TOLEDO, Ohio — The Ternion Training and Education Center is being recognized for their outstanding leadership in Toledo.
According to its founder Stephanie Boutte-Phillips, hundreds of students from underserved communities are graduating with trade skills and moving into lucrative, rewarding careers.
Boutte said the organization's goal is to help develop communities with training future employees in a variety of skills.
"Anytime you put people to work and you train them, crime goes down and home ownership goes up. Some of my students are making six figures right now in fiber optics and HVAC," Boutte-Phillips said. "So that's our goal: to build the economic growth in communities that are marginalized and underestimated."
Boutte-Phillips has several schools throughout the country, and she says she is opening a new school in Africa soon. The Ternion Training and Education Center Toledo campus was created three years ago.
"One of the things I've noticed since I've been in Toledo is that there are whole communities that have been left behind. I call them underestimated. I go in I share with them the training programs that we have, and I see what the disparities are. It's a matter of self-sufficiency," said the Ternion Training and Education Center Founder.
You have to have a high school diploma or GED to attend the school, but after a $25 admission fee, the program is free for students.
"The companies that we work with, they hire our students, and they bring in their equipment and they actually come in to train them," said Boutte.
She said hundreds of students from underserved and underestimated communities have graduated out of their programs with certifications and jobs.
"Everything that we do is a micro-credential. So, nobody can graduate without getting a certified training program. Our fiber optics become master installers. Our HVAC become NCCR accredited and certified, and they get their EPA certification so they can work anywhere they want to. My students literally can build a unit. I watch them and I get excited," said Boutte-Phillips.
At the Ternion Training and Education Center you can also receive trade certifications in Carpentry, medical assistance, phlebotomy, accounting.
"We are introducing our pilot drone certification program in the next two weeks at our Houston location and here," said Boutte-Phillips.
Boutte-Phillips said she was nominated and will be receiving the Redtail Pioneers Award during the city of Lima's Community Enrichment Dinner. She said it's a prestigious award for her work in the community and the founder of the award came to Toledo to announce their win. She says the organization will be announcing more on the award ceremony in the coming weeks.
Boutte-Phillips said she will receive the community award on Nov. 2.
"I've been doing this for 30 years so to be recognized for my passion and my work in communities across the country means a lot to me," said Boutte-Phillips.