The Alcan Cable Roseburg plant has partnered with Umpqua Community College to establish the Career Linking program, a long-term educational initiative to prepare youth at secondary schools in Douglas County for employment.

“The project’s goal is to facilitate future recruitment opportunities for Alcan Cable Roseburg and the region’s business community,” said Sean Milner, Plant Manager, Alcan Roseburg. “Jobs will range from entry-level production to skilled professions such as electricians and millwrights as well as college-level engineer positions.”

As the first of its kind in Oregon, the Career Linking program assists instructors in developing classroom curriculum at the junior high level that will be directly linked to high school courses, then to specific college degree programs.  The program hopes to gain future participation and support from other local businesses to ensure the sustainability of the project.

In June, Sean Milner, Plant Manager at the Alcan Roseburg facility, presented Blaine Nissian, President of Umpqua Community College, with a $32,000 check to kickoff the Career Linking program.

A two-day summit for junior high, high school and Umpqua Community College instructors will be held October 8 & 9 at the UCC campus.  The summit will assist the teachers in applying Alcan Cable values, job skills and manufacturing processes to classroom curriculum.  As a direct result of this partnership with UCC, Alcan Cable managers will assist with developing Lean Manufacturing course material and act as instructors for the course.

“The Career Linking program would not be possible without the support of Tom Thompson, State Representative and Javier Ayala, the Director of Curriculum and Instruction at Umpqua Community College,” says Louise Jones, Human Resource Manager, Alcan Cable Roseburg.

Alcan Cable manufactures aluminum bare overhead cable, low voltage insulated service cable and building wire products for the utility, residential and commercial construction markets. As a recognized supplier of wire and cable to the U.S. and Canadian markets, the Roseburg facility is responsive to the needs of its many customers and to the community in which we do business.

About Rio Tinto

Rio Tinto is a leading international mining group headquartered in the UK, combining Rio Tinto plc, a London and NYSE listed company, and Rio Tinto Limited, which is listed on the Australian Securities Exchange.

Rio Tinto's business is finding, mining, and processing mineral resources. Major products are aluminium, copper, diamonds, energy (coal and uranium), gold, industrial minerals (borax, titanium dioxide, salt, talc) and iron ore. Activities span the world but are strongly represented in Australia and North America with significant businesses in South America, Asia, Europe and southern Africa.

For further information, please contact:

Rio Tinto Alcan Cable, Roseburg
Louise Jones
Tel.: +1 541 440 6607
louise.jones@alcan.com 

Rio Tinto Alcan, Montreal
Stefano Bertolli
Tel.: +1 514 848 8151
stefano.bertolli@riotinto.com

Website: www.riotinto.com/riotintoalcan     www.cable.alcan.com