TechX at OCTC: Fast-Track Training, Real-World Skills, and a Path Forward

by Becky Barnhart

Owensboro, KY (04/29/2026) — For four hours each evening, Monday through Thursday, students gather at the main campus of Owensboro Community and Technical College (OCTC) with a shared goal: to build a better future-one skill at a time.

They are part of TechX, a multi-craft technologist program that blends hands-on learning with real-world industrial experience. Short for "Tech eXpress," the program lives up to its name, offering students the opportunity to complete training in 7-9 months.

Over two semesters, participants gain foundational skills in robotics, machine tooling, welding, fabrication, and material handling. Graduates earn multiple industry-recognized credentials, including Gas Welder, Arc Cutter, Production Line Welder, and Forklift Operator certifications.

Since launching in 2018, TechX has helped more than 300 students take meaningful steps into the workforce.

Among the current cohort of 26 are Landon Dean, Jacob Simon and Garrett Drane-three students with a unique connection. Each is the son of an OCTC Workforce Solutions staff member, and each was encouraged, in different ways, to consider the program.

Dean's father, Steve, who works with Workforce Solutions' creative computer-based training (CBT) team, saw firsthand the supportive environment surrounding TechX. "He encouraged me to apply because of how positive everything was-the instructors, the people, the atmosphere," Dean said.

Drane's experience was a bit more direct with his father, John, Director for Technical Training at Workforce Solutions. "My dad told me, 'You've got to do something,'" he said with a laugh.

Simon's dad, Jason, Director of AMTEC, took a more hands-off approach. "He suggested TechX, but let me do my own research and decide," Simon noted.

What all three fathers shared was confidence in the program's instructors and reputation. That trust has proven well-placed.

After hearing about the success of other students in the Tech X program, Drane's parents encouraged him to give it a try. "The program's structure-allowing students to bypass traditional general education courses and immediately engage in hands-on, skills-based learning-gave Garrett a clear sense of purpose," said the older Drane.

"For the first time, he could see a direct connection between what he was learning and the career he wanted to pursue."

All three young men consistently pointed to TechX instructors Parrish Duncan, Jonah Seneff, and Andrew Austin as one of the program's greatest strengths. "They don't dismiss us," Simon noted.

That support goes beyond instruction. Whether it's spending one-on-one time to refine welding techniques-sometimes literally guiding a student's hands-or pulling Drane's car into the shop to work on it together, the TechX team is deeply invested in student success.

And as a Dad, Drane noted that Duncan, Seneff and Austin are not only skilled educators, but also as mentors and role models. "They go beyond teaching technical skills by emphasizing the importance of showing up, taking pride in one's work, and developing the habits that lead to long-term success."

"We treat it like a real work environment," Seneff explained. "That helps students build skills but also prepares them mentally. It teaches them to be ready for what a job is actually like."

Seneff knows the impact firsthand. A graduate of the program in 2019, he returned as an instructor in 2025. "I wanted to help students fulfill their hopes and dreams and improve their lives," he said. "That's what TechX did for me."

Each student came to TechX with different motivations.

Dean's interest started early. "I always thought welding was cool when I was a kid," he said. "I wanted to get a degree, but I liked that this was a shorter program and got me into the workforce faster."

Simon discovered the trade while working in a shop. "I found out welders made good money," he said. "That made me take it seriously."

Drane's path was less direct. After taking a few electrical classes at OCTC and stepping away from school for two years, he found TechX at the right time. "When I heard about it, I thought, 'This sounds perfect,'" he said. "It wasn't a two- or four-year commitment-it was something I could do and build from."

Despite working full-time during the day, Drane remains committed. "It makes for long days," he said, "but it's worth it because I'm working toward something that will benefit my future. I have a vision for what I want to do."

That vision includes returning to OCTC to study business and eventually opening his own car shop.

Landon hopes to work for a few years in an industrial setting-operating machinery, welding, and driving forklifts-before eventually giving back. "I'd like to come back and teach or help someday," he said, recalling his experience assisting younger students at OCTC's Trade Wars event for high school students. "I really enjoyed that."

Simon is preparing for a different next step. He will join the U.S. Marine Corps this summer and hopes to continue welding while serving.

Duncan, who has been with TechX since its inception, finds motivation in stories like theirs. Coming from a family of educators, he sees the program as more than technical training.

"One student came to us and was homeless," Duncan recalled. "But he was determined and committed. After finishing TechX, he got a good job and bought a home. That's what keeps me going."

That sense of purpose is shared across the program-and felt by students as soon as they walk through the doors.

"Students want to be here," Seneff said. "They come early, they stay engaged. Everyone is here for the same reason."

Jacob Simon summed it up simply: "Great skills, great teachers, and great students. Everybody's here to learn-and to help each other."

As TechX continues to grow, so does its impact-equipping students not just with technical skills, but with confidence, direction, and a clear path forward.

For more information about OCTC's TechX program, contact Alicyn.Rodgers@kctcs.edu or Tech X | OCTC.

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