Impact Fall 14

News for Your Company from Tri-County Technical College Fall 2014

From the President

Career Pathways Expand In Area Schools

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hen it comes to educating and preparing a highly diverse population of students, we have to get really creative. One size does not fit all when it comes to the delivery of technical training.

What’s Inside

Dr. Ronnie L. Booth This is especially true when it comes to young students – even those not yet in college.

Sandvik Supports CNC

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Leadership Positions

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Wells Fargo Funds Equipment 3 Showcase Highlights Technical Careers

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Grainger Foundation Supports Welding

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Companies Apply for ARC Grants

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Automation Conference

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David A. Harvey Scholarships

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JTEKT: “We Need What You’ve Got

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Students Praise Pathways 7 E-Zone Program

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Needed Workplace Skills 8

For years we have worked closely with area school districts to expose high school students to career opportunities in technical fields. We also have partnered with career centers to offer advanced placement to students who learn specific technical skills in high school so they don’t have to repeat the same content in college. In addition, we have offered some technical training courses on high school campuses.

Last year we made a significant breakthrough in our delivery system. We partnered with Crescent High School to pilot a technical career pathways program that allowed high school seniors to take basic electronics classes on our Anderson Campus four days each week. By the end of the year, they had earned a Tri-County certificate in Basic Electronics, even crossing the stage at our Spring Commencement ceremony before receiving their high school diploma several weeks later.

Many of these Crescent High School students never would have considered attending college, yet all of them said that because of this program, they felt like college student by the time they graduated from high school. Every student who completed the pilot program continued his or her education at Tri-County either in Mechatronics or Industrial Electronics.

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The Tri-County Technical College Foundation named Robert Bosch LLC in Anderson the 2014 recipient of its Philanthropist of the Year award. Grayson Kelly, executive director of the Foundation, third from left, presented the award to Randy Bunch, director of human resources at the Bosch Anderson plant, second from left.

Pictured with them are, from left, Dr. Trish Hayner, Bosch Production Systems (BPS) manager, and A.B.Young, human resources manager. The presentation was made at the College’s Annual Report Luncheon.

Bosch Named Philanthropist of The Year

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he Tri-County Technical College Foundation named Robert Bosch LLC in Anderson the 2014 recipient of its Philanthropist of the Year award. This is the Foundation’s highest and most prestigious honor reserved for individuals, foundations, companies, trusts, organizations, or other entities that have made a significant financial contribution, either cash or non-cash, to the Foundation to support the work of the College.

Grayson Kelly, executive director of the Foundation, presented the award to Randy Bunch, director of human resources at the Bosch Anderson plant. The presentation was made at the College’s Annual Report Luncheon. “Receiving this award is a distinct honor for Bosch,” Bunch said. “Bosch appreciates the relationship we have developed with (Continued on page 6)

Sandvik Supports CNC Training

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andvik in Westminster strengthened its partnership with Tri-County with a $2,500 donation to the College’s Engineering Technology department. The funds will support the CNC program. “We depend on the College for our future talent and workforce,” Dr. Arun Pattanaik, PU director of the plant, said.

Dr. Pattanaik, PU director of the plant, second from left, presents the check to Mandy Orzechowski, Engineering Technology department head at Tri-County, third from left. Pictured with them are, from left, Angie Long, human resources business partner at Sandvik; Doug Allen, Industrial Technology department head; and Peter Dunster, account productivity engineer for Sandvik.

College Fills Leadership Positions

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he College filled three key leadership positions by hiring Grayson Kelly as Executive Director of the Foundation, Dan Cooper as Director of Economic Development and Government Relations and promoting Galen DeHay to Senior Vice President.

DeHay, who spent 12 years in the classroom as a Biology instructor and Science Department Dead, has been Interim Provost for the past two years while serving as Assistant Vice President for Instruction and Institutional Effectiveness. As Senior Vice President, he will provide leadership to the academic, student support, enrollment, and economic development functions of the College.

Kelly will provide direct leadership to the Foundation, alumni, and grants functions of the College. He has been Director of Development and Communications for the Blue Ridge Council, Boys Scouts of America in Greenville since 2011. He served as the Chief Development Officer directing all fundraising, communications, marketing, and public relations for the Blue Ridge Council.

