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Nick Martocci, founding father of Tower Coaching Academy and former Marine, joins the podcast to debate his program that gives complete wind turbine technician coaching with profession growth assist and job placement help. With an accredited apprenticeship program accredited by the Division of Labor, Tower Coaching Academy is well-positioned to assist meet the rising demand for expert technicians within the wind power business. Go to for more information!
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Allen Corridor: Welcome to the particular version of the Uptime Wind Power Podcast. I’m your host, Allen Corridor, and I’m right here with the Chief Business Officer at Climate Guard, Joel Saxum. We’re in San Diego at ACP OM&S. We now have a particular visitor, Nick Martocci of Tower Coaching Academy. Nick is a former Marine and he has a coaching facility in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Which Joel and I didn’t find out about, and we simply met you on the ground. And this sounds super, as a result of we’ve been attempting to do extra outreach to potential technicians, and provides them retailers of the place to go to turn into a technician, as a result of each operator in america wants folks, they usually want educated folks which can be able to go to work, and we’re simply attempting to raise.
All these coaching services yours being one in all them. So Nick, welcome to the podcast.
Nick Martocci: Thanks for having me. Yep I do know there’s most likely another Marines in there Simply needed to verify to make the correction as soon as a Marine all the time a Marine. So He’s a former or prior Marine. I began out within the Marine Corps after which I completed up my profession within the Military Nationwide Guard as a CH 47 pilot after which as I used to be making that transition out of the army like lots of veterans do, I Yeah.
Was taking part in, Hey, what do I need to be after I develop up? A scenario. Yeah. And so I attempted lots of various things. One of many issues we naturally gravitate to is clearly safety and Positive. Issues of that nature. And after I discovered, that’s simply not the place I needed to be I sprawled out and mentioned, Hey, let me discover one thing else.
And after I finally discovered the wind business, I completely simply fell in love. Fell in love with the alternatives, the welcoming and familiarity, if you’ll, of the army as it’s. And I simply completely fell in love. And in order that’s why, in a while, after I did lots of various things within the discipline blade restore, torque rivalry operations, issues of that nature finally grew to become an teacher and constructed my very own program for GWO, as a result of I knew What people have been actually needing from the certification aspect, particularly having been out within the discipline after which understanding what the technicians actually should be prepared for.
Seeing these gaps. Completely. And that’s why for Tower Coaching Academy, our motto isn’t just prepared for right now, however we’re ready for tomorrow. And so I need to ensure after I constructed my program, that technicians which can be going to be popping out of the sector and out of my, or into the sector out of my program, Can be prepared for right now and ready for all the pieces tomorrow as a result of there’s lots of booming modifications which can be going to be occurring within the wind business.
One of many comparisons I make with the wind turbine business is similar to the pc business. Whenever you purchase a laptop computer, a couple of days later, it’s old-fashioned, as a result of the expertise is consistently altering. And that’s precisely how issues are going within the wind business. Issues are always altering.
There’s all forms of issues we have to, as we are saying within the Marine Corps, adapt and be ready for and be capable of improvise, adapt and overcome. And so I needed to create a framework with a program that did simply that for the long run technicians.
Joel Saxum: One of many issues I need to contact on right here as effectively, and that is what actually sparked my thoughts yesterday.
Like Allen mentioned, you walked up, I’ve by no means seen Tower Coaching Academy, like that’s a brand you’d keep in mind, that brilliant inexperienced. I’ve by no means heard of this earlier than, inform us about it somewhat bit. And one of many issues that you simply, not one of many issues, a bunch of issues that you simply talked about.
You painted a holistic image of what you guys do. There’s a pair different little corporations there and issues. Nevertheless, you don’t simply prepare folks, you’re getting ready them for a profession. You went all the best way right down to serving to folks with their LinkedIn profiles, resumes, job placement, and in the event that they have been within the discipline and it didn’t work out with one ISB, perhaps they need to work for an asset proprietor, re retraining and re offering for them to maneuver to a different sector of the business.
Nick Martocci: Completely. I partnered two corporations collectively that I personal each Tower Buying and selling Academy after which the acronym IFC, which stands for Infinite Fidelis Consulting. As some other Marine would know Semper Fidelis, however another Marine acquired to Semper Fidelis Consulting earlier than I did. And so with IFC, they do all of these mushy abilities resume writing, interview prep, ensuring LinkedIn doesn’t appear like Fb.
