Seventy years ago, a vision was born to provide accessible and practical education that empowers individuals to thrive in their chosen professions.
Seventy years ago, a vision was born to provide accessible and practical education that empowers individuals to thrive in their chosen professions. From its humble beginnings to becoming a pioneering force in vocational education, Pinnacle Career Institute has come a long way. Through the years, it has adapted, innovated, and consistently upheld its commitment to shaping future generations of skilled professionals.
Over the decades, PCI has continuously evolved its programs to meet the ever-changing demands of the job market. From the early days of foundational technical training to the incorporation of cutting-edge technologies and contemporary industry practices, the institution has ensured that its graduates are equipped with the skills and knowledge relevant to the times.
From the words of our Owner, Jeff Freeman, he believes it began, “ When we acquired the Electronics Institute in 1992, it was a small school only training and graduating roughly a hundred Electronics students each year. Since that time we have had thousands of graduates spanning many program offerings and jobs in many specialized skill industries. At PCI, we have made changes and adjustments over the years to program offerings to meet job demands, I would like the legacy of PCI to continue affecting change in the lives of our students with relevant education to meet the ever-changing demands of our economy. If we can continue to do that, that would be quite a legacy!” - Jeff Freeman.
Currently, Pinnacle Career Institute (PCI) offers programs in the Technical Trades industry. Offering Certifications in the HVAC industry, the Wind Turbine Technology industry, and the Tower Telecommunications industry.
Behind every successful institution are the individuals who pour their passion, expertise, and dedication into nurturing students. The faculty and staff of PCI have been instrumental in shaping the institution's legacy. Their commitment to providing quality education, mentorship, and guidance has been a driving force in the achievements of countless graduates. PCI is made up of an Admissions department, Financial Aid, Student and Career Services, our industry-expert Instructors, Marketing, and so much more. We have multiple staff that have been a part of PCI for over 10 years. They have remained dedicated to our purpose, no matter the changes.
The true measure of an institution's success lies in the achievements of its students. We proudly reflect on the inspiring stories of individuals who walked through our doors with dreams and aspirations. These graduates have made significant contributions in their respective fields.
Specifically, one of our Tower Graduates is now a leading foreman and he has shared these words of encouragement, “I knew I needed a competitive edge to get back into the industry. I made a call to PCI, and that call changed my life. I attended PCI in June of 2021, enrolled in the Telecom Program, and graduated in February of 2022. I work for one of the best tower companies in the country. PCI helped me take my career to new heights." – Ralph Hirschmann, 2022
Our students are why we do what we do. It is the driving force behind each hard-working department that makes PCI function the way it does.
Pinnacle Career Institute remains committed to fostering innovation, providing relevant education, and enabling students to pursue their passions and carve their paths in the world. We continue to uphold our founding vision while embracing future opportunities.
We carry our values on our sleeve, which have positively impacted our programs and students over the years. We asked the CEO to share his thoughts on PCI’s legacy,
“At PCI, our core values are Integrity, Accountability, Up-Serve Students, Academic Excellence and Teamwork. Academic Excellence is the expectation at PCI, but truly it should be in all schools, but the other core values at PCI are a deliberate choice. We chose core values that are demonstrated in our daily interactions with students and each other. These are not just words, but rather behaviors that students should see every day in our actions to support them on their way to the successful completion of their education. It should be our intention that students not just benefit from supporting our core values, but that they carry those values forward into their own careers.
A few months ago, just prior to the Career Education College and University (CECU) conference in Kansas City, we had the privilege of hosting Congressman Burgess Owens (R-UT) at PCI. As a member of the Education and Workforce Committee, he wanted to see our faculty, explore our programs, and talk with our faculty and staff.
" The pride, commitment, and ownership demonstrated to Congressman Owens was deeply apparent as each faculty and staff member interacted with Congressman Owens. As part of the touring group, I was able to listen to several faculty and staff talk about the investment in equipment, resources, curriculum, and programs that produce quality graduates who go on to quality, necessary jobs to support the infrastructure of this country.
As the CEO, I can hope that we have the culture of commitment from our faculty and staff toward teaching and training our students to be successful in all of our programs, but thanks to Congressman Owens touring our school, I got to experience and feel that pride, commitment, and ownership within the PCI team firsthand.
Our commitment to relevant and necessary alternative energy and trades programs to support the infrastructure of this country should not change. We are always exploring options to add programs to meet the changing needs to support that end, so we will continue in our commitment to quality alternative energy and trades programs.” – Jeff Freeman
In conclusion, our 70th anniversary is not just a celebration of the past, but a stepping stone into a future filled with promise. We remain committed to our mission of providing practical education that empowers individuals to succeed. With the same dedication that carried us through the past seven decades, we look forward to the next chapter of our journey, where we will continue to shape lives and careers for generations to come.