Cooper will work closely with local and State leaders to promote economic development in the three-county service area by teaming up with local economic development alliances, working with industrial prospects, and serving as a legislative and governmental affairs liaison for the College. He also will provide direct leadership and oversight to the Corporate and Community Education Division in support of their efforts to meet the training needs of local businesses and industries.

Throughout his career, Cooper worked closely with economic development organizations and government entities to support new jobs, industry and economic vitality in the region. From 1992 – 2011 he represented the South Carolina House of Representatives District 10 in Anderson County.

Dan Cooper

Impact is published three times each year by the Office of the President and the Public Relations Department.

Campus Contact Information P.O. Box 587, Pendleton, SC 29760 Pendleton Campus..................864-646-8361 Anderson Campus...................864-260-6700 Easley Campus............................ 864-220-8000 Oconee Campus........................ 864-886-4555 Toll-Free (864 area code).... 1-866-269-5677 TDD/Voice............................ 1-800-735-2905 Website...................................... www.tctc.edu

Grayson Kelly

Galen DeHay

Engineering Technology Names New Department Head

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andy Orzechowski is now Department Head for Engineering Technology. She joined the College in 2009 as an Engineering Graphics Technology instructor. She had taught in area high schools – at Pendleton High School, she was a Science and Project Lead the Way instructor, and at Anderson Districts I and 2 Career and Technology Center she was the PLTW instructor. She began her career at Carolina Circuits as a Mandy Orzechowski Process Engineer and later worked at Cans Unlimited in Greer as a Sales and Marketing Specialist. She returned to Carolina Circuits in 2002 where over time she served as Engineering Team Leader, Program Manager, Project Engineer, and Process Engineer.

Tri-County Technical College does not discriminate in admission or employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, qualifying disability, veteran’s status, or national origin.

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Wells Fargo Funds Equipment

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ells Fargo funded a $22,500 grant to the College to purchase equipment for the career pathways programs. The College is engaged in career pathway programs with local school districts to provide students with the employerdefined skills needed in advanced manufacturing and other STEM-related careers.

Scott Webber, senior vice president, Anderson market president, for Wells Fargo Bank in Anderson, third from left, presents the check to Dr. Booth. Pictured with them are Courtney White, director of development at the College, and Robert Halfacre, Wells Fargo market president for Oconee and Pickens counties.

A-O-P Showcase Highlights Technical Careers

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iddle and high school students from Anderson, Oconee, and Pickens County School Districts attended the 2014 Anderson-Oconee-Pickens Business & Industry Showcase held October 1 and 2 at Littlejohn Coliseum.

The Showcase is designed to help these young people become aware of the good paying jobs that are available in advanced manufacturing. Sixty-five percent of the jobs created require technical or twoyear degrees – specifically, persons with the math, science, and programming skills needed to run today’s sophisticated equipment and to work in an environment where technology is evolving at a rapid pace.

Jacob Davis, a senior at Pendleton High School, operates a virtual welding training station at Tri-County’s booth. Jacob plans to enter the Welding program after graduation.

During this event, students had an opportunity to interact with company representatives from a wide variety of industries to learn more about the pathway they need to take to gain the skills and knowledge needed for these local advanced manufacturing jobs.

The Grainger Foundation Supports Welding

From left are Sarah Zigman, government account manager at Grainger; Paul Ellis, branch manager of W.W. Grainger, Inc.’s, Greenville, SC, location; Paul Phelps, Welding program coordinator; and Courtney White, director of development at Tri-County.

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he Grainger Foundation, an independent, private foundation, donated $5,000 to Tri-County in support of the expansion of the cutting lab in its Welding department.

“This grant will be used to purchase additional equipment for the cutting lab, enabling us to serve more students,” said Paul Phelps, Welding program coordinator at Tri-County. “We are grateful to The Grainger Foundation for its generosity.”

Phelps said the program currently serves more than 250 students annually in efforts to train welding craftsmen for local industry.

For more information, contact Paul Phelps at 646-1405 or pphelps@ tctc.edu.

