Paul D. Camp Community College’s Blueprint Reading and the Building Code students will get the opportunity to learn first-hand what various jobs entail.

Throughout the semester, Richard Baker, industrial trades instructor, has local professionals lined up as guest speakers.

“This is a great opportunity for our students to learn directly from experts in their fields,” he said.

His students recently visited Cathy McEntire, owner of McEntire Design-Architects in Suffolk, to hear about day-to-day operations and what is required to execute the various projects the company has undertaken.

Other speakers will be staggered over the semester and will include Brian Layne, surveyor, and Chris Parrish, professional engineer, of Parrish-Layne Design Group Ltd. in Chesapeake; Larry Riddick of Riddick Builders in Suffolk; and Donald Goodwin, director of community development for the city of Franklin. Goodwin also teaches Basic Contractor Business Licensing for the college’s Regional Workforce Development Center.

BLD 111 is an introduction to reading and interpreting various types of blueprints and working drawings with reference to local, state and national building codes. The class is part of the Building Maintenance Career Studies Certificate program at PDCCC.

“The program uses a multi-craft approach and is designed to prepare students for employment,” Baker said.

For more information about the program, contact Baker at 569-6729 or rbaker@pdc.edu.