Quick start [Vol. 6, no. 2 (Spring 2004)]

Georgia Department of Technical and Adult Education

SPRING 2004 VOLUME 6, NUMBER 2

On Friday, February 13, seven Griffin-area residents proved that Friday the 13th can actually be a lucky day: they became the first class to graduate from Quick Start's training program for Perkins Shibaura Engines.
During a ceremony held at Griffin Technical College, Paul Clark, the facility manager for the new plant, praised the trainees, who were to leave the next day to travel to Peterborough, England, to study the manufacturing processes at Perkins Shibaura's facility there.
"You are the best-trained Perkins employees ever," said Clark. "The work that Quick Start has done has been absolutely amazing. It has enabled you to develop at an amazing speed. I look forward to welcoming you back to Griffin after your time in Peterborough," Clark concluded. "I'll see you all back here in five weeks' time. We have a facility to open!"

On the evening of the graduation, Jackie Rohosky, the DTAE assistant commissioner who directs the Quick Start program, added, "We're extremely proud of this first graduating class. This is a great company and we wish you all the best in the next phase of your training."
Perkins Shibaura's Griffin facility is a joint venture between Perkins Engines, a division of Caterpillar Inc., and Ishikawajima Shibaura Machinery Company Ltd. The plant will begin production of diesel engines beginning in the summer of 2004. Quick Start will continue to provide training services as the facility gets up and
Continued on page 9

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

Inset: David Luckie, GriffinSpalding Development Authority director, welcomes guests at the training plan signing. Seated from left: Dr. Robert Arnold, Griffin Tech president; Paul Clark, Perkins Shibaura facility manager; and Jackie Rohosky, DTAE assistant commissioner of economic development programs. Below, from left: Perkins Shibaura trainees Kenneth Miller, Melanie Cox and David Wicks work on a diesel engine in class.

Quick Notes

Jackie Rohosky

Guiding our work at Quick Start is a dedication to helping Georgia protect existing jobs and creating new ones.

Among the principles guiding our work at Quick Start is a dedication to supporting existing industry in Georgia, thereby protecting jobs, and helping new industry locate in Georgia, creating new jobs. In this issue, we profile two projects that are good examples of these principles.
First is Perkins Shibaura, a British company that is opening a new facility in Griffin. Quick Start teamed up with that company at the beginning, offering pre-employment assistance and skills training for their first set of new employees. Quick Start has been able to play a crucial role in helping this company choose Georgia, and get its operation up and running.
The second company is Goody, a longtime manufacturer in Manchester, Ga. This existing company needed help to remain competitive, and Quick Start was able to help them adapt employees to new technology and processes, and protect the jobs of hundreds of Georgians. It's being able to help companies like Perkins Shibaura and Goody that makes our job so fulfilling.
On another note, it is not an exaggeration to say that Quick Start's ability to play these roles has been in large part due to the support and leadership of Dr. Kenneth Breeden, the commissioner of the Georgia Department of Technical and Adult Education. Dr. Breeden is retiring at the end of June, and we want to use this opportunity to thank him for what he has contributed to economic development in Georgia and to Quick Start.

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

Gov. Sonny Perdue and DTAE Commissioner Dr. Kenneth Breeden at the recent 10th anniversary Manufacturing Appreciation Week celebration (see page 10). Dr. Breeden is retiring June 30th from his position as the first commissioner of the DTAE.

Table of Contents

12

3 14 10

Events Around the State

Wal-Mart

On Time, In Stock, Every Day

10 MAW

15 Manufacturing Appreciation

Partner's Perspective

Week Celebrates 10th

Georgia Leverages G8 Summit

Anniversary

to Promote Opportunity

By Glenn Cornell

12 Goody Quick Start Good News for Goody

16 Quick Start Project Announcements

Spring 2004 Volume 6, Number 2 Published 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 SPRING 2004

Events

Reflek Lights Up Lithia Springs

When Mass.-based lighting reflector maker

Reflek Manufacturing Inc. started scouting

a new plant location, they knew they

would need specialized technical training

to light up their sales. Georgia Quick

Start offered the perfect solution:

free customized training to 38 new

employees.

"It sounded too good to be true,"

said Reflek President Rob Dorsky

about the Quick Start training program.

"Quick Start perfectly compliments our

expansion strategy. Their program provides

us with a big business training program with-

out the associated costs."

Reflek President Rob Dorsky holds one

With Quick Start's help, Reflek hopes to of the lighting reflectors that will be

shrink their production turnaround time

manufactured at Reflek's new Lithia

from weeks to days using a highly automated Springs facility.

system. West Central Technical College will offer ongoing training. "We

are very dedicated to business and industry. It's our only

purpose," said West Central Tech President Janet Ayers.

