For Immediate Release
July 29, 2010
West Point, Ga. -- Albany Technical College President, Dr. Anthony Parker, received a Kia “key to the future” during a special event held on Wednesday, July 28, at the Kia Georgia Training Center in West Point, Ga., when Kia Motors Manufacturing Georgia Inc. (KMMG) donated 20 of the all-new Kia Sorentos to the Technical College System of Georgia. The colleges receiving the cars were chosen based on the size of enrollment in their automotive programs.
“KMMG deeply appreciates the support we continue to receive from the State of Georgia, Governor Sonny Perdue, Commissioner Ron Jackson and the entire Technical College System Board of Directors,” said KMMG President and CEO Byung Mo Ahn. “The donation of these vehicles is just one expression of our deep appreciation for all that Georgia’s technical college system has done to support our success.”
“The Technical College System of Georgia has been an important partner for Kia Motors Manufacturing from the very beginning,” said Mr. K.S. Kim, senior vice president of KMMG, during the presentation ceremony. “Many of the technical colleges have provided support for our endeavor, and most especially Georgia Quick Start has been critical to our success, as they have developed and delivered workforce training that is the new global benchmark in our industry of advanced automotive manufacturing.
“The donation of these vehicles is just one expression of our deep appreciation for all that Georgia’s technical college system has done to support our success,” Mr. Kim added. “We consider the keys to these Kia Sorentos to also be the keys to the future for technical college students across the great state of Georgia.”
Kia first announced it was going to build an automotive manufacturing facility in Georgia in 2006. The Kia Georgia Training Center, operated jointly by Kia and Georgia Quick Start, opened its doors in 2008, and since then, KMMG has hired more than 1,700 team members who began producing the best-selling, award-winning Sorento last November.
Commissioner Ron Jackson received the donation on behalf of the TCSG. “Students across the state will have the opportunity to experience some of the most sophisticated automotive technology on the market today,” Jackson said. “KMMG’s generous donation will help prepare our graduates with the knowledge and experience to compete in the world of advanced automotive manufacturing.”
“The Technical College System of Georgia and Albany Technical College are proud that our agency could support KIA Motors start up of production in West Point. KIA builds a product that we can take pride that is manufactured in Georgia. Sorentos like the one donated to Albany Tech are assembled in Troup County are sold and serviced in Albany. This new KIA will give our students an opportunity to practice repairing and trouble shooting on a world class product. We are honored to receive our new KIA Sorrento and our automotive faculty and students will put it to very good use,” said Dr. Anthony Parker, President of Albany Tech.
Pictured (left to right): Mr. K.S. Kim, senior vice president of Kia Motors Manufacturing Georgia; Dr. Anthony Parker, President of Albany Tech; Clifford Kyle, Automotive Technology instructor at Albany Tech; and Technical College System of Georgia Commissioner Ron Jackson.
About Albany Technical College
A public postsecondary institution of the Technical System of Georgia, Albany Technical College provides technical education and training support for the evolving workforce needs of Southwest Georgia through traditional and online classroom settings. For more information about Albany Tech, go to www.AlbanyTech.edu or become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/AlbanyTech