Lincoln Tech and Johnson Controls Launch New Career Pathways Program to Close the Skills Gap

• Innovative Johnson Controls Academy provides six weeks of intensive training toward full-time employment, as well as housing near the Lincoln Tech campus in Columbia, Maryland
• Participants transition to Johnson Controls field locations throughout the United States upon completion of the program, with relocation assistance provided 
• The program is designed to tackle the skilled-labor gap through hands-on training that develops new and rewarding career pathways

MILWAUKEE and COLUMBIA, Md., Feb. 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Lincoln Educational Services Corporation (NASDAQ: LINC) and Johnson Controls, the global leader for smart, healthy and sustainable buildings, announced the launch of the Johnson Controls Academy, a six-week intensive training program focused on developing the next generation of building technicians. The program, based at Lincoln Tech'sColumbia, Maryland campus, was created to provide a pathway to employment at Johnson Controls locations throughout the United States. Johnson Controls supports the students with on-site housing and relocation packages and plans to onboard approximately 130 new technicians or more each year.

"Johnson Controls has been an exemplary partner with us since the beginning," says Scott Shaw, President and CEO, Lincoln Tech. "It was exciting to be able to start this relationship with them almost five years ago, and it's extremely gratifying to see how they, in turn, are supporting our students and graduates. The Johnson Controls Academy is an innovative, forward-thinking solution to the hiring challenges many employers face today – and we're proud to be able to host it at a Lincoln campus."

The program welcomes applicants from diverse backgrounds -- from military veterans to adult learners -- and has already graduated three classes of participants who have been placed in Johnson Controls technician roles throughout the U.S. including California, Florida, Virginia, Illinois and Nebraska. This hands-on learning opportunity builds upon Lincoln Tech's Electrical and Electronic Systems Technology (EEST) education for participants and prepares them for real-life experiences in the field. Housing is paid for by Johnson Controls for the full six weeks. Following completion of the Johnson Controls Academy program, new technicians' relocation expenses when moving to the location of their new, full-time job are also supported by Johnson Controls.

"Johnson Controls Academy graduates are on track to become the next generation of innovators with the digital and technical knowledge to overcome our industry's biggest challenges," said Mike Schade, Vice President, Human Resources, Building Solutions North America, Johnson Controls. "Program participants are problem solvers, creative thinkers and are eager to enter a field with great demand, secure career opportunities and the potential for professional advancement. The skilled-trade gap continues to widen, but we are closing it one career at a time."

Lincoln Tech and Johnson Controls' partnership comes at a crucial time for the industry. An influx of trade professionals are expected to leave the labor force to change careers or retire, leading to a projection of nearly 10,000 job openings per year over the next decade. Recent years have seen a scarcity of candidates with the specialized skill sets needed to succeed in these roles. This workforce disparity slows innovation and negatively impacts the public and private organizations who depend on building technology leaders for critical infrastructure maintenance. Johnson Controls Academy offers the opportunity to bridge the gap by igniting passion for hands-on work and investing in a future-ready workforce.

"The Johnson Controls-Lincoln Tech relationship is a premier partnership and a way for us to strategically build a pipeline of skilled trade technicians ready to enter the workforce," says Alison Neuman, Program Manager of Workforce Development, Johnson Controls North America. "Establishing the Johnson Controls Academy was an idea that started in 2020 during the pandemic. We needed a model for quick skills-based learning for fields with a growing need. The existing partnership with Lincoln Tech was the key to making it happen."

Johnson Controls' investment in workforce development begins at the K-12 level and continues throughout its employees' careers. To provide a smooth onboarding, Johnson Controls Academy employees are provided a retention coach for a year post graduation. Since 2018, Johnson Controls has sponsored Lincoln Tech classrooms with industry-standard equipment and technology, empowering students at the career training school to reap the benefits of real-world learning.

About Lincoln Educational Services Corporation 
Lincoln Educational Services Corporation is a leading provider of diversified career-oriented post-secondary education. Lincoln offers recent high school graduates and working adults career-oriented programs in five principal areas of study: automotive technology, health sciences, skilled trades, information technology, and hospitality services. Lincoln has provided the workforce with skilled technicians since its inception in 1946. 

Lincoln currently operates 22 campuses in 14 states under four brands: Lincoln Technical Institute, Lincoln College of Technology, and Euphoria Institute of Beauty Arts and Sciences.  Lincoln also operates Lincoln Culinary Institute in the states of Connecticut and Maryland.

To learn more about Lincoln Tech visit: https://www.LincolnTech.edu

About Johnson Controls    
At Johnson Controls (NYSE:JCI), we transform the environments where people live, work, learn and play. As the global leader in smart, healthy and sustainable buildings, our mission is to reimagine the performance of buildings to serve people, places and the planet. 

Building on a proud history of nearly 140 years of innovation, we deliver the blueprint of the future for industries such as healthcare, schools, data centers, airports, stadiums, manufacturing and beyond through OpenBlue, our comprehensive digital offering. 

Today, with a global team of 100,000 experts in more than 150 countries, Johnson Controls offers the world's largest portfolio of building technology and software as well as service solutions from some of the most trusted names in the industry. 

Visit https://www.johnsoncontrols.com for more information and follow @Johnson Controls on social platforms. 

Contact:
Kari Pfisterer
4142171488
kari.b.pfisterer@jci.com

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SOURCE Johnson Controls International plc