"We want to be supportive and

help you achieve your goals,"

Quick Start Director of Northern

Operations Jeff Lynn told

Dorsky at the Quick Start

training plan signing.

"Supportive is an understate-

ment," laughed Dorsky.

From left: Dr. C. B. Rathburn, Savannah Tech president; Dr. Reg Hendricks, Savannah Tech executive VP; Jackie Rohosky, DTAE assistant commissioner of economic development programs; award recipient Richard Chumley, Savannah Tech Welding and Joining Technology Department head; and Joe Franklin, Savannah Tech dean of instruction, occupation and technology.
Quick Start Awards
JCB Team Members
DTAE Assistant Commissioner of Economic Development Programs Jackie Rohosky recently presented awards in appreciation of two individuals' key roles in Quick Start's recent welding training classes held at Savannah Technical College for construction and agricultural equipment company JCB Inc. Mike Cook was recognized for his valuable assistance as a JCB team leader. Cook provided support throughout Quick Start's 16 hours of customized welding training and is instrumental in on-the-job training for JCB employees. Savannah Tech Welding and Joining Technology Department Head Richard Chumley also received an award for efficiently coordinating the training facilities, equipment and class schedule.

Thomson Plastics Molds Success in McDuffie

Thomson Plastics Inc. recently strengthened its almost decade-long partnership with Quick Start and Augusta Technical College by signing on for training of 46 new employees at the company's expanded McDuffie County plant.
Since the company's relocation to Thomson nine years ago, Quick Start and Augusta Tech have contributed crucial support to the custom injection molding supplier. The three-way partnership's success comes as no surprise to Thomson Plastics President Jerry Harrison.
"Relationships are important to us," says Harrison, who praises Quick Start and Augusta Tech for taking the company from a 20-person team operating nine machines to a 225employee team operating 31 presses. "It's been a great relationship. We tell a lot of people our success is directly proportional to the help we received."

During a plant tour, Thomson Plastics President Jerry Harrison explained the production procedure of a vent cap, one of many products manufactured at the company's McDuffie County facility.

3

Events

Gerdau Ameristeel Recycles For Success

Quick Start will help Georgia's only steel mill and largest recycler, Gerdau Ameristeel, train 45 new employees at its expanded Cartersville facility. Quick Start has already begun training employees to produce a wide range of 100% recycled products at the company's new 57,000-sq.-ft. expansion. North Metro Technical College will provide ongoing training.
Quick Start and Gerdau Ameristeel have a long business history. Quick Start Director of Northern Operations Jeff Lynn has worked with Gerdau Ameristeel Human Resources Manager Ron Tuck since 1998. At the training agreement signing, Tuck praised Quick Start. "It's a great organization," he said. "It's done a lot for us and continues to do a lot for us."

Standing, from left: Molly Grover, Cartersville-Bartow County Chamber of Commerce president and CEO; Dianne Tate, City of Cartersville mayor pro tempore; Tracy Lewis, Cartersville-Bartow County Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors chairman; Ron Tuck, Gerdau Ameristeel Human Resources manager; and Richard Dixon, Quick Start training coordinator. Seated, from left: Jeff Lynn, Quick Start director of Northern operations; Ed Woodrow, Gerdau Ameristeel VP and general manager; and Steve Dougherty, North Metro Tech president.

Lynn was happy to be a partner in the company's success. "For what you're doing for the state," said Lynn, "we thank you." North Metro Tech President Steve Dougherty was also pleased with the three-way partnership. "We're very proud to work

with Quick Start and to be a part of this," he said.
Since Quick Start's initial support, "we're on an upswing," noted Ed Woodrow, Gerdau Ameristeel VP and general manager. With Quick Start's help, the upswing will last.

Fanello Puts Its Stamp on Lavonia

Attending the training plan signing, from left: Jeff Lynn, Quick Start director of Northern operations; Vincent Fanello, Fanello president; Dr. Ruth Nichols, North Georgia Tech president; and Pat Boyer, Fanello director of quality systems and sales and marketing.

Well-known manufacturer Fanello Industries Inc. will expand production of stamped blanks and component assemblies with help from Quick Start and North Georgia Technical College. Quick Start will train employees on several new press lines in the company's expanded 70,000-sq.-ft. building. Training will focus on product quality procedures, feed line straightener systems, die setting, press operations and performance improvement. North Georgia Tech will provide follow-up training.

