BetterCertify Chosen to Lead 10 Days of Training
This past January, two members of our Facility team had the opportunity to visit Adana, Turkey to conduct a special ten-day long training session. The trip was an incredible opportunity for instructors Matthew Valdez and Michael Benedetto to bring their expertise to a new culture and community of overseas government contractors.
Initial Asbestos and Lead Training Completed In-Person
The initial courses the students completed were Lead Abatement Worker Initial, Lead Supervisor Initial, Asbestos Abatement Worker Initial, Asbestos Contractor/Supervisor Initial. There was also a Lead Abatement Worker Refresher class.
In order to keep certifications refreshed, we were also contracted for Asbestos Abatement Worker Refresher Online, Asbestos Contractor / Supervisor Refresher Online, and Asbestos Building Inspector Refresher Online as part of this contract.
BetterCertify has previously conducted asbestos renewal services for KBR and therefore was selected to perform the training due to our long-standing relationship and our recognized status as an EPA-approved trainer. While there, our instructors performed onsite training for local government contractors and their workers including KBR, SET, LTD, and Aytekin-Serol.
The training, which primarily focused on lead and asbestos supervision, was provided in support of their activities at the Incirlik US Air Base located in Adana. Instructors Matthew Valdez and Michael Benedetto were thrilled at the opportunity to travel to Turkey and explore the beautiful country’s culture and sites.
Language Barriers Surmounted with a Turkish Translator
Over the course of the trip, local Turkish students were instructed during in-person training with classes. Due to the hands-on nature of the subject matter, initial course training could not be completed online. While the Air Force Base would have made for an interesting training ground, the students instead were transported to an offsite location at the Akkoc Hotel for a more focused atmosphere.
In order to get over the language barrier, BetterCertify utilized an in-class translator as well as prior to the onsite training, translated each of the course materials into Turkish using an expert contractor.
Instructors Matthew Valdez and Michael Benedetto Spent Time Appreciating the Local Culture
Among the instructors sent to share their expertise were Matthew Valdez and Michael Benedetto.
Each instructor has extensive experience leading specialized training, but they also got to spend time showing off their adventurous sides. Matthew was able to bring along his wife JoJo and they had fun exploring the local area during downtime away from class. According to them, tasting the local food and witnessing the incredible architecture around the city were memorable highlights. Michael found all the students and everyone in the city to be welcoming and accommodating and even stayed a week after class to explore Turkey further by heading up to Istanbul. The translator for the classes and her Mom went to dinner with them one evening and they had a lot of fun.
Tragedy Strikes Syria and Turkey
A week after our trainers Michael and Matthew returned from their training trip to Turkey, a 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck Syria and Turkey. The devastation and loss of life are immeasurable. We have been receiving updates from all our participants over the past several weeks about their own personal safety and experiences, and our hearts go out to the victims of this tragic earthquake.
In-Person Training with BetterCertify
We offer entry-level initial courses in live-classroom settings on a regular schedule in Denver, Colorado, and Salt Lake City, Utah. We will also travel to your location for groups of 10 or more!
