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Ed Touchberry - Giving Back to the Community

When Ed Touchberry was originally approached about coming on board with the Heart of Georgia Technical College Foundation, he admits to having apprehensions.

"Neither I, nor any of my family members ever attended Heart of Georgia Technical College," said Touchberry.

 But since that initial prodding, he's grown to enjoy the work he and his fellow board of trustee members do to benefit the college.

“My eyes were really opened."

Touchberry, who spends his days working as YKK AP America's public relations/general affairs manager in Dublin, has been involved with HGTC's Foundation since July 2002. He currently serves as president of the foundation's board of trustees.

The foundation, a private sector partner with the college, maintains a two-fold goal: raising funds and providing resources to support HGTC programs that do not receive state and federal aid, and also working to improve and promote the college's educational programs.

The foundation is comprised of a volunteer board of trustees representing HGTC's six-county service area: Bleckley, Dodge, Laurens, Wheeler, Wilkinson and Telfair counties.

Foundation members typically serve two- to three-year terms.

"We try to get representatives to serve on the board of trustees from all the various counties," said Touchberry.

Each year, Touchberry and his fellow foundation members plan and organize at least two major fundraising events to support the college. This year's annual community fund drive began in September. A second, special fundraiser is also held each year, and has in the past included the Denim and Diamonds event and the I Heard it Through the Grapevine event.

Proceeds from the foundation's annual fundraisers also go to support another cause Touchberry denotes as a special outreach for the community — the annual TOOLS event, which the foundation supports in conjunction with the Livingston Family Foundation and Morris State Bank.

Each spring TOOLS (Tools for Outstanding Occupational Leadership Students) recognizes deserving HGTC students by awarding them with tools and materials they can utilize in their respective career fields.

This year's TOOLS program is set for December 5 at noon in the Porter Center. Twenty deserving students, nominated by their instructors, in fields of study ranging from early childhood care and education to machine tool technology will be recognized — and it's all funded through the combined efforts of the foundation's fundraisers, Morris State Bank and the Livingston family.

"What we try to do is pick deserving students who meet the criteria," said Touchberry of the students selected, who often receive money to cover the cost of testing fees and board exams, proper uniforms and work attire and even computers and other technology equipment.

"I think it's one of the greatest programs the college has," said Touchberry of the TOOLS program.

And while Touchberry says the current economic climate has presented its share of fundraising challenges of late, the local community remains supportive of both the college and the foundation's overall mission — and the time and dedication of the instructors and staff who work to support the HGTC students in their career endeavors.

"I am, have been, and still am extremely impressed with the instructors who try to assist these students," said Touchberry of the HGTC staff. "I think the community is extremely fortunate to have a facility such as HGTC."

Work Ready Awards Recognize Excellence In Workforce Development

Jefferson County named first Certified Work Ready Community

    Governor Sonny Perdue and the Governor’s Office of Workforce Development today announced the inaugural Work Ready Awards, which recognized and honored the partners, businesses and individuals who have supported Work Ready and made it a success. Governor Perdue also announced that Jefferson County has been named the state’s first-ever Certified Work Ready Community, a designation showing the county has the talented workforce that business demands and the educational infrastructure to drive economic growth and prosperity.

“Together we are providing richer job opportunities for Georgians and delivering larger dividends to the companies that call our state home,” said Governor Perdue. “Work Ready demonstrates that Georgia knows what it is going to take to competitive in the future and we are preparing our workers and companies today.”

    The Work Ready Awards, held at the Georgia Freight Depot, also showcased the state’s first-ever Certified Work Ready Community – Jefferson County. The community engaged a broad base of partners and demonstrated a commitment to improving its public high school graduation rate and succeeded in driving current workers and the available workforce to earn Work Ready Certificates.

    “The Jefferson County community built a strong public-private partnership and used that group to promote Work Ready throughout the community,” said Governor Perdue. “I am so proud of this effort and for the county’s ongoing efforts to engage students, citizens, employers and others in the value of Work Ready and the strength of our rural communities.”

