Chem Lab Alumni Spotlight

Nicole Marino, Covestro

Nicole is a single mom and former shift nurse who decided she needed a career change to spend more time with her daughter. A friend told her about Bidwell Training Center’s tuition free programs and still paying loans for her nursing degree, a no-cost option that would help her make a life-changing investment without incurring more debt was a compelling choice.

She enrolled in the Chemical Lab Technician program and earned an externship at Covestro. Soon after, she was hired full-time at PPG and later returned to Covestro to work as a technician where she works with foams and insulations for building materials to fabricate, test and adjust raw materials in granular detail to enhance productivity.

Nicole’s work is highly observational and contributes to testing the fabrication and effectiveness of insulations, finding the small signs that can lead to big improvements in the way roofs will perform for hospitals, schools and other buildings.

“My work helps to put a roof over people’s heads and keep them safe when it’s needed most.”

Work-life balance is something Nicole holds dear and she enjoys being able to perform meaningful, stimulating work while being fully present for her daughter, now in high school and inspired by her mom’s experiences. “Environmental engineering is leading her career exploration right now and I am so incredibly proud of her.”

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