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QUICK START SPRING 2004

Simmons Creates Sweet Dreams for Waycross
Recently, Simmons Company signed on for customized training from Quick Start and Okefenokee Technical College to instruct 225 new employees to make bedding products at its new Waycross facility. Attending the Quick Start training plan signing, from left: Michele Moron, Simmons Human Resources manager; Ken Boyd, Quick Start director of Eastern operations; and Dr. John Pike, Okefenokee Tech president.

American Home Shield Ribbon-cutting At left:
Governor Sonny Perdue helped other invited guests welcome American Home Shield to its new Georgia home at the ribbon-cutting ceremony in LaGrange. Quick Start has provided extensive training for employees at the new call center. Attending the ribbon-cutting ceremony are, from left: Bobby Carmichael, Development Authority of LaGrange chairman; Dan Marks, American Home Shield CIO; Jeff Lukken, LaGrange mayor; Sonny Perdue, Georgia governor; and Scott Cromie, American Home Shield president and CEO. Inset: Gov. Perdue discusses Quick Start's customized training for American Home Shield with Quick Start Director of Performance Technology and Service Industry Sandra Morris (left) and Quick Start Training Coordinator Mary Fornoff.

Daiki Constructs Success

State legislators were on hand when well-known

construction and industrial equipment supplier Daiki

Corporation signed a training agreement with Quick

Start and North Metro Technical College. Quick Start

will deliver customized training to approximately 25 new employees

at Daiki's expanded Adairsville facility and North Metro Tech will

provide help with ongoing training.

"I appreciate what you do," State Representative Buddy Childers

Daiki President Bill Warner (center) discussed the

told the Daiki and Quick Start staff members on hand for the occasion. "It's good to live in a state with this much enthusiasm."
Daiki has good reason to be enthusiastic. In 2001, Quick Start

company's expansion in Adairsville with training plan signing attendees, including Quick Start Director of Northern Operations Jeff Lynn (right) and North Metro Tech President Steve Dougherty.

helped the company start up a new product line at its Adairsville plant,

providing customized welding, safety and blueprint reading training. "We

had the opportunity to bring in a new product line from Italy, but we didn't

have the expertise to do it," explained Bill Warner, president of Daiki. So

Daiki turned to Quick Start for help. Quick Start's training helped turn

Daiki from a struggling company with 76 employees to a growing business

with $20 million in sales and 160 employees. "In two years," Warner said,

"we tripled sales and doubled our workforce."

Now Quick Start is helping secure Daiki's future. Quick Start train-

ing will focus on company orientation, safety training, metric system

State Representative Buddy Childers (left) joined Daiki President Bill Warner (right) and North Metro Tech President Steve Dougherty on a tour of Daiki's

overviews, blueprint reading, precision measuring, welding skills and ISO 9002 training.

expanded Adairsville plant.

5

Events

General Manufactured Housing Finds a Home in Ware General Manufactured
Housing is expanding and creating 60 new jobs in Ware County with help from Quick Start and Okefenokee Technical College. The company builds a variety of manufactured homes that are sold throughout the Southeast United States. This is the company's second expansion in less than one year. Signing the training plan are, from left: Ken Boyd, Quick Start director of Eastern operations; Donny Bradshaw, General Manufactured Housing CFO; and Dr. John Pike, Okefenokee Tech president.

Viracon's Glass Works in Statesboro

Viracon is adding 85 new jobs at its expanded Statesboro glass fabrication facility using customized training from Quick Start and ongoing training from Ogeechee Technical College. Viracon's state-of-the-art processes manufacture high-quality coated glass products for architectural construction customers.

Pictured above are the Quick Start and Lanier Tech staff and employees from Crystal Springs and Belmont Springs bottled water brands that worked together on the launch of a customer service call center training program.
Appreciation Reception

Touring Viracon's state-of-the-art glass fabrication Statesboro facility are Jackie Rohosky, DTAE assistant commissioner of economic development programs, and Ron Boucher, Viracon quality manager.

6

QUICK START SPRING 2004

Recently DS Waters, a leading bottled water company with brands that include Crystal Springs and Belmont Springs, hosted a "Thank You" reception to celebrate a successful conclusion of a two-year training partnership. Those invited were Quick Start, Lanier Technical College and employees from Crystal Springs and Belmont Springs who worked together to successfully achieve training objectives. The training project began in 2002 when the company decided to consolidate its regional call centers into a national call center in Flowery Branch. Quick Start developed a two-week course to train the new Telephone Customer Care Representatives. The customized jobspecific training consisted of classes in product knowledge, customer service, sales and computer system operation for the company's proprietary software. Quick Start also provided pre-employment candidate assessments and leadership training.

