Date Posted: September 15, 2024
Over 100 guests were in attendance for the Southern Crescent Technical College (SCTC) first annual Champions for Technical Education Awards Celebration on September 12, 2024, hosted by the Southern Crescent Technical College Foundation. This event, held in the Frank and Constance Allen Johnson Event Center, honored champions for technical education in the eight counties that the College serves, as well as champions beyond the service area.
The evening included a dinner prepared by SCTC Culinary Arts students, remarks from Southern Crescent Technical College President Dr. Irvin Clark, recognition of sponsors, comments from the event sponsor, and the presentation of champions. Each of the champions received an award which was a glass-enclosed dome with a stainless-steel cube designed and made by SCTC Machine Tool Technology students and their instructor, Keith Smith. The award included designs representing the four pillars that define SCTC’s Champions for Technical Education – workforce, resources, partnerships, and education.
Recognized for their commitment to technical education and Southern Crescent Technical College, the outstanding honorees included:
- Butts County Champion – Bob White, Executive Director of the Butts County Industrial Development Authority
- Fayette County Champions – Kim Learnard, Mayor of Peachtree City; Jack Smith, former Chairman of the Southern Crescent Technical College Foundation
- Henry County Champions – Josh Fenn, Executive Director of the Henry County Industrial Development Authority; Carlotta Harrell, Chairwoman of the Henry County Board of Commissioners
- Jasper County Champion – Kenny Garland, Superintendent of the Jasper County Charter Schools
- Lamar County Champions – Kathy Oxford, Executive Director of the Lamar County Industrial Development Authority; Scott Swafford, former Chairman of the Southern Crescent Technical College Board of Directors
- Pike County Champions – Dee and Eric McLeroy, Principals of McLeroy, Inc.,
- Spalding County Champions – Rep. Karen Mathiak, Georgia House of Representatives District 74; Chad Pruitt, Chief Executive Officer and Principal for the Griffin Regional College and Career Academy
- Upson County Champions – Hoppy Hopkins, former Chairman of the Southern Crescent Technical College Foundation; Taylor Smith, Economic Director for the City of Thomaston
- Corporate Champion – Chris Schier, Vice President for Technical Training Aids
- Donor Champion – Sam Allen, College Supporter
- Lifetime Champions – Tom Gardner, Harry Kierbow, and Elaine White, Dundee Community Association.
Dr. Irvin Clark congratulated each of the honorees during the presentation and stated,” Building strong students, strong careers, and strong communities is all about partnerships, and you are shining examples of partnerships. The College would not be as successful without your steadfast support, so tonight is all about honoring you and your commitment to the College, the foundation, and most importantly, our students.”
After the presentation of the honorees, Vic Davis, SCTC Student Government Association member and a student in the Criminal Justice and Forensic Science programs, expressed his thoughts on the impact of the champions for the students. He commented, “On behalf of all the students at the College, I want to express my gratitude to each of you and let you know that your support helps all of us to make our dreams come true.”
The honorees were guests of the sponsors during the Champions for Technical Education Awards Celebration. The corporate sponsors included Impact Office Interiors, the Event Sponsor; Henry County Development Authority and Nichols, Cauley and Associates, the Signature Sponsors; Coweta-Fayette EMC, Georgia Power, Jack Bowdoin, Piedmont Green Power, and Technical Training Aids, the Platinum Sponsors; Beacon Security, Benchmark, The Rotary Club of Griffin, and Smith and Sons Funeral Home, the Awards Sponsors; and Georgia Wealth Partners and Janice Moore, Research Expert Consultants, LLC, the Dessert Sponsors. The proceeds from the sponsorships will support the Opportunity Fund. This fund will allow the Foundation the ability to meet pressing needs as they arise, launch special initiatives, capitalize on new opportunities to strengthen academic programs, and provide student hardship assistance.
