Regional Maritime Training System Takes Part in Richmond’s NASCAR Weekend

RICHMOND, VA (Aug. 7, 2024) — The Regional Maritime Training System (RMTS) is excited to announce its participation in the NASCAR Race Weekend at Richmond Raceway on Aug. 10-11. Invited by sponsors RFK Racing and BuildSubmarines.com, RMTS is using this event to spotlight the dynamic career opportunities available in the maritime industry as it also recognizes Eamon Kane, a recent graduate of a 90-day welding internship at Q.E.D. Systems Inc., a partner of the RMTS led by the Hampton Roads Workforce Council (HRWC).

During the weekend’s events, RMTS will highlight the career opportunities available in the skilled trade and maritime industries, especially in the Hampton Roads, Virginia, region, where local employers currently need to fill more than 11,000 such jobs.

“Our goal is to connect with people and demonstrate the exciting and rewarding possibilities within the maritime industry and skilled trade jobs. We aim to reach a diverse audience and inspire future leaders in these fields,” said HRWC CEO and President Shawn Avery. “And what better time to do such than by partnering with these organizations at NASCAR and participating in such an exciting weekend of races and events!”

In 2023, RFK Racing entered a partnership with BlueForge Alliance, the nonprofit integrator for the U.S. Navy’s Submarine Industrial Base Program, and its BuildSubmarines.com initiative to reinvigorate America’s manufacturing workforce and promote the wide array of career opportunities across the nation to NASCAR’s fan base. Through the multi-year agreement, BuildSubmarines.com was featured as a primary partner for 10 races across RFK’s two NASCAR Cup Series (NCS) teams in 2023 and in 18 races per season beginning this 2024. This includes activations at multiple NASCAR events such as this one with RMTS.

For this weekend’s activation, RMTS is teaming with Tidewater Community College to host side by side booths in the FanZone both Saturday and Sunday. At RMTS’s booth, representatives will be available to share information and speak about various job and career opportunities in the field, and the TCC booth will host a welding simulator for attendees to test out.

In addition, another highlight of the weekend will be a surprise recognition of Kane. Featured this week on the Build Submarines website, Kane shares how he initially was not planning on a career in skilled labor. But through his internship and mentoring from Kearny Fox, a veteran in the welding industry, a passion for the craft and industry was birthed and nurtured into direct path toward a stable and rewarding career.

This weekend’s celebration will underscore the impact everyone, including young professionals like Kane, can have and motivate others to consider a career in this vital sector.

About Regional Maritime Training System

Led by the Hampton Roads Workforce Council (HRWC), the Regional Maritime Training System (RMTS) is a collaborative coalition of businesses, training providers, educational institutions and community organizations working together to enhance and grow the pipeline of talent in the Hampton Roads maritime industry. The service areas covered by the HRWC includes 27 independent localities in Southeastern Virginia and Northeastern North Carolina, with a total of 1.9 million residents. For more information, visit the RMTS website.

About Hampton Roads Workforce Council

Established by the Hampton Roads Workforce Development Board, the Hampton Roads Workforce Council (HRWC) oversees federally funded workforce development programs for all localities in the Hampton Roads region. The HRWC provides strategic workforce development solutions designed to assist businesses in accessing qualified workers and job seekers in search of suitable job openings and training opportunities to bolster their earning potential. To learn more, visit the HRWC website.