UFP Technologies Opens the Door to the Future

UFP Technologies' new Simco Automotive Division in Atlanta

will open its doors to up to 25 new employees with help from

Quick Start and Atlanta Technical College. Quick Start will pro-

vide customized training for the plant's new Mercedes door parts

line. "We're very excited about this project," said Craig Pearce,

general manager of UFP Technologies, Simco Automotive Division,

at the training agreement signing.

Quick Start and Atlanta Tech were also excited about the

From left, Scott Parkerson, UFP operations manager; Craig Pearce, UFP general manager; Jeff Lynn, Quick Start director of Northern

partnership. "Our college is really looking forward to working with you and Quick Start,"

operations; Eddie Fite, Quick Start training manager; Warren Pincombe, Atlanta Tech economic development specialist; Grace Trevino, UFP launch manager; Harold Craig, Atlanta Tech VP of economic development; and Greg Curfman, UFP program manager.

said Atlanta Tech's VP of Economic Development Harold Craig.

Since 1963, UFP

Technologies has designed and

converted foam, plastics and

natural fiber products for con-

sumer and industrial markets.

UFP-Simco's colorful R&S Compression Molding Machine presses material into thin parts used in Mercedes car doors.

Above: The award presented to Sonny Dixon. Inset: Sonny Dixon moderating at the Legislative Forum 2003.

Dixon Honored for Leadership
Former state legislator and WTOC 11 news anchor and reporter Sonny Dixon was recently honored by Quick Start for his role as moderator of the Legislative Forum at the DTAE Leadership Conference held in Savannah. "Sonny did an excellent job at the conference," said Jackie Rohosky, DTAE assistant commissioner of economic development programs, "and we truly value his ongoing support." The Leadership Conference was sponsored by the Technical College Foundation Association of Georgia and the Technical College Directors' Association. Participating in the forum were State Representative Richard Royal; State Representative Ann Purcell; State Representative DuBose Porter; State Senator Eric Johnson; State Senator Jack Hill; State Senator Bill Hamrick; and State Representative Terry Coleman.
7

Events
DTAE Commissioner Dr. Kenneth Breeden (far right) was on hand to help Lanier Technical College President Dr. Mike Moye (far left) accept a $100,000 technical college scholarship fund donation from Kubota President John Shiraishi (second from right) and Kubota General Manager Moriya Hayashi. Kubota's scholarship fund will benefit foreign-born technical college students living in Northeast Georgia who are ineligible for other forms of academic financial aid. "What we hope to do is provide additional support that benefits both the college and the people of Gainesville and Hall County," Kubota President John Shiraishi told The Gainesville Times. The donation is the largest one the school has received from a private company according to Dr. Mike Moye, president of Lanier Tech. Kubota has a long working relationship with Quick Start and Georgia's Technical College System. In 2003, Kubota was named Manufacturer of the Year in the large manufacturer category.

Helping break ground at Chart Industries Inc.'s new Canton plant, from left: Pamela Carnes, Cherokee County Chamber of Commerce president; Marshall Day, Development Authority of Cherokee County vicechairman; Patrick Moore, Governor's Office deputy chief of staff; Eddie Fite, Quick Start training manager; Randy Gravely, Cherokee County Chamber of Commerce chair; Greg Zaic, Chart Industries VP of manufacturing; Bill Wester, Development Authority of Cherokee County secretary/treasurer; Carole Ciriacks, GDITT regional project manager; and Rodney Hannah, Alltel area manager.

Chart Industries Breaks Ground

Medical storage system manufacturer Chart Industries Inc. is expanding its Canton facility and its workforce with help from Quick Start and Appalachian Technical College. Quick Start will train 40-60 new employees and Appalachian Tech will provide ongoing training for Chart Industries.
"Quick Start has done an excellent job for us," said Greg Zaic, VP of manufacturing for Chart

8

QUICK START SPRING 2004

Industries, at the groundbreaking ceremony. "With all the help from the state, the county and our employees, we will keep growing."
Cleveland, Oh.-based Chart Industries is a leading global supplier of products used in low-temperature and cryogenic systems. The company operates nine U.S. facilities and has plants in Australia, China, the Czech Republic, Germany and the United Kingdom.

