June 10, 2025 • 15 mins
Manhattan Area Technical College has transformed from a vocational technical school into an enterprise center for workforce training, offering both traditional college pathways and flexible skills-based education through their Tech Plus program. The college boasts an impressive 98-99% job placement rate with graduates earning $50-70K+ right out of school, demonstrating the critical need for technical education in today's workforce landscape.
• Tech Plus program offers individual-facing, skills-based education without traditional college enrollment
• Easy online enrollment system makes signing up for classes as simple as shopping on Amazon
• 86% of graduates stay in the Manhattan area, creating significant local economic impact
• Regional Testing Center features eight national accreditations, attracting students from across the Midwest
• Nursing initiative has expanded to address critical healthcare workforce shortages
• AI cannot replace hands-on technical skills but creates new opportunities for technically skilled workers
• MATC proactively works with businesses to identify and address workforce skills gaps
Visit manhattantech.edu/techplus to explore our skills-based education options and enroll in courses today.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Philanthropy Today is brought to you by the Greater
Manhattan Community Foundation.
In this episode we feature arecently broadcast segment of
the GMCF Community Hour as heardon NewsRadio.
Kman Visiting now with a coupleof guys from the Manhattan Area
Technical College.
We have the Dean of AcademicPartnerships, chris Boxberger,
(00:21):
here.
Hello, chris.
Good morning, dave, how are you?
Good to see you again.
Good to see you, welcome to theshow and David Umanzor Yep.
Speaker 3 (00:30):
That's how it's said.
Speaker 1 (00:31):
Is that close enough?
Speaker 3 (00:33):
Hey, it's better than most people.
I'm not going to lie.
Speaker 1 (00:35):
Okay, Well, I do this for a living on some days.
So you know, hopefully I can dothat.
You are the outreachcoordinator.
What does that mean?
Speaker 3 (00:43):
That's a great question.
That means a lot of things andalso means not a whole lot.
Speaker 1 (00:47):
Okay, you don't do a whole lot.
So what you're telling me isJim hires people like Jim.
Speaker 3 (00:55):
Yeah, hopefully I'll be able to step into his
footsteps a little bit and learnfrom what he's got going on.
No, but really it means we'reout there, we're talking to
people, we're getting connectedwith people, looking for
opportunities to better servepeople with skills that they
need.
But on top of that, it's likeany organization, you wear
multiple hats.
So we've got other things on myplate that really are involved
(01:17):
with, ultimately, workforceeducation getting people that
education they need to be ableto step up in their careers.
Speaker 1 (01:24):
You know, the story of MATC has evolved so much over
the years and, chris, you mayknow this, david you may not I'm
on the board, the foundationboard, and you know it's just
been something that has becomemore and more critical.
We're hearing more and moreabout the need for tech ed, not
only here in our community butnationally.
(01:46):
There's such a shortage.
You know I was just readingabout airline machinists and how
they're aging out and so manypeople need to come in and fill
those roles and those are goodpaying gigs.
That's what Manhattan Area Techdoes is prepare people for that
kind of work.
Speaker 2 (02:02):
Absolutely We've.
I mean, you know our story.
We started off as that vo techdown the road.
And now today, yeah, we're,we're a hundred percent in tech
college.
But that's where our whereDavid and I come in on the
outreach side is.
People know we're a college,they can come out to us.
But we're actually reaching outand saying, hey, you're an
incoming business, how can wehelp you be successful in
Manhattan?
Or hey, are you just lookingfor some community skills?
(02:25):
You just want to learn how toweld really quickly?
Check out Tech Plus.
Speaker 1 (02:30):
You know, I'll give a shout out to Jim Jeanette
because really he's had so muchvision for the future of
Manhattan Area Technical Collegeand how it has become and
here's this phrase enterprisecenter for workforce training.
Chris, what does that mean?
Speaker 2 (02:50):
That is the next leg, that is, developing at the
college.
So, yes, we have those collegecredits that you can go and earn
, but at the same time, you cancome to us and we can.
