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GCEDC hires coordinator for jobs training program

By Howard B. Owens

Press release:

The Genesee County Economic Development Center (GCEDC) is pleased to announce the addition of Michael J. Bakos as grant program coordinator for the center's Advanced Manufacturing and Nano-Tech Certificate Training Program. Bakos has more than 30 years of managerial experience in the biomedical industry and holds an A.A.S. degree in Electronic Technology from Erie Community College (ECC) as well as a B.S. degree in Management from the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT). He is a resident of Genesee County, serves on the Town of Pembroke Planning Board, and is president of the Akron-Newstead Rotary Club.

In his role as grant project coordinator, Mr. Bakos will manage, coordinate, implement, support and evaluate a noncredit certificate training program that will prepare participants for entry level positions in advanced-manufacturing and high-tech industries such as microelectronics and photovoltaics. The program was developed to satisfy the demands of this growth sector in Genesee County and the surrounding Western New York and Western Finger Lakes regions.

Program participants will receive an introduction to the skill sets necessary to succeed in a high-tech and advanced-manufacturing environment. The program is a joint-venture partnership between the GCEDC, Genesee Community College (GCC), the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) and Genesee County, with training taking place at the Genesee Community College and Rochester Institute of Technology campuses.

"Mike’s background, training and experiences with a large high-tech, life-science company will be an asset to our program," says John Jakubowski, GCEDC workforce development consultant.

"This is an exciting opportunity for myself and for the residents of our community that are planning to enter or re-enter the local workforce," says Mr. Bakos. "The program covers a diversity of topics including teambuilding, LEAN Manufacturing concepts, computer applications, work readiness activities, and technical subjects such as microelectronics, surface mount technology, and polymer processing."

The program is offered "free" to qualifying applicants. Applications for the program are now being accepted and are available through The Genesee County Career Center, 587 E. Main St., Suite 100, East Town Plaza, Batavia, NY 14020.

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