It’s been a busy few weeks for FPSA – Food Processing Suppliers Association’s FIT Program. Last week, we were so fortunate to have Shawn Kentch from Handtmann Inc. come train our students with former FIT student and current technician Albert! Handtmann training included the use of their donated equipment and HVISION Technology!
FPSA – Food Processing Suppliers Association’s Food Industry Technician Program (FIT) had a very exciting few days training on the Anritsu – Product Inspection & Detection (North America) demonstration bus. FIT Students spent time learning about the internal components of the machines, how to interface with the rejectors and conveyance system to the Anritsu. Thank you Erik Brainard, Jeremy Kimmel and Aaron Kraft for making this possible and for supporting the future technicians of the industry!
FPSA Press Release
| Media Contact: Andy Drennan SVP, Membership and Business Development 703-663-1201 [email protected] | For Immediate Release April 13, 2022 |
FOUNDATION OF FOOD PROCESSING SUPPLIERS EXPANDS FOOD INDUSTRY TECHNICIAN PROGRAM
McLean, VA – The Foundation of the Food Processing Suppliers Association (FFPSA) today announced a significant expansion of the FIT (Food Industry Technician) Certification Program, enlarging the footprint of the FIT classrooms at the Indianapolis campus of Lincoln Tech, hiring additional instructors, and essentially doubling the size of the student body, effective immediately with the incoming class of future technicians.
“We couldn’t be more excited about this expansion, especially given the huge need for service technicians in our industry,” said Tom Kittle, FIT Inc Chairman and President of Handtmann Inc. “Since we originally launched the FIT Program, we have seen a tremendous demand for trained and certified technicians on the part of both equipment suppliers and our customers. This increase in demand was evident as the pace of retirement of the baby-boomer generation continued to increase and spiked significantly during the COVID pandemic. This situation is not expected to let up. On the other side of this equation, we have smart, dedicated individuals looking for new opportunities who in many cases, were simply unaware of how inviting a career in the food industry can be.”
“It has been a pleasure to work with these students, especially when you see how excited they are when they realize the tremendous opportunities that this career offers,” said Gil Williams, advisor to FIT Inc and President of Poly-clip System USA. “Graduates of the FIT program are having an immediate impact on the companies that hire them and as a result, the demand for their services continues to grow. With this in mind, we realized early on that this expansion would be needed as soon as possible. Expanding the program now, not only helps to accommodate these additional candidates, but it also absolutely helps to meet the need of our OEM’s and food processors.”
The FIT Certification Program was created to prepare future technicians for careers in the Food & Beverage Processing, Packaging and Equipment Manufacturing Industry. With several classes graduating each year, these students interview with potential employers as part of the program and in many cases receive multiple offers before graduation. For more information on the FIT Program, visit https://foodindustrytechnician.com/ or contact FPSA President and CEO, David Seckman at [email protected] or 703-663-1200.
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The Foundation of the Food Processing Suppliers Association’s mission is to fund select educational, scientific, and literary projects, activities or programs of the industries served by FPSA members in such a manner that FPSA Members are benefited through industry betterment due to improved quality control and professional standards, enhanced recognition or image, and improved processor relationships.
The Food Processing Suppliers Association (FPSA) FPSA is a trade association serving suppliers to the global food, beverage, and pharmaceutical industries. The Association’s programs and services assist its members in marketing their products and services, and in improving their business practices. Programs and services to achieve these objectives include PROCESS EXPO, electronic media marketing, education, research, and being the voice of its members in the public arena on issues such as food safety, sanitary design of equipment, and global trade. FPSA members are organized in vertical industry councils which focus on specific needs and concerns that are unique to each industry sector. FPSA councils currently represent the Bakery, Beverage, Dairy, Prepared Foods and Meat sectors. For more information, visit www.fpsa.org.
The FPSA – Food Processing Suppliers Association’s Food Industry Technician (FIT) Development Program had a fantastic visit to the Perdue Farms plant yesterday. The trip was an incredible addition to the training and development received through the program.
Thank you Sara Norfolk, SHRM-SCP and Jon Heard for hosting our future
FPSA’s Food Industry Technician program (FIT), the industry’s only technician’s certification program, dedicated to the training of individuals to fill vitally needed positions in our industry had another successful year even with the obstacles created from the pandemic. We are in our third class of students, with 100% of the graduating apprentices placed in jobs at OEMs or processing plants within our industry. The FIT program requires students to successfully complete a foundation electrical curriculum, adhere to an extensive interview process and then if accepted, proceed with FIT capstone classes that include additional electrical training, mechanical, hydraulics and pneumatics. Currently, our program is being held at the Lincoln Tech (our educational partner) campus in Indianapolis, Indiana, where they receive extensive classroom education and even more importantly, hands-on training on equipment. We are now looking to expand our efforts to bring even more students into our program, however to do that, we need your assistance and are asking if your company would be willing to donate equipment so that we can more thoroughly train and prepare our students for successful careers in our industry. Read More
First female students to graduate from the Food Industry Technician Program
Reedjanie Charlot
Kierra Evans
Congratulations to our September graduating class of the Food Industry Technician Development Program at our Lincoln Tech campus in Indianapolis, Indiana.
These graduates are on their way to exciting careers in the food processing industry as Service and Maintenance Technicians. It has been an honor to assist them along their journey!
First day of class is off to a running start for the Food Industry Technician Development Program in Indianapolis. After 12 weeks of training in this advanced training program, the students will be moving on to exciting careers in the Food Processing industry as Maintenance and Service Technicians!
Grote Company comes to support FIT Training! The FIT Program, students and employers are very appreciative of this training and equipment!
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