A new component of the showcase this year was inviting 150 of the most career-ready seniors from the Career and Technology Centers to meet with participating industries to talk about potential jobs, co-ops, internships, and apprenticeships that are available. These Tops in Technology students have taken the WorkKeys assessment and successfully completed a career development pathway during their time in school.

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Career Pathways…

(Continued from page 1) This year, we were able to expand the program to all seven school districts in Anderson, Oconee, and Pickens counties, thanks to a special proviso by the SC General Assembly that provides funding for all students in technical career pathways over the next two years.

Programs include Mechatronics, Industrial Electronics, Automotive, and HVAC. I am confident we will experience the same level of success we had with Crescent High School. As with the pilot program, many of the students we serve likely never would consider going to college after graduation, but the exposure, training, and support we can provide through a technical career pathway change the way they see themselves and their futures.

Local industries also will benefit from career pathways programs because they help to address workforce challenges by filling the pipeline of skilled employees needed to fill high-tech positions in manufacturing.

One size does not fit all, and by redesigning the educational experience to meet the diverse needs of the community, everyone wins: Tri-County Technical College, area manufacturers, and, most importantly, the students.

Ronnie L. Booth, Ph.D. President

Companies Awarded ARC Grants To Grow Workforce

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ourteen companies in the tricounty area have been awarded ARC grant monies that will fund apprenticeships and aid in growing their workforce.

Manufacturing representatives attended an inforThe St. Jude Medical team applied for an ARC grant following the informamation meeting in tional meeting. From left are Thomas Strange, senior director of research and early November development; Lynn Hendricks, human resources generalist; Gary Thompson, prepared to apply director of operations; and Nancy Heilemann, director of operations. for these ARC grant monies that were awarded on a first-come, first served basis within each county.

A $250,000 grant awarded by the Appalachian Regional Commission to the state’s Apprenticeship Carolina™ program will be used by the College to increase on-the-jobtraining opportunities in the tri-county area. “These grants can be used to help grow your workforce,” said Rick Cothran, dean of the College’s Corporate and Community Education Division. Carla Whitlock, apprenticeship consultant in the Division of Economic Development & Workforce Competitiveness for the S.C. Technical College System, detailed the one-page application process and talked the participants through the steps and answered questions. “The goal of the grant is to fund education in your facilities, specifically where there are skills gaps in your organizations,” she said.

The funds have been dispersed among all three counties equally. Specifically each county received $83,333. Funds are limited to $25,000 per company and $2,500 maximum per employee.

Apprentices must be registered for each occupation that requires education, said Whitlock. Companies must register employees as apprentices. After awards are made, the deadline for finalizing a training plan with Tri-County is December 30.

Apprenticeship Carolina™ is a way to formalize the training process and to create a pipeline of skilled workforce for today’s advanced manufacturing and business jobs, said Whitlock. “Making sure S.C. companies have a trained workforce pipeline is the goal of Apprenticeship Carolina™,” she added.

“Apprenticeship programs registered with the U.S. Department of Labor qualify employers for a tax benefit while also positioning employees to receive incremental wage increases,” she said.

“This grant will work to bridge the skills gap in our three-county service area,” said Dr. Booth. “It is a real win for our local manufacturers who will be able to build their workforce pipeline with skilled workers. At the same time, those employees chosen for the program will have the opportunity to enhance their skill set and earn a nationally recognized credential.”

“In 2007 there were 800 apprentices with 90 companies statewide. Today we are working with 777 companies and 10,890 apprentices. Apprenticeships are easy to set up and there’s not a lot of red tape,” said Whitlock. Other benefits include getting highly skilled workforce, state tax credits, standardized skills, reduced turnover and increased productivity, she said.

“You’ll get credentialed, well trained, and highly educated employees,” said Whitlock.

For more information, contact Richard Parker at 646-1718 or rparker@tctc.edu.

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Team Presents Keynote Address At Automation Conference

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ob Placement Coordinator Cheryl Garrison joined Industrial Electronics Technology faculty member Shan Smith, Schneider Electric Engineering Manager Ted Stokes, and Doug Wilson, senior associate development specialist at Bosch, as keynote

presenters at the Automation Conference 2014. The team’s topic was “Bridging the Skills Gap: Enhancing the Talent Pipeline through Local Technical College Collaboration.”