MarCraft Crafts 50 New Jobs
With help from Quick Start, MarCraft Inc. will train 50 new employees to design, produce and install bathtubs and vanities at its expanded Douglas facility. Quick Start's customized training will include manufacturing skills and technology, computer skills, productivity enhancement training and post-employment training. East Central Technical College will assist the company with ongoing training.
Attending the Quick Start training plan signing, from left: Marla Lowe, Quick Start executive director of economic development programs; John Darr, MarCraft CEO; and Dr. Diane Harper, East Central Tech president.

Cover Story

Continued from page 1
running. The workforce at the plant will eventually grow to 130.
The company chose to locate in Georgia partly because of the availability of Quick Start's workforce training services and the accessibility of Griffin Technical College.
"We discovered Quick Start by talking to Griffin Technical College, and learned that they could deliver this full-blown, wholehearted induction program for our employees and manufacturing operations, and all this could be done prior to us taking over the facility and starting production," said Nigel Briers, Perkins Shibaura change facilitator. "That's just something that you could not walk away from."
Quick Start's team of training professionals had previously visited the facility in England to conduct the initial project study for Perkins Shibaura.
"Quick Start has provided us with some fantastic training materials," Clark said. "They came to visit our premises in the UK; four of them spent an entire week there and they really immersed themselves in our products and our processes and our people, so when they came back to the U.S., they were able to provide us with very high caliber training materials."
Quick Start also assisted Perkins Shibaura with pre-employment assessments to help the company select the best candidates. As classes of new employees are formed, Quick Start will provide training in core technical skills, product-specific engine assembly and other teambuilding skills.
"This was the best training experience I've ever been through," said Melanie Cox, who will work in the final assembly area of the new plant. "We were trained in engine basics,

Top photo: From left are Nigel Briers, Perkins Shibaura change facilitator; Lee Howell, state representative; Paul Clark, Perkins Shibaura facility manager; Sharon Sapp, Perkins Shibaura Human Resource manager; and Wayne Brown, Griffin Tech VP of economic development. Middle photo: Current trainees, from left, Jeremy Standard, Kamelia Lyons and Kevin Simmons review the components of a diesel engine with Quick Start instructor Tim Beach (far right). Bottom photo: Quick Start's first graduating Perkins Shibaura class.
teamwork, one-on-one communication and other processes that will enable us to help get this plant up and running quickly. The Quick Start instructors were the best."
"I've never seen a company that invested so much in their trainees," said Brian Griffin, who will work in

the testing area of the facility. "The collaboration between the company and Quick Start is a great way to do business."
This first class of trainees returned to Griffin in March, and are now helping train the next class of Perkins Shibaura employees.

9

State Celebration

Award winners announced at luncheon in Atlanta

More than 1400 community and year the awards ceremony was held business leaders came together at the Cobb Galleria with Governor

April 15th to celebrate the 10th

Sonny Perdue as the keynote speaker.

anniversary of Manufacturing

In his address, Gov. Perdue

Appreciation Week. The Governor's acknowledged the importance of

Awards Luncheon is co-hosted by

manufacturing to the prosperity of

the Department of Technical and

Georgia and said of the 114

Adult Education and the Department Manufacturer of the Year nominees

of Industry, Trade and Tourism. This that, "You are all winners."

This year's winners

were Woodbury Box Co.

Inc. Thomaston, in the

small manufacturer cate-

gory; Heatcraft

Refrigeration Products

Tifton, in the medium

manufacturer category;

and the NACOM Corp.

Griffin, in the large manu-

facturer category.

Small manufacturer

category winner

Art Contest Winners Gov. Sonny Perdue stands (l-r) with Jenny Park, middle school poster design competition winner; Tyler Van Dusen, elementary school placemat design competition winner; and Cristian Cuautle, high school T-shirt design

Woodbury Box relocated to Thomaston from Woodbury, Ga., in 1994. The company employs 47

competition winner.

associates and has a payroll of more than $1.5 million. In 2003, the Thomaston plant had annual sales of almost $4 million.
Susan Rudder Hall, CEO of Woodbury Box, praised Quick Start's customized training for keeping Woodbury Box on the cutting edge of manufacturing. "I can't say enough about Quick Start," Hall said in her acceptance speech at the awards luncheon. "Your quick response and technical help were excellent."
Medium manufacturer category winner Heatcraft draws 250 fulltime employees for its Tifton facility from eight counties in South Central Georgia. The 29-year-old Tifton plant produced more than $90 million in product in 2003.
"It's only through the continued cooperation of local, state and federal agencies," noted Steve Dyer, director of operations for Heatcraft's Tifton facility, "that U.S. manufacturing

