Georgia Department of Labor
Suite 642 148 International Boulevard N.E. Atlanta, Georgia 30303-1751 (404)656-3032

January 16, 1998

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

AYRES CORPORATION RECEIVES OUTSTANDING EMPLOYER AWARD

ATLANTA -- State Labor Commissioner David Poythress announced today that Ayres Corp. of Albany has been presented a 1997 Success Track Outstanding Employer Award.

"Ayres Corp. is unquestionably one of our state's outstanding employers and is setting a good example for other employers to follow," said Poythress."The company is helping to set the pace in work force development in the state. When owner Fred Ayres realized there was a shortage of skilled labor in the Albany area, he took the initiative to solve the problem by helping start a program at Albany Tech to train workers for aircraft manufacturing. About 20 of Ayres' workers have moved from welfare rolls to payrolls, and they are among the best employees at the company. And, since this type of work has to meet strict FAA requirements, the company has an on-going quality management program that is top-notch."

The Outstanding Employer Award is presented jointly by the Georgia Department of Labor and Georgia Public Television (GPTV), which co-produce Success Track, a weekly television program about career and economic issues. The award was created in 1995 to recognize employers who are leaders in providing educational and job-training opportunities and benefit packages which enhance the careers of their employees.

Ayres is an aviation manufacturer best known for its turbo thrust crop duster, considered the standard in agricultural aviation. The company also makes a helicopter for McDonnell Douglas and has sole-provider contracts with Federal Express and Boeing.

Ayres Corp. and the 10 other award recipients were featured in a special episode of Success Track entitled Investing in People in December. The special will be shown again in the Spring.

The other recipients are Crown Crafts of Calhoun; Synthetic Industries, Chickamauga; W.C. Bradley Co. and Synovus Financial Corp., Columbus; Collins and Aikman, Dalton; Roper Corp., LaFayette; Shorewood Packaging Corp. of Georgia, LaGrange; Armstrong World Industries, Macon; Pepsi Cola of Rome and Coats American of Thomasville.

Success Track is broadcast Thursdays at 7 p.m. and 11:30 p.m. over the nine-station GPTV network.

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, CONTACT THE GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF LABOR'S OFFICE OF COMMUNICATIONS AT (404) 656-3032 OR TURNER

E-mail: communications@dol.state.ga.us.

FY-98-300

An Equal Opportunity Employer