Vulcan and Industry Partners Raise $66,561 for Heavy Equipment Operator Program Last fall Vulcan Materials Company spearheaded efforts to raise more than $66,000 to support the College’s Heavy Equipment Operator training program. Vulcan, in conjunction with 50 industry partners across the State, raised $66,561 at its second annual South Carolina Clay Shoot October 8 at the Clinton House Plantation. The 2019 Clay Shoot sponsors ($1500–$3500) included: Blanchard Machinery, Mellott Company, NORX, South Carolina Aggregates Association (SCAA), Dr. DeHay, front row, fourth from left, and Elliott Botzis, vice president and general manager for Vulcan Vulcan Materials, Blythe, JC Wilkie, Materials SC, front row, fifth from left, gathered with industry partners and College officials to celebrate LLC, King Asphalt, Lehigh Hanson, the $66,561 raised at Vulcan’s second annual South Carolina Clay Shoot. The funds will support the Heavy Sloan Construction, Nelson Brothers, Equipment Operator training program for the Corporate and Community Education (CCE) Division. LLC, Bridgestone, Herbert Anderson Pictured with them from left are (front row) Julia Lee, training coordinator, CCE Division; Jessica Palmer, Jr. Construction, Linder Industrial Carolinas Ready-Mix Concrete Association; Mary Corley, program manager, highway construction, CCE Division; Carol Landrum, manager of government and community relations, southeast division, Vulcan Machinery, Lindler’s Construction of Materials; and Beverly Estes, sales coordinator for Vulcan Materials; and (back row) Grayson Kelly, the SC, LLC, Macemore, Inc., McClam College’s vice president for Institutional Advancement and Business Relations; Henry Martin, vice president and & Associates, Metromont, Motion general manager for Thomas Concrete SC; Dan Cooper, the College’s chief of staff; Jesse McClam, McClam Industries and Thomas Concrete. and Associates, Mike Sanders, transportation program manager, CCE Division; Neal Barber, SC quality The 2019 Clay Shoot sponsors manager for LeHigh Hanson; and Dr. Rick Cothran, dean of the College’s CCE Division. ($500 - $1000) included: Concrete Supply Company, Contour Mining & Const., LLC, construction, commercial construction, mining, and transportation FLSmidth (Excel), Kerns Trucking, Inc., McCarthy Tire, Morgan companies in Anderson, Oconee, and Pickens counties. Corporation, Superior Cranes, Inc., Upland Wings, Archer United “The goal of the Heavy Equipment Operator program is to serve JV, Carolina Ready Mixed Concrete Assoc (CRMCA), CR Jackson, as a talent pipeline for the construction and mining industries Holder Padgett Littlejohn & Prickett, LLC, Satterfield Construction, that are facing the loss of a large population of skilled operators Southway Crane & Rigging, Applied Industrial Tech/Continental/ who are preparing to retire in the next several years,” said Mike Loctite, Austin Powder, Auto Lube Services, Crowe’s Corporate Sanders, transportation program manager for our Corporate and Promotions, JC Griffin Construction LLC, LA Barrier & Son, Paschal Community Education (CCE) Division. Associates, LLC, American Materials Company, Elite Trucking of SC, “Graduates of our program can begin to train for these jobs LLC, Jim Belt, Inc., NW White, Ray Walker Trucking Co., Inc., Rinker in all facets of the construction and mining industries. This is Materials, Rogers Group, SCAPA, Stutts & Williams and Vibra-Tech. the first step in a career pathway that, over time, can lead to a Prompted by a need to secure employees with a specific skill lucrative lifetime profession,” added Mike. set, Vulcan Materials organized the first clay shoot fundraiser “With just an eight-week training commitment, these in 2018 to raise money to purchase equipment for the Heavy individuals will be qualified for in-demand, entry-level jobs,” said Equipment Operator program. Dr. Rick Cothran, dean of the CCE Division. The inaugural event raised $47,000, and those proceeds were “There is not another Heavy Equipment Operator training used to match the College’s capital expense funds to obtain a program in the Upstate,” said Rick. “Tri-County’s program will give $235,705 grant from the Appalachian Regional Commission to individuals the basic skills so they can understand and learn to launch the training program. safely operate heavy equipment.” The national credential-based Heavy Equipment Operator For more information, contact Julia Lee at jlee42@tctc.edu or training is meeting the critical workforce needs in road 646-1707.
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