In the 1970s, Hampden Papers President Robert Fowler needed just 10 minutes to train an employee who spoke no English. To operate the machine, there were two buttons, a red and a green. In the last decade, all that has changed.
New machines require new skills and training.
Without the machines, his company would not be able to remain competitive, Fowler said. That is why the ACT Center, which opened its doors at Holyoke Community College last Friday, is important, said Fowler, who spoke during a ceremony for the opening event. The center, the second of its kind to open in the country, provides employers with testing and training services for their employees. It was known until 1996 as the American College Testing Program, which evolved from the Iowa Tests of Educational Development at the University of Iowa. The center is offering training on a range of topics, from computer skills, industrial technology, English as a Second language and small business operations.