Office of Governor Gary Locke
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - August 19, 2004
Contact:  Governor's Communications Office, 360-902-4136
Alt Contact:  Doug Roulstone, Thomas James International, 360-794-4448

Gov. Gary Locke Praises New Program to Boost Manufacturing Jobs in Puget Sound

Gov. Gary Locke today praised an innovative new program designed to better prepare Washington students to compete for quality manufacturing jobs in the Puget Sound area, and to help keep those jobs in the region.

“Educational Pathway Partnerships” works with public schools, community colleges and industries in Snohomish County to provide an integrated program that prepares young people for the high tech world of manufacturing.

“We encourage creative partnerships that give our students more of the knowledge and skills they need to obtain good-paying manufacturing jobs,” Locke said. “This resourceful new program will help our students be better prepared to compete in today’s global, high tech 21st century economy as well we help keep these jobs where they belong – here in the Puget Sound region.”

The “Educational Pathway Partnerships” program was developed by Doug Roulstone, senior vice president of business development at Thomas James International (TJI), LLC, in Monroe. TJI is a family of companies owned by service disabled veterans that offers world class manufacturing solutions, systems integration, kitting, and point of use delivery.

The plan is to open a state-of-the-art Computer Aided Design (CAD) and machine lab at Snohomish High School next month. Students will be able to earn articulated credits toward a college degree while accumulating hours of credit toward a journeyman machinist certificate. The lab will be equipped with the latest manufacturing software including CATIA V5, the newest aerospace software being used by The Boeing Company in the design of the 7E7 Dreamliner.

“This is the most advanced lab of its kind in the country,” Roulstone said. “The goal is to have K-12 and higher education partner with small businesses to provide the learning environment that produces highly qualified individuals well prepared to step directly into high-paying, family wage manufacturing jobs.”

Sponsors of the “Educational Pathway Partnerships” include: the Snohomish School District, Everett Community College, the Snohomish County WorkSource Development Council, Thomas James International, Damar Machine Company, Aerospace Manufacturing Technologies, National Tooling and Machining Association, and the IBM/HEAT program.

Roulstone said they are planning similar programs for composites, nanotechnology, biotech and other related fields in the near future.

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