The Patrick & Henry Community College (P&HCC) Patrick County Heavy Equipment Operator (HEO) Lab officially opened with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Tuesday, March 4.
Located at the Gerald L. Baliles and Richard S. Reynolds Sr. Learning Center, the lab features three CAT simulators equipped with the same controls as real excavators and bulldozers, allowing students to gain hands-on experience before operating actual machinery.
P&HCC President Dr. Greg Hodges said the college is committed to investing in the community to ensure all residents have a pathway to economic mobility.
“At Patrick & Henry, we have one goal, and that is the economic success of our students and the communities that we serve,” Hodges said. “Frankly, we have one way of moving that needle of economic success, and that is by educating and training our students for good-paying jobs with family-sustaining wages.”
While P&HCC offers various credentials, degrees, and certificates, Hodges emphasized that the most valuable credential is what he calls the “job degree.”
“That ‘job degree’ is what we’re awarding today, and they’re the ones that indeed lead to critically important jobs in this community,” he said, citing the ongoing U.S. 58 construction project as an example of local opportunities for graduates.
Hodges said the idea for the HEO Lab was first introduced during a regional superintendent meeting last year when Patrick County Schools Superintendent Jason Wood asked if P&HCC had considered expanding the HEO program to Patrick County.
“I turned to Rhonda Hodges, who was serving as our vice president of workforce development, and I said, ‘Have we?’ She said, ‘We can,’ and that started a journey that’s led to today,” Greg Hodges said.
Hodges recognized Dr. Rebecca Corbin, president and CEO of the National Association of Community College Entrepreneurship (NACCE), as a key supporter of P&HCC’s efforts to create skilled employees and future business owners.
He also acknowledged Phillip E. and Carole R. Ratcliffe Foundation CEO Carlene Cassidy, whose organization helped fund the purchase of the CAT simulators.
Cassidy said P&HCC’s grant application stood out because of the program’s potential impact on students, employers, and the community.
“This is a win-win-win,” Cassidy said. “It’s a win for students by providing pathways and opportunities to great-paying jobs. It’s a win for employers because they’re able to hire highly talented, skilled individuals to fill jobs that are in demand right now, and it’s a win for the region because what we’re doing has a positive impact on people’s pathways, wherever they’re going.”
Cassidy added that infrastructure projects, such as road construction, improve transportation access and attract more visitors to the area.
“It’s just an honor for us to support this program,” she said.
HEO Instructor Michael Scales said the CAT simulators mirror the controls of actual job site equipment, allowing students to practice real-world applications in a controlled environment.
“They’re not experienced when they get out, but they can come and get hired,” Scales said. “Most of my guys get hired very quickly, and they know the basics. They can take these skills and go anywhere—anywhere across the country for any job.”
While learning to operate the equipment is essential, Scales said the course also teaches students how to navigate different construction scenarios.
“Learning the machine is the easy part,” he said. “Understanding what you’re supposed to do in grading, how to grade, and how to build things is the other part. So actually, the simulators are the easy part.”
Before enrolling in the HEO course, students must first complete the preliminary CORE course, which covers basic safety, construction math, communication skills, and material handling.
“CORE is required for any student who wants to take HEO, HVAC, plumbing, or other courses,” Scales said.
The CORE course lasts eight weeks, followed by a 14-week HEO program.
Due to the two-student-per-simulator ratio, Scales can only accept six students per course to ensure adequate hands-on experience.
“Six is the maximum we can have because you get your experience by sitting on the simulator, as they’ll actually be moving—just like the real equipment would on a job site,” he said.
Despite the limited class size, the demand for the program is high. All three of Scales’ current classes are fully booked until next year.
For more information about P&HCC’s workforce development programs, visit patrickhenry.edu.
