Families, friends, and representatives from Hired, Minnesota Department of Economic Development (DEED), Normandale Community College, Polar Semiconductor, Seagate and Skywater Technology gathered on the campus of Normandale to celebrate 16 graduates from the inaugural Semiconductor Technician Career Pathways Program.
The earn-and-learn program was funded by Drive for Five, a competitive grant from DEED. Participants engaged in 10 months of work, readiness, college credit, and pre-apprenticeship career training in advanced manufacturing.
“This is such a pivotal effort, because it brings government, education, and industry to the table to solve some of these harder problems to make sure we are getting workers into the workforce,” said Marc Majors, Deputy Commissioner for Workforce Development for DEED. “Thank you to all of the partners who played a key role in making sure this program happens. Congratulations to the graduates for believing in themselves, persevering, and creating a pathway that can lead to a career. This is a career with family sustainable wages, and one that will help you build generational wealth for your family moving forward.”
The program started with career discovery sessions, including a three-week job readiness course with Hired, and moved into paid pre-apprenticeships with one of the three employee partners (Polar Semiconductor, Seagate Technology, Skywater Technology).
“What is great about coming together in this way of a customized, and really entrepreneurial career pathway, is that its accelerating training through an earn-and-learn model to help people succeed,” said Hired CEO Julie Brekke. “You have all the partners at the table who are really caring about the participant/intern experience, and what happens next. It is about career exposure and discovery. We are here to support people to be successful, and it takes amazing partners like this to do it together.”
As the educational partners, Normandale provided 12 college credit courses for the participants while they were working. The graduates had a chance to earn a Certified Production Technician (CPT) credential, which provides long-term career options for them in Minnesota’s growing semiconductor and advanced manufacturing sectors.
“This is a perfect example of everyone coming together to lift our community and support all of the graduates,” said Normandale Community College Interim President Pakou Yang. “Normandale is deeply committed to workforce development and making sure we are serving our business, industry partners and community needs.”
Program graduate Daniel Sanchez went to high school at Cretin Derham Hall and worked as a waiter and supervisor at La Grolla restaurant on Cathedral Hill. He was unsure of the direction of his career, but knew he wanted to study in college and wanted to work in technology.
While he was looking around for a program and opportunity, he stumbled on to Hired offering a program called Semiconductor Advanced Manufacturing with an opportunity to work an apprenticeship in the semiconductor industry and started the program in July 2024.
“This was a great opportunity, as I wanted to study while I was working and contribute towards a career path,” said Sanchez.
With excitement, he entered the cleanroom as an operator. Sanchez was enamored by the innerworkings of the cleanroom and all the moving parts around it. Handling and working with the semiconductor wafers was compelling, as it is found in all types of technology products today, and continues to innovate future products.
As the internship neared its end, he was exposed to a lot of great opportunities within the company. Sanchez is currently in the process of becoming a technician.
“I want to continue to contribute to the semiconductor industry, as it is a dynamic field that is growing here in Minnesota’s technology sector,” said Sanchez. “It has been about a year since I started this program, which is a great opportunity. We started as students, but are now contributors to a vital industry. At Seagate (my employer), we didn’t just learn how chips were made, but how great teams work, problems are solved, and how innovation never sleeps.”
“I also appreciated the training and education from Normandale, Hired’s support and guidance along the way, the State of Minnesota, Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED), and local leadership, who helped in our success and invested in the workforce.”
“We started with something that began with this Chips Act over two years ago,” said Polar Semiconductor former Senior Director of Human Resources Deborah Roberts. “The “Drive for Five grant brought us all under the same arch, and gave us something to work with for funding, a concept and a vision. We brought all of those partners together, and started bringing ideas and concepts out, and knowledge-share. There were three phases, which started with the first part of showing someone what the job would entail and culminated in the third phase of support for a long-term placement to start a career. It is emotional to see the first graduation milestone, and to feel and hear what it was like for everyone who went through the program. We appreciate and celebrate all of the individuals who have graduated from the program, and the courage it took to make the decision to pursue it.”
All 16 graduates are launching new careers, including offers of new roles with the three employee partners. This partnership was founded on all of the partner’s mutual desires to ensure that everyone has access to a job with family-sustaining wages, a chance to pursue a career they are passionate about, and the opportunity to build wealth for future generations. It also aligns with Normandale’s values of limitless human potential realized.
“This program has shown us what is possible when targeted training is paired with comprehensive support,” said Principal Program Manager of Seagate Technology Katie Staub. “It has opened doors to meaningful careers, and helped strengthen the foundation of our local workforce. All of the flexibility and resilience of the graduates during this pilot program has been truly commendable. As with any first-time program, there have been moments of learning and a few roadblocks along the way, but the graduate’s adaptability and commitment and willingness to grow with us was instrumental in making this program a success.”
Before joining the Semiconductor program, Mue Hsae was working full-time as a youth career coach at a non-profit organization after graduating high school. She had always wanted to help people and build a career around STEM.
“I actually already knew about the Semiconductor program before I joined, but I was committed to my job, and I couldn’t join the program at the time,” said Mue Hsae “Then I found out that funding got cut, and I was laid off. I quickly realized it was the perfect opportunity to finally pursue something aligned with my long-time interests.”
Mue Hsae Klue joined the program through Hired and had a great experience.
“Throughout this program, I felt supported by Hired,” said Klue. “They helped me with gas money, prepared us for interviews, and even took us shopping for professional clothes so we could show up feeling confident. People who take time to do that are people who truly care. When I got my internship offer to join Seagate. I thought the support would stop but I was wrong. Chan (Xiong), from Hired, continued to check in on me, and help me overcome challenges that were holding me back.”
“I felt so supported by Seagate throughout my internship. My managers and operators always cheered me on. I really appreciate the time they all took. There were challenges at times, but Chan was there to remind me of my goals and how this would help me. He was right. Throughout the program I built grit and perseverance.”
Mue Hsae recently accepted a full-time job at Seagate as a production control clerk.
“I love what I do, I get to work both independently and as a team, and I am actively working towards a degree in computer engineering,” said Klue.
She feels her position as production clerk at Seagate will make her a strong candidate in the engineering field.
“I want to thank everyone who helped make this program and experience possible,” said Klue. “It has made my vision for the future clear, and within reach. I do want you to know all of the investment, time and resources you put into this will have a big impact.”
You can find out more about this and other customized training programs by going normandale.edu/continuingeducation.
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