Hosting Open House for Applicants January 25

(Shreveport, LA) – The Northwest Louisiana chapter of the Federation for Advanced Manufacturing
Education (NWLA FAME) is excited to announce the addition of International Paper in Mansfield to its
roster of employers working together to develop a pipeline of skilled technicians to support the regional
manufacturing industry. The NWLA FAME chapter membership is made up of seven manufacturers,
Bossier Parish Community College (BPCC) as training partner and the North Louisiana Economic
Partnership (NLEP). There will be an Open House for applicants interested in applying for the fall 2023
class on January 25 from 4 pm to 6 pm in Building L on the BPCC campus, 6220 E. Texas St, Bossier City.
Manufacturing partners in the chapter represent a variety of manufacturing sectors and include
Benteler Steel/Tube, Frymaster, International Paper (Mansfield facility), Maxim Watermakers, Music
Mountain Water, Prolec GE, and Ternium USA.
Those enrolled in the NWLA FAME Program will undertake a work/study program to earn an associate
degree and certification as an Advanced Manufacturing Technician (AMT). NWLA FAME AMT students
will attend classes at BPCC two days a week and will work 24 paid hours a week for one of the
sponsoring employers.
“One of the greatest challenges for us is finding local talent with a maintenance and repair background
to meet the needs of our manufacturing site,” said Douglas Bridges, Facilities Manager at Prolec GE and
Chair for the NWLA FAME chapter. “Without a fresh pool of technicians, manufacturers in this area may
not be able to function in the long run. Maintenance Technicians are key players in the manufacturing
process; they keep the equipment operating.”
Applicants may be recent high school graduates or those who have been in the workforce and are
seeking a career change. No prior manufacturing experience is necessary to apply. Financial aid options
to cover the cost of the training may be available. To apply for the program, visit www.NWLAFAME.org,
or visit the Open House January 25 to learn about the program and meet with participating employers.
“This is an excellent opportunity for someone looking for an interesting career that can support a great
quality of life,” said NLEP COO Angie White. “Maintenance technicians are in great demand across the
country. Enrolling in this program sets you up for job security.”
The FAME model was developed by Toyota in 2010 and has since grown into a stand-alone program of
The Manufacturing Institute, which supports thirty-four chapters around the country. The first Louisiana
chapter, GeauxFAME, started in Natchitoches and launched its first cohort of students in 2017. To learn
more about the FAME model, visit https://fame-usa.com/.
If you are a manufacturer or other industrial company that is interested in participating in the NWLA
FAME chapter, contact Angie White at awhite@nlep.org.

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