They shared best practices for creating a pipeline of highly skilled employees through collaboration with local industry.

IET Students Receive Harvey Memorial Scholarships

Most of the 200 attendees at the recent international Automation Conference 2014 are facing the same day-to-day challenge – finding and hiring individuals with 21st-century workplace skills. They were eager to hear how Tri-County Technical College’s collaboration with industry leaders on curriculum changes and developing work-based learning opportunities, like scholars programs, co-ops, internships and apprenticeships, have been the key to producing work-ready graduates.

“We presented proven ways to fill the skills gaps, which is a national problem,” said Smith, who is program coordinator for Industrial Electronics Technology at the College. “We don’t have all the solutions but collaboration and direct communication with industry partners, such as BMW, Bosch and Schneider Electric, inform us as to what they need, so we can create a program of study and produce job candidates who can go out and fill these positions,” he said.

“Co-ops help students to develop a realistic expectation of industry,” added Smith, who takes students on tours of local industries so they can observe operations on the plant floor. “It gives them a goal to aspire to while dispelling the myths about the work in industry being a dirty job. They see that the work is challenging and that associates are learning and growing every day. Working in advanced manufacturing requires highly skilled individuals.”

Pictured from left, seated, are Jason Flynn, of Walhalla,Vicentiu Iorga, of Anderson, Jonathan Hamrick of Pendleton, and Sidney Davis, of Westminster. Pictured with them are Cheryl Garrison, career services job placement coordinator, and Shan Smith, IET program coordinator.

For more information, contact Shan Smith at asmith2@tctc.edu or 646-1409.

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arlier this year Tri-County was selected to receive the 2014 David A. Harvey Memorial Scholarship, and representatives from the College accepted the $4,500 check at the May 20 – 21 Automation Conference in Chicago, Illinois. Four Industrial Electronics Technology (IET) students will receive $1,125 to assist with tuition and book expenses for summer 2015. Scholarship recipients must have a 2.8 GPA or higher; must be an IET major; and all applicants must write a 300- – 500-word essay describing the reason they decided to major in IET and where they see themselves in five years.

Summit Media Group selected Tri-County as the recipient of the 2014 David A. Harvey Memorial Scholarship. Representatives from the College accepted the $4,500 check at the May 20 – 21 Automation Conference in Chicago, Illinois. Cheryl Garrison, job placement coordinator in Career Services, middle, accepted the scholarship from Joe Angel, president/publisher, Summit Media Group, Inc. (left), and Jim Chrzan, vice president/publisher, Automation World (right).

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Bosch…

(Continued from page 1) Tri-County and what the College has given us in terms of support, education, training, and graduates. Our collaborative efforts have impacted individuals, business, and the community, thereby making life better for us all.”

Investing in education to advance innovation and protect the environment is a hallmark of Bosch. The Bosch Anderson site has been a loyal donor to the TriCounty Technical College Foundation beginning in 1988 when it made an initial gift of $1,000 to the Industrial and Business Development Center, the home of the Corporate and Community Education Division.

Since then, the company has given a total of $241,160 and is recognized on the College’s prestigious Wall of Honor.

This past April, the Bosch Anderson plant and the Bosch Community Fund (BCF), a U.S.-based foundation, awarded a $100,000 grant to Tri-County to support the Mechatronics and Industrial Electronics Technology programs. The funds will upgrade equipment, provide additional laboratory sections, and allow the hiring of adjunct faculty for these expanded laboratories to give more personal attention to students. This grant is enabling the College to further engage students and help develop a technical workforce.

In return, the College has renamed the labs, the Robert Bosch Mechatronics Lab and the Robert Bosch Industrial Electronics Technology Lab, respectively.

JTEKT President to Tri-County: “We Need What You’ve Got”

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TEKT North America Chief Operating Officer Ken Hopkins says he has driven by Tri-County Technical College several times in recent years, and it always looked impressive. Hopkins, who was the College’s keynote speaker for its annual report

luncheon, had the time to tour the Pendleton Campus, as well as the Industrial Technology Center in Sandy Springs, where he observed students training to work in the fields of CNC, welding, and mechatronics– just the kinds of employees the Walhalla plant and JTEKT’s other U.S. facilities need to produce automotive steering systems, drive line couplings, bearings, and machine tools.

