From the commissioner, Vol. 1, no. 3 (Summer 2002)

TECHNICAL COLLEGES
Albany Technical College Albany, Georgia Altamaha Technical College Jesup, Georgia Appalachian Technical College Jasper, Georgia Athens Technical College Athens, Georgia Atlanta Technical College Atlanta, Georgia Augusta Technical College Augusta, Georgia Central Georgia Technical College Macon, Georgia Chattahoochee Technical College Marietta, Georgia Columbus Technical College Columbus, Georgia Coosa Valley Technical College Rome, Georgia DeKalb Technical College Clarkston, Georgia East Central Technical College Fitzgerald, Georgia Flint River Technical College Thomaston, Georgia Georgia Aviation Technical College Eastman, Georgia Griffin Technical College Griffin, Georgia Gwinnett Technical College Lawrenceville, Georgia Heart of Georgia Technical College Dublin, Georgia Lanier Technical College Oakwood, Georgia Middle Georgia Technical College Warner Robins, Georgia Moultrie Technical College Moultrie, Georgia North Georgia Technical College Clarkesville, Georgia North Metro Technical College Acworth, Georgia Northwestern Technical College Rock Spring, Georgia Ogeechee Technical College Statesboro, Georgia Okefenokee Technical College Waycross, Georgia Sandersville Technical College Sandersville, Georgia Savannah Technical College Savannah, Georgia

South Georgia Technical College Americus, Georgia Southeastern Technical College Vidalia, Georgia Southwest Georgia Technical College Thomasville, Georgia Swainsboro Technical College Swainsboro, Georgia Valdosta Technical College Valdosta, Georgia West Central Technical College Carrollton, Georgia West Georgia Technical College LaGrange, Georgia
TECHNICAL DIVISIONS
Bainbridge College Bainbridge, Georgia Clayton College and State University Morrow, Georgia Coastal Georgia Community College Brunswick, Georgia Dalton State College Dalton, Georgia
Web-based courses of Georgia's technical colleges are accessed through Georgia Virtual Technical College (GVTC), http://www.gvtc.org.
From the Commissioner Summer 2002 Vol. 1, No. 3 Published quarterly by the Georgia Department of Technical and Adult Education 1800 Century Place, Atlanta, GA 30045 Kenneth H. Breeden, Commissioner Editor: Donna Maddock-Cowart dm-c@mindspring.com View From the Commissioner online at http://www.dtae.org/fromthecommissioner

COMING NEXT ISSUE:
Our fall issue features our first in a series focusing on our business and industry partnerships throughout Georgia. Strong business and community support in the Columbus area is key to the growing economic strength of the area.

Columbus Technical College
Library

C FROM

THE

OMMISSIONER

A QUARTERLY PUBLICATION FROM GEORGIA'S COMMISSIONER OF TECHNICAL AND ADULT EDUCATION VOL. 1, NO. 3 SUMMER 2002

INSIDE
3 2002 GOAL & Rick Perkins Winners 4 Around the State
EXECUTIVE PROFILE:
6 Georgia Department of Labor Commissioner Michael Thurmond
Above: Governor Barnes and Commissioner Breeden unveil a portrait of Speaker Tom Murphy as part of the official opening of the Thomas B. Murphy Campus of West Central Technical College.

Last issue in this column, I addressed the impor-

tant relationships our system has statewide and "community-

deep" through our technical-college boards of directors and our

state board.We focused on the leadership conference, where it

was clear that Governor Barnes, Lieutenant Governor Taylor, and

our legislative leaders are deeply involved in the success of our

system. In this issue, through our interview with my friend

Michael Thurmond, Commissioner of the Georgia Department

of Labor, we touch on another segment of partnerships, those

with other state agencies. (This is our second Executive Profile, a

part of this newsletter that gives all of you who are part of our

system an opportunity to, in a way, listen in on an in-depth con-

versation with people who are important to us. Be sure to take a

look at the complete interview, which is on

the web version of this newsletter at

...It is important

www.dtae.org/fromthecommissioner.) As you may recall, in the first issue my
focus was the outstanding quality of our facul-

to me that you are aware of what is

ty and staff throughout the technical college happening

system. In our next issue, we will begin a focus on another extremely significant part of the way our system works: our partnerships

throughout Georgia as a result

with business and industry.

of our technical

Summer, bringing as it does the beginning of our fiscal year, is an appropriate time to focus on a few specific recent events impor-

colleges and other programs and

tant to our agency and to enjoy looking ahead services.

