Hopeworks in Camden recently announced new externship partner with IABCN member company, Therm-Omega-Tech, Inc. Therm-Omega-Tech, Inc. is an industry expert and leading manufacturer of custom thermostatic valves, actuators and controls serving domestic and international markets for over twenty-five years. Jim Logue, the owner of Therm-Omega Tech, in partnership with Hopeworks, has developed an externship process first piloted last year that allows youth to travel to his Warminster, PA facility, experience real life work on a manufacturing floor, and receive on-the-job mentoring with his experienced staff.
This new externship — operating on an extended 6-month time frame rather than the traditional 3-month internship — allows youth to gain real world experience in a growing sector in this region. In addition, the intensive externship process, along with extensive support from Hopeworks’ Formation Department, allows youth to experience a career pathway many of them may have never thought about.
Jim Logue attributes this great partnership to him being introduced to Fr. Jeff Putthoff, Director of Hopeworks, at the 2013 Ambassador Awards Luncheon. Long time Board members and IABCN supporters, Jim McLaughlin and Rich Meehan, invited Fr. Jeff to the luncheon and made sure to introduce him to many fellow members. After their initial introduction, Fr. Jeff invited Jim and his wife to visit Hopeworks, which they did last spring. After the visit, Jim approached Fr. Jeff about developing an internship program with Therm-Omega-Tech, Inc. The program is now on its second round interns. It is open to both young men and women who work for 6 months, and has resulted in the hiring of one young lady who recently completed her program at Hopeworks.