Quick start [Vol. 6, no. 1 (Winter 2004)]

Georgia Department of Technical and Adult Education

WINTER 2004 VOLUME 6, NUMBER 1

Out of the cotton fields of South Georgia has come one of the most sophisticated, state-of-the-art security products on the market today.

Produced by New Heights Manufacturing in Ellaville, Sky Watch is a

crime deterrent and surveillance tool that has proved to be a success with

law enforcement and military agencies. Sky Watch units currently line U.S.

borders, tower above major cities and are protecting U.S. troops in Iraq.

And when a law officer or soldier needs to quickly operate Sky Watch,

they refer to a set of clear, concise operational instructions designed by Quick Start.

Sky Watch is a mobile, hydraulic lift that can rise from ground level to a height of more

than 24 feet in seconds.
`The units in Iraq give Its rugged construction

perimeter security

allows it to be driven to

any location over rough

and force protection.' terrain and, when raised to

Adam Strange, New Heights president and CEO
Adam Strange points out the placement of instructional aids developed by Quick Start and used by Sky Watch operators.

its maximum height, allows up to a seven-mile view spanning 360 degrees.
Bulletproof glass, infrared cameras, high-powered spotlights and M-16-ready gunports

combine to make Sky Watch both an effective law-enforcement tool and crime deterrent. Sky Watch

customers have demonstrated that its mere presence has the effect of driving crime out of an area.

The unit's effectiveness in surveillance has been so widely recognized that National Geographic

magazine featured Sky Watch in a full two-page photograph in its November 2003 issue.

President and CEO Adam Strange credits the

ingenious invention to his father Burt, who serves as

chairman of the privately held company's board of

directors. Huntmaster, the hunting blind predecessor

to Sky Watch, began selling in 1992 and quickly

caught on with sportsmen. But it was the develop-

ment of Sky Watch for the security industry that

propelled the company into the world market.

Not long after the launch of Huntmaster, says

Continued on page 10

QUICK START IS GEORGIA'S PREMIER SOURCE FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TRAINING

Quick Notes

Jackie Rohosky

Quick Start is very appreciative of Ricoh and its commitment to its manufacturing facility in Georgia ...

One of the most satisfying parts of our job here at Quick Start is when we see one of our business partners flourish and prosper. A great example of that is Ricoh

Electronics in Lawrenceville.

Ricoh was founded in California in 1973 and has since grown into a $14 billion

global corporation and leading supplier of advanced office automation equipment. In

1990, Ricoh opened its current facility in Lawrenceville where the company makes

toner for photocopiers, cartridges and thermal label stock. Since breaking ground in

Georgia, the facility has expanded three times, and Quick Start has been there from the

beginning to help provide workforce training for Ricoh's employees.

To celebrate the company's 30th anniversary recently --

and to show appreciation for the hard work and dedication

of their nearly 400 employees -- Ricoh threw a party with

employees and dignitaries sharing barbecue, playing softball,

and testing their rock climbing and bull riding skills. During

the celebration, Frantz Pierre, Ricoh's Technical Division

manager, praised Quick Start for contributing to the compa-

ny's ongoing success. "We are very appreciative of Quick

Start and all the work they have done with us," said Pierre.

"Quick Start was instrumental in helping us with our initial

training and through all our expansions."

Quick Start is also very appreciative of Ricoh and its commitment to

its manufacturing facility in Georgia. And we were very glad to join in

with the celebration to say, Happy Anniversary, Ricoh. May there be

many more in the future.

Top: Gathered at the anniversary party are,

from left, Sean Nakanishi, Ricoh Electronics

president; H. Takenaka, Ricoh Office Machine

Group executive VP/group manager; Jackie

Rohosky, DTAE assistant commissioner; Frantz

Pierre, Ricoh Technical Division manager; Jeff

Lynn, Quick Start director of Northern opera-

tions; and Jim Mathis, Quick Start training

Jackie Rohosky
Assistant Commissioner Economic Development Programs jrohosky@georgiaquickstart.org

coordinator. Center: Frantz Pierre tests his bull riding skills, while others tried rock climbing, softball and horseshoes. Bottom: Ricoh employees paddled the lake in colorful kayaks on Ricoh's beautiful campus.