continued on page 2

FROM THE
COMMISSIONER

2

continued from cover

to the near future. Speaking of fiscal year, I hope all of you have had a chance to see our agency's most recent annual report.While maintaining on the Internet the traditional version that we have relied on for the last four years, we also published a version that summarizes events and highlights and focuses on six "Profiles of Success" that serve as examples of what we help people accomplish.This report is posted on the web at www.dtae.org/annualreport.html. Please take a look, too, at our most recent Results magazine and our Quick Start newsletter, also posted on our web site. Our system is accomplishing good things all over Georgia, and it is important to me that you are aware of what is happening throughout Georgia as a result of our technical colleges and other programs and services.
"Around the State" (see pages four and five) features recent news from some of our technical colleges; here, I'd like to point out some statelevel news.This year's GOAL as you know, the Georgia Occupational Award of Leadership, the

2002
GOAL & Rick Perkins Awards

2002 GOAL Winner Johnathan Haley (above), a nursing student at Athens Technical College, was honored along with Michelle Earley, a business office technology instructor
at Coosa Valley Technical College and Rick Perkins Award winner.

way each year we honor one outstanding

Winners

Gwen Goodman Hall is on the Savannah

student from each school and then

Technical College campus. Renovated

one statewide and Rick Perkins Award (honoring

last year, the building houses the Allied Health pro-

our teachers) celebration again afforded us a chance

grams, including classroom and laboratory space for

to congratulate those who represent the best of the

Dental Assisting, Surgical Technology, Medical

very fine students and teachers that make up our sys-

Assisting, and Practical Nursing; classroom/restaurant

tem.Top winners this year are Johnathan Haley

space and kitchen for Culinary Arts; classroom and

(GOAL), a nursing student at Athens Technical

laboratory space for Early Childhood Care &

College, and Michelle Earley, a business office tech-

Education, including a day care center; classroom and

nology instructor at Coosa Valley Technical College.

laboratory for Cosmetology; and classroom and labo-

Another item of state-level news that I'd like to

ratory space for Drafting and Electronics/Computer

point out to you pertains to honors for two of our

Engineering Technology.

State Board members, Gwen Goodman and Edgar

The Edgar Rhodes Center for Animal and Dairy

Rhodes.

Science on the University of Georgia campus honors

board member Rhodes, a 1938 UGA graduate.The Center, finished in 1998, houses offices for 4-H and extension-service programs, laboratories, a meat-science center, retail space and classrooms.
Edgar Rhodes started out as a vocational-agriculture teacher, later running a lumber business and working in Haralson County as a farmer and a banker. Gwen Goodman has had a distinguished career in government and education, including teaching and administration and service on the Board of Education in Savannah/Chatham County and as a county commissioner and a city alderman. These two board members contribute a great deal to our system through their service on our board; it is good to know that they have been honored in so significant a way, in so appropriate a form.

It was a pleasure to congratulate State
Board member Edgar Rhodes at the ceremony honoring him at the
Edgar Rhodes Center for Animal and Dairy
Science on the University of Georgia
campus in Athens.

The event celebrating Savannah Technical College's first named building, Gwen Goodman Hall, was a great occasion. State Board member Goodman's longstanding and continuing commitment and service to Savannah and all of Georgia make this honor a most fitting tribute.

BMW has selected Atlanta Tech for its Diversity Technician Training Project, a pilot program that BMW hopes to implement throughout the country. Six
automotive-technology students from Atlanta Technical College have been chosen by BMW to participate. Candidates were selected based on academics, work ethics, and their performance in rigorous interview and testing sessions.These outstanding students will become BMW Certified Technicians through an intense eleven-week program.While in training, students will also be learning through paid apprenticeships at area BMW dealerships.
State Farm Insurance Company the largest auto insurer in Georgia and the United States has recently donated a 1999 Ford Taurus SE to Central Georgia Technical College and a 1997 Ford F150 truck to Columbus Technical College. The vehicles, given in recognition of the importance of quality automotive repair, will be used for training students in automotive body and mechanical repair at the colleges.

AROUND
The State
EMS, a leading manufacturer of wireless and space products and components, has a longstanding relationship with Gwinnett Tech as a key supplier of technical training to EMS line technicians and supervisors across EMS divisions. Gwinnett Tech also provides on-site instructors for EMS's English as a Second Language courses.
Delta Air Lines, Inc. recently donated a Rolls Royce Turbo-Fan Engine from a retired L-1011 aircraft to Middle Georgia Technical College to be used for training in the Aviation Maintenance Technology Program.The engine, when new, was worth $10 million.

