Click on the link above and see a story on CNN about White Collar jobs turn into Blue Collar Work.

Spanish Training for the Refrigeration Industry: 

With  the significant growth of the Latino workforce comes the need for Spanish-language training.

“GCAP NEW” Spanish Course: 2010-2011
Tyler Ramos  (Center picture first on right) has become a full time staff member that has fulfilled a weakness in our training program. Mr. Ramos comes to us from Tyson’s with over 20 years experience in the mechanical, refrigeration, and engineering for food processing plants. He has worked for me in the late 90’s for close to 3 years and is one of the best field operators/trainers in the industry. We are very please with the return to our staff and very excised about the growth and dedication that he brings to the table. We are so excited to provide the only industrial refrigeration program in the industry with a Spanish Instructor.
Our customer base is changing. We still deal with many of the same companies when it comes to training, but those companies have changed internally. We work hand and hand with the Spanish/Latino operators to help make them aware of the safeties and operational skill that are needed to become an entrée level operator. We can help with some reading disability on test day and we offer a return program at no cost to our customers if the student need more time to understand the training. We like to have the operators to read 8th grade level English so they can return and follow companies’ standards. If your company use Spanish SOPS only. We need to put this student in a special course that is lab with an “S” (Spanish RETA Book One is used) (Operator One S) We do three of four a year, and as the demand grow, more will be added.
What once was an experienced English-speaking work force has gradually shifted toward a younger work force that doesn't necessarily speak English as its first language. Nearly one out of every four construction workers in the United States today is Latino, and the percentage and the absolute number of Latino construction workers, plant mechanics, particularly non-native Latinos, is growing. Unfortunately, more than two thirds of construction-related accidents occur among these workers.
To help ensure that workers are able to operate systems, we have a responsibility to offer appropriate training. While training in both English and Spanish is not mandatory, your company should strongly consider providing operator safety training in both languages as a service to your employees and to help reduce accidents.
The main reason for providing an English/Spanish-language training course is increased student comprehension. Students understand more when materials are presented in the language they are most familiar with. For instance, if you were to speak Spanish as a second language, could you follow a training course delivered in Spanish and feel as confident as you would if you received that same course in English?
When developing or implementing any training program, it should be the industry's shared desire to ensure that training is available and conducted on a consistent basis. Many translators are not aware of technical terms or construction practices. There are also several Spanish dialects that need to be considered. There can also be a cultural difference when delivering training. English training practices are a bit rigid. Spanish speakers generally respond best to a highly interactive, collaborative environment. A more lively presentation of material is more effective. So, our mission is to develop an excellent, English/Spanish language operator training program for 2010 is a top priority. The bottom line is that the fail rate for non specking operators is very high. Industrial Ammonia Refrigeration systems are in the technical field and it takes a lot of work to be successful. But if the student is capable to learn, we should be capable to teach. Operators need strong mechanical aptitude, basic mechanical shills and knowledge of machinery, basic electrical skills, basic communication skills, basic math skills Basic computer skills. This is what is listed in the iiar standard for good operators.

"HOT NEW LINKS BELOW"

A new web site to discuss refrigeration problems or new story's about ammonia will be found at www.Linkedin.com   

Look up "AMMONIA REFRIGERATION OPERATORS" and you will find our web site. Come join our group!

Third Program Under Way at GCAP  Chiller Centrifugal Compressor Training (HVAC) With the Boiler Program up running. We are working of the third phase of our training expansion. We have started collecting water chillers for the advance Freon-Commercial Training that will be started in the spring of 2010. We are so excited on the 5 live system that will be part of this training.

NEW approach to success in training seminars. We have partnered with Telemedia Inc. Their products and services have been used at more than 35,000 client sites around the world, to train more than 3,200,000 skilled workers.  Their strength lies in the diverse talents and expertise of their professional staff; their ability to implement highly successful training programs on any scale, anywhere in the world; and in their unique blend of high-quality training products, state-of-the-art learning management systems, and professional services specifically designed for today's industrial training challenges.  We are excited about this new direction that will lead us to provide the most up to date training for the industry.   As in the past, upon completion of our courses you will receive the Garden City Ammonia Program certificate that certifies that the operator has attended and scored a passing grade and has demonstrated skill levels with hands-on training. We will now offer the new GCAP written exam developed by Telemedia Inc. In this transition we will be offering 4 and 5 day courses.  The 4 day course will include the "Telemedia/GCAP" written exam.  The 5 day course will include the "Telemedia/GCAP" written exam and the "RETA CARO or CIRO" Computer Certification exam. Too many people are confusing the RETA book test as the certification test.   GCAP 4 day seminar Operator I, II, or III priced at $1,285.00 with our examination. GCAP 4 day seminar Operator I, II, or III  priced at $1,285.00 with one of RETA's certification examination  (CARO or CIRO) at the end of course.  Add $390.00 for RETA members or $560.00 for non members.  RETA's certification exams must be taken on the 5th day. The RETA Certification Exams (CARO, CIRO) can still be obtained while attending any of our courses. These certification exams are very challenging.  Please keep in mind additional preparation is needed to score a passing grade. We feel one year of experience and additional training can help you be successful in obtaining the CARO certification though no experience is necessary to attempt the exam.  Two years experience is required in order to obtain the CIRO certification. Contact our office for further information.  http://www.reta.com/certification/index.htm    Over 271 different companies, that have ammonia refrigeration, use GCAP for their training needs and rely on quality training during the seminars with continued support after the training. When operators take our courses we emphasize the training does not stop once you leave our facility, it just begins. The material used in our courses are hand selected to achieve maximum standard for student performance in their career of Industrial Refrigeration. This support will help the operator to take what they learned in this training and use in their daily operation and procedures back at their plant. Additional material is provided and given to the student to prepare them for their return training at the next level. All profit of our program goes back into Industrial Training. The new DVD's that are coming out for in-house support and training is at no cost to our customers. Contact us for your copies, or email a request to ammonia@pld.com   We look forward to assisting you with your ammonia training needs.      GCAP's