Table of Contents

11

8

3 Events Around the State

11 Keeping Jobs in Doraville:

General Motors

8 Home in LaGrange: American Home Shield

12 2003 Year in Review

9 Partner's Perspective:

16 Quick Start Project

Positioning a City for Success

Announcements

By Jane Fryer

Winter 2004 Volume 6, Number 1 Published quarterly by Georgia Quick Start www.georgiaquickstart.org Quick Start is a registered service mark of the Georgia Department of Technical and Adult Education Kenneth H. Breeden, Commissioner. Address comments and questions to: Director of Communications GA Quick Start 1800 Century Place, Suite 300, Atlanta, GA 30345 404.679.2915

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QUICK START WINTER 2004

Events

Award-winning Homecoming

When the video Welcome to Riverside recently won the Silver Telly Award the highest honor in international video competition the celebration became a bit of a family affair.
Depicting the operations of the uniform company Riverside Manufacturing, a major
employer in Moultrie, the video was written, directed and edited by Ned Morgan, a sixyear video veteran at Quick Start, who grew up in Moultrie, and whose father worked as a vice president at Riverside for 20 years.
Quick Start's award-winning media group had already been recognized as a 1995 Telly Award finalist for their video Introduction to Riverside. In addition to the 2003 Silver Telly, Quick Start's latest video for Riverside also won a gold Aurora Award.
Riverside's President and CEO Jerry Vereen is very pleased with the video. "Quick Start has done a tremendous amount for Riverside,"
he says. "We attribute the fact that we have successfully been able to make our uniform products in Georgia to the help that Quick Start has given us in making these recruiting and sales movies."
Morgan credits the support and cooperation of the company itself for making the video such a success.
"You can't do it without help from the company," Morgan says.

Quick Start's award-winning video Welcome to Riverside won another prestigious award, the 2003 Silver Telly. Pictured above with the awards are, from left, producer Ned Morgan; Jerry Vereen, Riverside Manufacturing president and CEO; and Dr. Kenneth Breeden,
DTAE commissioner.

Employment Boon to Waycross
The Simmons Company, the second largest bedding manufacturer in the country, recently broke ground in Waycross for a new state-of-the-art manufacturing facility that will bring more than 225 jobs to the area.
When fully operational, the new facility is expected to produce more than 2,500 mattresses a day, according to Charlie Eitel, Simmons Company chairman. Only three Simmons employees will transfer to the Waycross plant. The remainder of the positions will be filled with Georgians, who will be trained by Georgia Quick Start and Okefenokee Technical College.
Attending the Simmons Company groundbreaking are, from left, Glen Cornell, Georgia Department of Industry, Trade and Tourism commissioner; Mike Boggs, state representative; Charlie Eitel, Simmons Company chairman; and Ron Russell, Quick Start training coordinator.

Gov. Sonny Perdue and a number of dignitaries attended the groundbreaking ceremony of a 75,000-sq.-ft. Heckler & Koch Inc. manufacturing facility in Columbus that will create 200 new jobs.
Taking Aim at Economic Development in Columbus
Sterling, Va.-based Heckler & Koch Inc., the U.S. affiliate of German gun maker Heckler & Koch GmbH, broke ground in Columbus last fall for a 75,000-sq.-ft. manufacturing facility that will create 200 new jobs. The company will manufacture firearms for the U.S. military, law enforcement and commercial markets at the new facility, which is expected to be completed in late 2004. Quick Start will provide the new employees training in cold hammer forging of gun barrels, advanced polymer molding and computerized machine tooling.

3

Events

Sweet Success in Savannah

Fuji Vegetable Oil will hire and train up to 20 new

employees at its expanded Savannah plant with the help

of Quick Start and Savannah Technical College.

The new jobs are part of a $42 million high-tech

expansion. Fuji's Savannah Plant Manager Rick Baker was

enthusiastic about the three-way partnership. "We're really looking forward

to working with Quick Start," said Baker.

Fuji Vegetable Oil has been

operating its original Savannah

facility since 1991 manufacturing

oils used in a number of popular

foods, such as Maruchan Ramen

Noodle Soups. The expanded

plant will make a cocoa butter

alternative that will be used to

make popular treats like

M&M candies and Snickers bars.

From left, Tommy Riley, Fuji project engineer; Nick Baker, Fuji plant manager; Marla Lowe, Quick Start executive

director of economic development pro-

grams; and Ron Russell, Quick Start

training coordinator.

Scientific Games' Bill Behm, right, and Tony Bartolone, left, demonstrate an Instant Ticket Vending machine for Russell Vandiver, Lanier Tech VP of economic development.
Good Bet for Forsyth County
Scientific Games Corporation in Alpharetta announced that they will partner with Quick Start and Lanier Technical College to train 50 new employees. Scientific Games is expanding its facilities for assembling and distributing Extrema 300 terminals for wagering systems. The Extrema 300 terminal and Scientific Games' Instant Ticket Vending machines distribute lottery tickets and are widely used by state lottery systems, including the Georgia Lottery. Quick Start will also train employees in key electronics assembly techniques and procedures, as well as in safety.

Swimming in Opportunity in Willacoochee
Whether blackened, fried, grilled or sauted, catfish is a venerable Southern staple that has earned a permanent place on restaurant menus and in grocery stores nationwide. Until now Georgia has remained out of the processing business on a large scale, but the opening of the new Georgia Sweetwater Catfish processing plant in Willacoochee gives the state entre to the market.
To help get the company off the ground, Quick Start and East Central Technical College will train Georgia Sweetwater Catfish's 70 new employees in policy and procedures.
"We're a brand new company and there's no road map for a lot of what we're doing," said Sam Joyner, Georgia Sweetwater Catfish president. "That's why we appreciated Quick Start, because they have the staff and time and, in some instances, the expertise that we didn't have. They've brought us knowledge and experience, and they've encouraged us."
At the grand opening ceremony are, from left, Lace Futch, Southeast Georgia Regional Development Center executive director; Sam Joyner, Georgia Sweetwater Catfish president,
and his wife, Louise; and Frank Jackson, Coffee County Commission chairman.