Gwinnett EMS Technologies, Inc. recently gave a four-year grant valued at $100,000 to Gwinnett Technical College to support construction of the George Busbee International Center for Workforce Development.The multi-million dollar, three-building complex will focus on high-tech training and international business and will feature an 11,200-square-foot Scientific-Atlanta Auditorium, a 70,000-square-foot Advanced Technology Center and a 54,000-square-foot Global Learning Institute with high-tech classrooms and faculty offices.

Sandersville Tech is proud to announce the receipt of $465,000 worth of new computer parts from Intel Corporation to be used in the StRUT computer-recycling program, through which students learn computer repair and study to earn A+ Certification. Since the inception of the program in 2000, Georgia has recycled approximately 2,500 computers and successfully trained over 250 students. Sandersville Tech's partner colleges include Altamaha Technical College, East Central Technical College, Georgia Aviation Technical College,

Heart of Georgia Technical College, Moultrie Technical College, Ogeechee Technical College, Okefenokee Technical College, Swainsboro Technical College, and West Central Technical College.
Savannah Technical College has honored Gwendolyn P. Goodman by naming a classroom building for her; Gwen Goodman Hall thus becomes the first named building in Savannah Tech's history. Presenting resolutions and proclamations for he occasion were the State Board of Adult and Technical Education, on which Goodman has served since her appointment in 1993; the Chatham County Commissioners; the Savannah City Council, on which Goodman has served as a city alderman since 1992; and the Board of Education for the Savannah-Chatham Public Schools, where Goodman's career spanned more than 30 years as a teacher and administrator, ending with her retirement as associate superintendent in 1991. In addition, letters of commendation from President George W. Bush, Senators Max Cleland and Zell Miller, Congressman Jack Kingston, Governor Roy Barnes, and state legislators Tom Murphy and Ann Purcell were presented at the ceremony.
South Georgia Technical College has won Second Place in Cooper Industries' Project Pace Education Awards. South Georgia Tech won this

award by expanding its Certified Manufacturing Specialist (CMS) program to area high schools. South Georgia Tech was one of the 20 schools across the United States and Mexico that were awarded unrestricted grants for 2001-2002.The school used its grant to equip its CMS lab, a 4,000-square-foot facility that is now being utilized by juniors and seniors of Sumter County and Americus High Schools to enhance hands-on training and exposure to the manufacturing environment tailored to meet Cooper Lighting's entry-level employment skill needs. The program also has been expanded into Schley County High School, with other area high schools to follow.
South Georgia Tech has opened its Heavy Equipment Technology Center, and Caterpillar has designated South Georgia Tech as the Southeastern Caterpillar's College of Technology. South Georgia Tech will provide Caterpillar's training for a five-state area.
West Central Technical College officially gave the public its first look at the new Thomas B. Murphy Campus in Waco at an event hosted by the Haralson County Chamber of Commerce. Governor Roy Barnes was present at the event, which honored Speaker Murphy and his contributions to technical education. FTC

5

AROUND THE STATE

FROM THE
COMMISSIONER

FROM THE
COMMISSIONER

6

Building aWorld-Class Workforce for Georgia

training business, so it was in our best interest to assist those who are.We're not in

the technical-education business, so that's

A N I N T E RV I E W W I T H M I C H A E L T H U R M O N D

why we worked so hard to get resources to the technical colleges and schools, so that

"From the Commissioner" met with Michael Thurmond, Commissioner of the Georgia Department of Labor, in his office in the Sussex Building in Atlanta, Georgia.

partnership will serve the needs of employers, as Georgia continues to be a leader in the creation of new jobs and employment opportunities.
FTC: When did the career-center

" I believe that the partnership between DTAE and the Georgia Department of Labor is the cornerstone

MT: Very. As a matter of fact, we've had to expand the number of workshops avail-

they can do a better job and that more people can get access to training. A bettertrained workforce gives us a better product to market to employers across the state of Georgia. And beyond that, I just want to continue to build on my dream of building a world-class workforce for Georgia.That's

FTC: About the Georgia Department of Labor career centers,

effort begin? MT: In 1998, I campaigned on this

of Georgia's statewide workforce-development

able at the Expos that we've had in

the model for the department.That's my vision. I think that by building the workforce, we make Georgia much more attrac-

you have said, "We're building a statewide system that will be

issue. Clearly, the physical transformation is an important component of

system."

