Collins Aerospace and Coastal Alabama Celebrate the Official Opening of the Salonia Training Center

Representatives from the City of Foley, Collins Aerospace, Baldwin County Economic Development Authority, The South Baldwin Chamber of Commerce and Baldwin County Public Schools gathered on Tuesday, March 19, 2024, to celebrate the opening of the Salonia Training center located at 19752 Underwood Road in Foley.

The training center is a joint venture between Collins Aerospace and Coastal Alabama Community College with support from Baldwin County Schools. “As Collins continues to grow employment in Baldwin County, there is a need for well-trained team members in new and current roles at the facility,” said Scott Hannah, General Manager at Collins Aerospace.

Each month, 8 to 10 new or current employees are enrolled into a 3-week training program earning 4 credentials aligned to the skills

necessary to success at Collins. Trainees enter Coastal Alabama’s Adult Education program and earn a WorkKeys Math certification where scores are aligned to the ACT job profile for an Aircraft Service Mechanic. Trainees then earn industry recognized Snap-On credentials in precision measurement, sheet metal assembly and digital torque. These certifications are granted through the National Coalition of Certification Centers (NC3) where Coastal Alabama is recognized nationally as a Leadership School.

Dr. Josh Duplantis, Dean of Workforce and Economic Development for Coastal Alabama thanked the Collins team for the work involved in creating this innovation partnership. “We collaboratively invest in people, those people drive business results, and healthy businesses create thriving communities,” stated Duplantis.

The training center is named after Mr. Mark Salonia who serves as a Senior Quality Manager at Collins and is a champion for a well-trained workforce.