About the 2024 Champions for Technical Education:
Bob White, Butts County Champion
Bob White, Executive Director of the Industrial Development Authority of Butts County since 2018, previously served as the Executive Director of the Henry County Development Authority and Assistant Director of Economic Development for the Atlanta Gas Light Company. In 2012, he was named to Georgia Trend magazine 100 Most Influential Georgians.
Bob has long been a champion for technical education for Griffin Technical College and Southern Crescent Technical College and has been a strong advocate for technical education throughout his career by working closely with the College to recruit new industries to our service area and assist local companies in closing the skills gap in industry.
Kim Learnard, Fayette County Champion
An electrical engineer who began her career in the manufacturing sector, Kim Learnard installed robotic systems for General Motors for a decade before starting her own technical services company and providing technical training for the Georgia Department of Economic development.
As the former Vice President of Institutional Advancement at West Georgia Technical College, she forged the business and community connections that advance student success.
As the current Mayor of Peachtree City, Kim continues to support technical education and the business, government, and education partnerships that are the heart of a successful community.
Jack Smith, Fayette County Champion
A CPA with the firm of Nichols, Cauley, and Associates, Jack began his service to the College as a Board member of the Griffin Technical College Foundation Board and served as treasurer for many years under the leadership of Board Chairman Otis Blake. Jack was instrumental in helping plan and write the plan of merger between the Foundation Board and the Flint River Technical College Foundation Board as they came to be known as the Southern Crescent Technical College Foundation. In addition, he was primarily responsible for drafting the By-Laws the Foundation used after the merger and the policies and procedures. After Otis Blake’s untimely death, Jack became Chair of the Southern Crescent Technical College Foundation and was instrumental in the donation of the old fire station from the City of Griffin and the negotiation with Spalding County for the acquisition of SPLOST funds to acquire, remodel, convert, and furnish the old Wal-Mart building for the film program.
Josh Fenn, Henry County Champion
As the Executive Director of the Henry County Development Authority, Josh was named by Consultant Connect as a “North America’s Top 50 Economic Developers” for 2021. The Henry County Development Authority has been recognized by multiple trade publications for its overall work and individual projects including winning the Atlanta Business Chronicle’s Best in Real Estate Award 3 of the past 4 years for projects. The Development Authority partners with Southern Crescent Technical College which has two buildings at the Henry Center on a 25-acre campus and the Academy for Advanced Studies which serves dual enrolled students from Southern Crescent Technical College.
Josh and the Henry County Development Authority work with the College to drive workforce development, business growth, and a high quality of life for all citizens. With over 20 plus years in economic development experience in Georgia, Josh understands the value of technical education and has consistently been a champion.
Carlotta Harrell, Henry County Champion
As a true public servant, Chairwoman of the Henry County Board of Commissioners Carlotta Harrell, grew up in an environment where giving back to the community was a daily activity, and she has carried those values of service into her adult life. After a successful career in law enforcement for more than 20 years, she is the managing partner of the Harrell Group, a consulting firm that provides organizational change management assistance, strategy development, and operational improvement services to public and private entities.
She has been instrumental in moving Henry County forward by building key relationships with state and federal partners. Recognized for the third consecutive year by Engineering Georgia as one of the top 100 Influential Women in Georgia, Chairwoman Carlotta Harrell has used her influence to promote technical education in Henry County and is indeed a true champion.
Kenny Garland, Jasper County Champion
Kenny Garland, Superintendent of the Jasper County Charter School System, began his career in education as a classroom teacher. The 2024-2025 school year will be his eleventh year as the Superintendent.
In addition to his many duties as a superintendent, he is actively involved in his community and serves on the Executive Board of the Jasper County Chamber of Commerce, the Jasper County Board of Health, and Middle Georgia Regional Service Agency of Control.
As a champion for technical education, he believes in providing a pathway for student success beyond high school and has steadfastly promoted dual enrollment classes and career pathways for Jasper County students to Southern Crescent Technical College.
Kathy Oxford, Lamar County Champion
Executive Director of the Barnesville-Lamar County Industrial Development Authority, Kathy Oxford was previously a Senior International Trade Manager with the Georgia Department of Economic Development working with small to medium size companies across Georgia to help them expand their export sales.