Yeah. The 2 large items that they actually do. Isn’t just with the teamwork constructing piece, however job placement items, such as you mentioned, after which the C PMP certification for mission and program administration certification, as a result of I perceive that it is a profession and so many police different coaching facilities, they depart that bar so much decrease than what it actually must be and perceive that, hey, if you’re stepping into this business, you’ll want to be getting ready folks for a profession.
Yeah. And that’s what I needed to do with my program is I’m getting ready folks for a profession and win. There are these people that, Hey, all they need to do is be a technician for all times. Okay, cool. Nice. Try this. Hey, I would like to have the ability to take what I’ve in my wheelhouse and in my background and develop from there.
We’re pleased to work with you on that aspect as effectively and guarantee that, Hey, after a couple of years you progress over into one other place, begin engaged on your self, your profession growth, after which transferring into an organization and place that matches and works for you. It is a profession that as I inform folks, it is going to deal with anyone wherever between the subsequent 20 to 30 years.
Simple. Simple. And so if you happen to’re searching for a profession the place actually the sky is the restrict, you’ve mentioned that earlier than. No, the sky actually is the restrict on this discipline. We need to guarantee that persons are ready for that. So anybody that comes via Tower Coaching Academy that’s an alumnus will for all times have entry to IFC.
All you bought to do is make a cellphone name and there will probably be folks there that can assist you with that resume piece, ensuring that, hey, I need to go from right here to there. Okay, let’s construct that roadmap collectively and let’s get you there.
Joel Saxum: Okay, so let’s. That’s implausible and that’s what actually drew me to wanting to speak to you to be sincere with you as a result of lots of people It’s typically thought that typically a discipline technician for wind is a 4 or 5 yr factor as a result of it’s powerful, proper?
However you guys are prepping with folks with the talents to get additional in it and create a profession not a job That’s necessary. One of many issues let’s contact on this somewhat bit tower coaching Academy. Let’s stroll via the method So say I’m a Inexperienced, however I’m inexperienced to the business I’ve by no means been in earlier than and I name up Tower Coaching Academy and say, Hey, I need to come and learn to be a wind tech.
What does that course of appear like? What does the coaching appear like?
Nick Martocci: So far as the enrollment piece on that aspect of that half, first, what we do is we discuss with that particular person and see, Hey, the place’s the appropriate match for them? Is that this actually actually the appropriate match? Is that this one thing that you simply’re actually motivated by?
Or is that this simply a type of actually good concepts you had in your head? We need to ensure that is the appropriate match. And that’s the most key first half. After that, then we guarantee that they’ve a tour of the ability. Present them what they’re going to be coping with. There’s lots of people that, hey, we’re working 300 toes within the air.
I need to know if anyone’s afraid of heights, and so we go forward, we carry them in and simply have them take a look at the coaching equipment simply from the bottom. See if that is one thing that’s overwhelming and makes them go whoa. As a result of it’d be a very horrible scenario the place they spend all this cash stepping into this profession and into this system.
After which unexpectedly it’s yeah, this was a waste of cash, a waste of my time. I don’t need that half for them. I don’t need that for my instructors. We carry them in, they undergo the tour, then we begin going via the enrollment course of, ensure they undergo the right procedures and items.
Trigger in the event that they, what I do is I actually display screen them for that job. I’ve achieved a whole lot of hundreds of interviews myself. Working for and using new folks within the discipline. So I take that very same software to the enrollment kind with enrolling into my faculty. As a result of if they will enroll into my faculty, they’ll be prepared for any sort of profession within the wind discipline.
As a result of that approach they’ll undergo these interview prep items as effectively. They’re vetted principally, earlier than they even begin. Precisely. That approach it makes them much more fascinating to the workforce business aspect the place now it’s straightforward to make use of this individual after which deploy them out into the sector. I prefer it.
Allen Corridor: That’s, wow, that’s implausible. Who’s your prototypical applicant?
Nick Martocci: Proper now we’re working with lots of totally different veterans. I’ve a program known as Reinvet Your self. It’s somewhat play on phrases with veteran and reinvent your self. Yeah, cool. And so what we do is we assist to get veterans sponsored to have the ability to undergo my program.
And with that half, it will get them via all of the certification course of. It’s 240 classroom hours with me. After which 11 months OJT within the discipline.
Joel Saxum: Enormous. Wow. I used to be simply pondering this out loud, we have to get him attached with Kevin and Will. No, I do know. The Atlantic Council for the Veterans Power Challenge Vanguard, it’s a bunch of veterans which can be pushing to get extra of the vets into the wind business and placing packages for it.
