Excavators. Bulldozers. Skid steers. Operating most of the heavy equipment crucial to the Bristol Bay region’s most coveted employment opportunities requires specialized training and certification to ensure the equipment is operated safely and effectively. Certification opens doors by giving trainees a pathway to new employment opportunities or to advance in their chosen careers.

As part of our ongoing commitment to shareholder development and to the economic viability of the region, BBNC has hosted a series of heavy equipment operator training courses, designed to give shareholders, spouses, and descendants the skills required to operate this specialized and sophisticated machinery. The most recent course was held in June in Soldotna, following two successful outings—one in Dillingham in late 2023, and one in Iliamna earlier this year. The trainings provide both classroom and hands-on training opportunities—a well-rounded approach that primes trainees for careers in construction, mining, utilities, and more.

Trainings like this allow the graduates to obtain employment opportunities close to home— providing access to in-demand jobs without having to leave the region. “We want our shareholders to be able to stay in their villages and to work in their villages,” says Martha Anelon, BBNC’s Shareholder Development Training Manager. She notes that when these jobs become available in-region, having qualified locals trained and ready means we can recruit local talent to fill these roles, rather than bringing in talent from elsewhere.

Filling local opportunities with residents keeps our region economically viable and provides workers something they can’t always count on—the reward of coming home to their families at the end of each shift. “People get to go home to their families,” Martha says. “They get to go home at night. They don’t have to move out of region to find this type of work.”

For those who perhaps are looking for career advancement elsewhere, these training programs can provide job access and career advancement in Anchorage, on the North Slope, and beyond. Heavy equipment operators are in demand, and the opportunities are abundant for people who have the proper training.

To qualify for the heavy equipment operator training, interested shareholders, spouses, and descendants must be at least 18 years of age, have a valid driver’s license, be willing and able to pass a drug and background check, and a Department of Transportation physical exam. Beyond those requirements, all that’s required is interest and drive. Past trainings were conducted in partnership with the City of Dillingham, Iliamna Development Corporation, and Northern Industrial Training. BBNC will continue to forge partnerships that keep the trainings running and contribute to their ongoing success.

To learn more about future heavy equipment operator trainings, as well as other employment, education, and training programs, click here.