NMTech training new workers for baking, cosmetology fields

The furnace is hot at the Northern Marianas Technical Institute as it continues to train the next professionals in the CNMI.

With 30 individuals participating in baking/pastry and cosmetology courses alone, they are well on their way to fill some of the high-demand jobs in the Commonwealth, and as of this week, the second cohort in these courses are getting ready to complete their classes.

NMTech outreach coordinator Ben Babauta Jr. is happy to report that the first group of cohorts in baking/pastry and cosmetology are in the middle of internships in hotels and salons on Saipan and the second group is about to complete their class this May.

“Last August, we launched the first baking/pastry cohort and the first cosmetology cohort. It’s the first time NMTech is offering these programs. It started in August and it finished in mid-December. We had six students enrolled in that class.”

Spearheaded by Le Cordon Bleu-certified chef Marissa Camacho, baking/pastry students learned the fundamentals of baking and food décor. Starting from safety and sanitation, to food science and measurements, and then more hands-on execution like baking in two parts, to making fresh bread, students were able to utilize different techniques to create different types of bread as well as make cookies, muffins, and cakes with a bit of garnishing and decorating thrown in the mix.

Babauta said the first cohort is currently on its 240-hour internship at Hyatt Regency Saipan, Aqua Resort Club, and Pacific Islands Club Saipan.

The second baking/pastry cohort that started in January has nine students and are expected to finish the program by the end of May.

“We have an additional five students right now for the mid-spring semester. So, a total of about 20 are undergoing training in less than a year.”

In cosmetology, Babauta also has seen piqued interest in participants and their first cohort of six students that started in August 2023 finished the program last week.

The cosmetology students gained knowledge that covered safety and sanitation, hair proportion, differences between types of hair, color theory, and how to cut hair.

Taught by instructors Kurt Ellis, Moriah Sablan, and Kristin Hofschneider, the classes also delved into the basics of nail care from manicures and pedicures to a little bit about hand massage and even dermatology. Specifically, they learned about the safety and sanitation of skin and understanding the different diseases and how to carefully clean skin. Babauta said students will get additional training by having their internship at Salt & Barber.

“Everything we’re doing for both the cosmetology and baking/pastry program is for a reason. It is because we saw the immense need shown on the Department of Labor’s job vacancy announcements,” said Babauta.

He hopes that through these courses and students developing these trades, there will be enough U.S. or long-term resident workers to fill the void when contract workers eventually leave the CNMI with the expiration of the CW program in 2029.