Linde Expands Skills Pipeline™ Workforce Development Program in Louisiana with U.S. Army
Guildford, UK, May 3, 2019 - Linde (NYSE:LIN; FWB:LIN) announced today that its subsidiary, Praxair, Inc., has expanded its Skills Pipeline workforce development program in collaboration with Central Louisiana Technical Community College (CLTCC) in Alexandria and the U.S. Army installation at Fort Polk. The new Army Career Skills Program, which began in February, provides professional truck driving scholarships to soldiers who are transitioning back to civilian life. The program is the first in the Skills Pipeline family to be solely focused on veterans.
Praxair provided a gift of $145,000 to launch the program and has plans to begin a second cohort in June. The company has invested nearly $2 million in all Skills Pipeline programs in welding, advanced manufacturing and professional truck driving since 2014.
The curriculum includes Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) training and the opportunity to obtain haz-mat and tanker endorsements relevant to work in the chemical industry. Additionally, the program offers instructorships, professional development and career-readiness content from the company, including from some of the company’s veteran employees.
“We are thrilled to provide military personnel transitioning from the armed services with meaningful opportunities as they return home,” said Dr. Anne Roby, executive vice president. “Drivers are an essential part of our team and we are focused on developing a diverse pipeline of talented professionals to ensure we meet the needs of our customers. We are very proud of the hard work of the veterans graduating in this first cohort.”
“We are happy to include Praxair as part of our overall education services programs here at Polk,” said U.S. Army Command Sergeant Major Jerry Dodson. “Through our programs, we strive to offer soldiers quality educational services both during their time on active duty and during their transition into the civilian job market. We are confident that Praxair will be a positive addition to our education services program.”
This program joins other successful Skills Pipeline programs, including the inaugural program with Louisiana colleges. “Today, thanks to Praxair, we have graduates working and earning competitive wages,” said Monty Sullivan, president of the Louisiana Community and Technical College System. “Many of whom would not have had the opportunity to attend college. Their lives and families have greatly benefitted from Praxair’s support.”
About Linde plc
Linde plc is a leading industrial gas and engineering company with market capitalization of approximately USD 90 billion (EUR 78 billion) and 2017 pro forma sales of USD 27 billion (EUR 24 billion). The company employs approximately 80,000 people globally and serves customers in more than 100 countries worldwide. Linde plc delivers innovative and sustainable solutions to its customers and creates long-term value for all stakeholders. The company is making our world more productive by providing products, technologies and services that help customers improve their economic and environmental performance in a connected world.
For more information about the merger, please visit www.lindeplc.com.