4

QUICK START WINTER 2004

Standing, from left, are Mike Patrick, Quick Start training coordinator; John Robinson, United Welding Services (UWS) plant manager; Cade Jones, UWS operation manager; and Jimmy Jiddens, UWS president. Seated, from left, are Dr. Freida Hill, Southwest Georgia Tech president; Richard Fountain, Quick Start project operations manager; and Kenny Jones, UWS owner.
Training in Thomasville
As part of a $2 million expansion, United Welding Services Inc., a well-known manufacturer of truck accessories, will create 50
new jobs in Thomasville. Quick Start will provide training for the new employees and Southwest Georgia Tech will help UWS with ongoing training. Quick Start's specific training will include instruction in robotics, press brake operations, welding, CNC operations and assembly work.

MBM Serves Up Jobs in Cordele

After inking a deal with

Captain D's Seafood last

summer, MBM Corporation

hired 80 employees to staff

its new facility in Cordele,

and Quick Start and South

Georgia Technical College

provided customized pre-

and post-hire training. The

company, headquartered

in Rocky Mount, N.C., has a nationwide network of distribution centers,

From left, Sparky Reeves, South Georgia Tech VP of economic development; Jim Piner, MBM Corporation regional HR manager; Marla Lowe, Quick Start executive director of

three of which are in Georgia -- Cordele, Macon and LaGrange.

economic development programs; Jan Odum, South Georgia Tech director of economic programs; and Samuel Richardson, MBM regional director of operations.

"It's super to work with the most educated staff in the entire MBM

system," said Samuel Richardson, MBM regional director of operations.

"Working with Quick Start has been a good experience. They did such a

thorough job. Logistically, Cordele is perfect for us. But the big benefit is

the community. Everyone has been so welcoming and helpful, and working

with South Georgia Tech has been awesome."

The company provides food and supplies to national restaurant chains,

including Chick-fil-A, Red Lobster and Olive Garden. The addition of

Captain D's contract necessitated the Cordele warehouse. Within two

months, the facility was renovated, and the staff was hired and trained.

"It was the fastest turnaround on training we can do," said Marla Lowe,

Quick Start executive director of economic development programs. "The

company's new operation is a valuable addition to this community and

Quick Start is here to help get those jobs filled as fast as possible."

Georgia's Can-Do Spirit Attracts Business
American Drill Bushing, maker of hoist rings, tooling components and bushings, is creating approximately 30 jobs at its new operation in Valdosta and has partnered with Quick Start and Valdosta Technical College to train the new employees. The company, which has been in operation since 1942, is relocating from Los Angeles to a 36,000-sq.-ft. facility in Valdosta's Perimeter Industrial Park.
Phil Stranahan, American Drill Bushing vice president and general manager, said he likes the can-do spirit here. "Since the initial contact, everyone with Quick Start, Valdosta Tech and the Valdosta community has been nothing but friendly and helpful. Quick Start has done a great job pulling the training all together. It will serve us well for some time."
The training, which began in the fall, takes place in phases. The company will operate out of both California and Georgia during a transition period, but will be 100 percent Valdosta-based within two years. While some California employees will be relocated, the majority of the employees will be hired here.
American Drill Bushing is moving its operations from Los Angeles to Valdosta. The company is partnering with Quick Start and Valdosta Technical College to train approximately 30 new employees from the Valdosta area. Signing the training agreement are, from left, Richard Fountain, Quick Start project operations manager; Phil Stranahan, American Drill Bushing vice president and general manager; and James Bridges, Valdosta Tech president.

5

Events

Positioned
to Grow
Toccoa Metal Finishing, recently named the largest metal finishing company in the nation, is expanding operations. Winner of the MAW 2001 Manufacturer of the Year award (small company category), Toccoa Metal Finishing is partnering with Georgia Quick Start and North Georgia Technical College on training for the company's 30 new employees.
"We're committed to giving our people training and getting bigger and better with Quick Start's help," said Dan Weaver, Toccoa Metal Finishing CEO. "Quick Start is helping us to be more competitive not just in the Southeast or in the U.S., but with companies across the globe."
"You may be the biggest company in the country, but to us you're the best company in the world," said Dr. Ruth Nichols, North Georgia Tech president. "Toccoa Metal Finishing epitomizes what a partnership between a business and a technical college can be. We're honored to be working with you."
Toccoa Metal Finishing, which has expanded five times since its founding in 1988, offers functional coatings for such customers as Energizer Inc. and Tyco International Ltd.

