Greater Hazleton CAN DO partnered with Johnson College to address the area’s growing educational, economic, and industrial needs. Together, they are spearheading plans to introduce the college’s first-ever satellite campus, Johnson College at the CAN DO Training Center, located in Hazleton’s Humboldt Industrial Park.
Executives and board members from Johnson College and CAN DO, Inc. held a press conference on Wednesday, February 1st, 2023, at the college’s future campus: a 30,000-sq.ft. industrial facility that formerly housed the McCann School of Business and Technology. Dr. Katie Leonard, President and CEO of Johnson College, led the presentation and was followed by key members of the partnership, including Joseph Lettiere, President and CEO of CAN DO; Charles Burkhardt, Chair of the CAN DO Board of Directors; and Pat Dietz, Chair of the Johnson College Board of Directors. Strategic partners were also joined by local state officials, Senator David Argall representing Pennsylvania 29th Senatorial District and State Representative Dane Watro representing Pennsylvania 116th Legislative District. During the press conference, Johnson College and CAN DO representatives announced exciting details about the new campus and its positive impact on the local community and workforce.
CAN DO President & CEO Joseph Lettiere said, “For many years, CAN DO has worked to bring a technical school to Greater Hazleton to assist in improving the area’s access to career-ready job training. As an economic development organization, it is our mission to improve the quality of life in Greater Hazleton through the creation and retention of a full range of employment opportunities and I strongly believe that the programs Johnson College plans to offer truly move the needle for our community through access to future careers that provide family-sustaining wages.”
The goal for this new campus is to create unique and accessible academic experiences for students – in partnership with industry – to prepare them for careers in the Hazleton region and beyond. With the campus’s strategic location within the Humboldt Industrial Park, Johnson College graduates will have direct access to over 60 industries currently employing over 10,000 people.
“We have heard from area employers, and the programs that will be offered here are built to meet their needs,” Dr. Leonard said. “We look forward to hearing from the Greater Hazleton community in terms of how this building can once again become an asset that we all share. We are here to help meet the needs of our friends and neighbors in this great community.”
Johnson College at the CAN DO Training Center will offer an array of certificate and degree programs beginning in late August 2023, pending approval by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education. These programs, which correspond directly to industry needs within the area, will include academic certificates in Welding Technology, Industrial Technology, and Building & Property Maintenance and an associate degree in Electrical Construction Technology.
Additionally, the college will also offer continuing education certificates in Medical Assistant, Computer User Support & Security Specialist, and Class A CDL Driver Training. Students will be able to complete all programs and certificates at the Hazleton campus.
For more information about these upcoming programs, visit johnson.edu/Hazleton.
