Florida MEP: Florida Manufacturing Extension Partnership

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 26, 2011

For more information please contact:
Dr. Claudia Follet
claudiaf@floridamep.org
321-266-0677

HANDS ON MANUFACTURING TRAINING DELIVERS LIFESAVING SERVICES
M.O.S.T.® Program Streamlines Recruitment and Training

ORLANDO, FL - The Florida Manufacturing Extension Partnership (Florida MEP), in conjunction with Wheeled Coach Industries, Inc., the world’s largest ambulance manufacturer, is currently providing specialized training as part of the Mobile Outreach Skills Training (M.O.S.T.®) program, for 10 individuals in Orlando seeking manufacturing jobs.

The Mobile Outreach Skills Training (M.O.S.T. ®) program is a fast-track, intensive skills training, recruitment, assessment and placement program that prepares unemployed and underemployed individuals, including returning veterans and minorities, for production jobs in less time than traditional programs. Training is being conducted in a state-of-the-art mobile training facility stationed by Florida MEP on Wheeled Coach’s property and will continue for a period of two weeks. Following the completion of the training, the graduates will all receive permanent employment with Wheeled Coach. This project is part of a statewide training program financed with a $100,000 U.S. Department of Labor grant and a $500,000 Workforce Florida Inc. grant with a goal to leverage an equal amount of state, local and private-sector funding.

“As the world’s leader in emergency medical vehicles, Wheeled Coach is active in lean manufacturing and diligent in recruiting the right individuals to produce a safe and reliable product. There is no second chance in manufacturing lifesaving vehicles, so the talent we hire is paramount,” said Scott Barnes, VP of Sales and Marketing for Wheeled Coach. “We are especially pleased to participate in the M.O.S.T.® program, which provides us an extra layer in vetting a qualified candidate who will receive hands-on training of our process before being on the manufacturing floor.”

The M.O.S.T.® program provides quick-start job training for small and mid-sized manufacturers seeking entry-level workers. The program’s mobile training unit is outfitted with state-of-the-art training equipment that allows participants an opportunity to upgrade or learn new manufacturing skills. Because of its mobility, the program is able to move to areas where jobs and potential employees are located. The unit is generally situated onsite at an employer’s facility or other location convenient for trainees and the company. Training, which is often customized to suit the needs of the participating employer, helps reduce the time typically required for new employees to become fully productive.

“Programs like M.O.S.T.® are vitally important to our communities and to manufacturing companies searching for skilled talent,” said Dr. Claudia Follet, Director of Grants and Partnership Development for Time Wise Management Systems. “The M.O.S.T.® program identifies jobs prior to training, trains hard-to-serve populations for high¬-wage jobs with benefits, fills the existing skills gap, and has a job retention rate of 87%. It is a tremendous program that has been successfully implemented in Mississippi, Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Connecticut, Rhode Island and in Florida.”

For more information on the M.O.S.T.® program, visit www.timewisemost.com or contact Dr. Claudia Follet at 321-266-0677.

About Wheeled Coach
Wheeled Coach is a wholly owned subsidiary of Allied Specialty Vehicles. ASV, with revenues of approximately $1 billion, is a market leader in three industry segments: Fire & Emergency, Recreational Vehicles, and Bus & Industrial. The Company was formed on August 25, 2010, through the combination of four existing portfolio companies of American Industrial Partners: EONE, Inc., Collins Industries, Inc., Halcore Group Inc., and Fleetwood RV Inc. Within the Fire & Emergency segment, ASV offers an extensive line of fire apparatus and ambulances. Within the Recreational Vehicle segment, the Company produces Class A and Class C Recreational Vehicles under many of the industry’s iconic brand names. Within the Bus & Industrial segment, the Company produces Type A bus products for both the school and childcare markets as well as terminal trucks and street sweeper products. For more information, visit the Wheeled Coach website at www.wheeledcoach.com.

-END-

####