Expansion in Franklin County

Kautex in Lavonia, a vertically integrated washer system and fuel tank supplier for the automotive industry, is expanding and creating 55 new jobs in the Franklin County area. Quick Start and North Georgia Technical College are partnering to provide training.
"We are committed to growth,"

Standing, from left: Royce Glenn, Quick Start training coordinator; Phil Mellor, Franklin County director of economic development; Lyn Allen, Franklin County Chamber of Commerce executive secretary; David Walters, Kautex manufacturing engineer; Dr. Judy Taylor, North Georgia Tech VP of economic development; and Ralph Hudgens, state senator. Seated, from left: Jeff Lynn, Quick Start director of Northern operations; Maria Spadaro, Kautex human resources manager; and Dr. Ruth Nichols, North Georgia Tech president.

Maria Spadaro, Kautex human resources manager, said at the training plan signing. "Key

to that growth is training. It's critical for the long-term success of our company, and we

couldn't do it without Quick Start and North Georgia Tech."

Mining Operation Creates Jobs in Southeast Georgia

Sixty new jobs were added recently at TE Consolidated's mineral sands mine site in

Brantley County. Quick Start and Okefenokee Technical College have partnered with the

company to provide pre-employment

and job-specific training that includes

such core skills as new miner safety,

heavy equipment operation and team

skills training.

The company is mining titanium

minerals and zircon on the 2,500-acre

From left, Dr. John Pike, Okefenokee Tech president; Ken Boyd, Quick Start director of Eastern region; and Chuck Stilson, TE Consolidated Georgia mine manager, signed an agreement between TE Consolidated, Georgia Quick Start and Okefenokee Tech.

site. The materials are used in a myriad of paper products, plastics and paints for industries including aerospace, the military and healthcare.

From left, Jeff Lynn, Quick Start director of Northern operations; Dan Weaver, Toccoa Metal Finishing CEO; and Dr. Ruth Nichols, North Georgia Tech president.

6

QUICK START WINTER 2004

Austrians Tour Quick Start Austrian executives visited Quick Start as part of an
advanced management program through Austria's Limak International Management Academy and Emory's Goizueta Business School. "We want to show them how government and business can cooperate to achieve both sets of goals: company goals of being productive and profitable, and the state goal of having a strong economy," explained Dr. Al Hartgraves, Emory University Goizueta Business School professor of accounting.

Rockmart Plant Expands Its Workforce

Jefferson Southern Corporation (JSC) in Rockmart, which produces fabricated metal automobile parts, has added a second production line and hired 60 new employees. This is the company's first expansion in three years of operation. Georgia Quick Start and Coosa Valley Technical College will provide training for the new employees.
The expansion is welcome news in the county, said Karolyn Hutcheson, Polk County Chamber of Commerce president. "Polk County is so fortunate to have Jefferson Southern," said Hutcheson, who has worked closely with JSC since the company chose to locate in Rockmart. "The company is an excellent corporate citizen, donating money to the fire department for the purchase of new equipment, donating money for a scholarship at the high school, and adding more jobs through this expansion. Quick Start is an asset for Jefferson Southern. The training Quick Start provided exceeded their expectations."
Top: After the training agreement signing ceremony, Mike de Graauw, right, JSC senior plant manager, gave dignitaries a tour of the newly expanded plant. Center: At the training agreement signing, from left, Craig McDaniels, Coosa Valley Tech president; Koichi Miyazaki, JSC president; Karolyn Hutcheson, Polk County Chamber of Commerce president; and Jackie Rohosky, DTAE assistant commissioner. Bottom: JSC is expanding operations and adding a second production line and 60 new employees.
East Meets West China's Sichuan Administration Institute, under the direction of
associate professor Li Xin, sent a delegation to study the Georgia DTAE system and Georgia Quick Start. The group toured the facilities in Atlanta and met with administration officials, gathering information about Georgia's technical colleges and the Quick Start operation.

With the expansion the company has added two new machines: a mash seam welder, which produces parts with required strength yet reduced weight, and a 3,000-ton press. Quick Start is training the new employees in several types of training, including job-specific, advanced technology, core skills and productivity enhancement.
Jeff Lynn, left, Quick Start director of Northern operations, and Mike Graham, Tractor Supply Company director of logistics, at a training plan signing at Lanier Tech.
Pulling Jobs to Braselton
Tractor Supply Company, the largest retail farm and ranch store chain in the United States, is opening a regional distribution center in Braselton, bringing 120 new jobs to the area. Quick Start and Lanier Technical College will provide training for the new employees.
"Quick Start, Lanier Tech, the city of Braselton and the state of Georgia have been wonderful to work with and we're extremely pleased to be here," said Mike Graham, Tractor Supply Company director of logistics.
"Quick Start is very excited to be working with such an outstanding organization," said Jeff Lynn, Quick Start director of Northern operations. "We look forward to providing training services to their employees."
7