You’d be Implausible.
Nick Martocci: I’m pleased to assist nevertheless I can. That’s an important half is only one constructing the notice and spreading the phrase. I feel that’s the most important piece as a result of there’s so many veterans that as they’re transitioning out of the army, they, like I mentioned, the stereotypical factor that we go to is, safety or one thing of that nature.
Each on occasion you might have some people turn into academics or actual property and whatnot, and I’m not knocking these professions, however Impulsively, veterans of their mindset, they only really feel very restricted and that they’re in a really particular field they usually don’t even find out about some of these alternatives as a result of these are careers that after they’re hitting the sector proper out of faculty, that’s wherever between 60 to 100, 000 a yr that’s life altering.
That can deal with a household. And like I mentioned, maintain you for the subsequent 20 to 30 years straightforward, particularly if that’s the introductory part 100, 000. Not something to shake a stick at.
Joel Saxum: No, not right now. We’ve acquired wage discovered. You guys do placement, you do coaching. Who’re you related with?
You don’t have to inform us particularly, however do you might have connections out of your faculty with asset house owners, with ISPs, within the wind business to position folks?
Nick Martocci: Sure, I’ve that entry to them and I’m in a position to make a very nice announcement right now. I haven’t mentioned it to anyone simply but. However we simply mentioned January twenty seventh inked out all the pieces with the Division of Labor.
We now have our apprenticeship up and operating and able to go. The whole lot’s arrange with rapids. We’re able to deploy people into the sector as an apprentice. And so what I’m trying to do is definitely broaden that actual factor. In order that approach I can provide these graduates extra alternatives and extra choices of specialties as a result of there’s so many specialties.
Simply saying that you simply’re a wind turbine technician. Simply very scratching the floor. There’s so many specialties on the market with, main part change doing simply common routine upkeep torque and rigidity, blade restore. There’s so many various choices and alternatives for people to undergo and go to.
That I need to guarantee that if anyone desires a particular specialty, they’ve that chance to have the ability to entry that.
Joel Saxum: So I need to contact on this once more. If anyone doesn’t know that’s listening, a part of the IRA invoice, once we go ahead and folks need to use, get PTC funds and issues out of it, one of many new bullet factors in it’s you’ve acquired to have folks which can be a part of an apprenticeship program.
So far as I do know proper now, I don’t know anyone else in a coaching program that has it arrange. And I could possibly be incorrect, however I, however, you’re the primary one I’ve talked to that really has accreditation.
Nick Martocci: I do know that there are lots of corporations which can be establishing. I do know that lots of have already, gotten signed off from the DOL and it’s an inside apprenticeship.
However one that’s broadcasted out but. I don’t know of anyone else aside from myself that has set it up the place I can go from firm A to firm B to firm C.
Joel Saxum: So if you happen to’re an ISP and also you’re searching for folks or an asset proprietor or anyone within the wind business. You bought to present Tower Coaching Academy a name as a result of they’re those that may get folks in that apprentice, an accredited apprenticeship program and transferring them out the door.
Allen Corridor: How does a GI invoice play into the Tower Coaching Academy? So it will possibly’t be used. Can these funds be used?
Nick Martocci: So proper now it may be, there are items that I’ve to complete finalizing and that will probably be achieved in direction of the tip of this month and extra guys.
Allen Corridor: Okay. And that’s implausible.
Nick Martocci: My aim is to have that up and operating by March, however don’t maintain me to that.
I acquired however no I’m engaged on that as a result of once more, that’s why I even have the. Reinvet Your self program the place what we do is I’ve partnered with a 501c3 and made certain that we are able to get these veterans the Sponsorships that they want in order that approach they’re actually not paying out of pocket as a result of that’s an important key I would like them to be yeah, they’ve earned it greater than earned it I imply the factor that basically tugs at my heartstrings is these people go abroad They cope with horrible eventualities and conditions.
They’re answerable for a number of million {dollars} value of apparatus After which they arrive dwelling and the most effective they will do is Taco Bell or one thing like that. No, we are able to achieve this a lot better. After which once more, like I mentioned, they really feel their choices are restricted. They go to many locations and get advised, Hey, you’re overqualified.
We will’t carry you on. And I heard that for years and it drove me nuts. And so I would like to have the ability to give these people choices and alternatives to have the ability to deal with their households and have a profession that they’re truly proud of.
