Larry Futrell and Timothy Smith, adjunct instructors at Paul D. Camp Community College’s Regional Workforce Development Center, were recently recognized for enhancing the skill sets of welders in Hampton Roads.

The presentation took place at the Virginia Community College System Workforce Development Services Chancellor’s Awards Appreciation and Nomination Luncheon held at Thomas Nelson Community College in Hampton.

About 60 representatives from Eastern Shore, Tidewater, Rappahannock, Thomas Nelson and Paul D. Camp community colleges attended the luncheon, including Vice Chancellor for Workforce Development Randy Stamper.

PDCCC Vice President of Workforce Development Randy Betz noted that after the college recruited adjunct instructors who are retired, the sense of accomplishment the instructors experience after training students is uplifting.

“They have a wonderful sense of being valued, of contributing to the new generation, and of passing on skills that they have honed over decades,” he said.

Futrell, a welding expert from North Carolina who retired from Union Camp and International Paper, taught five welding classes in one semester to displaced workers after the mill’s closure as part of the Multicraft Diploma Program on which PDCCC and Southside Community College collaborated.

“All of the students in this program are now employed by various businesses and industries throughout Hampton Roads,” said Betz.

Futrell was recruited again in 2013 as one of the two welding instructors for the Fast Track Welding Program at PDCCC, providing afternoon instruction to 10 students, six of whom graduated and began working at Newport News Shipbuilding.

The retired welder also provided four weeks of welding training to maintenance mechanics from International Paper’s Franklin mill to support the startup of its new fluff mill and continued to work with Larry Brunson of the PDCCC Career Development Center to serve as one of two instructors of two three-week Fast Track Welding sessions. There were a total of 20 graduates from the two sessions, 11 of whom are actively employed throughout Hampton Roads businesses and industries.

Smith of Courtland has 38 years of experience at Newport News Shipbuilding — 32 of those years as a full-time welder. He has helped build seven aircraft carriers from start to finish.

For the last five years, Smith has served as a full-time welding instructor at the shipyard.

“With him as our morning instructor, and Larry Futrell as the afternoon instructor, our students reaped the benefits of having two highly-qualified welders and welding instructors in the classroom and the welding lab,” said Betz.

“Their numerous contributions to welding students and industries make this recognition well-deserved. We look forward to having them both return to Paul D. Camp during the summer of 2015 for additional sessions of Fast Track Welding.”

For more information about the Fast Track Welding Program, contact the Workforce Development Office at 569-6050 or visit www.pdc.edu/workforce-development.