Service Industry
Home in LaGrange

American Home Shield finds a new home in one of the world's most intelligent cities.
This past spring, American Home Shield, the nation's leading home warranty company, decided it needed a call center in the Eastern time zone, but didn't know where to put it. Company executives knew they needed a hard-wired Southern community with a sophisticated telecommunications network and a qualified workforce. A site selection team put Georgia on the shortlist.
When Sean Boles, Development Authority of LaGrange senior development specialist, heard about the company's interest in Georgia, he called the site selection team and LaGrange quickly became the company's top choice.
LaGrange boasts one of the most sophisticated fiber-optics systems in the world, a key selling point for American Home Shield, which relies on advanced technology to serve its customers.
This winter American Home Shield is moving into a 60,000-sq.-ft. building in LaGrange housing more than 400 employees. This monumental move marks the culmination of an innovative multi-effort development initiative involving Quick

Start, West Georgia Technical College, the Development Authority of LaGrange, the LaGrange-Troup County Chamber of Commerce, the GDITT and the Department of Labor.
"Call centers are the lifeblood of our company," notes John Sylvester, AHS LaGrange call center manager of service operations. "The technology is extremely important to us."
The city's state-of-the-art fiber loop prompted the World Teleport Association to name LaGrange "Intelligent City of the Year" in 2000.
"I think that our telecommunications network really convinced American Home Shield," says Jane

Fryer, LaGrange-Troup County Chamber of Commerce president.
While construction of the call center got under way, Quick Start team members were already at work designing a training program to address the company's industryspecific needs.
When American Home Shield executives heard about Quick Start's job-specific training program, "they almost couldn't believe it was true," says Sean McMillan, GDITT senior project manager.
American Home Shield Executive Vice President Rick Ascolese says, "Our workforce's ability to be effective is a result of education and training. Georgia Quick Start helped us standardize our training programs and add new programs to reinforce our existing training plans. American Home Shield has been more than pleased with the quality and expertise in training services that the Quick Start program has provided."

Training For Peak Performance

American Home Shield founded the home warranty industry more than 30 years ago and continues to be the industry leader. Key to the company's competitive edge is its call center workforce, a highly skilled team of employees who:

American Home Shield Executive Vice President Rick Ascolese

Apply technical knowledge about home appliances to better assist customers;

Communicate effectively with customers to pinpoint problems, determine specific warranty coverage and find solutions;

Use sophisticated computer software to identify warranty coverage, order parts and dispatch technicians nationwide;

Create life-long customers and revenue streams through contract renewal.

With Quick Start's assistance, employees of the new facility complete 1520 days of rigorous training to learn job tasks and procedures, computer applications, appliance technical knowledge and maintenance procedures, warranty coverage provisions, plus communications and other interpersonal skills.

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QUICK START WINTER 2004

Partner's Perspective
Positioning a City for Success

Editor's Note: Economic development works best when the entire community is involved. Quick Start has been a part of Georgia's team working with the citizens and businesses of LaGrange for many years, and has been impressed by their dedication and commitment. For this edition of Partner's Perspective, we asked Jane Fryer, LaGrange-Troup County Chamber of Commerce and the Development Authority of LaGrange president, to share the story of how one community came together to prepare itself for business success in the 21st century.
LaGrange has been successful in attracting businesses to our community since the turn of the 20th century when it was known for the textile plants of Callaway Mills and West Point Pepperell, which employed more than 6,000. When Callaway Mills was sold to Deering Milliken in 1969, employment was cut in half and approximately 2,500 people who had never worked anywhere else and had no education were out of work with no prospects of employment.
Compounding the problem was the fact that high school graduates were leaving LaGrange to continue their education, but not coming back to work. In 1973, the city took action and created the Development Authority of LaGrange and staffed it with volunteers. Immediately they went to work talking to experts at the Georgia Department of Industry, Trade and Tourism, CSX, the utility companies and developers seeking advice about how to attract industry. They also went to local banks to finance the purchase of approximately 350 acres for industrial

parks, using as collateral 150 acres donated by the city and county. Once the land was purchased and infrastructure in place -- roads, water, sewer, gas -- the Development Authority let the world know LaGrange was ready for business.
Today, the Authority owns two industrial parks, the 1,600-acre LaGrange Industrial Park, which is nearly filled to capacity, and the 650-acre Jim Hamilton Industrial Park (named for the Development Authority's first chairman), which has approximately 500 acres remaining. LaGrange is home to such corporate giants as Exxon-Mobil, Kimberly-Clark, Duracell, Dow Jones, Caterpillar and a Wal-Mart distribution center, as well as many Japanese and German companies.
In the '90s when telecommunications technology exploded, LaGrange proactively formed a committee to explore how LaGrange could position itself to become a high-tech leader. First, the technology committee asked consultants at Federal Engineering of Fairfax, Va., to conduct a study determining the needs and desires of LaGrange citizens. Then in 1998, based on the results of the study, the city funded a $9.6 million bond issue to purchase and upgrade cable transmission lines, then lease them back to Charter Communications with enough capacity to serve the city with cable services.
Because of the city's initiative, LaGrange beat out New York, London, Toronto and Chicago to be named the "Intelligent City of the Year" for 2000 by the World Teleport Association. LaGrange also contracted with Mercer University to provide corporate education shows on local cable channels and,

