July 11, 2016 - Albany, GA - Albany Technical College’s Center for Business Solutions (CBS) and the Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG) in partnership with the Albany-Dougherty Economic Development Commission (EDC) and the Albany- Dougherty Industry Roundtable, will hold a signing ceremony on Tuesday, July 12, 2016, at 10am in the Kirkland Conference Center on the Albany Tech campus, to launch a new technical certificate of credit aimed at providing students with the skills necessary to create a more competitive workforce to meet employers’ needs.
The new program, Industrial Operations Technician, is the first of its kind of Georgia. Students enrolled in the new program will be exposed to a variety of manufacturing principles, including Lean Six Sigma, operations management, industrial mechanics and interpersonal skills.
“We have an opportunity to provide the industry in our community with world class technicians,” said Dr. Anthony O. Parker, Albany Technical College President. “Courses from the Industrial Operations certificate are embedded in associate of applied science degrees in Operations Management, Logistics, and Industrial Systems Technology and provides graduates with an opportunity to earn a bachelor’s degree at seven of Georgia’s finest universities.”
“Albany Technical College, through the Center for Business Solutions, continues to look for ways to enhance the workforce in our region and the new Industrial Operations Technician program does just that by targeting the specific needs of the manufacturing community in Albany and Dougherty County,” said Matt Trice, Vice President of the Center for Business Solutions at Albany Technical College.
“Ongoing dialogue between our technical colleges and local businesses is critical to developing programs that fulfill the needs of both students and industry,” said Matt Arthur, Deputy Commissioner of the Technical College System of Georgia. “Programs like this are the reason we have technical colleges in Georgia – to educate students in fields for which they have a passion while enabling them to become a productive member of the state’s workforce.”
The certificate of credit was developed in collaboration with members of the Albany-Dougherty Industry Roundtable, a CEO-level forum of major manufacturers and distribution centers in Albany-Dougherty County. The roundtable, an initiative of the Albany-Dougherty EDC, includes Albany Green Energy, Coats & Clark’s craft manufacturing facility, Coats & Clark’s North American Distribution Center, Marine Depot Maintenance Command at Marine Corps Logistics Base Albany, Procter & Gamble, Mars Chocolate North America, MillerCoors, Pfizer, SASCO Chemical Group and Tara Foods.
The new program aligns the needs of Albany-Dougherty County’s industries with the training opportunities available, thereby further strengthening the local and regional labor force and making it more attractive to prospective and existing industries.
“A skilled labor force is critical for employers. This program was developed by our industries to meet our work force needs,” said Werhner Washington, co-chair of the Albany-Dougherty Industry Roundtable and plant manager of Albany’s Procter & Gamble plant. “As industries, we’re appreciative of the partnership with Albany Technical College and the Albany-Dougherty Economic Development Commission in making this program a reality.”
“The Albany-Dougherty EDC takes great pride in having strong relationships with our community’s existing industries. We connect industry leaders to each other and to the resources they need to be more competitive,” said Justin Strickland, president of the Albany-Dougherty EDC, which focuses on recruitment and retention of industry for Albany-Dougherty County.
In further support, the Albany-Dougherty Economic Development Commission has funded a scholarship through Albany Technical College for the Industrial Operations Technician program.
The new program has been approved by the Albany Technical College Board and the Technical College System of Georgia. Students may begin enrolling in the program on Wednesday, July 13, 2016, during a career fair with members of the Albany-Dougherty Industry Roundtable. The career fair will be held at Albany Technical College’s Kirkland Conference Center from 8 a.m.-noon and 4 p.m.-8 p.m. Current and prospective students are welcome. For details, call (229) 430-6598.
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