Let's start working aboutnon-credit.
So we're not talking about thetuition, we're not talking about
these, but you're looking forthese skills and it's in
whatever field you want.
Just, we work with you andwe're developing all these
(03:11):
different programs.
We're working with thebusinesses, we're working with
individuals.
It's just this whole other sidethat it doesn't necessarily
involve the college tuition, itdoesn't necessarily involve
financial aid, but they'reaffordable classes, they're the
skills that people need now toget hired now.
Speaker 1 (03:26):
And how does that benefit?
You know, businesses in thecommunity and, and and would be
entrepreneurs, Sure, and.
Speaker 2 (03:33):
David can probably speak more of this too, because
he's just had a few moreinteractions with folks.
But as businesses are coming in, they're looking to retain
people, and we have there's alot of folks.
Unfortunately, we have a lot ofturnover just because they're
not getting the skills.
And so when they come in andthey're, we say, hey, we need to
work on Microsoft Excel Insteadof spending thousands and
thousands of dollars saying themoff and sitting them in front
(03:53):
of a computer.
They can just come over to usfor a couple hundred bucks and
they'll learn Excel all the waythrough.
Speaker 1 (03:58):
You know, this seems like a matter of educational
efficiency, David.
I mean, there's so much thatyou can get that you can apply
almost immediately to that nextgig.
Speaker 3 (04:12):
Yeah, I think what I think about is the scariest word
possibly in our time, andthat's the word change.
Change scares people, whetherit's technology's changing,
whether the industry is changing, whether all these other change
happens, and it's what you dowith that change that's going to
make the difference.
And so for us it is.
(04:32):
We do prepare, and it's still acore part of our mission to
prepare people with thatacademic level of excellence for
welding and for technicalknowledge across all the, all
the programs that we offer.
But we've realized this is howdo we help people manage that
change?
And so, if that's individuals,it is let's come in and learn
new skills that are going tohelp you manage that change
that's happening to yourbusiness, to your job, because
(04:54):
of the changes in industry.
If that means we're going tocome in and help a business and
say look, the industry landscapeis changing, you have to be
able to stay competitive.
The industry landscape ischanging, you have to be able to
stay competitive.
How can we do that?
Let's look at what skills, whatthe skills gap are, our skills
gaps are in your workforce andlet's fill those and let's get
you ready for that next step inyour business.
Speaker 1 (05:14):
I think one of the things that that impresses me
the most about what I hear fromMATC and Jim mentions this all
the time is how many jobs areyour graduates get out of the
shoot, and these are really, forthe most part, good paying gigs
, Absolutely.
Speaker 2 (05:34):
So, jim, jim, if you, if he's been on before you see
him in the community always says86% of our grads stay in the
area.
So, right, right there, thattells you the impact that we're
making.
But, yeah, a lot of ourgraduates I'm going to tout and
probably say that we're close to98, 99% job placement rates
within six months of graduatingand these folks, yeah, they're
making 50, 60, 70 thousanddollars or more, depending on
(05:57):
what the career is.
Speaker 1 (05:59):
One of the things we talked about this earlier in the
program with Vern the nursinginitiative.
This is back and it's new andit's big.
Speaker 2 (06:08):
Absolutely so obviously we're starting to see
a pickup.
After COVID Our nursing programis completely full.
Now for the fall we're tryingto find some more spaces.
We've increased our CNAenrollments, the nursing
initiative grants have reallyhelped us retain some
instructors and we're justcontinuing to build and build
(06:29):
and build and try and meet thedemand for even just our area.
Obviously it's a nationalalmost crisis in a sense,
because we can't fill enough thepositions, but we're doing our
part around here.
Speaker 1 (06:39):
You know we like to think that unemployment here and
just about everywhere in Kansasis relatively low.
Right, but that doesn'tnecessarily mean the jobs aren't
available.
Speaker 2 (06:49):
That's right.
So, yeah, unemployment can below, but if there's still, if we
just may not have enough peopleto fill all the jobs, that's
the other side of that coin thata lot of people don't really
talk about.
