Tulsa Welding School (TWS) celebrated the grand opening of its newest campus in the greater  Atlanta area on Friday, March 13, marking the school’s official expansion into Georgia and highlighting the growing demand for skilled trades workers across the region.

The event brought together community leaders, employer partners, students and media to commemorate the launch of the new campus, which will offer hands-on training programs in welding, electrical work and HVAC.

For campus president Tamekia Morris, the opening represents more than just a new educational facility.

“This is not just the opening of a new campus for StrataTech Education Group (the parent company of TWS and The Refrigeration School),” Morris told SaportaReport. “This is the beginning of an…opportunity for individuals across the Atlanta region who are ready to build meaningful careers in… the skilled trade sector.”

Located in the greater Atlanta area, city of Decatur, the campus is designed to connect students directly with industries facing workforce shortages. Programs include a welding specialist program, electrical technician training and HVAC technician training, all of which focus on preparing students for employment in the skilled trades.

During the ceremony, Morris told attendees the campus will play a role in supporting Atlanta’s workforce and economic growth.

“Today is more than the opening of a new campus… today is the opening of opportunity backed by 75 years of history in the skilled trades education center,” Morris said to the crowd. “More importantly, it is the beginning of new career pathways for students and individuals across the Atlanta region who are ready for in-demand, hands-on careers.”

This location is the sixth campus for the Tulsa Welding School network, which operates under StrataTech Education Group. According to John Willis, senior vice president of campus operations for StrataTech, the decision to expand to greater Atlanta was driven by the region’s growth and strong demand for trade professionals.

“We look for primarily an area that’s growing, and we see growth in the Atlanta area,” Willis said. “Specifically in the industrial areas where we see and provide employers for welding, electrical, HVAC… we see opportunity in the Georgia market.”

Willis noted that the school evaluates success based on employment outcomes rather than enrollment numbers.

“Our mission is very simple. It’s outcomes,” he said. “We don’t measure our success by how many students we enroll… we measure our success by how many students not only graduate, but how many of those students graduate and find employment in the career they’re seeking.”

Industry representatives also attended the event, including partners from Lincoln Electric and Miller Electric. Stephanie Hoffman, director of industry development and engagement at Miller Electric, said partnerships between schools and employers are essential for maintaining a skilled workforce.

“Trade schools are powerful because they provide something many people are looking for today… and that’s a direct pathway to a meaningful career,” Hoffman said during his remarks at the event.

Programs at the greater Atlanta campus are designed to move students quickly from the classroom into the workforce. Many students enrolled at Tulsa Welding School are first-generation college students, career changers or veterans transitioning into civilian careers, Morris said.

“This campus represents an investment in people… it represents access to careers that have strong wages, advancement and future stability,” she said during the ceremony. “But more importantly, it represents us supporting the Atlanta workforce and the economic growth that we’ll experience.”

As the ribbon was cut, the school leaders expressed optimism about the campus’s future role in training the next generation of skilled workers.

For Willis, the expansion reflects both the school’s national growth and its commitment to workforce development.

“We’re excited to be in the Georgia market,” Willis said. “It’s a benchmark for us… but we also know what it’s going to mean for the community in Atlanta.”

“We are enrolling now in all programs… our welding specialist program as well as our electrical technician program and the HVAC technician,” Morris said. “Our next classes start on March 23.”

TWS Atlanta is located at 1287 Columbia Drive in Decatur. Those interested in applying can click here to learn more.

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