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QUICK START SPRING 2004

Small Manufacturer Category
Gov. Sonny Perdue presents Woodbury Box Co. Inc. executives with the Manufacturer of the Year award in the small manufacturer category. Standing with Gov. Perdue, from left, are Woodbury Box CEO Susan Rudder Hall; Woodbury Box Chief Marketing and Financial Officer Kim Sidey; and Woodbury Box President Dan Fuller.

will regain its competitive edge and maintain that edge."
Large manufacturer category winner NACOM employs over 800 employees at its Griffin plant. The plant has been in operation for nine years and had annual revenues of $161 million last year.
"I am humbled to be among this elite group of companies here today and especially to have NACOM be honored at this awards luncheon during Manufacturing Appreciation Week," NACOM VP and General Manager John Olson told the crowd at the awards ceremony.
In addition to the manufacturing winners, nine students from across Georgia won scholarships in the student design contest, which is intended to increase awareness of the importance of manufacturing among Georgia's school children.

This year's sponsors:

Medium Manufacturer Category
Gov. Sonny Perdue presents Heatcraft Refrigeration Products executives with the Manufacturer of the Year award in the medium manufacturer category. Standing with Gov. Perdue, from left, are Heatcraft's Director of Tifton Operations Steve Dyer; Heatcraft Human Resources Manager Jon Krispen; and Heatcraft VP of Operations-Americas Howard Schmidt.
Large Manufacturer Category
Gov. Sonny Perdue presents the NACOM Corporation with the Manufacturer of the Year award in the large manufacturer category. Standing with Gov. Perdue, from left, are NACOM VP and General Manager John Olson; NACOM/Yazaki North America Chairman Satoshi Nagishi; and NACOM 2003 Associate of the Year Mary Goggins.
11

Manufacturing Sector

Quick Start Good News for Goody

Bob Koon, Goody molding technical manager, and Jackie Rohosky, DTAE assistant commissioner of economic development programs, tour the facility in Manchester, Ga.

Manchester, Ga.-based manufacturer helped by workforce training services
Afew years ago, shifts in the market presented company officials at Goody with some hard decisions. As with many other manufacturing businesses, prudent business strategy called for consolidating some of the company's manufacturing capacity. Moves needed to be made in order for Goody to remain competitive in the global marketplace.
Goody got its start in 1907 on the lower east side of Manhattan when Henry Goodman, an immigrant from Ukraine, first started selling rhine-
stone-studded hair combs from a pushcart. Today, Goody has nearly a $100 million impact on the regional economy surrounding its factories in Manchester, Ga., a small, historic railroad town half an hour north of Columbus. Goody is the world's leading marketer and manufacturer of brushes, combs and hair accessories, turning out enough bobby pins each year to circle the globe, and enough hair brushes to provide one to every man, woman and child in the 10 most populous American cities.
The company was investing $15 million in new equipment, and the people in the town of Manchester and Meriwether County were prepared to do whatever they could to help the company's efforts to stay competitive. Goody is the only major manufacturer remaining in the Manchester area, and the company is critical to the prosperity of Meriwether and surrounding counties.
Its tremendous impact on the area's economy the company generates nearly 23% of the local tax base in Manchester has made Goody one of the top manufacturing businesses in the state that officials recognize as needing to be preserved. With more than 700 employees in a town of 5,000, without Goody, local residents acknowledge, there is no Manchester.
"Goody's one of the largest employers in the area, and they had run into a problem and needed some retraining of people on some

Brush and comb sample display at Goody.

12

QUICK START SPRING 2004

Goody, today the world's most famous brand of combs, brushes, bobby pins and
more, began with a single pushcart in New York City almost 100 years ago. Right, Goody products roll off the line
in Manchester, Ga.

Dayton Preston
"It's my feeling that they (Goody) would not have been able to continue unless Quick Start had come in like they did. It was a win-win."
Dayton Preston, Senior Vice President of Economic Development and Property Management,
Greater Columbus Georgia Chamber of Commerce
new equipment," recalls Dayton Preston of the Greater Columbus Georgia Chamber of Commerce, which is a part of the Valley Partnership Joint Development Authority that is made up of six counties and two municipalities including the city of Manchester.
"We called [Quick Start Director of Western Operations] Joe Bailey, and, as usual, Quick Start was right there."
Quick Start's training profession-

als then performed a project study at Goody and concluded that, as a result of all the new equipment being installed, the company had a serious need for training of their technicians and machine operators.
Company representatives held several meetings with Quick Start staff, and soon they had developed a training plan that covered basic electrical and hydraulic theory, application and troubleshooting, as well as programmable logic controllers.
"Quick Start helped us build skills in basic robotics, troubleshooting, and PLC," says Bob Koon, Goody molding technical manager. "Quick Start was there to do the training whenever they were needed. They had two classes to accommodate our shifts, and sometimes training started at 3 a.m. Virtually everybody went through the electrical training, and what was most pleasing to me was that everybody enjoyed it.
"If Quick Start hadn't been able to work around our shifts, we'd still be struggling along."
Preston agrees. "It's my feeling that they would not have been able to continue unless Quick Start had come in like they did. It was a winwin. We were able to keep those jobs and I think Quick Start was critical to keeping them here."