Speaker 1 (06:58):
So how do you get?
How do you cross that bridge?
Speaker 2 (07:02):
Sure.
So I think a lot of that that'sworking in conjunction with our
chamber, with a lot of thefolks around.
How do we get some newbusinesses to come in?
How can we get new folks tocome into Manhattan, realize
it's the best place in theMidwest to live and really start
to grow the population?
And if we can be part of thatconversation as folks are coming
in and saying, hey, I want toset up this manufacturing
(07:23):
business, Great, we also havethis training resource that you
can get trained on.
Or if your spouse wants to getsome additional education, you
have Manhattan Tech, MCC K-State.
Everything is right here.
Speaker 1 (07:34):
David, let's talk a bit about the Tech Plus program.
This is something I'm notreally familiar with, so can you
indulge us a little.
Speaker 3 (07:43):
Yeah, no, tech Plus is really individual-facing,
skills-based education.
So some of it's really like,like Chris mentioned a minute
ago, it is really specificskills.
So one example we have going onthis summer so we're gonna have
an AG well, ag welding classthat's really focused on flux
core welding for AG applications.
There's a lot of folks who havehomesteads in the area or who
(08:03):
are involved in farming to somedegree, who just, or people who
are just enthusiasts that liketo go in their garage and weld.
That's a great way to getstarted, all the way to things
like Excel, things like justfirst aid, cpr, aed training,
among other things.
This fall we're also lookingwe're going to be providing a
SHRM certification prep course.
So for people who are wantingto really step in, step up their
(08:25):
careers in HR, that's a.
This is going to be a ManhattanTech's going to be the place to
go through a class to prepareyou to get that certification.
So it is those skills-based butalso getting you ready for your
career.
That's what Tech Plus is allabout and the flexibility piece
and I'm sure Chris has somethingelse to add, and we've made it
insanely easy to do.
Speaker 2 (08:45):
You just go to manhattantechedu slash tech plus
and it's like you're on anAmazon page.
You select the class that youwant to enroll in, you see what
dates it's available and youjust pay for it and you come.
Speaker 1 (08:55):
So even an old fool like me can figure out how to
navigate that.
Speaker 2 (08:59):
Absolutely, If you want to come join me.
I even enrolled in our own agwelding class so you can come
run a couple beads of flux corewith me.
Speaker 1 (09:06):
You know, I I, I did some of that and shop back in
high school, you know had awelder on the farm.
I'd like to think that there'sa lot of things that I'd like to
be able to do, but if I hadstuck with welding I'd be a
whole lot better off financiallythan I did getting into radio.
Speaker 2 (09:21):
Oh, that's very true.
If only we all knew theopportunities.
Speaker 1 (09:25):
I can't make a welder laugh though.
Oh goodness.
So Regional Testing Center thisyou know there's been some
stuff that's popping up at MATCover the last few years.
It just blows my mind.
Speaker 2 (09:39):
So the Regional Testing Center is one of our
little hidden gems.
It is one of the only testingcenters in the nation that we're
aware of that has eightnational recognized
accreditations.
So it is sponsored by PearsonVUE.
That's one of our biginternational ones.
Educational Testing Services,ets they can do all the teacher
(10:01):
certifications, psi,governmental testing, prometric
the list goes on and on.
We've had folks from all overthe Midwest, nebraska, illinois,
even come and test at ourtesting center because they need
these certifications.
Speaker 1 (10:17):
And our testing center is that good I want to
throw a little bit of acurveball at you, because
there's so much focus in thenews about AI.
Sure, and how that applies inthe tech world is a whole lot
different, because AI seems tobe more word, creative, all
(10:38):
kinds of other things.
But is there a place for AI inthe world of Manhattan Area
Technical College?
Speaker 2 (10:46):
Absolutely.
So what's really interesting is, as these discussions keep
going on and on, ai is coming,it's not going away and it's
going to get better and better.
But right now, as of right now,ai cannot replace hands-on, ai
cannot build a house, and sothat's where we can come in and
work with that.
