Keebler Elves Get Quick Start Training

Georgia Department of Technical and Adult Education
FALL 2002 • VOLUME 4, NUMBER 4
Keebler Elves Get
Quick Start Training
Keebler’s graham cracker
line returns to Macon
E
lfin magic mixed with feline
might as Ernie Keebler and
Tony the Tiger welcomed guests
at the recent Quick Start training
plan signing at the Keebler plant
in Macon.
Good buddies since Keebler
became a Kellogg’s subsidiary last
year, the mascot duo posed with
such dignitaries as Guy Ball,
plant manager of the Macon
facility; Jack Ellis, mayor of Macon;
and Dr. Melton Palmer, president of
Central Georgia Technical College.
“We are excited to kick off this
partnership with Quick Start and
Central Georgia Technical College,”
Ball said. “The benefits of this partnership will extend beyond the walls
of our plant. Through programs
like this, the state will see firsthand
the types of skills that businesses
are seeking. This information will
help them prepare our current and
future workforce.”
The Quick Start program
involves the training of some 25
new employees in mixing, baking
and packaging the graham cracker
line of products. One of six “ovens,”
or production lines, the graham
cracker operation recently returned
to Macon from Keebler’s Denver
bakery, which closed last year.
“Existing industry is
the foundation of
the workforce of
our community.”
— Dr. Melton Palmer
Central Georgia Tech President
Hardly camera-shy, the two mascots make sure they’re a part of the official signing ceremony
with (from left) Quick Start’s Jackie Rohosky, Keebler’s Guy Ball and Central Georgia Tech’s
Dr. Melton Palmer.
The 300-foot-long, newly transplanted oven produces 60,000
graham crackers every eight hours.
Training is especially critical for
graham cracker production, a
trickier process than the other
Continued on page 5
QUICK START IS GEORGIA’S PREMIER SOURCE FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TRAINING
Quick Notes
Jackie Rohosky
T
Talk of
development
in rural
Georgia is
building
momentum ...
he recent Celebrating Rural Georgia Conference drew a remarkable blend of 700-plus
enthusiastic attendees from every possible angle of economic development. Farmers,
educators, civic leaders, social services providers, politicians and arts advocates all joined
together in the common cause of preserving — yet improving — their beloved rural Georgia.
Talk of development in rural Georgia is building momentum, with attendance at this
biennial event nearly tripling since the last conference in 2000. Why the dramatic increase?
A large part of the reason is the continued efforts in rural development inspired by
leaders like Lt. Gov. Mark Taylor, chair of the Georgia Rural Development Council,
which sponsored the conference. Delivering his keynote address at the conference,
Taylor spoke of the untapped potential in rural Georgia and his dedication to helping
rural areas prosper.
“It’s all about quality of life. It’s all about education opportunities. It’s all about
economic opportunities,” he said, vowing to focus on these issues for rural Georgia as
long as he’s a public servant.
At Quick Start, we work with the same tenacity in bringing jobs to rural Georgians,
and our efforts are clearly paying off. In fiscal year 2002, Quick Start clients created well
over 3,000 direct new jobs in rural Georgia.
Just as our lieutenant governor aims to serve as an advocate and champion of rural
Georgia, Quick Start intends to do its part by helping rural businesses thrive. I’m certain
we’ll hear more about their successes at the next Celebrating Rural Georgia Conference
in 2004.
Lt. Gov. Mark Taylor
pledges his commitment to rural Georgia
during his keynote
speech at the
Celebrating Rural
Georgia Conference.
Jackie Rohosky
Assistant Commissioner
Economic Development Programs
[email protected]
Table of Contents
6
3
6
8
9
Events around the state
AmeriSteel forging ahead
10
11
Development rally in rural Georgia
10
Austrians awed by Quick Start
Learning ‘lean’ at CEDT conference
F&P at home in Rome
9
Fall 2002 • Volume 4, Number 4 • Published quarterly by Georgia Quick Start • www.georgiaquickstart.org
Quick Start is a registered service mark of the Georgia Department of Technical and Adult Education – Kenneth H. Breeden, Commissioner.
Address comments and questions to: Director of Communications • GA Quick Start • 1800 Century Place, Suite 300, Atlanta, GA 30345 • 404.679.2915
2
Events
New D.C. Opens
At age 26, James Joseph Haverty
launched his Atlanta furniture
business by investing $600 in a
1,875-sq.-ft. store. That was 1885.