13

Service Industry

On Time, In Stock, Every Day
Customized training keeps merchandise flowing at Wal-Mart

From its small beginning in 1962 with one store in Arkansas to more than 4,600 stores worldwide and record sales of $244.5 billion in 2003, Wal-Mart has been an innovative leader, recently being named the most admired company in America by Fortune magazine.
Wal-Mart has statewide presence in Georgia, occupying millions of square feet in distribution centers in Monroe, LaGrange, Macon, Statesboro, Douglas and, most recently, Carrollton. For more than 10 years, Quick Start has partnered with Wal-Mart on training for six WalMart distribution centers, with the training customized to the particular needs of each center. For example, Quick Start has worked with the Wal-Mart Statesboro Distribution Center on three separate occasions. The services provided helped reduce turnover by more than half.
Much of the merchandise on the company's store shelves is funneled through these distribution centers, requiring them to operate full-throttle, seven days a week with a precise system in order fulfillment and inventory.
To keep Wal-Mart customers

happy, merchandise must be shipped on time and kept in stock. That's where Quick Start expertise helps: Training Wal-Mart's distribution workforce keeps merchandise flowing.
When Wal-Mart decided to build its Walmart.com distribution center in Carrollton, Bob Duron, regional manager of Wal-Mart Specialty, knew who to call, having joined the company after successfully running the Amazon.com distribution center in McDonough, where he had also worked with Quick Start.
"When we started Walmart.com in Carrollton, there were no tools or manuals on how to operate the system it all had to be developed," says Duron. "We leveraged Georgia Quick Start to help us. I knew from working with them before that they have the infrastructure, knowledge, tools and skill set to help us accomplish our goals.
"I knew [Quick Start's] approach was to come in, assess the situation and get dialogue going about what we're trying to accomplish," he adds. "Within weeks, Quick Start project managers came in understanding the functionality of the system and the

Carrollton LaGrange

Monroe
Macon Statesboro

Douglas

Quick Start has worked with six Wal-Mart distribution centers over the past 10 years.
process flow... Quick Start is a very flexible, intelligent, sharp group of people working together toward a common goal.
"The impact of Georgia Quick Start on the learning curve was significant," Duron says. "Georgia Quick Start played a significant part in helping us develop the tools we need to get these people onboard quickly."
"Quick Start's training has been very good," says Sherethea Copeland, training manager of the Carrollton facility. "Their visual aids worked well and the training has been flexible, which is very helpful. At Walmart.com, things change daily. We're relatively new so we're constantly finding new ways to do things."

Scenes from Wal-Mart distribution centers.

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QUICK START SPRING 2004

Partner's Perspective
Georgia Leverages G8 Summit to Promote Opportunity

By Glenn Cornell
Each year, leaders from the world's eight major industrial democracies come together during the Group of Eight, or G8, Summit to discuss issues of global importance, identify wide-reaching solutions and foster international cooperation. In June, this historic event will come to Georgia's Sea Island. Thousands of visitors from around the world will travel to Georgia, and the world's media spotlight will be focused on our state.
We in Georgia have a unique opportunity to use that exposure to create long-term economic growth throughout the state. The Georgia Department of Industry, Trade and Tourism (GDITT) and our partners are leveraging the G8 Summit as a new opportunity to increase global awareness and preference for Georgia as a leading location for business development and a world-class tourism destination.
Tourism is the state's second largest industry and has long been an important economic driver. The industry employs more than 207,100 Georgians and generates more than $680 million in revenue each year.
This is big business for Georgia, and I believe we can make it even bigger.
As host of the G8 Summit, we will showcase the best Georgia has to offer to tourists from around the world. Sea Island and Georgia's Golden Isles have been popular destinations since they were established nearly a century ago, and today visitors can still enjoy some of the most

pristine coastline in the country, luxury accommodations and resorts, and world-class cuisine. Beyond the coast, Georgia offers warm hospitality, a diverse landscape and a rich history that attracts more than 40 million visitors each year.
The G8 Summit also provides the opportunity to illustrate why Georgia is not only the right state to host an event of this caliber, but also the right state for business. Our pro-