Now, can you get creative ideas?
Can we get streamlined some ofthose mundane tasks to get us to
(11:08):
the point where I can actuallystart using my hands?
Absolutely Flip it.
On the industry side, we evenhave folks here in Manhattan
that are using AI in amaintenance world.
So this AI is predicting when amachine is going to break and
we can replace the part beforeit breaks, and that saves
downtime because I've alreadyordered the part, I can install
it and then that machine keepsgoing.
(11:29):
Yeah, it's, there's our there.
We have a lot of folks inManhattan that are already on
that cutting edge, and that'swhere we are at right now is
working with them and working inthe future on how to integrate
these things.
Speaker 3 (11:43):
I'd like to add even on top of that, there's this
other aside from the changesthat we're seeing with AI and
how it's changing the industry,one of the opportunities we've
seen, especially for techeducation and for people in
technical industries, is it'sactually a big moneymaker, for
technical industries have tohave technicians who know how to
(12:09):
set up the databases that aregoing to hold all this data that
AI is going to create.
We have to have somebody whoknows how to build the storage
units for it, which actuallyPTMW, who's coming into town.
One of the most recent movesthat's coming into town is
building those storagefacilities.
On top of that, there has to besomebody who's going to produce
the energy, and we are one ofthe two electric power
distribution programs that wehave in the state, so our EPD
(12:33):
graduates are going to be ableto build the transmission for
energy, to produce the, to beable to transmit that energy
that's produced so that AI canactually function.
Speaker 1 (12:43):
I'm sure Glad we brought you guys in, because I
don't think Jim could haveanswered that that's all right,
but I'll share, just.
Speaker 2 (12:50):
Uh, dr janet, one make sure that I did at least
bring a trivia question for you.
So, oh okay, all right, yourhendrix knowledge okay.
Speaker 1 (12:57):
So, oh gosh, that's not a good good arena for me.
But uh, uh, anyway, uh, okay,so for our listeners sake, jim
janet always brings in rocktrivia for for me, because he
thinks you know.
He always tries to to provethat he knows more than I do.
So go right ahead.
Speaker 2 (13:14):
It's not hard.
Well, this one, I don't know.
Do you want the Beatles or youwant the Hendrix?
Speaker 1 (13:18):
one.
Oh, I'd probably be better offwith the Beatles.
I'll throw the softball at youfirst, then.
Speaker 2 (13:22):
All right.
So what was?
What did the fab four initiallycall themselves before the
Beatles?
Speaker 1 (13:31):
Oh, initially call themselves before the Beatles.
Oh, it wasn't the FabulousFlippers.
There is a band named FabulousFlippers that originated in
Kansas, so I'm drawn to theQuarrymen.
Speaker 2 (13:37):
You are correct I know I am correct.
Speaker 1 (13:39):
That was very nice.
Okay, so hit me with theHendrix one.
Speaker 2 (13:41):
Hendrix one.
This one's a little toughy.
All right, so Woodstock 1969.
Hendrix played a 1968 Olympicwhite Stratocaster.
What was the name that he gavethat Stratocaster?
Speaker 1 (13:54):
Oh, I have no idea, Isabella which also inspired the
song Isabella.
Gotcha Gee Jim thanks.
Speaker 2 (14:02):
Yeah no problem, your presence is felt.
Speaker 1 (14:11):
Hey, David, I put my note down.
Umanzor there you go.
Umanzor, umanzor there you go.
Hey, it's good to meet you.
It's good to meet you too.
Yeah, it sounds like we'repretty fortunate to have you at
MATC.
Speaker 3 (14:23):
I sure hope so.
Very fortunate yeah, Chris.
Speaker 1 (14:24):
Foxburg, always good to have you here.
Thanks for joining us.
Absolutely, and I'm going tohave to start doing the reverse
trivia for Jim whenever he comesin.
Speaker 2 (14:33):
Yeah, you got to.
What was that game show, beatthe Beast?
Oh, there's all kinds of thingshe and I could explore.