“Color me impressed,” said Hopkins, who joined JTEKT in early 2010 as president of the newly formed global Koyo needle roller bearings division in Michigan. JTEKT is the largest supplier of automotive electric power steering systems in the world.

“We need talented team members who are trained to handle the demands of those requirements. Increasingly, as we look for that talent, we turn to Tri-County Technical College to help us to fill our need,” said Hopkins. “We need what you’ve got,” he said.

Hopkins introduced Wesley O’Kelley, a CNC major and one of five Tri-County interns who work at the Walhalla plant. Co-ops are a great way to earn while you learn and serve a purpose for the plant, also, he said. “We benefit from an opportunity to get to know future full-time employees much better. And we have a big need. Approximately 30 percent of our major skilled departments in Walhalla will retire in the next three years.

And with them will go decades of experience, and you just don’t replace those people with anyone off the street,” he added.

“The technical colleges in South Carolina, like Tri-County, are critical to our success.

At JTEKT we create solutions for our customers and build quality products every day based on advanced skills acquired at Tri-County Technical College and similar institutions throughout the State.You’re pretty lucky right here in Anderson, Oconee, and Pickens counties because Tri-County is one of the best among the best. My tour today helped to solidify that determination. Tri-County has the highest success rate among the 16 technical colleges in the State. Ninety-nine percent of employers are highly satisfied with the performance of Tri-County graduates. Consider us in that 99 percent,” said Hopkins.

The Bosch Anderson plant has been a great partner to the College in support of the Bosch Technical Scholars Program.

This new partnership is an answer to supplying industry with a pipeline of qualified technicians. Qualified evening students are targeted in their last semester. The intense, four-month Technical Scholars Program is designed to give students a real, on-the-job experience that complements what they are learning in the classroom.

Wesley O’Kelley, fourth from left, is a Machine Tool Technology major who is engaged in a work/based learning experience (co-op) at Koyo Bearings in Walhalla that is giving him on-the-job training while he completes his degree. Wesley, who was recognized by JTEKT North America Chief Operating Officer Ken Hopkins, third from left, at the luncheon, is pictured with Walhalla Koyo associates, from left, Anthony Perdrix, Walhalla plant manager; Butch Harris, College Commission chair and retired manufacturing manager for Koyo Bearings USA; Kellie Smith, human resources analyst, and Todd Massenburg, human resources manager.

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Students Praise Pathway Program

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wo high school students from Anderson Districts 1 and 2 Career and Technology Center, Blake Thompson, a sophomore at Wren High School, and Taylor Butler, a junior at Belton-Honea Path High School, recently spoke about their experiences in the Career Pathways Program.

Both are enrolled in Mechatronics classes in addition to their high school coursework.

A $1 million state-funded proviso is making it possible for high school students to take college courses in career pathways with little or no out-of-pocket cost this fall. (See related front-page story).

Prior to the students’ remarks at the College’s Annual Report Luncheon, Dr. Booth talked about the year’s accomplishments and the intentional focus on creating a transforBlake Thompson and Taylor Butler mative student experience for each student.

One of the year’s initiatives was created through partnerships with the local school districts. Specifically, Career Pathway Programs with school districts provide students with the employer-defined skills needed in advanced manufacturing and other STEM-related careers.

For high school students in the tri-county area, the funding covers tuition costs not covered by Lottery Tuition Assistance (LTA), books, and a portion of transportation costs for students enrolled in a technical career pathway. In the past, each school district was working to help offset the costs for these students through grants and their district budgets.

Tri-County’s four career pathways are Mechatronics, Basic Electronics, Automotive Technology, and Heating,Ventilation, and Air Conditioning Technology. They are being offered in the 2014 – 2015 academic year.

“It’s an amazing opportunity to get a jump start in life. I plan to get my associate degree and enter the workforce. I’ll graduate from high school with a certificate. This is an accomplishment for me and my mom as well,” said Thompson. He asked for continued funding of the program “for me and future students as well.”