Glenn Cornell, Georgia Department of Industry, Trade and Tourism Commissioner
our environment. Already, improvements in cellular reliability are underway along the coast and local power and telecommunications

Quick Start's internationally recognized programs give our state a competitive edge.

business attitude allows companies to find what they need when they move to Georgia. One of the most attractive attributes of the state is our quality workforce training programs that help provide the specific expertise and knowledge necessary in today's marketplace. Quick Start's internationally recognized programs give our state a competitive edge.
Georgia has the infrastructure and experience to support major corporate operations. Our two deepwater ports, interstate rail and highway accessibility and easy proximity to global markets through the world's busiest airport HartsfieldJackson Atlanta International Airport give companies located here a transportation system that cannot be matched anywhere in the country.
This year's G8 Summit is also going to leave a positive impact on the state through improvement in mobile communications, utilities and

capacities are being updated. With these upgrades, our coastal region will technologically surpass many other business and convention destinations in the Southeast. G8 Summit planners are also taking extra care to ensure that our state's history of environmental preservation is continued by developing initiatives to protect the loggerhead turtle, expand recycling programs and certifying environmentally "green" hotels. After the Summit, these improvements will make Georgia an even better destination for business and leisure travel.
The G8 Summit is bringing the world to Georgia and we will be providing them an unforgettable experience. Business executives, tourists and foreign leaders alike will have the opportunity to experience all that we have to offer, opening the door to opportunities for our entire state for years to come.

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

Alma: Well-known cookie and cracker maker Richmond Baking Company is expanding operations and creating 25 new jobs.
Atlanta: UFP Technologies' Simco Automotive Division is building a new world-class automotive production facility to manufacture door panel inserts for Mercedes cars and is creating 25 new jobs.
Augusta: Rutgers Organics Corporation, manufacturer of fire chemical intermediates, is expanding operations and creating 20 new jobs.
Augusta: Augusta Sports Wear, manufacturer of sportswear clothing and accessories, is upgrading its manual distribution system to a fully automated AS-400 operation.
Brunswick: NewRoads is expanding its customer contact center and creating 80 jobs.
Canton: Chart Industries Inc. is adding a new medical product line that manufactures liquid oxygen systems and is creating up to 60 new jobs.
Cartersville: Gerdau Ameristeel is expanding its recycling steel mill and creating 45 new jobs.
Columbus: Airship manufacturer Techsphere is opening a new facility and creating around 250 new jobs.
Columbus: Waggoners Trucking is opening a new plant for refurbishing of auto haulers and creating 450 new jobs.
Douglas: Bathtub and vanity manufacturer MarCraft Inc. is creating 50 new jobs.
Greensboro: Bozart Creations is opening a new art frame manufacturing facility and creating up to 20 new jobs.
Griffin: Leading engine manufacturer Perkins Shibaura is opening its first North American manufacturing facility and creating 130 new jobs.
Hazlehurst: Uniform manufacturer Armitec Inc. is opening a new facility and creating 80 new jobs.
Lithia Springs: Lighting reflector maker Reflek Manufacturing Inc. is opening a new plant and creating 38 new jobs.
Peachtree City: Wiring device manufacturer Cooper Wiring Devices is relocating company headquarters operations and creating 70 new jobs.

Perry: Gilmer Companies are expanding their printed paperboard warehouse and shipping facility and creating 30 new jobs.
Quitman: Micro Craft Inc. is expanding its mechanical automotive component manufacturing facility and creating 300 new jobs.
Savannah: World-class food product manufacturer California Natural Products is opening a new facility and creating 45 jobs.
Savannah: Georgia Pacific Gypsum is opening a gypsum wallboard manufacturing facility and creating 50 new jobs.
Shannon: Florida Tile Industries Inc. is expanding its tile manufacturing operations and creating 75 new jobs.
Statesboro: Glass fabricator Viracon is expanding operations and creating 85 new jobs.
Thomson: Custom injection molding supplier Thomson Plastics Inc. is expanding and creating 46 new jobs.
Toccoa: Metal fabrication manufacturer Meadowbrook Machine & Tool is expanding its facility and creating 20 new jobs.
Vidalia: Lighting fixture fabrication and assembly manufacturer u.s. energy/sciences is building a new facility and creating 60 new jobs.
Waycross: General Manufactured Housing is expanding its manufactured home operations and creating 60 new jobs.
Waycross: Simmons Company is building a new bedding product manufacturing facility and creating 225 new jobs.

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