Twelve students from Bahamas Technical and Vocational Institute (BTVI,) had the opportunity to practice their skills away from the classroom in a real-life work environment. They assisted in the infrastructure set up and break down for the four-day Cisco conference at Baha Mar.

BTVI Dean of Construction Trades and Workforce Development Alexander Darville said the request came from The MoVi Group for six carpentry and six electrical engineer students.

“We received the request from Burton Wallace of The MoVi Group who had the contract for the job at Baha Mar,” said Mr. Darville. “And as we strive to get job experience for the students, although usually internships, we were happy for this short-term opportunity for a real-life work experience and with pay! It fits in with our endeavors to develop a well-rounded globally competitive and economically viable graduate. And the feed-back from Mr. Wallace on their all-around performance, team work, punctuality and social interaction - not just their skills – coupled with the students feed-back, assists us.”

Burton Wallace, founder and Leads/Operations Manager of The MoVi Group said he’ll be using BTVI students again.

“BTVI now has the opportunity to get students involved in practical training in the industry as we have plenty more jobs where we can bring them in. We told Alexander Darville what we were looking to do and he was really excited. We’ve been talking about it for a little bit, and finally the opportunity came along for us to put it into action. We’ll definitely do this again. We have another job next month that’s maybe almost five times the size of this, and I told them I’ll need almost 50 people from them (BTVI) alone, so the relationship is good.”

Dwayne Wilson, one of the carpentry students, said he was thrilled when he heard MoVi was looking for students to help out on a project off-campus.

“I was in a morning carpentry class when one of the fellas came to me and said The MoVi Group was at BTVI wanting to hire some students. I was excited about it. I knew if I got selected it was an opportunity to get some real work experience in a professional environment and get some extra funds. The first day we set up the stage lift with all of the lighting and sound; the people I met and worked with were friendly and nice. They needed us for the levelling stuff and whatnot, different carpentry skills. We worked with lots of other people - it was a big team; overall my expectations of what I was coming here to learn and see have been exceeded, so I’m glad it happened.”

BTVI’s Mr. Darville said the request was very specific and the selected students met with Burton Wallace before they were confirmed for the job.

“They were specific – they wanted six students from carpentry and six students from electrical. So once we got the call I threw it out to the instructors for their advice and final selections, then I got the company to come in and have a conversation with the selected 12 students.”

The MoVi Group team was fifty-strong and included skilled personnel in various genres to set up and install the technical infrastructure for the Cisco event, a world leader in tech solutions. The students worked alongside with the lighting and sound technicians, electrical engineers and technicians, digital experts for the LED wall and signage, carpenters, and riggers for the heavy ceiling installations. 

Bahamas Technical and Vocational Institute (BTVI,) electrical and carpentry students advanced their trade skills with a real-life work experience joining the MoVi team in assembling the stage and technical infrastructure for the Cisco conference at Baha Mar in April. L to R: Bradford Roberts MoVi Crew Manager; BTVI students: Seaaren Maycock, carpentry; Antonio Smith, electrical; Cadwell Demeritt, electrical; Alexander Farqueson, construction tech; Dwayne Wilson, carpenter; Topaz Baillou, electrical; Patrick Jervis, electrical; Ian Braithwaite, construction tech. (Photo:Serena Williams Media & PR)

The MoVi Group, the Nassau-based sound, lighting, stage and film production house, hired 12 students for a four-day Cisco event at Baha Mar Convention Centre. Unpacking equipment and assembling a major conference set-up and then handling the break-down, proved a good practical work-out for the electrical and carpentry students from the Bahamas Technical and Vocational Institute (BTVI.) Students at centre: L-R Patrick Jervis, electrical; Seaaren Maycock, carpentry. (Photo: Serena Williams Media & PR)

The MoVi Group crew set strong support mechanisms for hanging speakers and other heavy equipment as a part of the set up for the Cisco conference at the Baha Mar Convention Centre. (Photo: Serena Williams Media & PR)