In August 2002, the retail chain
opened a distribution center in
Braselton that boasts 511,000 sq. ft.
Called the Eastern Distribution
Center, the facility has the potential
to expand to 932,000 sq. ft. to
service stores in 11 of the 14 states
where Havertys operates.
“With the combination of a stateof-the-art information system and
this facility, we
will be able to
shorten our
just-in-time
delivery to
customers while
reducing warehouse inventory,”
said Havertys
President
Havertys CEO John
Clarence H.
Slater Jr. speaking at
Smith.
the grand opening
From left are Havertys executives Steve
Schingler, assistant VP of distribution and
general manager; Clarence Smith, president;
and Clancy Ridley, chairman of the board.
The facility currently employs 100
people but by spring 2003 will be
fully operational with 300 employees,
all Quick Start-trained. In conjunction
with Quick Start, Lanier Technical
College is providing its Certified
Customer Service Specialist (CCSS)
program to call center employees,
and its Certified Warehousing and
Distribution Specialist (CWDS)
program to warehouse employees.
Lanier Tech has also brought the
CWDS program into Jackson County
High School, where the curriculum
accommodates local industry. Such
an initiative not only trains high
school students for local jobs but
also ensures that labor is available
long-term for Havertys.
“The reason we located the
distribution facility in Braselton is
because of Quick Start and Lanier
Technical College,” Smith said.
Tech College Alum Signs Plan
Just two decades after graduating from North Georgia Technical College,
Harold Jordan has returned to his alma mater, only this time as a successful
business owner signing a training agreement with North Georgia Tech and
Quick Start. Jordan’s company, Meadowbrook Machine and Tool, maker
of machined parts for electric motors, is hiring 25 additional associates to
accommodate its growing business in Toccoa.
Quick Start and North Georgia Tech are helping the company in its move
toward Lean Manufacturing, conducting a lean assessment and providing
training in productivity enhancement
and advanced manufacturing technology.
Pictured at the recent training plan signing ceremony
are, from left, Jeff Lynn, Quick Start director of
northern operations; Harold Jordan, Meadowbrook
Machine and Tool president; and Dr. Ruth Nichols,
North Georgia Technical College president.
Standing, from left, are Royce Glenn, Quick Start
training coordinator; Cynthia Brown, Toccoa-Stephens
County Chamber of Commerce president; Jean
McCullough, Stephens County Development Authority
interim director; Richard Webb, Toccoa Metal
Finishing technical director; Judy Taylor, North
Georgia Technical College VP of economic development; Danny McIntyre, Toccoa Metal Finishing HR
manager; and Jeanette Jamieson, state representative. Seated, from left, are Jeff Lynn, Quick Start
director of northern operations; David Weaver,
Toccoa Metal Finishing president; and Dr. Ruth
Nichols, North Georgia Technical College president.
Toccoa Firm
Set to Grow
Toccoa Metal Finishing is adding
two lines and providing 25 new jobs
in Stephens County. In its first venture into subassembly, the company
is producing the CAT1 electrical
connector used in Ford autos. Its
other new line is battery coating.
Company President David Weaver,
whose father started the metal coating
business in 1988, recently signed a
training agreement with Quick Start
and North Georgia Technical College.
New employees will receive training
in industrial safety and manufacturing
technology, among other topics.
The firm has won Manufacturer
of the Year and was awarded the job
of coating the metal cauldron for the
Olympic flame. Not resting on past
laurels, Toccoa Metal Finishing is
reinventing itself by adding these
two new lines.
Dr. Ruth Nichols, North Georgia
Technical College president, noted
that the firm sets a fine example for
any organization adapting to change.
“We can learn from this company
how to grow and not remain in a set
mold,” she said.
3
Events
Manufacturer Adds New Line, Jobs
Promoting such forward-thinking principles as Lean
enhancement training will consist of Lean Manufacturing
Manufacturing, continuous improvement and workplace
concepts and ISO 9000.
diversity, Gill Industries is expanding its Georgia operaRepresenting the Georgia facility at the Sept. 26
tions and will receive Quick Start training for 28 newly
training plan signing was Don Daniel, operations director.
hired employees. The Michigan-based firm manufactures
Also signing was Northwestern Technical College
mechanical and welded
President Ray Brooks, who
assemblies for automakers,
said, “I am excited to be
and designs and builds
working with a world-class
tool-and-die systems.
company like Gill. Gill
Its plant in Trenton, Ga.,
Manufacturing provides
ships products just-in-time to
great jobs and is an excellent
OEMs and major Tier 1
community citizen.”
customers. The facility, called
Gill Industries is headed
Gill Manufacturing – Georgia
by CEO Rita Williams,
Inc., is now making front suswhose husband and brother
pension modules for Club Car
founded the company in
utility vehicles and golf cars.
