East Kentucky Times

Inez, KY (February 8, 2023) TEK Center offers fast-tracked vocational certifications taking less than one year to complete. TEK Center is an Eastern Kentucky led educational facility located at 104 E Main Street in Inez, KY. Students who complete the program will receive national certifications through the National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER) to operate eight different types of heavy equipment. Programs include heavy equipment operation, industrial maintenance mechanics, and electricians. Future programs will include plumbing, masonry, and carpentry, which the instructors plan to add soon.

TEK Center is a 501(c)(3) non-profit proprietary school located in eastern Kentucky. Established July of 2021, TEK Center provides industry developed skilled trades training to meet the ever-growing demands of the trades workforce in our region.

During the TEK Center's plaque presentation, Chamber President and CEO Jordan Gibson was invited to try one of their heavy equipment simulators. “These simulators give you a real-life feel for operating the equipment. With the full-motion cockpit and controls you really feel like you’re in the driver’s seat of an excavator. Students are going to love it,” said Gibson.

Angelina Reynolds, president and founder/CEO of TEK Center, said they are seeing a strong interest in their programs from individuals right out of high school and older. Their mission is to normalize trade school education and to place graduates into high paying jobs.

Reynolds also spoke with Zach Akers, membership development manager for the Chamber, about TEK Center's partnership with Brandeis Machinery & Supply Company. Brandeis will provide use of their equipment once students graduate from the simulators and are ready for real-world applications. Students will learn to operate each of the machines on the simulators before they operate and take their certification exams on real machines.

TEK Center is currently enrolling students for summer 2023 with classes set to begin in July. A limited number of scholarships are available through a partnership with Eastern Kentucky Concentrated Employment Program (EKCEP). For more information on TEK Center and the programs available visit www.tekcenterinc.org or call 606.791.6969.

The Southeast Kentucky Chamber of Commerce is located at 178 College Street in Pikeville and serves more than 500 businesses in eight Eastern Kentucky Counties: Floyd, Johnson, Knott, Lawrence, Letcher, Magoffin, Martin, and Pike. The Chamber’s mission is to serve the businesses of Southeastern Kentucky through a commitment to networking, advocacy, education, and collaboration as we partner together to enhance the business climate in our region.

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