Jane Fryer, LaGrange-Troup County Chamber of Commerce and the Development Authority of LaGrange president. With approximately 26,000 residents, LaGrange is the seat of Troup County and home to more Fortune 500 companies per capita than any other city its size. Its fiber-optic cables stretch over 200 miles.
through SONET, help local businesses access video and data. These services help our industries, businesses, hospital and local government.
Our pro-business attitude and telecommunications savvy have attracted such businesses as American Home Shield to locate in LaGrange (see Home in LaGrange, page 8). Georgia Quick Start has been a significant asset in attracting business and jobs to LaGrange as well, helping such companies as T-Mobile, Caterpillar, Wal-Mart and Goody Products. With the help of Georgia Quick Start and the city's leadership, LaGrange is poised to usher in a new century of growth and prosperity.
For more information about LaGrange, visit the city's Web site, www.lagrange-ga.org, or visit the Chamber of Commerce Web site, www.lagrangechamber.com.

9

Cover Story

An example of the training aids for Sky Watch developed by Quick Start.
Continued from page 1
Strange, "We started seeing applications in the security market." The company teamed up with a security expert and in 1996 developed a prototype of the Sky Watch. When the prototype hit the trade shows, says Strange, they knew they had found a niche and began manufacturing the new units at the facility in Ellaville. Soon afterward, Sky Watch piqued the interest of the U.S. Border Patrol and the military, and in 1998 New Heights began selling the units to the U.S. government. The product continues to evolve as Strange and his associates learn new markets. "We've graduated from hunting to commercial security to border

patrol and military applications." Because of high demand, the
company expanded its manufacturing operation in Ellaville and doubled the staff, from 20 to 40 employees. Quick Start and South Georgia
Technical College partnered to train the new employees, but the most effective aspect of Quick Start's work with New Heights
involved the development of training aids to be used when operating Sky Watch. In Iraq, soldiers found they needed
instructions that they could decipher at a glance. A combat zone is no place for a cumbersome manual. In the end, Quick Start's creative integration of illustrations with step-by-step instructions solved the problem, and today Quick Start's training aids are part of every Sky Watch unit produced. "Quick Start got our personnel up to speed in no time," says Strange. "The training aids turned out great and are working wonderfully for our customers. We're very pleased with Quick Start's training." Sky Watch models used by the military and police can be outfitted with a number of high-tech features, including bulletproofing, infrared cameras, biological detection, radar systems and thermal imaging, which benefits the operator with night vision. Now four versions of Sky Watch -- Classic, Eagle, Sentinel and Frontier -- are used by the U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force, Border Patrol, police and sheriff departments, correction facilities, and even universities and amusement parks. The military is using Sky Watch in Kuwait and there are 20 units in Iraq.
"The units in Iraq give perimeter security,"

Top, from left: Dick Cate, New Heights plant manager; Jackie Rohosky, DTAE assistant commissioner; Keith Miller, New Heights research and development; and Adam Strange, New Heights president and CEO, tour the Ellaville facility. Bottom: A New Heights employee installs a panel in a Sky Watch cab.
says Strange. "They are used for force protection because you can see a threat miles away before it ever approaches the troops."
Following the success of Sky Watch, New Heights is in the process of developing additional security and surveillance devices that serve as "force multipliers," tools that allow a small number of personnel to pack a bigger punch, defending America on the front lines of the war against terror.

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QUICK START WINTER 2004

Manufacturing Sector

Keeping Jobs in Doraville

Announcement of new line good news in Doraville
The General Motors Doraville Assembly plant faced a challenge when GM headquarters in Detroit announced that it is introducing in 2005 four new crossover sport van models and phasing out some of its older models, which were produced at the Doraville plant. The new models require new technology and without it the Doraville plant can't compete. The future of the company, one of Georgia's largest employers, was on the line.
GM decided to make the $150 million investment in the Doraville plant to purchase the technology necessary to produce the new models, keeping jobs in Georgia. But new equipment is only half the equation. GM's workforce skills must be upgraded, too. Quick Start and DeKalb Tech will partner with GM to ensure that the employees are ready to produce the new crossover sport van models.
Over the course of several months, Quick Start will provide 3,600 GM employees with technical and operations training for the new production line. Some of the technical training will be delivered by Quick Start's
state-of-the-art Programmable Logic Controllers (PLC)