1964. The family business
Together with Northwestern
has garnered recognition
Technical College, Quick Start
in the industry for its
will provide equipment-specific
quality standards, and
training in the operation of a
Automotive News named
Standing, from left, are Lawrence Murray, Gill Manufacturing
robotic welder, as well as a
Williams as one of the
VP of operations; Tim Yonts, Gill Industries HR manager; Tony
Hornsby, Gill Manufacturing pressroom supervisor; and
laser alignment system for
100 leading women in the
Jonathan Warner, Quick Start training coordinator. Seated,
the new line. Productivity
automotive industry.
from left, are Jeff Lynn, Quick Start director of northern operations; Don Daniel, Gill Manufacturing operations director;
and Ray Brooks, Northwestern Technical College president.
Certificates Awarded
After taking classes for nine months, more than
50 employees of Caterpillar in Griffin recently
became Certified Manufacturing Specialists (CMS),
top photo, or Certified Warehousing and
Distribution Specialists (CWDS), bottom photo.
The certification programs were conducted by
Griffin Technical College, which taught classes
onsite at Caterpillar’s facilities. DTAE’s Certified
Workforce Development Programs — CMS, CWDS
and Certified Customer Service Specialist (CCSS) —
illustrate the partnership between the technical colleges and local industry in developing a bettertrained labor base.
4
QUICK START
•
FALL 2002
Cover Story
Continued from page 1
cookies and crackers. The oven
temperature is up to 130 degrees
higher, and everything must be done
strictly by the numbers. Fortunately,
new technology helps. The oven
gauges thickness, dimension and
color, and automatically adjusts
settings when needed.
In operation since 1954 and
currently employing 418 workers,
the Macon bakery is a significant
corporate mainstay in the central
Georgia city. “I want to thank
Keebler for what it has meant to
this community,” said Mayor Ellis
at the training plan signing. “We
want to continue to provide quality
workers to Keebler.”
The 330,000-sq.-ft. facility is also
a key component of the Keebler
enterprise, as it turns out some of
Keebler’s most famous branded
products, including Pecan Sandies,
Zesta saltines and Town House crackers. Moreover, it is the sole producer
of the Keebler graham crackers, made
in five different flavors.
Ball explained how the Quick
Start training will benefit the
plant’s graham cracker operation.
“Employees will be qualified on
every piece of equipment,” he said.
“The training provides employees
standardized ways of running
Ernie Keebler and Tony the Tiger evoke
a laugh from April Moore, Central
Georgia Tech’s director of institutional
advancement.
Helping firms in our own backyard
As a prospective new business is wooed to locate in Georgia, it is likely
to look around, consider its future here and ask, “What is the state doing to
help existing businesses succeed?”
So while new or expanding industries are always the big news in
economic development, Quick Start realizes that existing industries also need
training when they install new technology or new lines. This is now a
possibility with the Legislature’s allocation of funds for this very purpose.
A perfect example is Keebler, whose Georgia facilities provide jobs for
more than 3,500 people, surpassing the number of employees at the parentcompany headquarters in Battle Creek, Mich.
“We are extremely pleased to work with this
company,” said Jackie Rohosky, head of Georgia
Quick Start. “Quick Start has long provided its
services to new and expanding businesses,
and now we can apply the same strategies to
existing industries.”
Mayor Jack Ellis commented, “We can and
should put as much emphasis on retaining businesses as we do on attracting new businesses.”
With five Georgia facilities in Macon,
Columbus, Athens, Augusta and Rome, Keebler
is likely to work with Quick Start again. Guy
Macon Mayor Jack Ellis cites
Ball, Macon plant manager, says he expects
the importance of retaining
existing businesses.
his facility to spend more capital, with plans
to add another line. “We will be successful here
and continue a relationship with Quick Start,” he predicted.
As Dr. Melton Palmer, president of Central Georgia Tech,
pointed out, “Existing industry is the foundation of the
workforce of our community.”
the equipment, instead of
learning three different ways
by word of mouth.” He
added that the Quick Start
manuals will aid the company
in training future employees.
