Petersburg, W.Va. — On Tuesday, March 18, 2025, the Workforce Education Department at Eastern West Virginia Community & Technical College (Eastern WVCTC) hosted an ‘Eastern After Hours’ event at the Petersburg Technology Training Center, Eastern’s second location. The event ran from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. and brought together regional leaders and community members for an evening of networking, program highlights, and a taste of local hospitality, courtesy of refreshments and charcuterie provided by Cheetah B’s.
The Petersburg Technology Training Center is home to several of Eastern’s hands-on, high-demand programs, including Automotive Technology, Commercial Driver’s License (CDL), and Wind Energy Technology. During the event, Eastern WVCTC unveiled its new CDL Class B training program, expanding the college’s commitment to workforce development and transportation education in the region. The expansion of the CDL program is due to Eastern WVCTC being awarded the Economic Development Administration (EDA) Public Works Grant for their proposal of ‘Strengthening the Transportation Infrastructure with Class A and B CDL Training.’ This grant amount provides the college with $799,926 to be used for hiring more instructors and purchasing up-to-date equipment, such as a ‘practice’ bus for CDL Class B with passenger endorsement, and another training vehicle for CDL Class A that will be capable of accommodating multiple students, to facilitate hands-on driving training that aligns with industry standards. Eastern is actively hiring for the newly created CDL B Training Specialist Instructor. To learn more about this position, visit https://easternwv.edu/employment-opportunities/ or call 304-434-8000 ext. 9275.
The evening’s program also featured a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the college’s new CDL simulators, offering an innovative way for students—and event attendees—to experience driving a ‘big rig’ without needing to be on the road. These state-of-the-art simulators allow instructors to program a range of realistic driving scenarios—from storms and blown-out tires to pedestrians and other challenges—allowing users to practice and build confidence before getting behind the wheel on the road.
The event also served as a retirement celebration for Eddie Mullenax, one of Eastern’s current CDL instructors. Mullenax has been instrumental in helping to build the CDL program and training countless students during his tenure. His contributions were recognized by colleagues, family members, and local leaders in attendance. “It’s been almost three years of fun and a rewarding experience,” said Mullenax. “Especially being able to teach what I know to the students about safety and providing them with skills to be successful in getting their license, so they can drive a truck.”
In addition to honoring Mullenax and announcing the new program, the evening also served as a regional outreach initiative. Leaders from five of the six counties Eastern primarily serves—Hardy, Grant, Pendleton, Mineral, Tucker, and Hampshire—were present to connect, collaborate, and learn more about Eastern’s expanding impact on workforce education.
Eastern West Virginia Community and Technical College’s Workforce Education Department, based in Moorefield, offers a variety of affordable short-term training, in-person, hybrid, and online, that allow quick certification and entry into the workforce. Choose from areas such as agriculture, CDL Class A, B & more, healthcare, industrial, and welding. To learn more about training programs, email WorkforceED@easternwv.edu or call 304-434-8000 ext. 9413.