trainers. The training will benefit both technical and non-technical jobs.
"We appreciate the opportunity to work with the GM Doraville plant," says Dr. Kenneth Breeden, DTAE commissioner. "Quick Start believes in supporting existing businesses in Georgia to help them remain healthy so that the work stays here and doesn't go offshore. We appreciate that you chose Georgia and continue to choose Georgia."
" ... our people need to know how to pull all this technology together, and we're appreciative that Quick Start and DeKalb Tech are helping us do that."
David Prange, GM Doraville Assembly Plant Manager
"Quick Start's training is very hands-on and tailored to meet our needs," says Claude Willis III, UAW Local 10 chairman. "When you bring people into classes that are sophisticated and professional, it's impressive, and it goes a long way to making our members happy. This training enables them to do a better job and it makes us more viable in

the marketplace. The skill set at Quick Start is nothing short of spectacular. They live up to their stellar reputation."
"This is a very exciting time for us and we're very pleased with this partnership," says GM Doraville Assembly Plant Manager David
GM Doraville Assembly Plant Manager David Prange, left, welcomes Dr. Kenneth Breeden as GM Doraville Assembly Plant Controller Ruth Hairston looks on.
Prange. "When the membership is happy it's good for all of us. The bottom line is our people need to know how to pull all this technology together, and we're appreciative that Quick Start and DeKalb Tech are helping us do that."

Far left and center: Quick Start and DeKalb Tech are training GM Doraville Assembly plant employees on a new production line. Left: At the project signing ceremony were Claude Willis III, UAW Local 10 chairman; Dr. Kenneth Breeden, DTAE commissioner; and Jackie Rohosky, DTAE assistant commissioner.
11

Year in Review
Quick Start Successes Keep Mounting

Since 1967, the Georgia Department of Technical and Adult Education's Quick Start training program has served as an economic development incentive for companies to locate or expand in Georgia. From the beginning, Quick Start has grown steadily each year. In FY03, Quick Start provided training for 304 projects involving 42,145 trainees. To date, 4,319 companies and 473,946 people have benefited from Quick Start's training services. Quick Start is recognized internationally as one of the most effective, responsive and business-like training organizations in the country.

Number of Projects Number of Trainees

Projects Proliferate
Of the 304 Quick Start projects for FY03, 119 were new projects and 185 were expanding/existing projects. FY03 is the 12th consecutive year in which the number of expanding/existing projects exceeded new projects.

Number of Projects 1994 through 2003

350

315

304

300

296

279 266

250

248

251

240 243

200 166
150

100

50

0 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003
Fiscal Year

Number of Trainees 1994 through 2003

45,000 40,000 35,000 30,000

41,801 42,145 39,416
35,613 33,967 31,345 29,393 27,545

25,000
21,158 20,000
17,341

15,000

10,000

5,000

0 1994

1995 1996

1997

1998

1999 2000

2001

2002

2003

Fiscal Year

Record Trainee Count
The number of trainees for new and expanding/ existing companies increased this year, from 41,801 in FY02 to 42,145. This is a duplicated training count. Due to the complexity of today's jobs, most employees require training in multiple skill tracks. This year's number of trainees set another record for Quick Start.

"The Quick Start Program is truly a valuable and innovative

resource for companies hoping to maintain a presence in

or locate to Georgia. We recommend Quick Start to any

employer that has a training need." -- Robert Mauney, Chemical Products Corporation quality assurance manager, Cartersville

12

QUICK START WINTER 2004

Geographic Distribution
Seventy percent of Quick Start's projects were located outside the Metro Atlanta area. Almost half of the Quick Start trainees in FY03 were located in rural Georgia.
Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs) and Rural Areas
Albany Athens Atlanta Augusta Brunswick Chattanooga Columbus Dalton Gainesville Hinesville Macon Rome Savannah Valdosta Warner Robins Rural
Metropolitan Atlanta 91 Projects (29.93%)
Outside Metro Atlanta 213 Projects (70.07%)

Projects

Rural MSAs 37.8% 62.2%

MSA # of Projects %

Albany

8

Athens

4

Atlanta

91

Augusta

18

Brunswick

2

Chattanooga 8

Columbus

12

Dalton

2

Gainesville

10

Hinesville

4

Macon

5

Rome

8

Savannah

9

Valdosta

4

Warner Robins 4

Rural

115

2.63 1.32 29.93 5.92 .66 2.63 3.95 .66 3.28 1.32 1.64 2.63 2.96 1.32 1.32 37.83

Total

304

100.0

Trainees

MSA # of Trainees %

Rural MSAs 49.8% 50.2%

Albany

100

Athens

0*

Atlanta

12,067

Augusta

3,277

Brunswick

0*

Chattanooga 1,496

Columbus

1,259

Dalton

0*

Gainesville 1,811

Hinesville

0*

Macon

180

Rome

564

Savannah

306

Valdosta

90

Warner Robins 0*

Rural

20,995

Total

42,145

.24 0.0* 28.63 7.78 0.0* 3.55 2.98 0.0* 4.3 0.0* .43 1.33 .73 .21 0.0* 49.82 100.0

* Indicates a training project that is under development
13

Year in Review
Attracting International Firms
Approximately 24.3 percent of Quick Start's 304 projects in FY03 were with international companies. There were 74 international company projects in FY03.

