44 S G M A G A Z I N E | FA L L 2 0 1 7 B U S I N E S S + C U LT U R E 45 said Boda. “I can talk to the instructor directly to get their recommendations for hiring. About 60 percent of our employees come to us from Wiregrass.” In Thomas County, Flowers Baking Company partnered with Southern Regional Technical College (SRTC), to develop a Manufacturing Specialist Technical Certificate of Credit program to meet workforce needs. Dennis Lee, vice president for Economic Development at SRTC, said the partnership with Flowers Baking Company included the development of curriculum that would teach the skills needed to meet requirements for manufacturing maintenance specialist positions within the company. “Flowers Bakery interviewed the students enrolled in the program for the possibility of hiring students to work part-time while they attended the college,” Lee said. “This program has been very successful.” SRTC serves Colquitt, Grady, Mitchell, Tift, Thomas, Turner, and Worth counties and offers more than 150 degree, diploma and certificate programs including those covered by the HOPE Career Grant. “Many of the traditional trade and industrial programs that Southern Regional Technical College continues to offer, such as welding, which has significant enrollment, are covered by the HOPE Career Grant,” said SRTC President Craig Wentworth. “These programs of study, in addition to various other technical programs, such as industrial systems technology and basic mechatronics technician, just to name a couple, still serve as a major educational and training mechanism of skilled personnel for business and industry, particularly within the manufacturing sector in Georgia.” Wentworth explained that the HOPE Career Grant covers a large part of the student’s cost of attending a technical college in Georgia. “This should relieve a good bit of the financial pressure on students and facilitate their interest and subsequent enrollment into these high-demand programs of study,” Wentworth said. “The combination of the HOPE Career Grant financial assistance, business and industry support, and prevalence of jobs in trade, technical, and industrial career fields has been a positive means of garnering greater interest and attention to our college.” Founded in 1967, Hurst Boiler and Welding has been a leader in the manufacturing of gas, oil, coal, wood, biomass, and hybrid fuel-fired steam and hot water boiler systems. With several multi-million dollar expansions completed, Hurst Boiler and Welding has relied on SRTC to supply a highly trained workforce. “Over the years we have hired a lot of welders from SRTC and now are beginning to hire more electrical programmers,” said Jeff Hurst, director of marketing with Hurst Boiler and Welding. “As more units are controlled through the internet, we need more electrical engineers than we did in the past.” In Thomas County the demand for welders is high. In addition to Hurst Boiler and Welding, Cives Steel Company and Cleaver-Brooks all have multiple welding positions. Dr. Craig Wentworth President Southern Regional Technical College Jeff Hurst Director of Marketing Hurst Boiler and Welding Dennis Lee Vice President Economic Development Southern Regional Technical College 44 S G M A G A Z I N E | FA L L 2 0 1 7 B U S I N E S S + C U LT U R E 45 “There is a constant demand for welders, but younger workers are now looking for jobs with computers,” Hurst said. “In Thomas County, welders are in high demand, and we are able to hire, but it’s getting harder.” Engineering and drafting are two other areas that Hurst Boiler and Welding relies on SRTC to provide trained employees. “Most of our workers have been with the company since the 1980s,” Hurst said, “but as technology changes, we see the need for different skills, especially in technology.” Hurst said having SRTC in the community helps not only with current workforce issues but also future demands. MOVE ON WHEN READY @SRTC At SRTC high school students can earn college credit and high school credit at the same time for free! Learn more at www.southernregional.edu/mowr DOUBLE THE CREDIT. HALF THE TIME. ZERO THE TUITION. 888-205-3449 southernregional.edu Proudly Serving the Southeast Since 1975! 229.244.9288 aceelectric.net Our Locations: Atlanta, GA•Macon, GA•Statesboro, GA Valdosta, GA•Siler City, NC•Jackson, TN Ace is a full service electrical contractor specializing in: Commercial Correctional Government Healthcare Higher Education Hospitality Industrial K-12