(Left to right) Claudia Green, executive director, English for New Bostonians; Rosalin Acosta, Secretary, Massachusetts Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development; Terri Pollman, human resource manager, United Electric; Paul Mucciarone, director of production, United Electric; John Pacheco, ESOL participant, United Electric; Louis Catatao, production supervisor, United Electric; Irene Chalek, director of NECC’s Center for Adult Education Programs and Practitioners; Nancy Tariot NECC’s Academic & Career Planning Advisor; and Patrick Liu, Northern Essex ESOL Instructor.

A workplace English as a Second Language Program that Northern Essex Community College’s Center for Corporate and Community Education developed for United Electric Controls (UEC) in Watertown has been recognized by New Bostonians (ENB), a nonprofit that helps immigrants learn English and pursue their dreams.

The Certificate of Recognition Award was presented by Massachusetts Secretary of Labor Rosalin Acosta at the “Raising Our Voices” breakfast in October.

The program was funded by a $202,000 Massachusetts Workforce Training Fund Grant. Northern Essex helped UEC, a manufacturer of safety alarm shutdown devices, apply for the grant.

Thirty production workers—one third of UEC’s production workforce— took part in the program which included a 240-hour ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages); a 40-hour Project Management Certification Preparation program; and mechanical design, ISO 9001, and welding training.

George Moriarty, executive director of NECC’s Center for Corporate and Community Education, nominated UEC for the award, writing “United Electric has exemplified leadership and commitment to their employees.  (As a result), there has been an increase in production employee confidence and an increase in morale and engagement.”

NECC’s Corporate and Community Education helps employers find solutions for affordable training, access federal and state training funds, or create customized training programs to assist in gaining workforce training grants.

For additional information Moriarty at gmoriarty@necc.mass.edu 978-556-3061.