Number of International Companies 1994 - 2003

Number of International Companies

80

70

74

70

60

65

50

49

45 40
41

30 30

35

34

37

20

10

0 1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

Fiscal Year

Economical Training
As the number of trainees has increased over the years, the cost per trainee has decreased. In FY03, Quick Start's cost per trainee was $312, and there was a total of 42,145 trainees.

"While the state of Georgia has much in its favor when competing with other locations for business, Quick Start provides a real competitive edge."
-- Brian O'Boyle, Merial Ltd. executive director of human resources, Duluth

Cost Per Trainee Versus Number of Trainees

Number of Trainees

45,000 40,000

41,801 42,145 39,416

35,000 30,000 25,000

35,613 33,967
31,345 29,393 27,545

20,000 15,000 10,000
5,000

21,158 17,341 $395 $389
$332

$323

$320

$319

$321

$319

$334

$312 Cost Per Trainee

0 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003

Fiscal Year

Trainees

Cost

14

QUICK START WINTER 2004

Creating New Jobs
Quick Start clients create jobs for Georgians, jobs that cover a broad spectrum of industry types. In FY03 there were 286 manufacturing and related trade projects out of a total of 304. In addition, there were 18 service operations projects, but these service projects accounted for 26.6 percent of the total new jobs created.
Service Operations 18 Projects = 2,332 Jobs

Industry Service Operations*

New Jobs 2,332

Warehousing and Storage

1,314

Food Manufacturing

952

Transportation Equipment**

915

Plastics and Rubber Products Manufacturing

699

Machinery Manufacturing

542

Textile Product Mills

368

Primary Metal Manufacturing

333

Electrical Equipment, Appliance

and Component Manufacturing

309

Paper Manufacturing

200

Mineral Products

174

Miscellaneous Manufacturing

166

Repair and Maintenance

132

Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing

130

Chemical Manufacturing

65

Textile Mills

58

Wood Product Manufacturing

48

Printing and Related Support Activities

41

Manufacturing Industry 286 Projects = 6,446 Jobs

Total

8,778

* The Service Operations category includes technical support and customer service centers as well as business service operations such as corporate headquarters and billing remittance centers.
** The Transportation Equipment category is predominantly automotive and aviation component manufacturers.

"I credit the program with the fact that when we opened, our new employees `hit the ground running.' It was the most successful startup of a new facility I have ever experienced -- and I've done a few."
--Barton E. Good, Tanimura & Antle Southeast general manager, Jackson
15

DELIVERY SYSTEM
34 Technical Colleges With Multiple Campuses 4 University System Colleges With Technical Divisions

Kenneth H. Breeden, Commissioner Georgia Department of Technical
and Adult Education www.georgiaquickstart.org

Quick Start Project Announcements
... Serving communities throughout Georgia

Adairsville: Daiki, manufacturer of industrial vehicle parts, will be adding an additional 20 employees.
Carrollton: Wal-Mart.com is expanding its fulfillment center and adding another 40 new jobs.
Cartersville: SSJS is starting up a new operation and adding 18 jobs.
Columbus: Heckler & Koch, manufacturers of technologically advanced firearms for defense and law enforcement, is building a manufacturing facility and hiring 200 employees.
Cordele: Heartland Building Systems LLC, which manufactures modular homes, is opening a new facility and hiring 46 employees.
Covington: Nyloboard LLC, makers of construction material made from recycled carpet, is building a 400,000-sq.-ft. facility and will create 30 new jobs.
Dublin: Botkin Lumber Company Inc., which processes and regrades lumber, is hiring 50 new employees for its new operation.
Homerville: Blueberry Farms, which packages and ships fruit, is building a new facility and creating 35 new jobs.
Lavonia: Metal fabrication manufacturer Fanello Industries is expanding and will be hiring 24 employees from the area.
Lawrenceville: Danfoss-Maneurop, manufacturers of scroll compressors, is expanding and creating 72 new jobs.
Lithia Springs: Reflek, manufacturer of custom light reflectors, is starting up a new operation and adding 50 new positions.
McDonough: IFCO Systems, which cleans and recycles plastic produce containers, is starting up operations and hiring 60 new employees.
Statesboro: Glass manufacturer Viracon is expanding operations and adding 75 jobs.
Thomson: Shaw Industry, which manufactures yarn for carpets, is expanding operations and adding 50 jobs.

Tucker: Frozen desert manufacturer Schwan's Bakery Inc. is expanding and adding 105 new employees.
Villa Rica: SAF Inc., makers of custom aluminum window frames, is expanding operations and adding 25 new jobs.
Waycross: General Housing, which builds manufactured homes, is expanding operations and adding 25 jobs.
Wrens: Glit/Microtron, makers of cleaning supplies such as floor and hand pads, is expanding operations and adding 80 jobs.

Georgia Quick Start 1800 Century Place Suite 300 Atlanta, GA 30345 404.679.2915 16