CHOCTAW, Miss. — The Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians, in partnership with East Central Community College, is offering classes to Tribal employees that will allow them to obtain NCCER Certification. The National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER) provides standardized credentialing recognized nationwide for those working in the construction, maintenance, and pipeline industries.

“We performed an assessment with the directors in each of our maintenance departments, and it revealed that the primary need for training was in the area of HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning),” says Sarah Medlock, Operations Manager for the MBCI Office of Economic Development. “We immediately began developing a program to meet that need and this partnership with ECCC allows us to offer the necessary training along with national certification credentials for our employees.”

Currently, classes are being offered for HVAC and Electrical certification programs. Fifteen Tribal employees are going through the training, representing various entities including Pearl River Resort, MBCI Tribal Maintenance, Choctaw Health Center, and Choctaw Tribal Schools.

Brian Robinson, an engineer with the Tribe, is a certified NCCER instructor and will teach both the HVAC and electrical courses. “We are very pleased that one of our Tribal employees has become certified to teach the classes and are excited about the possibilities for advancement the classes will offer our Tribal members,” said Medlock.

“Not only does this training provide personal advancement for the individuals, it also allows the MBCI to be more self-sufficient, as we are able to perform maintenance issues ourselves. Our ongoing mission is to educate, train, and provide career opportunities for our members.”

As one of the United States’ original first nations, the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians is the only federally recognized American Indian tribe living within the State of Mississippi. With over 11,000 members, Choctaw lands cover over 35,000 acres in 10 counties. Providing permanent, full-time jobs for over 5,000 Tribal-member and non-Indian employees, the Tribe is a major contributor to the state’s economy.