Saalex Corporation, DBA Saalex Solutions—China Lake's largest defense contractor and the third largest employer in Ridgecrest—has formed an internship program partnership with Cerro Coso Community College in order to drive workforce development locally.
“I am proud to offer local area college students the opportunity to gain valuable experience and jump-start their careers with Saalex Corporation. We all could benefit from their fresh perspectives and knowledge of the latest technology,” said Saalex President/CEO Travis Mack.
Saalex plans to consider student applicants studying in Computer Science, Business Administration, Electronics, Electrical Engineering, Information Technology (IT), Mechatronics, Mathematics, Technical Writing, Data & Predictive Analytics, Digital Marketing and Cybersecurity related subjects and/or majors. They are currently recruiting interns for data and systems-based roles, technicians, engineers and managers primarily to work on three major programs with the Navy at Naval Base Ventura County and China Lake: IT, weapons development, and range test and support.
“This kind of public-private partnership, which services industry as well as those seeking employment, is one of the things community colleges do best,” said Cerro Coso President Jill Board. “The college is proud to work alongside Saalex to introduce this new career training partnership.”
At a time when students seek to invest in programs that prepare them to obtain employment in their field of study upon graduation, Cerro Coso is engaging in unique partnerships that fill seats and jobs in a way that draws equal commitment and investment from the employer and the college. “It's a transformation from the traditional learn, graduate, and then work model to an interactive learn and work/learn and work model,” continued Board. “Collaborating with local employers and government is a key contributor to creating critical job training opportunities for our workforce and a talent pipeline to our region's employers.”
Saalex Corporation, headquartered in CA, supports the Department of Defense & Federal Government (Army, Navy, Air Force and NASA), and also services commercial businesses and municipalities in various U.S. markets.
Saalex's Federal division, Saalex Solutions, provides Range Operations and Maintenance, Engineering & Logistics Services, Information Technology Services, and Data Analytics Support Services to the government (most services in direct warfighter support) on multi-year engagements, one with a 15-year term.
Saalex's commercial division, Saalex IT, is an award-winning Managed Services Provider (MSP) offering a broad range of IT Consulting, Cloud Migration, Network & Data Security and Telecom/VOIP Services.
Now in its 20th anniversary year, Saalex is the third largest employer in the area, and was just featured in the Pacific Coast Business Times on the 2019 Central Coast Best Places to Work List!
Also now categorized officially as a large business—a 600+ employee-owned company (ESOP) with a 70% veteran workforce—Saalex has previously won the PCB Times' Spirit of Small Business Award, and CEO Travis Mack was named to the Business Times' 40 Under Forty list, and was a proud recipient of the U.S SBA's Small Business Person of the Year Award for 2015!.
“Our people are our success and hiring a new college intern can contribute to our innovation and growth,” said Mack.
“It is a win-win for everyone,” agreed Board. “Students gain valuable on-site training that enhances their academic studies, and industry has well-trained, ready to work employees available to fill their needs for service and growth.”
Saalex provide all full-time employees with top benefits, including a 401k with a company match 100% vested from day one, tuition reimbursement, corporate learning and development, eligibility to a 529 savings plan, and an employee-owned corporate structure (ESOP).
Deep understanding of industry, state-of-the-art technologies, a drive toward continuous innovation, and a top-down focus on employee growth and career progression have contributed to Saalex's reputation and company culture.
Picture Caption: Saalex Corporation President/CEO Travis Mack and Cerro Coso Community College President Jill Board welcome new internship partnership that provides current students work-based opportunities.