Joel Saxum: An organization with a function normally succeeds. That’s what that’s simply my, a part of my background.
Allen Corridor: So What number of college students are there at anybody time? And what’s the subsequent coaching, what’s the coaching cycle appear like?
Nick Martocci: Proper now my cap is 12. I’m trying to broaden and be capable of develop with extra instructors as anybody in GWO understands there’s a Teacher to scholar ratio restrict and so I’ve to remain inside that window.
I write, exceed that in order that’s what’s controlling my cap and my bandwidth so I Labored on that piece as effectively. And like I mentioned, if there’s anyone else that wishes to assist out with that I’m pleased to hearken to all these folks.
Allen Corridor: Yeah, I feel lots of coaching services are in your similar scenario, proper?
As a result of everyone’s searching for the highest candidates. And it’s a handful. Lots of them come out of the army. That’s the best way it must be, proper? It’s a superb profession. It’s a solution to transfer ahead and to feed your loved ones. So I feel that each one is sensible. So how do folks come up with Tower Coaching Academy?
And I did see your YouTube web page this morning. That’s implausible. So if you happen to’re simply excited by simply checking it out on YouTube, you are able to do that. Completely. However how do folks contact you, get enrolled, go take a look at the ability?
Nick Martocci: Yep. All you actually honestly must do is Google Tower Coaching Academy.
Okay. It’ll pop up proper there to the highest. The opposite factor that most individuals do with our search engine optimization is guarantee that, hey, now we have all these scorching hyperlinks the place, , wind turbine technician coaching or how do I turn into a wind turbine technician. We pop up on the primary web page. We’re proper there. Okay. And issues of that nature.
One of many different main benefits now we have with that cap, if I can return only for a second. Positive. Is my partnership with ENSA and the flexibility to entry these further instructors. If unexpectedly I’ve a category that’s approach too massive, I can lean on a few of my companions and say, Hey, do you might have an additional teacher I might borrow and be capable of take these on and never must be caught, if you’ll, on that scenario.
However that’s normally a case by case foundation. As a result of once more, it’s additionally primarily based off of their availability. As soon as I’m in a position to actually broaden and develop this out the best way that I would like, yeah I most likely will be capable of cap out someplace round 30 college students a month.
Allen Corridor: Good. Whoa. Okay. Hey, the wind business in america wants it desperately.
Yep. We have to get the, our coaching academy crammed up and let’s go as a result of this yr, subsequent yr simply even in your neck of the woods, in Sunzea.
Nick Martocci: Truly I’m in I’m
good across the nook.
Allen Corridor: Yeah, good across the nook. Precisely. There’s going to be lots of alternatives simply down the highway from Vegas.
Oh, yeah. In New Mexico, hundreds of generators are going to go in there, beginning in 25. Yep. There’s alternatives galore. They acquired to be searching for a whole lot of technicians.
Nick Martocci: Not simply that, but in addition the entry to my pipeline of veterans. Sure. These are people which can be accustomed to going to the opposite aspect of the planet, if you’ll.
Yeah. After I was deploying as a Wintec, as a journey technician, the spouse, for me I’d come dwelling six, seven weeks later and he or she’d be like, didn’t you simply depart? We’re used to being gone, 12 to fifteen months at a time. Six to seven weeks to people like myself, that’s nothing, that’s no drawback.
And lots of the veterans which can be coming via my program are searching for that journey technician piece. And having the ability to simply be Six, seven, eight hours away, such as you’re saying in New Mexico, will not be an enormous deal. After which additionally once more, you’re on this aspect of the planet, so web works.
Joel Saxum: You may make cellphone calls on time zones, that is sensible.
Precisely. You don’t must be at 2 a. m. speaking to your youngsters.
Nick Martocci: Yeah.
Allen Corridor: Yeah. No, it makes complete sense. It seems like an ideal facility. And if you happen to’re , you simply log on, Google Tower Coaching Academy. Come up with Nick right here. Speak about it. Get attached. As a result of if you happen to’re excited by being a Winn.
Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Now’s the time to get began.
Nick Martocci: Completely.
Allen Corridor: Nick, thanks a lot for coming by the sales space and saying howdy. It’s been actually fascinating to speak to you right now. You’re welcome again any time. Tell us the way it’s going.
Nick Martocci: Yeah, I recognize you having me on. And if there’s something I can do to assist anybody, anybody, let me know. And I’m pleased to assist nevertheless I can.