New Hands-On Boiler Training Program  Operator One is up and running.     web site is at: www.BoilerLicense.com   ALL 5 Systems On Line For Training "Largest Hands-On training facility for Boilers in the United States"

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GCAP's PSM/RMP Awareness Video is ready. 

Contact us today for your copy!

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May 7-9, 2009

Dear Randy Williams and Garden City Ammonia Program    

I would like to thank you for the sponsorship of Garden City Ammonia Program to the IIR Conference on Ammonia Refrigeration Technology held from 7 to 9 of May 2009 in Ohrid.
Even though the global economic crisis and flu epidemic the conference was very successful attended by 95 experts from 24 countries. Information are announced on more than 70 websites, many journals and newsletters.

The conference website now is redesigned and updated, you can find the final programme, list of participants and a photo gallery from the conference.

Thank you for your cooperation and look forward for your team to attend our next conference.

Best regards,
Risto Ciconkov
ristoci@ukim.edu.mk
www.mf.edu.mk/web_ohrid2009/ohrid-2009.html  - Conference web site

Johnson Controls, GEA, BAC, MYCON, Evapco, LU-VE, and GCAP Major Sponsors

Keynote Speakers

Final programme.pdf (download)

	Anders Lindborg, Sweden, Ammonia Partnership AB Honorary member of IIR Commission D1, "Risk analysis in ammonia refrigeration"		Predrag Hrnjak, USA, University of Illinois Secretary of IIR Commission E2, IIAR Board of Directors, "Charge minimization in small systems – opportunity for expanding use of ammonia as refrigerant"
	Andy Pearson, UK, Star Refrigeration Ltd Member of IIR Commission E1, IIAR Board of Directors, "Making the case for heat pumps with Ammonia and Carbon Dioxide"		Nelson Mugabi, Japan, MYCOM, Mayekawa Mfg Co.,Ltd. "Ammonia semi-hermetic and hermetic compressor packages"
	Gert Koster, Netherlands, Grasso International B.V. GEA Group Member of IIR Commission B2, "Modernization of ammonia refrigerating systems in view of reliability, safety, energy consumption and environmental issues"		Special guest: Lambert Kuijpers, Netherlands, Technical University Eindhoven Co-chair UNEP TEAP / Refrigeration Committee; IPCC AR4, "2010-2020: a new decade of changes in refrigeration and air conditioning"
	Experts from well known companies
	Alexander Pachai, Denmark, Johnson Controls Denmark ApS Business Development Manager, "Ammonia safety by design and maintenance"		Stefano Filippini, Italy, LU-VE Group R&D Manager, "A new generation of ammonia unit coolers"
	Rob Vandenboer, Belgium, Evapco Europe NV Product Manager, "Selecting evaporative condensers for optimum system efficiency"

MAIN TOPICS OF THE CONFERENCE

April 24, 2009 

ASTI- iiar-CRS-GCAP LLC   Sponsors   

First Ammonia Safety Day @ Kansas City, MO- Ks.  KCI & Expo Center:  7:30 AM - 4:00 PM Holiday Inn, 11730 North Ambassador Dr.

Operators and guests had plenty of time to visit with the vendors that helped with the Ammonia Safety Day.	Gary Smith (President of ASTI) narrated the ammonia release that was preformed at the end of the day.
Steve Rucker and Jeremy Williams help support the safety day from GCAP by monitoring and taking air samples during the demonstrations.	Over 100 attendees enjoyed the  days activities that were presented at the first Ammonia Safety Day in Kansas City.

Kent Anderson (Past President of iiar on the left) Mike Chapman (Tyson PSM Manager on the right) Perform the ammonia release and demonstrations at the Ammonia Safety Day.	Don Fenton (K- State Instructor) picture front row center, waits for his turn to lecture at the safety day. In the audience that attended included OSHA, EPA, and many safety managers from various plants and facilities.        New Story about the event is coming soon! Thanks to everyone that came to the event. Randy Williams