Maybe he and I should jump intoAI together on some concepts we
can have a segment for sure.
That's a whole lot of.
Speaker 1 (14:45):
Diet Cokes, though, isn't it?
We'll be back in just a coupleof moments.
We've got some other guests whowere just on K-Man with Mike
Manson of Beyond Reason.
Betty O and Dave Baker aregoing to be in to talk a few
minutes about Juneteenth, and Idon't even know if Vern's going
to get a word in edgewise or not.
No-transcript.
Philanthropy Today is brought to you by the Greater
Manhattan Community Foundation.
In this episode we feature arecently broadcast segment of
the GMCF Community Hour as heardon NewsRadio.
Kman Visiting now with a coupleof guys from the Manhattan Area
Technical College.
We have the Dean of AcademicPartnerships, chris Boxberger,
(00:21):
here.
Hello, chris.
Good morning, dave, how are you?
Good to see you again.
Good to see you, welcome to theshow and David Umanzor Yep.
Speaker 3 (00:30):
That's how it's said.
Speaker 1 (00:31):
Is that close enough?
Speaker 3 (00:33):
Hey, it's better than most people.
I'm not going to lie.
Speaker 1 (00:35):
Okay, Well, I do this for a living on some days.
So you know, hopefully I can dothat.
You are the outreachcoordinator.
What does that mean?
Speaker 3 (00:43):
That's a great question.
That means a lot of things andalso means not a whole lot.
Speaker 1 (00:47):
Okay, you don't do a whole lot.
So what you're telling me isJim hires people like Jim.
Speaker 3 (00:55):
Yeah, hopefully I'll be able to step into his
footsteps a little bit and learnfrom what he's got going on.
No, but really it means we'reout there, we're talking to
people, we're getting connectedwith people, looking for
opportunities to better servepeople with skills that they
need.
But on top of that, it's likeany organization, you wear
multiple hats.
So we've got other things on myplate that really are involved
(01:17):
with, ultimately, workforceeducation getting people that
education they need to be ableto step up in their careers.
Speaker 1 (01:24):
You know, the story of MATC has evolved so much over
the years and, chris, you mayknow this, david you may not I'm
on the board, the foundationboard, and you know it's just
been something that has becomemore and more critical.
We're hearing more and moreabout the need for tech ed, not
only here in our community butnationally.
(01:46):
There's such a shortage.
You know I was just readingabout airline machinists and how
they're aging out and so manypeople need to come in and fill
those roles and those are goodpaying gigs.
That's what Manhattan Area Techdoes is prepare people for that
kind of work.
Speaker 2 (02:02):
Absolutely We've.
I mean, you know our story.
We started off as that vo techdown the road.
And now today, yeah, we're,we're a hundred percent in tech
college.
But that's where our whereDavid and I come in on the
outreach side is.
People know we're a college,they can come out to us.
But we're actually reaching outand saying, hey, you're an
incoming business, how can wehelp you be successful in
Manhattan?
Or hey, are you just lookingfor some community skills?
(02:25):
You just want to learn how toweld really quickly?
Check out Tech Plus.
Speaker 1 (02:30):
You know, I'll give a shout out to Jim Jeanette
because really he's had so muchvision for the future of
Manhattan Area Technical Collegeand how it has become and
here's this phrase enterprisecenter for workforce training.
Chris, what does that mean?
Speaker 2 (02:50):
That is the next leg, that is, developing at the
college.
So, yes, we have those collegecredits that you can go and earn
, but at the same time, you cancome to us and we can.
Let's start working aboutnon-credit.
So we're not talking about thetuition, we're not talking about
these, but you're looking forthese skills and it's in
whatever field you want.
Just, we work with you andwe're developing all these
(03:11):
different programs.
We're working with thebusinesses, we're working with
individuals.
It's just this whole other sidethat it doesn't necessarily
involve the college tuition, itdoesn't necessarily involve
financial aid, but they'reaffordable classes, they're the
skills that people need now toget hired now.
Speaker 1 (03:26):
And how does that benefit?