Ball first encountered
Quick Start at another Keebler
bakery, in Columbus. “What
impressed me was the professional documentation of the
process,” he said, noting that
without Quick Start, training
for the new graham cracker
line would have been difficult.
“It would have taken a lot
of resources out of the plant,”
he said.
5
Manufacturing Sector
Forging Ahead
Georgia’s only steel mill
thriving despite era of
steel industry crisis
L
ike the steel-rolling process itself,
the domestic steel industry has
entered a furnace under the red-hot
glow of trade conflicts and Third
World imports. But AmeriSteel, owner
of Georgia’s last remaining steel
manufacturing plant, stands poised to
emerge into the spray of water that
will solidify its position globally.
“My expectation is to be one of
the top profitable steel companies
in the United States, not only in
size and critical mass but also in
operating efficiencies,” says Phil
Casey, president and CEO of
Jackie Rohosky with
Phil Casey, AmeriSteel
president and CEO
Operating in
a fiercely competitive arena where
one-third of
domestic steel
companies went
into bankruptcy
in the past two
years, AmeriSteel is positioned
favorably because of two recent
transactions: In 1999, AmeriSteel
became a subsidiary of Brazil-based
Gerdau Group, a 101-year-old company with over $3 billion in assets;
and this year, Gerdau combined its
North American steel operations
with Canada-based Co-Steel.
The new entity, officially called
Gerdau AmeriSteel, is clearly in
The mill produces
I-beams, channels,
angles and flat
stock for such uses
as metal buildings,
small bridge
applications and
transmission towers.
But the decision also took on
personal significance for Casey.
“My family roots are in Adairsville
— that’s where my father and his
family originated,” he says. “I’m
familiar with the work ethics of the
workers in that area, so that gave
me a great deal of confidence.”
Sharing his philosophy of quality
and training, Casey says: “It is not
so much quality of the product. It’s
quality of the
process, which will
generate a quality
product. The image
Whereas an integrated mill uses iron ore, coke
of the steel industry
and limestone to make steel, a mini mill uses
has developed into a
recycled scrap metal as its only raw material. More
negative, Rust Belt
environmentally friendly, a mini mill produces
connotation. You
fewer byproducts and requires less space. It also
have to re-establish
uses an electric arc furnace — which melts steel by
professional pride
passing a current through it — rather than a blast
at every worker
furnace powered by coal, a nonrenewable resource.
level, change public
perception, and
provide training for
acquisition mode as a function of
the workforce so they can manage
the consolidation and restructuring
high-tech equipment in an oldof the steel industry. The decision to
economy environment.”
purchase the Cartersville mill rested
Encouraged by the mill’s progress
primarily on its ability to extend the
thus far, Casey detects an air of
range of AmeriSteel’s product offering.
excitement and optimism among
What is a mini mill?
Tampa-based AmeriSteel, which last
year bought the failing Birmingham
Southeast “mini mill” (see box).
The purchase of the 650,000-sq.-ft.
Cartersville mill saved 225 jobs in the
Bartow County area. Under the new
ownership, the mill has availed itself
of Quick Start services for training
in industrial safety, hydraulics, pneumatics, blueprint reading, precision
math and welding. Quick Start will
also provide additional leadership and
instructor training programs. North
Metro Technical College has already
provided an assessment of AmeriSteel’s
maintenance training needs.
6
QUICK START
•
FALL 2002
Partnership and Leadership
By Gretchen Kuglar Corbin
employees, who appreciate the
extra training even though they’d
worked in the mill under the
previous ownership.
Casey says he was pleased to
discover a like-minded business
approach on the part of Quick Start
and Georgia as a whole.
“It’s not only Quick Start’s technical expertise; it’s their willingness
to get down to the basic level of
every employee we have and train
them quickly,” he says. “The whole
business development attitude of the
state is world-class, and Quick Start
is a major element of that businessfriendly culture.”
When AmeriSteel proposed to purchase the Birmingham
Southeast steel mill last year, the company not only committed to investing $50 million in Georgia, but most importantly
it re-created 225 highly skilled jobs that northwest Georgia
Gretchen Kuglar Corbin,
would lose with the closure of the Cartersville facility.
GDITT assistant director
The most amazing aspect of this decision to acquire the
of regional project
managers
mill was the leap of faith that AmeriSteel and its parent
company, Brazil-based Gerdau, were taking at a time when
America’s steel industry was in decline. The company made the acquisition with
the intent of investing in the plant’s infrastructure and introducing world-class
production standards. Now, the mill’s workers are exhibiting enhanced productivity,
pride and personal achievement.
