b'LEADERSHIPWiregrass President RetiresThe apprenticeship program connects businesses inAnderson was a 2005 graduate of Leadership Georgia dire need of trained workers with Wiregrass students. and a graduate of Leadership Warner Robins. In 2004, she was named a Georgia Trend Magazine Top 40 Since 2015, Wiregrass Tech has been named a Military Wiregrass Techs Friendly and Best for Vets College. The college wasUnder 40 list of honorees and in 2018 was named to South Georgia Business + Culture Magazines Team also selected as a charter institute for the ExcellenceSouth Georgia. 11-COUNTY in Academic Advising by National Academic Advising Association (NACADA) and Gardner Institute. With aAn active community volunteer, Anderson has served SERVICE direct presence at Moody Air Force Base, Wiregrasson numerous boards, including Leadership Georgia, AREA Techs base testing center was recognized as a TopMoultrie YMCA, Moultrie-Colquitt County Chamber of Five Testing Center by the College-Level ExaminationCommerce, Tifton-Tift County Chamber of Commerce, Program (CLEP) for 2019 and top 25 in 2012 and 2013.the Girl Scouts of Historic Georgia, and the Georgia Southwestern State University School of Business Expanding Wiregrass Techs outreach, Anderson helpedAdvisory Council. bridge partnerships with the Georgia Department of Correction and Core Civic to provide college programsWhile retirement is bittersweet, Anderson is looking to prisoners. This partnership has helped 513 studentsforward to motorcycle rides with her husband, Tony, and graduate with technical certificates of credits since thespending time with the couples beloved dachshunds, Winner: TCSG Commissioner Greg Dozier joins Dr. Tinafiscal year 2017.Buddy Wilson and Harley Davidson, yet she will miss the Anderson in awarding Wiregrass Tech instructor Mike DayWiregrass family. with the 2020 TCSG Rick Perkins Instructor of the Year award. During Andersons eight years as Wiregrass Tech president, she has awarded more than 18,000 non- I dont throw the word family around, but this is my Building one of the states top dual enrollment programscredit certificates and has the highest number ofWiregrass family, she says. When you work with people is another highlight during Andersons tenure. Wiregrassapprenticeships in the TCSG.every day, you hurt when they hurt and laugh when they Tech was the first college in Georgia to receivelaugh. Thats the way I feel about the team at Wiregrass.accreditation by the National Alliance for ConcurrentShe diligently worked with school and community Enrollment. leaders to construct college career academies in Coffee and Ben Hill counties. Wiregrass also built a health In 2019, Wiregrass Tech had Georgias highest dualscience building at the Coffee County campus. A enrollment rate.second health science building at the Valdosta campus is scheduled for completion by spring 2022 and is Anderson says dual enrollment provides a taste ofnamed in honor of donors Dr. Ed and Rhonda Mark. college life while students continue to have a highThe 96,100-square-foot facility will feature high-tech school support system.classrooms and lab space. The college has also experienced growth in overallAn Economic Drivergraduation and retention rates leading to more skilled and prepared graduates entering the workforce.Wiregrass Tech is a significant economic engine representing $159.6 million annual economic impact More than earning a paycheck, Wiregrass Techswithin its 11-county service region, including Atkinson, apprenticeship program is helping students buildBen Hill, Berrien, Brooks, Coffee, Cook, Echols, Irwin, successful careers.Lanier, Lowndes, and Wilcox. We were one of the first schools to start apprenticeshipWiregrass can have students from anywhere in the programs, Anderson says. Students were leavingworld, she says, but within these counties, we are school before they graduated, and businesses neededresponsible for recruiting, providing adult education, Special Day: Dr. Tina Anderson helps students search out family workers. and economic development.and friends during commencement. 26 SG MAGAZINE | SPRING 2021 BUSINESS + CULTURE 27'