    Jefferson County improved its public high school graduation rate from 75.5 percent in 2006 to 79.1 percent in 2008 – an impressive improvement of nearly four percentage points in only two years. At the same time, the county exceeded its Work Ready Certificate goals in every category, for a total of 397 Certificates earned – 40 percent higher than the county’s goal.

    “Earning Certified Work Ready Community status ensures our citizens have the foundation skills necessary to staff existing jobs and to master the innovative technologies new jobs will require tomorrow,” said Lil Easterlin, team leader and executive director of the Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce. “We are transforming our economy and giving our community a competitive advantage in attracting new business and jobs.”

The county’s efforts were led by a team of economic development, government and education partners including: the Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce, Sandersville Technical College – Jefferson County Center, Jefferson County Board of Commissioners, Jefferson County Board of Education and Jefferson County High School, Jefferson County Family Connections, Development Authority of Jefferson County and the East Central Georgia Consortium.

    To earn the Certified Work Ready Community designation, counties must demonstrate a commitment to improving public high school graduation rates and ensuring county residents ready to enter the workforce obtain a Work Ready Certificate.

    During the Work Ready Awards, two businesses where recognized as Work Ready Businesses of the Year:

• Solo Cup Company, the global manufacturer of single-use food and beverage service products, instituted Work Ready into its three Georgia facilities earlier this year. Working with DeKalb, Athens and Augusta Technical Colleges, the company created job profiles and began using Work Ready to hire the most qualified candidates – resulting in more than 70 new hires. The company has reduced training time, increased productivity, lowered turnover rates and created a path for employee promotion and training.
• Toppan Interamerica, a Japanese firm with manufacturing operations in Henry County, worked with Griffin Technical College to profile two of its critical positions. To date, the company has hired 76 employees with Work Ready Certificates. By implementing the initiative, the company has improved the quality of its hires, leading to more streamlined recruitment and training and significant cost savings.

Three Georgians who have used Work Ready to advance their careers were named Work Ready Success Stories:

• Joy Anthony was working toward a position in Quad/Graphics’ competitive corporate training program when she earned her Platinum Work Ready Certificate. She showcased her score during the interview process and was admitted to the program. Anthony said she believes her Work Ready Certificate provided proof of her skills and talent and gave her a competitive edge.
• Daniel Griffith was delivering pizzas and searching for a better job when he realized Lithonia Lighting, an Acuity Brands company, used Work Ready to make hiring decisions. Griffith earned a Silver Work Ready Certificate and was able to land the job he wanted. Only four months after joining the company, he was promoted and has today doubled his salary from his pizza delivery days.
• Zane McElroy was facing a tight job market and few opportunities despite a degree information technology. A staffing company immediately saw his potential and encouraged him to take the Work Ready assessment, where he earned a Platinum Work Ready Certificate. Based on his skill level, McElroy got a job at TD Automotive, a highly sought-after employer.

The Work Ready Awards also recognized those working at the state’s technical colleges to make the initiative a success as the Work Ready Job Profiling Team of the Year and Work Ready Administrators of the Year:

• Athens Technical College’s economic development team – Jerry Barrow, Tony Thompson and Tommy Lyon – have developed a team approach that creates strong job profiles that companies can use to find the best-quality employees. The team has completed 16 job profiles for eight companies and the pace of their work continues to grow.
• Ellen Harvill has been instrumental in making Work Ready a success in the Columbus area, reaching out to Columbus Technical College students, industries and individuals and promoting the value of the initiative at every level.
• Tammy Hufstetler has long believed in making a difference in her community. As the Work Ready Coordinator for North Metro Technical College, she promotes the initiative on campus and throughout the community to communicates its benefits to both job seekers and employers.