As a member of the Georgia Department of Industry, Trade and Tourism,
which serves as the state’s sales and marketing arm, I am fortunate to witness
firsthand the effective collaboration that takes place in bringing a top-notch
company like AmeriSteel to Georgia.
For this project, the team effort was superb. Bartow County and Cartersville
served at the local level. The Department of Labor found the right workers.
The Department of Revenue and the Department of Community Affairs oversaw
issuance of corporate income tax credits and low-interest loans for capital expenditures. The Brazilian Consulate General hosted Gerdau officials. The work of the
Georgia Allies — a public-private economic development group that funds events
like the Red Carpet Tour — enabled us to market to this promising corporation.
And, of course, there was Quick Start.
As AmeriSteel desires to profit, it also desires to partner with its new community and state. Enjoying AmeriSteel’s hospitality, many community and state
representatives have visited the Cartersville mill — and each time, invariably,
North Metro Technical College was training the company’s workforce.
It was fitting that Quick Start played such a big part in this project, given
the sincere dedication to training espoused by AmeriSteel’s leader, Phil Casey.
He believes steadfastly in improving the workforce and developing employees,
thereby enriching the community itself.
Georgia native, UGA graduate and chairman of the Steel Manufacturer’s
Association board of directors, Phil Casey is a tremendous addition to the
Georgia business community.
The state of Georgia is indeed blessed to have the corporate partnership
of AmeriSteel.
7
1
Professional Development
Learning the ‘Lean’ Model
T
he highly regarded philosophy
of Lean Manufacturing was the
featured topic of learning at the
recent Certified Economic Developer
Trainer (CEDT) conference, attended by nearly 100 professionals
involved in workforce training and
economic development.
The CEDT program is mandated
by the Department of Technical and
Adult Education for its technical
college VPs of economic development
and Quick Start training coordinators, who plan, deliver and manage
the agency’s training services. The
certification program, which takes
18 to 24 months to complete, provides knowledge and skills in a wide
variety of competencies that support
business development.
“The certification program ensures
that Georgia businesses receive access
to all of the agency’s economic development resources and consistent,
high-quality workforce training,”
explains Sandra Morris, Quick Start’s
director of performance technology
operations and organizer of the
CEDT conference.
At this year’s conference, held
Aug. 14-15 in Macon, attendees
gleaned insight from presentations
on maintenance skills assessment,
pre-employment training and quality
standards, as well as updates on
Quick Start existing industry and
workforce certification programs.
The educational segment of the
conference was a seminar on Lean
Manufacturing, which encourages
elimination of waste and reduction
of process variables. The goal is
increased profitability through
cost savings, as opposed to price
increases that customers are
reluctant to absorb in today’s
competitive market.
Understanding Lean Manufacturing principles and practices is
increasingly important as more and
more Georgia business adopt the
“lean” philosophy. Quick Start and
the technical colleges support businesses in their transition toward
Lean Manufacturing with training
targeted at both the strategic and
tactical levels.
Taught by Dr. Joachim Knuf, a
faculty member of the Center for
Robotics and Manufacturing Systems
Dr. Joachim Knuf traces
the role of manufacturing
through the ages at the
recent CEDT conference.
at the University of Kentucky, the
CEDT session traced the evolution of
manufacturing and revealed the flaws
in conventional models that promote
mindless automation of workers,
needless build-up of inventory, and
wasted time and effort.
Knuf explained that in today’s
old-style companies, which have
their roots in the early days of
industrialization, the goal of management is to keep the worker’s
thought process neutral in order to
maintain process control. “This is
not inherently evil, exploitative or
Machiavellian,” he argued. “It’s just
a logical consequence of a decision
on how to organize work.”
He lauded Lean Manufacturing as
an inclusive process that emphasizes
sharing of thoughts among workers.
As we move from the Information Age
into the new century’s Knowledge
Age, he said, “Thinking is the organization. You must go to the plant
floor and make new decisions about
how work is done.”