You know, businesses in thecommunity and, and and would be
entrepreneurs, Sure, and.
Speaker 2 (03:33):
David can probably speak more of this too, because
he's just had a few moreinteractions with folks.
But as businesses are coming in, they're looking to retain
people, and we have there's alot of folks.
Unfortunately, we have a lot ofturnover just because they're
not getting the skills.
And so when they come in andthey're, we say, hey, we need to
work on Microsoft Excel Insteadof spending thousands and
thousands of dollars saying themoff and sitting them in front
(03:53):
of a computer.
They can just come over to usfor a couple hundred bucks and
they'll learn Excel all the waythrough.
Speaker 1 (03:58):
You know, this seems like a matter of educational
efficiency, David.
I mean, there's so much thatyou can get that you can apply
almost immediately to that nextgig.
Speaker 3 (04:12):
Yeah, I think what I think about is the scariest word
possibly in our time, andthat's the word change.
Change scares people, whetherit's technology's changing,
whether the industry is changing, whether all these other change
happens, and it's what you dowith that change that's going to
make the difference.
And so for us it is.
(04:32):
We do prepare, and it's still acore part of our mission to
prepare people with thatacademic level of excellence for
welding and for technicalknowledge across all the, all
the programs that we offer.
But we've realized this is howdo we help people manage that
change?
And so, if that's individuals,it is let's come in and learn
new skills that are going tohelp you manage that change
that's happening to yourbusiness, to your job, because
(04:54):
of the changes in industry.
If that means we're going tocome in and help a business and
say look, the industry landscapeis changing, you have to be
able to stay competitive.
The industry landscape ischanging, you have to be able to
stay competitive.
How can we do that?
Let's look at what skills, whatthe skills gap are, our skills
gaps are in your workforce andlet's fill those and let's get
you ready for that next step inyour business.
Speaker 1 (05:14):
I think one of the things that that impresses me
the most about what I hear fromMATC and Jim mentions this all
the time is how many jobs areyour graduates get out of the
shoot, and these are really, forthe most part, good paying gigs
, Absolutely.
Speaker 2 (05:34):
So, jim, jim, if you, if he's been on before you see
him in the community always says86% of our grads stay in the
area.
So, right, right there, thattells you the impact that we're
making.
But, yeah, a lot of ourgraduates I'm going to tout and
probably say that we're close to98, 99% job placement rates
within six months of graduatingand these folks, yeah, they're
making 50, 60, 70 thousanddollars or more, depending on
(05:57):
what the career is.
Speaker 1 (05:59):
One of the things we talked about this earlier in the
program with Vern the nursinginitiative.
This is back and it's new andit's big.
Speaker 2 (06:08):
Absolutely so obviously we're starting to see
a pickup.
After COVID Our nursing programis completely full.
Now for the fall we're tryingto find some more spaces.
We've increased our CNAenrollments, the nursing
initiative grants have reallyhelped us retain some
instructors and we're justcontinuing to build and build
(06:29):
and build and try and meet thedemand for even just our area.
Obviously it's a nationalalmost crisis in a sense,
because we can't fill enough thepositions, but we're doing our
part around here.
Speaker 1 (06:39):
You know we like to think that unemployment here and
just about everywhere in Kansasis relatively low.
Right, but that doesn'tnecessarily mean the jobs aren't
available.
Speaker 2 (06:49):
That's right.
So, yeah, unemployment can below, but if there's still, if we
just may not have enough peopleto fill all the jobs, that's
the other side of that coin thata lot of people don't really
talk about.
Speaker 1 (06:58):
So how do you get?
How do you cross that bridge?
Speaker 2 (07:02):
Sure.
So I think a lot of that that'sworking in conjunction with our
chamber, with a lot of thefolks around.
How do we get some newbusinesses to come in?
How can we get new folks tocome into Manhattan, realize
it's the best place in theMidwest to live and really start
to grow the population?
And if we can be part of thatconversation as folks are coming
in and saying, hey, I want toset up this manufacturing
(07:23):
business, Great, we also havethis training resource that you
can get trained on.