She has been an active supporter of Southern Crescent Technical College as a past SCTC Foundation Board member and constantly promotes the trades and career pathways that will inspire students to lead productive lives here in our region. In addition, she serves as an advisory member of the Lamar County High School Career Pathways and has assisted in mock interviews and judging opportunities for Lamar County and Southern Crescent Technical College. For the past two years, Kathy has hosted the educators from Lamar County at the Industrial Development Authority office for the Educator Externship for the College.
Scott Swafford, Lamar County Champion
Scott Swafford, President and Chief Operating Officer for United Bank, has had a stellar career since 1992 in financial services. As a graduate of the American Bankers Association- National Commercial Lending School at the University of Oklahoma and the Georgia Bankers Association- Georgia Banking School at the University of Georgia, he has promoted technical education in his civic and professional life. Scott served on the Upson Downtown Development Authority where he partnered with the College to promote technical education as he recruited new business and industry to Thomaston.
He served on the Flint River Technical College Foundation Board and was key to the success of the merger of Flint River Technical College and Griffin Technical College. After the merger, Scott served as a Board member and Chair of the Southern Crescent Technical College Board of Directors.
Dee McLeRoy and Eric McLeRoy, Pike County Champions
With experience in environmental development, construction, Georgia soil and water conversation, OSHA 10 certification, and real estate, Dee and Eric McLeRoy, Principals for McLeRoy, Inc.,have been strong partners in Pike County and surrounding counties to promote and develop the skills trades not only for McLeRoy, Inc., but for the students who are interested in technical careers. Last year McLeRoy served as the business host for the high school educators from Pike County by introducing them to the careers that are available at McLeRoy and took them on site during the tour of McLeRoy and allowed the educators to interview various employees so that the teachers have a better understanding of the skills that students need for the workforce. Dee and Eric’s father, Johnny McLeRoy, the founder of McLeRoy, was a former high school teacher and skilled worker who as a builder embodied all the tenets of a visionary and skilled technician.
Rep. Karen Mathiak, Spalding County Champion
As a State House Representative since 2017, Rep. Karen Mathiak represents the 74th House District. Serving on the State Planning and Community Affairs Committee as Chairman, the Appropriations Committee as the Vice Chairman of the Subcommittee, the Health Committee as Secretary, and the Higher Education Committee, the Insurance Committee, and the Interstate Cooperation Committee, she serves her constituents in an exemplary manner. As an accomplished small businesswoman and a licensed Chiropractor in Griffin for over thirty years, she has become a pillar in the community and a champion for technical education. She is present at the College for most of the events when she is available, and during the last legislative session she voted to approve funds for the RAAME Center at the College which is the Robotics, Automation, Advanced Manufacturing, and Economic Development Center. This will be a cutting-edge facility designed to offer top-tier training features and academic programs, equipping students and enterprises to thrive while aligning seamlessly with industry workforce demands. Her leadership, tenacity, and good heart enable her to continue to be a champion for technical education.
Chad Pruitt, Champion for Spalding County
Chad Pruitt, the CEO and Principal of the Griffin Region College and Career Academy (GRCCA) which serves the counties of Butts, Pike, and Spalding, has spent most of his career in the Griffin-Spalding County School System with a specific focus on Career and Technical Education. He has also served numerous Career and Technical Education roles at the state and local level to include Gov. Deal’s High Demand Career Initiative and the Georgia College and Career Academy Network’s Liaison to the Georgia Association of Career and Technical Educators.
His goal is to provide access, a quality education and relevant workforce opportunities into high-demand career fields for the students he serves by streamlining secondary and postsecondary educational pathways directly into careers. He and his team established an Aviation Maintenance Program that is the first Federal Aviation Administration approved Aviation Maintenance Technician Program on a high school campus.