Georgia’s Work Ready initiative is based on a skills assessment, certification and skills gap training for job seekers and a job profiling system for businesses. By identifying both the needs of business and the available skills of Georgia’s workforce, the state can more effectively generate the right talent for the right jobs.

For more information on the Work Ready initiative please visit the Web site at www.gaworkready.org

Pictured:  Daniel Griffith, receiving his award.

Attending the luncheon on behalf of the Heart of Georgia Work Ready Region:  Randall Peters, HGTC president; Beth Crumpton , HGTC executive vice president; Amy Harrelson, HGTC work ready coordinator; Bob Dixon, HGTC work ready project manager;  Lisa Orange, HGTC team lead (& Daniel’s Mom); Daniel Griffith, HGTC GED graduate, Work Ready Certificate Holder & Job Seeker, Acuity Brands employee; Willie Paulk, President, Dublin/Laurens Chamber of Commerce; Cal Wray, Vice President, Dublin/Laurens Development Authority; Paula Rogers, President, Telfair Chamber/Work Ready Team Leader Telfair Co.; Debbie Bullard,  Chair, Telfair Chamber/Work Ready Team Member Telfair County; and Brenda Peters, former GED Instructor HGTC (Daniel’s Instructor).

Dr. Howard Abney, dean of the Heart of Georgia Technical College Little Ocmulgee Instructional Center, is shown presenting Stephanie White (from McRae) with a Karen Core Certified Nursing Assistant Scholarship.  The scholarship will pay the HGTC student’s national exam fee. Mrs. Core, for whom the scholarship is named, provided life-long service to health care as a registered nurse and is a past member of the HGTC Foundation and HGTC nursing advisory committee.  

Heart of Georgia Technical College delivered Halloween Bags to pre-k and kindergarten students within the HGTC service area. The bags were provided by the HGTC Student Government Association and HGTC Marketing Department.

Smokey Bear visited the Heart of Georgia Technical College Pre-K on October 29. He spoke with the children about fire safety and explained that the forestry department deals with grass and forest fires.

HGTC’s Phi Beta Lambda Club provides leadership to students

 Heart of Georgia Technical College's Phi Beta Lambda (PBL) organization aims to provide business and technology students with the necessary leadership skills to prepare them for their future careers.

      The local chapter is a part of the national arm of PBL and is open to any and all students enrolled in HGTC's business and information technology programs, which include: degree programs in applied science in accounting and applied business technology; health information technology, management and supervisory development; and applied science in marketing management; along with diploma programs in accounting, business technology, administrative assistant, business office specialist, legal office specialist, medical office specialist, management and supervisory development and marketing management, as well as several technical certificates of credit.

"This is basically a leadership program," said Belinda Fisher, one of the local PBL advisors.

Local PBL members give back through community service projects that include area blood drives as well as the Humane Society Food Drive, which PBL sponsors annually. Each November, PBL partners with the Dublin Rotary Club to host a blanket drive that provides warmth during the cold winter months for local elderly members of the community.

"In December, we have been putting up what we call an Angel Tree, which helps provide Christmas for children who otherwise might not have one," said Fisher. "PBL tries to have at least one March of Dimes fundraiser per year — we normally do this as a bake sale and keep it as an in-house activity."

Nationally, PBL is the largest business career student organization in the world, according to its web site. The high school division has 215,000 members, while the postsecondary division, which includes the HGTC chapter, reaches more than 11,000 college students. The national organization is headquartered in Virginia.

The local chapter was organized in 1985 with Linda Peacock serving as the club's first advisor.

Fisher said beyond getting a jump start on their careers in the business world, PBL builds self-confidence, while enabling students to network and give back to the local community.

"I hope that the students learn that it isn't hard to become involved and to give back to the community," said Fisher.

For more information, contact advisors Belinda Fisher at bfisher@heartofgatech.edu or Beth Duggins at bduggins@heartofgatech.edu.

Pictured:  PBL members with Humane Society Food Drive contributions from the past year.