Or if your spouse wants to getsome additional education, you
have Manhattan Tech, MCC K-State.
Everything is right here.
Speaker 1 (07:34):
David, let's talk a bit about the Tech Plus program.
This is something I'm notreally familiar with, so can you
indulge us a little.
Speaker 3 (07:43):
Yeah, no, tech Plus is really individual-facing,
skills-based education.
So some of it's really like,like Chris mentioned a minute
ago, it is really specificskills.
So one example we have going onthis summer so we're gonna have
an AG well, ag welding classthat's really focused on flux
core welding for AG applications.
There's a lot of folks who havehomesteads in the area or who
(08:03):
are involved in farming to somedegree, who just, or people who
are just enthusiasts that liketo go in their garage and weld.
That's a great way to getstarted, all the way to things
like Excel, things like justfirst aid, cpr, aed training,
among other things.
This fall we're also lookingwe're going to be providing a
SHRM certification prep course.
So for people who are wantingto really step in, step up their
(08:25):
careers in HR, that's a.
This is going to be a ManhattanTech's going to be the place to
go through a class to prepareyou to get that certification.
So it is those skills-based butalso getting you ready for your
career.
That's what Tech Plus is allabout and the flexibility piece
and I'm sure Chris has somethingelse to add, and we've made it
insanely easy to do.
Speaker 2 (08:45):
You just go to manhattantechedu slash tech plus
and it's like you're on anAmazon page.
You select the class that youwant to enroll in, you see what
dates it's available and youjust pay for it and you come.
Speaker 1 (08:55):
So even an old fool like me can figure out how to
navigate that.
Speaker 2 (08:59):
Absolutely, If you want to come join me.
I even enrolled in our own agwelding class so you can come
run a couple beads of flux corewith me.
Speaker 1 (09:06):
You know, I I, I did some of that and shop back in
high school, you know had awelder on the farm.
I'd like to think that there'sa lot of things that I'd like to
be able to do, but if I hadstuck with welding I'd be a
whole lot better off financiallythan I did getting into radio.
Speaker 2 (09:21):
Oh, that's very true.
If only we all knew theopportunities.
Speaker 1 (09:25):
I can't make a welder laugh though.
Oh goodness.
So Regional Testing Center thisyou know there's been some
stuff that's popping up at MATCover the last few years.
It just blows my mind.
Speaker 2 (09:39):
So the Regional Testing Center is one of our
little hidden gems.
It is one of the only testingcenters in the nation that we're
aware of that has eightnational recognized
accreditations.
So it is sponsored by PearsonVUE.
That's one of our biginternational ones.
Educational Testing Services,ets they can do all the teacher
(10:01):
certifications, psi,governmental testing, prometric
the list goes on and on.
We've had folks from all overthe Midwest, nebraska, illinois,
even come and test at ourtesting center because they need
these certifications.
Speaker 1 (10:17):
And our testing center is that good I want to
throw a little bit of acurveball at you, because
there's so much focus in thenews about AI.
Sure, and how that applies inthe tech world is a whole lot
different, because AI seems tobe more word, creative, all
(10:38):
kinds of other things.
But is there a place for AI inthe world of Manhattan Area
Technical College?
Speaker 2 (10:46):
Absolutely.
So what's really interesting is, as these discussions keep
going on and on, ai is coming,it's not going away and it's
going to get better and better.
But right now, as of right now,ai cannot replace hands-on, ai
cannot build a house, and sothat's where we can come in and
work with that.
Now, can you get creative ideas?
Can we get streamlined some ofthose mundane tasks to get us to
(11:08):
the point where I can actuallystart using my hands?
Absolutely Flip it.
On the industry side, we evenhave folks here in Manhattan
that are using AI in amaintenance world.
So this AI is predicting when amachine is going to break and
we can replace the part beforeit breaks, and that saves
downtime because I've alreadyordered the part, I can install
it and then that machine keepsgoing.