On hand at the CEDT Conference were leaders of the technical colleges’ economic development efforts. Standing, from left, are Kathy Harvill, Southwest
Georgia Tech; Kimberly Brown, Savannah Tech; Alex Ferdinand, Chattahoochee Tech; Jim Williams, Swainsboro Tech; Len Moore, Flint River Tech; Ted
Duzenski, Augusta Tech; Doug Bolen, Athens Tech; David Yarbrough, Southeastern Tech; Gean Hendrix, Bainbridge College; Phil Carter, West Central Tech;
Eric Lawrence, Gwinnett Tech; Russell Vandiver, Lanier Tech; Jep Craig, Heart of Georgia Tech; Jim Newton, Middle Georgia Tech; and Al Hutchison,
Northwestern Tech. Seated, from left, are Jan Nunnery, DeKalb Tech; Hank Martin, Altamaha Tech; Judy Taylor, North Georgia Tech; Harold Craig, Atlanta
Tech; Bonnie Kelly, East Central Tech; Mike Bass, Valdosta Tech; Carol Mathews, Moultrie Tech; Pete McDonald, Coosa Valley Tech; Leigh Evans, Sandersville
Tech; Wayne Brown, Griffin Tech; Linda Griffies, West Georgia Tech; Holly Christensen, Coastal Georgia College; Neil Aspinwall, Okefenokee Tech; Connie
Smith, North Metro Tech; and Creig Tudor, Dalton State College.
8
QUICK START
•
FALL 2002
Economic Development
F&P at Home in Rome
T
painting and assembly, but it
he good times are rolling
is the high-tech paint process
in Rome and Floyd County,
that is the jewel in the crown.
where a host of industries are
The electrostatic dip system
settling in and finding a civic
involves several pre-paint
environment hospitable to
phases of cleaning the metal
business, a technical college
to remove major sediment.
eager to help and Quick Start
The next phase involves
ready to train its workers.
technology implemented
The latest in a string of firms
for the first time in Canada
moving to the area is F&P
or the United States. Called
Georgia Manufacturing Inc.
the Surf Techno Wave, this
Showcasing new technology Jeff Lynn (far left), Quick Start director of northern operations, and
series
of vibrating rods
never before used in North
Craig McDaniel (far right), Coosa Valley Technical College president, flank
the
three
generations
of
the
Fukuda
family.
Next
to
Lynn
is
original
acts
as
underwater waves
America, F&P recently hosted
company founder Jiroku Fukuda, with his grandson Yuichi Fukuda,
that remove the most
a grand opening luncheon
president of F&P Georgia. Next to McDaniel is the middle-generation
difficult sediment.
gala and plant tour at its
Akihide Fukuda, chairman of parent company F-Tech Inc.
Additional stages of
Rome facility. A subsidiary of
day’s
ceremony
was
a
special
rinsing
are
followed by application
Japan-based F-Tech Inc., F&P makes
moment
in
the
company’s
history.
of phosphate to aid in preventing
auto parts for the Odyssey minivan,
The launch of its Georgia operations
corrosion, after which the paint is
supplying 650 front subframes per
follows recent forays into Canada
actually applied.
day to Honda in just-in-time fashion.
and
the
United
States.
“We
made
the
Such investment in technology
Present at the ceremony were
right
decision
to
come
to
Georgia,”
exemplifies one of F&P’s deeply help
three generations of the Fukuda
he said, recognizing several local
principles. In addition to product
family, including the company’s
and state entities that helped make
quality, the company emphasizes
original founder, Jiroku Fukuda,
the
start-up
possible.
safety, environmental responsibility
who in 1947 started out making
Among
those
groups
were
Quick
and R&D, as well as such human
metallic toy parts and in 1959
Start and Coosa Valley Technical
aspects as fostering pride in workbegan manufacturing Honda
College, which trained associates in
manship and enhancing the quality
motorcycle components. His son,
plant
safety,
welding
and
manufacof life in its community.
F-Tech Chairman Akihide Fukuda,
turing
processes.
Yuichi
Fukuda
Said Craig McDaniel, Coosa
thanked the 130 associates assemcited the usefulness of Quick Start
Valley Technical College president,
bled for following the company’s
documents as well as the hands-on
“I can’t express enough the satislong-established philosophy of
training
for
the
plant’s
employees.
faction and pleasure I’ve had from
respecting others.
Activities
taking
place
at
the
working with F&P. I wish to
And the younger Yuichi Fukuda,
144,800-sq.-ft. plant are welding,
extend our lasting friendship.”
president of F&P Georgia, said the
9
State Celebration
Rally Countryside
Georgians gather
for educational
forum on preserving
and enhancing the
rural way of life
H
ow can rural communities
prosper economically while
maintaining their pastoral ethos?
How can small-town businesses get
access to capital? How can run-down
strip centers be transformed into
revitalized village centers?