Atlanta and Columbus. The

tive to industry, not only industry coming into our state, but also existing industry

designed around the needs of job transforming the old unemployment

want to improve their skills get access to

establish satellite one-stop centers that workshops deal with rsum writing,

that needs to expand. In order for us to

seekers and employers."Would you offices into career centers, and it recog- information about training and educa-

are now available on every technical

how to negotiate a salary, and how to

prosper in the 21st century, we really have

comment on "system building,"

nizes the major changes that have taken tional resources, as well as financial aid

college campus, as well as satellite

conduct an interview.Those are things to focus more on developing the work-

both from how you've been putting place in Georgia, in America, relative to and other support.We are an integral part

campuses around the state. Citizens

that many of us take for granted, but

force that we have.

those career centers together and

our workforce.We do not want to be

of it; it's a very integrated approach. It's a

don't necessarily have to go to a

clearly when you're in a soft job market

also on what you've observed as a the forum of last resort, the place where system that I believe recognizes that only

career center to get our services.We

and jobs are hard to find, upgrading

FTC: You and Dr. Breeden have been

friend of technical education as

you come when all else has failed.We

by working together can we provide

want to be not only more effective,

your job-search skills can oftentimes be friends for a long time.

you've watched that system devel- want to be a more proactive part of the Georgia's taxpayers with services that

but more convenient for them.

the difference between success and fail-

op?

career-building process to help those

they truly need and deserve.

ure.

MT: We developed a friendship while I

who are looking for a job if they're

FTC: That's great.

was a state representative for Athens-Clarke

MT: Our mission is to build a

unemployed, and to help people who

FTC: The Career Opportunity Expos

FTC: A representative from AFLAC

County. And it has grown and developed

seamless, statewide workforce-devel-

that your department has been hosting in

MT: And, I want to add, that's now said the Expo was, from her perspective, over the years. As Director of the

opment system that will serve

response to the recession have been well

possible because of an agreement we a "slam dunk."What ideas do you have Department of Family and Children

Georgia employers and job seekers

received.What makes them unique?

made with Commissioner Breeden

for future innovations?

Services the first week I was on the job

now and in the future. And, of

through a federal one-stop career

I called Dr. Breeden and told him I

course, our key partner in this effort

MT: Of course, we've helped thousands

grant that we received in 1999.We

MT: Well, obviously to continue to

wanted to talk with him, and he said, `Well,

is the Department of Technical and

of Georgians to find jobs during a very

basically agreed that we understand

improve on customer service.That's

Mike, come on out.' I realized that, ulti-

Adult Education and Commissioner

difficult time. But, beyond that, what

how important it is for the relation-

something you never perfect, but it's a

mately, in order to help people, welfare

Breeden, who is a personal friend

makes the Expos unique from job fairs

ship to grow and prosper. So, we set

goal you always work toward.We really recipients or public-assistance recipients,

and mentor of mine, and it's some-

we have sponsored in the past is that we

up a contract where the money was

place a great emphasis on customer ser- we needed access to the technical colleges

thing that he and I have discussed

invite other public and private partners,

transferred to DTAE, and these one- vice -- on treating other people the

and universities.We talked about building

throughout my career in state gov-

technical colleges, Peach Care, Family

stop centers were set up all across the way we would like to be treated if, for capacity.We used TANF dollars to build

ernment. I believe that the partner-

and Children Services, and the HOPE

state of Georgia. No other state can

some reason, we sought our services.

capacity at the technical colleges. I said to

ship between DTAE and the

Scholarship and Grant program to partic-

boast of, or even claim to have, the

Beyond that, I would like to see many Dr. Breeden, `Let us help build the capacity

Georgia Department of Labor is the

ipate.They're all on-site at the Expos.

kind of integrated-service approach

more resources made available for train- here.' And that friendship has really blos-

cornerstone of Georgia's statewide

The other thing is, through technological

that we have here in our state.

ing and helping the technical colleges

somed over the years. And when I say he's

workforce-development system.

innovation, we are now able to provide

to build capacity.That's a concept Dr.

a mentor, I really mean it.When I have dif-

Obviously, the technical college sys-

citizens with online job-search assistance.

FTC: The workshops at the Expos

Breeden and I follow. He taught me the ficult issues political, professional, or oth-

tem is the premier provider of tech-

They can also file for unemployment

seem like a great idea.Were they well whole notion of "building capacity."

erwise he's one of the first people I call.

nical-vocational training and educa-

insurance benefits online at our Expo

received?

And that's simply this: we're not in the

FTC

tion in this state.When DTAE provides quality graduates, we're provided with quality job seekers.This

sites. One of the other things that I'm very proud of, as we build this network, is that we partner with DTAE to help

To read about Michael Thurmond's day-to-day life as commissioner, his thoughts on leadership, and his background, log on to www.dtae.org/Thurmond.html and view the complete interview.