Two dozen women from the Windham School District (WSD) in Texas will graduate from the inaugural RV Service Technician program today and receive their RV Technician Level One certificate.
RV Technical Institute (RVTI) Executive Director Curt Hemmeler will be there to greet them.
Expanding on a service offered first in Indiana, RVTI coordinated with WSD to create the program for incarcerated women. WSD serves incarcerated students inside the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.
“I believe additional states will be interested in the program,” Hemmeler said.
RVTI first partnered with the Westville Correctional Facility in Indiana this spring before the WSD opportunity arose. Since that time, Hemmeler said New England RV Dealers Association Executive Director Bob Zagami worked to set up a future meeting with Hemmeler and Massachusetts officials, who read about the Indiana story and expressed interest.
The movement started shortly after Hemmeler came to RVTI, he said. Understanding the RV technician shortage nationwide, Hemmeler said he wanted to consider all possible pools of trainees. He met with Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb and discussed the potential of recruiting from correctional facilities.
“I had a vision of helping and training recruitment from all aspects we could find,” Hemmeler said. “The governor was fully supportive. His connections allowed me to meet with the state correctional folks, the workforce folks. From there we saw how things are and where money lied for people who are getting back in the workforce.”
The trip today to see WSD graduation is not Hemmeler’s only stop. He has plans to spend an additional half-day, meeting with state officials to determine whether the WSD pilot program can be scaled out across the state.
WSD has 10 additional students enrolled in training, all within about a year of their incarceration release.
“RV technician is a growing field with employment opportunities across Texas,” WSD Superintendent Kristina J. Hartman said. “Upon rejoining their communities, our students will have the necessary skills and education to fill these vacant positions, and contribute to the success of the industry.”