(11:29):
Yeah, it's, there's our there.
We have a lot of folks inManhattan that are already on
that cutting edge, and that'swhere we are at right now is
working with them and working inthe future on how to integrate
these things.
Speaker 3 (11:43):
I'd like to add even on top of that, there's this
other aside from the changesthat we're seeing with AI and
how it's changing the industry,one of the opportunities we've
seen, especially for techeducation and for people in
technical industries, is it'sactually a big moneymaker, for
technical industries have tohave technicians who know how to
(12:09):
set up the databases that aregoing to hold all this data that
AI is going to create.
We have to have somebody whoknows how to build the storage
units for it, which actuallyPTMW, who's coming into town.
One of the most recent movesthat's coming into town is
building those storagefacilities.
On top of that, there has to besomebody who's going to produce
the energy, and we are one ofthe two electric power
distribution programs that wehave in the state, so our EPD
(12:33):
graduates are going to be ableto build the transmission for
energy, to produce the, to beable to transmit that energy
that's produced so that AI canactually function.
Speaker 1 (12:43):
I'm sure Glad we brought you guys in, because I
don't think Jim could haveanswered that that's all right,
but I'll share, just.
Speaker 2 (12:50):
Uh, dr janet, one make sure that I did at least
bring a trivia question for you.
So, oh okay, all right, yourhendrix knowledge okay.
Speaker 1 (12:57):
So, oh gosh, that's not a good good arena for me.
But uh, uh, anyway, uh, okay,so for our listeners sake, jim
janet always brings in rocktrivia for for me, because he
thinks you know.
He always tries to to provethat he knows more than I do.
So go right ahead.
Speaker 2 (13:14):
It's not hard.
Well, this one, I don't know.
Do you want the Beatles or youwant the Hendrix?
Speaker 1 (13:18):
one.
Oh, I'd probably be better offwith the Beatles.
I'll throw the softball at youfirst, then.
Speaker 2 (13:22):
All right.
So what was?
What did the fab four initiallycall themselves before the
Beatles?
Speaker 1 (13:31):
Oh, initially call themselves before the Beatles.
Oh, it wasn't the FabulousFlippers.
There is a band named FabulousFlippers that originated in
Kansas, so I'm drawn to theQuarrymen.
Speaker 2 (13:37):
You are correct I know I am correct.
Speaker 1 (13:39):
That was very nice.
Okay, so hit me with theHendrix one.
Speaker 2 (13:41):
Hendrix one.
This one's a little toughy.
All right, so Woodstock 1969.
Hendrix played a 1968 Olympicwhite Stratocaster.
What was the name that he gavethat Stratocaster?
Speaker 1 (13:54):
Oh, I have no idea, Isabella which also inspired the
song Isabella.
Gotcha Gee Jim thanks.
Speaker 2 (14:02):
Yeah no problem, your presence is felt.
Speaker 1 (14:11):
Hey, David, I put my note down.
Umanzor there you go.
Umanzor, umanzor there you go.
Hey, it's good to meet you.
It's good to meet you too.
Yeah, it sounds like we'repretty fortunate to have you at
MATC.
Speaker 3 (14:23):
I sure hope so.
Very fortunate yeah, Chris.
Speaker 1 (14:24):
Foxburg, always good to have you here.
Thanks for joining us.
Absolutely, and I'm going tohave to start doing the reverse
trivia for Jim whenever he comesin.
Speaker 2 (14:33):
Yeah, you got to.
What was that game show, beatthe Beast?
Oh, there's all kinds of thingshe and I could explore.
Maybe he and I should jump intoAI together on some concepts we
can have a segment for sure.
That's a whole lot of.
Speaker 1 (14:45):
Diet Cokes, though, isn't it?
We'll be back in just a coupleof moments.
We've got some other guests whowere just on K-Man with Mike
Manson of Beyond Reason.
Betty O and Dave Baker aregoing to be in to talk a few
minutes about Juneteenth, and Idon't even know if Vern's going
to get a word in edgewise or not.
No-transcript.
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