Holmes Community College’s Workforce Training Department, in collaboration with industry partners across Holmes’ nine-county district, has proudly graduated its first class of students from its Heavy Civil Construction Program. This industry-tailored workforce training program, held on the Goodman Campus, was formed to meet a statewide demand for qualified candidates equipped with specific skills and certifications.
For 10 weeks, students gained hands-on knowledge of processes involved with creating and maintaining the infrastructure that connects communities and facilitates commerce. This comprehensive training equipped students with an understanding of the road and bridge construction industry, which included field exposure and instruction in the following areas: equipment, soils and site work, work zone safety, paving, interpretation of civil drawings, construction/excavation math, project management, concrete work, striping, and the installation of signs, signals, fencing and guardrails.
The program also placed emphasis on providing the opportunity for students to gain industry-recognized certifications, ensuring that graduates possess the skills needed for immediate employment in the field. These credentials included ATSSA Flagger Technician, ATSSA Traffic Control Technician, OSHA 10, CPR & First Aid, Rigging, Crane Basics, OSHA Fall Protection, and operation of telehandler, skid-steer, aerial manlift and forklift.
Dr. Mike Blankenship, vice president of Workforce for Holmes, commends the program and its students for their accomplishments.
“Every road and bridge we maintain or build supports our local communities as well as national infrastructure, and it starts with training skilled workers,” Dr. Blankenship said. “Our program is designed to empower individuals and give them the practical skills they need to thrive in the industry.”
The Heavy Civil Construction program was a success due to the support and guidance of Holmes’ industry advisory board and their affiliates – many of who contributed hours of their time to lead training in their areas of expertise. Holmes Workforce is grateful to the following for their involvement: Mississippi Department of Transportation (MDOT); Mississippi Road Builders Association; Build Mississippi (formerly MCEF); J.C. Cheek; Key Constructors, LLC; Mendrop; Lehman-Roberts; Atwood Fence; American Field Service Corporation; Shackelford Construction; APAC; Puckett Rents/Caterpillar; 811; ESI Supply; Associated Builders and Contractors of Mississippi and The Associated General Contractors of America.
The Heavy Civil training program will be available on the Ridgeland Campus in the spring of 2025, and is expected to return to Goodman in the fall of 2025. For more information and to apply for upcoming training sessions, visit www.holmescc.edu/workforce/heavy-civil-construction-program/.
Pictured is the Holmes Heavy Civil Construction program at the Reunion Parkway extension over I-55 project in Madison County. They are (left to right) Workforce Coordinator Melissa Love, students Kelli Randle, Brandon Cawthorn, Lukas Gowan, Titus Thomas, Marvin Russell, Walter Dunigan and MDOT’s Chris Nail, PE, PLS Roadway Design Engineer.
Holmes’ industry partners participated in mock interviews for the college’s Heavy Civil Construction graduates. Pictured are (front row, left to right) Carol Stephens, Human Resources Manager District 3, MDOT; Lukas Gowan; Walter Dunigan; Kelli Randle; Breanna Poole, Recruiting and Social Media, Key Constructors, LLC; (back row, left to right) Marvin Russell, Titus Thomas, Brandon Cawthorn; Randolph Cheek, J.C. Cheek Contractors; Michael Ellis, P.E., Vice President of Project Management, Lehman-Roberts, Co.; Cham Blain, Heavy Civil program manager and instructor.