Thompson, the only female in her classes, says the program challenges her. “Just because I am the only girl in that program does not mean I can’t do it,” she said. “I will graduate from college early. I can secure my financial future and have a great job I’ll enjoy. The classes have taught me to think, to be on time, and that there are no failures, just learning experiences. I thank the State for its financial support of the Career Pathways Program,” she said.

Currently there are 31 students from Anderson School Districts 1 and 2 in the program.

“It’s essential that it be in all high schools. We need more students, more partnerships,” said Dr. Booth. “We are working together to make it happen.”

For more information, contact Amanda Blanton, director of high school engagement and outreach, at ablanton@tctc.edu or 646-1501.

Improved E-Zone Debuts in January

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n improved and streamlined S.C. Enterprise Zone Act (E-Zone) retraining program will be unveiled in January 2015. Larry Lindsey of the SC Technical College System met with tri-county manufacturers recently to give updates and answer questions. The E-Zone program can reduce the cost of training for eligible employees by more than 65 percent through a refund to the company from SC withholding taxes.

Manufacturing companies located in South Carolina may have the opportunity to utilize the Job Retraining Tax Credit (E-Zone) program to be reimbursed for certain training and education provided to employees.

Subsequent to approval by the State Board for Technical and Comprehensive Education, companies may claim a credit of $1,000 per employee against withholding taxes.

South Carolina Enterprise Zone Act Requirements: • There is a $250 renewal fee, payable to the Department of Revenue.

There is no initial application fee for new companies.

• All companies are subject to the approval of all E-Zone programs through the State Board for Technical and Comprehensive Education on an annual basis.

• Only companies engaged in manufacturing or processing operations or technology-intensive activities at manufacturing, processing, or technology-intensive facilities are eligible for E-Zone reimbursement.

• The qualifying business must expend at least $1.50 on retraining eligible employees for every $1 claimed as a credit against withholding for training.

For more information, contact Richard Parker at 646-1718 or rparker@tctc.edu.

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Leaders Discuss Skills, Competencies Needed to Compete in Workplace

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he best and most effective ways to close the skills gaps in today’s workforce involve partnerships, training and apprenticeships/internships, representatives from business, industry and Tri-County Technical College agreed at a recent Pickens County workforce summit.

The purpose of the meeting was to discuss and determine the skills and competencies needed to compete in today and tomorrow’s workplace. They also learned how work-based learning and apprenticeships can supply their workforce needs.

Let Us Help You Find Your Next Great Hire At the end of each semester, a new group of highly skilled employees enters the job market. Our graduates are in great demand by area employers, so don’t wait any longer to identify potential new hires for your company. Let our Career Services Office assist you in finding the right person to meet your employment needs.

Contact Glenn Hellenga in Career Services at 646-1585 or ghelleng@tctc.edu.

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Cheryl Garrison, job placement coordinator in Career Services at Tri-County, explained how the College’s collaboration with industry leaders on curriculum changes and developing work-based learning opportunities (scholars programs, co-ops, internships and apprenticeships) have been the key to producing work-ready graduates.

Garrison said Tri-County has seen strong growth in the last two years. Since 2012 Garrison has seen a 365 percent increase in the number of companies participating in workbased learning opportunities at Tri-County.

In October of 2012, there were 26 Tri-County students involved in work-based learning experiences at six companies in the College’s service area. Just 18 months later, there are nearly 100 students this year placed at 28 companies and growing.

Through work-based learning, a student is paid while attending school. “It’s good for the company because they get skilled workers whom they can grow and train,” she said. During the last year, $157,550 was paid to students participating in workbased learning opportunities.

“Work-based learning is an opportunity for everyone in this room.You hire a student with long-term plans to fill future openings.You grow them for a year and when he or she graduates, you have a full-time employee ready to go,” she said.

“My goal is to find the right fit for you,” she told the members of the audience. “It’s an opportunity to immerse a talented students into your culture and workforce and a way to raise the caliber of our workforce.”

For more information, contact Cheryl Garrison at cgarris3@tctc.edu or 646-1573.

McLaughlin Body Team Leader/lab instructor Justin Kunkle demonstrates how to install a windshield wiper and motor for a pre-hire class offered by readySC™. An integral part of the SC Technical College System, readySC™ and Tri-County Technical College team up to provide technical training to new and expanding industries.

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