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, 2025. 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.
This new program will provide students with 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. In addition, the U.S. 58 infrastructure projects and road construction will improve transportation access and attract more visitors to the area.
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. While learning to operate the equipment is essential, Scales said the course also teaches students how to navigate different construction scenarios.
For more information about P&HCC’s workforce development programs, visit www.patrickhenry.edu.