57,000, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. 

A ceremony was held Aug. 15 to present each student in the first cohort with a $3,500 scholarship and a reminder they were guaranteed an interview with each of the three companies once they complete the program.  

Ehlers said candidates for these types of jobs typically need five to seven years of manufacturing experience before they qualify for an interview.  

“Operations is more like learning to become a skilled baker,” said Dawn Aldridge, ADM’s human resources manager. “You need to understand why things happen, how to adjust, and how to produce consistent, high-quality results. This program will equip you with the knowledge to do that.” 

Aldridge added that process technology careers are more than clock-in, clock-out jobs. They provide stability, competitive pay, and advancement. 

“None of us consider what we have at our facilities jobs. We do consider it a career,” said Darlene Lamp, LyondellBasell’s Olefins operations manager. “I love investing in people at our facility to see them grow.” 

“Regardless of where you go after this program, you will be set up for success,” said Daniel Wilkens, 3M Training Supervisor. “Your training will give you a leg up on many individuals we currently hire,” he added.  

For 18-year-old Shyanna Bogle of Camanche, Iowa, the program is more than a scholarship. 

“It’s really exciting,” she said. “I thought it would be great to learn more about this industry and have a positive impact in the community.” 

She said the scholarship made the program accessible and will help her pursue not just a job, but a career with stability. 

“Obviously I want to be successful and have a good job, but I also want to be part of building a good team and a positive work environment,” Bogle said.  

Jorge Campos of Charlotte, Iowa, and a recent Northeast High School graduate, said the short timeline to a career and industry connections sealed his decision. 

“I’ve always been a hands-on person. I didn’t want to sit in an office. That’s what I like about the program, because most of the skills we’re going to learn are hands-on,” he said.  

Ashlee Spannagel, EICC’s Vice Chancellor of Workforce Development, called the program an example of aligning education and business to benefit the entire region. 

“We’re grateful for the opportunity to bring all of the stakeholders together to provide opportunities for our students to be trained in a short time frame and then go to work and earn really great money and make great lives for themselves,” Spannagel said. 

Ehlers noted that this program began after hearing repeated concerns from employers about the shortage of process technicians. Working directly with regional companies, EICC designed a curriculum to match their industry needs and serve as a model for future training.  

“We are seeing this as just the beginning of a pipeline,” he said. “This is just one example of EICC and industry collaborating.  Any business in the region who needs skilled workers can come to us, and we’ll build the training together to upgrade their workforce.” 

With the inaugural cohort set to begin Aug. 25, business leaders say the program is more than a training certificate. It’s a strategic investment in the regional workforce. 

As Grow Clinton’s Matt Parbs noted, these students “are going to be the spokespeople for this program,” proving that when industry and education align, communities prosper. 

Help us shape your workforce, too.

Join us this fall at one of EICC’s Business & Industry Forums to review the Workforce Training Survey results and share your perspective on what comes next. These forums are designed for open, candid conversation with the businesses that keep our region moving. Your voice ensures training is relevant, responsive, and ready to meet your needs today—and your challenges tomorrow. 

Forum Dates: 

  • Oct. 1 | Muscatine Career Advancement Center
  • Oct. 3 | DeWitt Career Advancement Center 
  • Oct. 13 | Clinton Career Advancement Center
  • Oct. 16 | Scott Community College  

All events: 7 a.m. – 12 p.m.