These and other questions provided fuel for conversation, debate
and plans of action at the third
biennial Celebrating Rural Georgia
Conference, held Aug. 26-28 in
Dublin. Aimed at anyone interested
in rural community development,
the conference was attended by local
government officials, planners, farmers and historic preservationists, as
well as representatives from the arts,
private industry, nonprofit agencies,
and family and juvenile services.
The plenary session of more than
700 was on hand for the final
session showcasing state programs
that have benefited development in
rural Georgia. Several state policymakers joined in a panel discussion
to explain what their respective state
departments are bringing to the
table. Moderated by State Rep. Bob
Hanner, the panel featured:
Jackie Rohosky, DTAE assistant
commissioner for economic development programs and head of Quick
Start. Rohosky reported that over
50 percent of last year’s 315 Quick
Start projects were in rural Georgia
and over 73 percent were outside
the metro Atlanta area — statistics
that elicited an enthusiastic round
of applause.
Nancy Cobb, OneGeorgia
Authority executive director. Cobb
noted that economic development is
a process, not a destination. “We
can build an infrastructure with
bricks and mortar,” she said, “but if
we don’t have a trained workforce,
the economy won’t move.”
Janis Cannon, GDITT deputy
commissioner of tourism. Cannon
extolled the beauty of tourism as a
Billed as “saving the best for last” by conference organizers, the final session on state initiatives
featured, from left, State Rep. Bob Hanner (moderator), Marta Rosen from DOT, Jeff McCord from
Georgia Technology Authority, Jackie Rohosky from Quick Start, Nancy Cobb from OneGeorgia
Authority and Janis Cannon from GDITT.
10
QUICK START
•
FALL 2002
State Rep. DuBose Porter stands in the DuBose
Porter Center with Willie Paulk, Dublin-Laurens
County Chamber president. Paulk, who was
instrumental in securing the Heart of Georgia
Technical College venue to host the conference,
received flowers for her efforts in serving as
liaison between the conference organizing
committee and the city and county.
clean industry. The state’s second
largest industry, tourism yielded
$16.1 billion in FY01 and employs
200,000 Georgians.
Jeff McCord, Georgia Technology
Authority director of intergovernmental relations. “Workforce
development is so important,” he
said. “A community with a welleducated, technology-literate
population will be much more likely
to attract and sustain business than
one that’s not.”
Marta Rosen, DOT planning
administrator. Rosen reported that
the Governor’s Road Improvement
Program had completed 2,591 miles
of road since 1986. “Accessibility to
all parts of rural Georgia will make
it easier for economic development,”
she said.
Attendees were clearly encouraged by these state initiatives, such
as Quick Start delivering workforce
training and OneGeorgia Authority
funding local projects like the Plains
Inn renovation.
“I hope participants gained an
awareness that more resources are
available now for rural Georgia
than ever before,” said Willie Paulk,
president of the Dublin-Laurens
County Chamber of Commerce and
Development Authority.
Global Connections
“They were
fascinated.
They felt
[Quick Start]
was a great
example of a
governmentprivate
connection.”
– Catherine Neiner
Program Manager
Goizueta Business School
Austrians Awed by Quick Start
A
group of 22 Austrian business
executives recently visited Quick
Start and other corporate Atlanta
offices as part of an advanced
business management program
they are taking at Limak International Management Academy in
Linz, Austria.
The international portion of the
program, offered in conjunction
with Emory University’s Goizueta
Business School, combines classroom
work at Goizueta with corporate
visits in Atlanta, New York and
Washington, D.C.
“The Quick Start visit exactly
hits our criteria for what we want
to expose them to,” says Catherine
Neiner, program manager at
Goizueta. “We want to take them
to firms they wouldn’t otherwise
see in Austria.” Goizueta, which has
participated in the program for 12
years, included Quick Start in the
tour for the second consecutive year.
Quick Start Director Pam
Griffin presented an overview of
the technical college system before
detailing Quick Start’s workforce
training program for manufacturing
and service industries, noting its
34-year history of training 390,000
people for 3,700 companies.
Sun Clinton, Quick Start senior
multimedia training developer,
explained computer-based training
(CBT) and its animation capabilities,
using the CIBA Vision and Dan Foss
projects as examples of Quick Start’s
custom-tailored services. CBT is formulated as an alternative to classroom training so trainees can view
material on their own time.
David Bolton, Quick Start media
production manager, led the visitors
through a showing of impressive,
high-end videos produced for client
companies. He highlighted the various purposes of videography, such
as recruitment, pre-employment
training, orientation — all intended
to help reduce employee turnover.
