Lineman Technology Can Put People to Work

The Lineman Technology Program at Ashland Community and Technical College is accepting new students for spring semester.

Lineman jobs are out there now for trained people, and there will be many more in the future as baby boomers retire, said Bob Chaffins, ACTC Professor and Coordinator of Applied Process Technologies, the umbrella program that includes chemical plant/refinery operator and power plant operator options.

Lineman Technology was added in 2007 to help students become qualified for those good-paying jobs and to help employers find qualified workers.

For Rickey Lee Davidson, the program is a way to go back to work. I worked at the Coke Plant until it shut down. I had some friends who came through the Lineman Program and got jobs as a result, so I decided to try it too.

The Catlettsburg resident has discovered that going back to school is easier than expected. He likes learning new skills and meeting new people, and the self-paced classes let him learn at his own speed.

There are a lot of good paying jobs available to graduates of this program, said Robert G. Pickerman II, another former Coke Plant employee who is enrolled in the program. Coming back to school is a way to better myself and get a more secure future, said the Rush resident.

Companies and contractors that hire from our program include AK Steel, AEP, Calgon, Marathon, Viola Environmental, Sun Chemical, DuPont, Pike Electric, Davis Elliott Contracting, Grayson RECC, CW Electric and Mastec, Chaffins said. Contractors and industries in surrounding areas and adjoining states are also hiring.

Climbing poles, utilizing equipment such as bucket trucks, and working with electric current are only part of the job. Students also learn to analyze data and operational situations for appropriate corrective action and to use appropriate technology in maintaining and troubleshooting power transmission systems.

Many of our employers require a minimum two year degree as entry level for hiring, Chaffins said. Our graduates come to the employer with a broad based knowledge of the technology. They are experienced with independent study and can continue learning on their own.

For information about spring classes, contact Professor Chaffins, robert.chaffins@kctcs.edu or Richard Burnett, Division Chair for Manufacturing, Transportation and Industrial Technologies, richard.burnett@kctcs.edu.