Hoppy Hopkins, Upson County Champion
As a graduate of the University of Georgia in landscape architecture, Hoppy Hopkins understands the importance of technical education. Having worked in construction for many years as the President of Reddick Construction, he was a charter member of the State of Georgia Board for Construction Licensing. He was a Leadership Georgia participant and served as the program chair, vice president, president, and board chairman for the organization. As the consummate community volunteer in Upson County, Hoppy spent his civic and professional life improving the quality of life in the county. He was a former Physician’s Recruiter for Upson Regional Medical Center. One of the organizations that he enjoyed serving as a member was the Flint River Technical College Foundation. He was instrumental in the successful merger of the Flint River Technical College Foundation and the Griffin Technical College Foundation and eventually served as the Chair of the Southern Crescent Technical College Foundation.
Taylor Smith, Upson County Champion
Taylor Smith, a native of Thomaston, has been serving as the Economic Development Director for his hometown since January of 2021. Before he was appointed to serve in this position, Taylor served with the Department of Planning and Urban Development in Monroe, Louisiana. In his current position, he directs the Main Street Program, Downtown Development Authority, Historic Preservation Commission, and all City of Thomaston events. In addition, he oversees national chain recruitment, neighborhood revitalization, and housing within the city. In all areas of his position, Taylor promotes technical training and Southern Crescent Technical College and is a willing participant at any function of the College. He is committed to serving the community that served him throughout his youth by helping individuals create meaningful career paths.
Chris Schier & Technical Training Aids, Corporate Champion
Technical Training Aids was founded in Birmingham, Alabama, in 1963 and serves the career and technical training needs of educators across the Southeast United States. The company is committed to the concept of hands-on training using the latest in educational technologies, and the products provide a complete industry-based learning experience, giving both instructors and students what they need to be successful in today’s classroom and later in the highly competitive workplace.
With over 13 years’ experience in highly skilled business development with extensive experience in technical equipment sales, Chris Schier has a history of successfully combining technical education training equipment with curriculum alignment, certification alignment, product vision, implementation, training, and support. At Southern Crescent Technical College, Chris did the layout and design and supplied two 53’ Manufacturing and Welding Mobile Training labs, along with many classroom trainers for multiple classrooms.
Sam Allen, Champion Donor
Sam Allen began his investment career after receiving an undergraduate degree from Vanderbilt University, serving in the U.S. Army Counter-Intelligence Corp and graduating with an MBA from the Harvard Business School. He has served on multiple corporate boards and continues to be involved in the Atlanta community through his service on nonprofit boards including over 20 years of service on the Investment committee of The Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta, a member of the Grady Ambassadors, as a founding member of the Atlanta Advisory Council of YearUp, on the Board of Directors of Annandale Village, and the Advisory Dean’s Council of the Andrew Young School of Policy Studies at Georgia State University. A graduate of Griffin High School, Sam was a high school classmate of former Southern Crescent Technical College Foundation Trustee, Bobby Chappell, who introduced Sam to Southern Crescent Technical College after one of their high school class reunions. Since that introduction to the College, Sam has been a steadfast financial supporter of the College through his generous donations and has helped many of our students to make their dreams come true.
Dundee Community Association
Tom Gardner, Chair of the Dundee Community Association, along with Dundee Community Association members Bob Scroggins, Harry Kierbow, and Elaine White, made a donation of $1 million to name the main building on the Griffin Campus the Dundee Education Technology Center and to use the funds to support the projects of the College. Members of the Association approved using some of the funds for the Dundee Community Association Technical Education Promise Program which is an opportunity for SCTC Adult Education/GED students and graduating seniors from Spalding County who meet the qualifications to have their unpaid tuition balances paid for up to two semesters and will ensure that SCTC remains a first choice for Spalding County students.
The Dundee Community Association was founded in the 1940’s by Dundee Mills to provide benefit to employees and the local community. Through the years, the Dundee Community Association provided scholarships and benevolence to Dundee Mills and Springs Industries employees and made significant annual contributions to many Spalding County charitable organizations. The Dundee Community Association has supported Southern Crescent Technical College for many years through donations to its educational programs, including the Adult Education Program.