Representatives from several Lakeland-area companies, Economic Developers and Piedmont Technical College representatives gathered at the college’s Laurens County Higher Education Center recently to discuss a new industry-driven training initiative.

Rick Nash, maintenance manager at Norbord Inc. of Laurens County approached the Continuing Education and Economic Development Division of Piedmont Technical College with a request for support of a “Maintenance Training Consortium.” Nash distributed invitations for the maintenance consortium luncheon to over 200 businesses with maintenance departments in the PTC seven-county area.

“Despite these tough times, industries’ need for qualified and technically proficient employees hasn’t gone away and yet most companies’ training resources have more than likely been impacted,” Nash said.

He presented his vision to the attendees: “To create an alliance of local industries and supporting tech schools to create ‘continuing training’ that would allow area industries to respond to current and future business climate changes.”

Trisha Craven, associate vice president of Continuing Education and Economic Development at Piedmont Tech followed Nash with a presentation of the college’s suggested Consortium training model which consists of a flexible, customizable, local training program. Craven emphasized the college’s commitment to the initiative and ensured her division’s support.

“We are committed to meeting the training needs of our business community,” said Craven. “Our workforce development team seeks not only to meet, but to exceed the expectations of those companies we work with.”

Economic Developers concluded the event by speaking of the benefits the initiative could potentially have on our local economy. Participants were asked to inform the college of their interest in the Consortium so that plans can be made for training to begin early next year.

For more information about this project, contact Craven at (864) 941-8417.