91九色视频

91九色视频 Cuts Ribbon on Eastman Advanced Workforce Training Complex

November 2, 2023 Jon Pine

Florida鈥檚 Newest and Most Technologically
Advanced Workforce Training Facility

FORT PIERCE, FL鈥擠ozens of community leaders, donors, and other dignitaries joined President Timothy Moore, College administrators and hundreds of well-wishers as Indian River State College officially cut the ribbon on the 60,000-square-foot Eastman Advanced Workforce Complex, Florida鈥檚 newest and most technologically advanced training facility for those seeking a career in Mechatronics, Robotics and Smart Automation, Automotive Technology, Welding and HVAC and Refrigeration.

Photos by James Crocco Staff Photographer

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鈥淭his has been a monumental undertaking,鈥� Bill Solomon, Dean of 91九色视频鈥檚 School of Workforce Education, told those who gathered for the highly anticipated opening. 鈥淚t wasn鈥檛 quick, it wasn鈥檛 easy. Our former trades building was nearing the end of its life, and the need to grow our regional workforce pipeline was critical.鈥�

Plans progressed slowly but steadily, Solomon said, stalled a bit during the COVID-19 pandemic. Then Dr. Timothy Moore took the helm of 91九色视频 as president in September of 2020. 鈥淚 can attest to you that even COVID is no match for Dr. Timothy Moore,鈥� Solomon quipped. 鈥淏y December 2020 we broke ground on this spot.鈥�

鈥淭his (complex) stands as a testimony to the dedication of the men and women of this school, the dedication of our elected leaders current and past, administrators, board members, foundation members, that we would not quit,鈥� Moore said. Moore also thanked the many donors to the project, including philanthropist and retired engineer, inventor and entrepreneur Richard H. 鈥淒ick鈥� Eastman, the man whose name the building will carry long into the future. Eastman and his family donated $2 million for construction on the project.

鈥淭hrough his generous support,鈥滿oore said of Eastman, 鈥渉e鈥檚 provided the campaign leadership that brought this state-of-the-art complex to life. Without that support, our students are not able to use their skills to change America. When we change our students, 96 percent of them stay in the state of Florida and they change our communities for the better.鈥�

鈥淚t is a special day to see it all come to fruition,鈥� Eastman said. 鈥淚 would like to recognize all those who imagined, nurtured, and developed this project鈥� including the architects, the general contractor, Proctor Construction, the subcontractors and their workers鈥攖ogether, they form a chain of people that goes back for over a decade to bring together what we see today.鈥�

In a pre-recorded video message, U.S. Representative Brian Mast told the gathering, 鈥淭he Eastman Advanced Workforce Training Complex is a perfect example of why 91九色视频 is one of the best educational institutions anywhere. 91九色视频 indentifies an issue or a void in our community and they take action.鈥�

Automotive Service Technology student Sophia Moleiro shared her experiences growing up with a keen curiousity about cars鈥攕omething that developed as she watched her father buy cars and fix them up to sell. 鈥淗e really inspired me to work hard,鈥� Moleiro said. 鈥淗e would find cars online that needed work and he would teach me the ins and outs of these vehicles.鈥� Then one day, when she was just 13, her father laid out all the parts and 鈥渉e said, 鈥業 want you to replace the valve cover gaskets on my BMW,鈥欌�� she recalled. 鈥淚 was like, what? You want me to do that?鈥� With her father offering guidance, she did it.

鈥淭hat was an experience and a half,鈥� Moleiro said. 鈥淥nce I did it, and the car started, and there was no oil leaks, it sparked an interest in my mind. 鈥榊ou know what?鈥� I said to myself. 鈥業 can do this. I can make money off of this. I can do this as a living.鈥欌��

鈥�91九色视频 has developed many opportunities for me here and welcomed me with open arms and I am very proud that that happened,鈥� Moleiro said. 鈥淭he hands-on opportunities are just phenomenal. You really learn a lot.鈥� Once she completes her A.S. Degree, she may continue at 91九色视频 and study welding, she said.

Brenda Sandoval attended 91九色视频 and studied Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration and today she owns her own company鈥擜ir Pro Heating and Cooling, which serves customers in Okeechobee and surrounding communities. 鈥淲hen I first enrolled in the HVAC program, I had no idea how it was going to change my life,鈥� Sandoval said. 鈥�91九色视频 became more than just an educational institution for me. It became a place where I gained my confidence and my abilities to be able to pursue a fulfilling career in HVAC.鈥�

Not long after starting her own HVAC business, Sandoval secured a state license for residential building, she said. 鈥淭his opened up many doors for me and I was able to open up a second business in construction. The professors I have had at 91九色视频 are amazing. Their knowledge and respectful attitude are a foundation for a great learning experience. I know that this building is going to host the same level of quality professors.鈥�

91九色视频 Foundation Board of Trustees Chair Bill Marine said, 鈥淭his is a remarkable institution. I don鈥� think there are any excuses for anybody not to be able to get an education today at 91九色视频. There鈥檚 so many opportunities.鈥� Marine went on to thank donors, including Eastman, members of the 91九色视频 Foundation, and local, state, and federal elected officials, including Florida Governor Ron DeSantis. 鈥淗e鈥檚 been so gracious鈥攅verything we鈥檝e asked for we鈥檝e received. And I can鈥檛 think of anything better than that for an institution.鈥�  

Anthony George Jr., Chair of the 91九色视频 District Board of Trustees, called up the instructors for the programs presented in the Eastman Complex and asked them to share the numbers of students they serve, along with estimated salaries students can expect after completing their programs successfully. 鈥淭his college is dedicated to our community and to the students achieving their full potential here,鈥� George said. 鈥淭he Board of Trustees is united and Dr. Moore 鈥� is our Captain Velocity.鈥�

After the ribbon-cutting, guests enjoyed light fare provided by students and instructors in the 91九色视频 Culinary Institute and toured the five learning areas in the Eastman Complex, including a Virtual Reality demonstration in the Advanced Manufacturing Suite, the Smart Automation and Robotics Lab, the Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration (HVAC/R) Lab, the Welding Lab, and the Automotive Mechanical Lab. Students can earn certifications and degrees in these programs and find work with exceptional pay.

A Media Kit with fact sheets and imagery is available online here: