A Secret to Share
The DuBose Porter Regional Business & Industry Training Center may be the best kept secret around. Located at Heart of Georgia Technical College, the Porter Center is a state-of-the-art training facility committed to workforce development.
Although the Porter Center was designed primarily for use by businesses, the center has been used to host a variety of events. “Probably our biggest surprise is the number of requests we are getting to host wedding receptions,” says Lisa Snell, Coordinator, “it’s amazing to see how beautiful the conference rooms can become with the wedding decorations.” The Porter Center is increasing in popularity for social events including high school proms, fund-raising events and the new annual Festival of Trees first held during the 2005 Christmas season.
Because the Porter Center was set up for business and industry, it houses the Economic Development Department of HGTC offering customized training to suit the needs of businesses.
The versatility of the facility is infinite. While able to host a 1,000 person dinner or 1,500 theatre style, arrangements can also be made for groups as small as ten. Movable walls help personalize the areas to suit the occasion. The 110-seat lecture hall offers voice, data and power connections. Five general classrooms are available.
In House Catering Services are available for groups up to 50 people. A list of approved caterers is available for larger groups.
The Porter Center can meet every technological need. With internet and intranet, satellite downlink, eight computer labs, and multimedia equipment which provides the capability to run PowerPoint and video or DVD in tandem, individual technology can be made to order to meet customer needs.
Customer Service is the theme that runs through all the services offered at the Porter Center. “We try to help the customer have a great experience. Our goal is to help them in any way we can,” says Snell.
Lending Library Provides Books to Students
The Lending Library at Heart of Georgia Technical College was set up to help qualified students by loaning the books needed for classes.
The program, started in the Summer 2005 quarter, has helped over 160 students with over 200 books loaned to date. The Lending Library, under the supervision of the New Connections to Work Program, was designed for students who have exhausted funds from Pell and HOPE Grants.
The Program reviews each application and the recipients are required to sign a contract to return the books in good working condition. The neediest students are helped first.
A list of available books is compiled every quarter. Books required for core classes make up the majority of books available due to the demand. Only non-consumable books are purchased for the library.
Two organizations provide funds to the program. The HGTC Foundation, funded through contributions and fund-raising efforts, along with the HGTC Student Government Association.
“The books have become so expensive. Some are costing students over $150 for just one book,” says Libby Lester, NCTW Specialist.
“We’d like to see the Lending Library grow. We consistently have more requests than we have money to purchase books,” says Lester.
Pictured: Keena King, NCTW secretary, assisting HGTC student, Angela Moore
The Heart of Georgia Technical College Foundation held its annual meeting July 27, 2006, in Dublin at the Allgood Pest Solutions conference room.
The Foundation approved the program of work, the meeting schedule, and budget for the upcoming year. John Southwood, Chattahoochee Technical College director of college development, was the guest speaker for the meeting. He outlined for the group the basic steps to making the “ask” in fundraising. HGTC Foundation President, Helen Harper, led the meeting.
There were five trustees recognized for their loyal service to both the Foundation and College. They are Judy Benton of Alamo, Martha Crooms of Cochran, Cindy Eckles of Eastman, Judy Johnson of McRae, and Nellie Wells of Dublin. Janice Irvin of Alamo was welcomed as a new trustee for Wheeler County.
Fundraising projects for fiscal year 2007 are the Annual Denim & Diamonds Dinner to be held February 3, 2007; the annual fund drive to be held in September 2006; the annual employee fund drive to be held in the spring of 2007; and a major gifts campaign to help equip Louie Livingston Hall which is currently under construction and will house the allied health program, expanded business technology programs, new cosmetology program, and a library.
The Foundation will assist HGTC students and employees through support of their programs and activities. Some of the programs include the Tools for Outstanding Occupational Leadership Students (TOOLS), Georgia Occupational Award of Leadership (GOAL), the Student Emergency Fund, the Lending Library, and several scholarships.
Pictured: Heart of Georgia Technical College Foundation President Helen Harper (r) thanks Nellie Wells (l) for serving three years on the board.
The Heart of Georgia Technical College (HGTC) Foundation recently elected Janice Irvin of Alamo to a three-year term on the Board of Trustees.
The HGTC Foundation is the fundraising arm of the college dedicated to raising and providing resources for HGTC’s educational excellence and innovation. The Foundation is guided by a volunteer board of trustees composed of business and community leaders from the Heart of Georgia Tech service area.
Irvin is employed by Little Ocmulgee EMC. She is a member of the Alamo United Methodist Church, where she is active in the choir and the United Methodist Women. She has served on the Wheeler County 4-H Club Advisory Council and the United Way. Irvin attended Berry College, Georgia Southern University, and Brewton Parker College. She is married to George Irvin and has two daughters.
Pictured: Heart of Georgia Technical College Foundation President Helen Harper (r) welcomes Janice Irvin (l), the newest trustee to the board.
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