“Do you ever go overseas to a
company to produce a video?”
Bolton was asked.
“Not often,” he replied. “But we
go where necessary if it will help the
company — and therefore Georgia.”
Clearly wowed by Quick Start,
the Austrian visitors couldn’t suppress their numerous questions.
How is it funded — no federal
money? How, specifically, are
employees trained? What was
Quick Start’s biggest success? How
do companies qualify? What’s the
relationship with the Department
of Labor? Do Quick Start-trained
employees have an obligation to
stay a certain length of time? And
it’s all free?
“They kept talking about it
after they left Quick Start,” Neiner
recalls. “They were fascinated.
They felt it was a great example of
a government-private connection.”
During their two-week stay in
Atlanta, the Austrians also visited
corporate giants CNN, Coca-Cola,
Home Depot and Cingular, as well
as the highly touted Emory Hospital.
And in Washington, D.C., they
visited several federal agencies.
But when the U.S. trip was over
and Neiner had collected all the
evaluation forms, it was Quick Start
that received the highest ratings.
11
DELIVERY
Kenneth H. Breeden, Commissioner
Georgia Department of Technical
and Adult Education
www.georgiaquickstart.org
SYSTEM
34 Technical Colleges • 16 Satellite Campuses
4 Technical Divisions
Quick Start Project Announcements
... Serving communities throughout Georgia
Albany: Venture Logistics, a
warehousing and logistics provider for
Procter and Gamble, is receiving Quick
Start Training for its 100 employees.
Dalton
Calhoun
Gainesville Lavonia
Cartersville
Pendergrass
Americus: STI Knowledge, a company
that specializes in help desk and call
center outsourcing, is opening a new
facility that will employ 150 people.
Scottdale
Calhoun: Mahindra Tractors is locating
here and creating 30 new jobs.
Cartersville: AmeriSteel Bright Bar is creating 21 jobs at its cold steel rolling mill.
Manchester: Goody Products has installed new technology at
its hair-products manufacturing facility and is receiving
Quick Start training.
McDonough: Aero Plastics, which manufactures
plastic containers, is locating here and hiring
300 people.
Lithonia
Patterson: Daystar Composites,
manufacturer of fiberglass pipe linings,
is opening a new facility that will
employ 60 people.
McDonough
Waynesboro
Thomaston
Macon
Sylvania
Manchester
Stillmore
Kathleen
Dalton: GENCO, a third-party warehouse
company, is creating 15 new jobs with the
construction of a new warehouse.
Savannah
Americus
Gainesville: Kubota Manufacturing of
America is expanding operations at its
tractor plant and will hire approximately
100 people.
Patterson
Kathleen: Frito-Lay is installing new equipment in its snack food production facility
and will receive Quick Start training.
Pendergrass: Unique Plastic
Packaging is expanding and
creating 40 new jobs at its
plant, which blow-molds
PET plastic bottles for
food, beverages and
household cleaners.
Savannah: Hercules Inc.,
manufacturer of rosin
specialty products and
pulp and paper, is receiving
Quick Start training.
Scottdale: Georgia Duck &
Cordage Mill is receiving Quick Start
training after installing new technology
at its plant, which manufactures industrial
fabric and conveyor belts.
LaGrange: American Home Shield, a founder in
the home warranty and repair industry, is opening a customer service
support center that will employ 400 people.
LaGrange: Yasafuku USA Inc. is locating here and hiring 50 people to
manufacture plastic and rubber molding for Yamaha personal watercraft.
Stillmore: Crider is adding 25 jobs in an expansion of its canned
poultry business.
Lavonia: Fanello Industries, which makes stamped metal blanks, is
expanding operations and adding 45 jobs.
Sylvania: Torrington, manufacturer of needle bearings, is expanding
and will hire an additional 57 people.
Lithonia: Trojan Battery Co. is expanding operations and will add
30 new jobs at its facility, which makes golf car batteries.
Thomaston: WesTek Inc., formerly Martha Mills, is receiving Quick Start
training at its plant, which makes fabric for tires and conveyor belts.
Macon: GEICO Direct, a leading provider of diverse insurance services,
will add 800 new jobs.
Waynesboro: Purification Cellutions is hiring 50 people for its new
plant to manufacture activated honeycomb carbon.
Georgia Quick Start
•
1800 Century Place
•
Suite 300
•
Atlanta, GA 30345
•
404.679.2915