The 2005 survey results show that more than half of Georgia manufacturers made changes in either products or services during the past two years resulting in increased capacity, quality products, and greater responsiveness to customers.  Eighteen percent of Georgia manufacturers were impacted by outsourcing, while twelve percent gained work through in-sourcing. Just over nineteen percent expressed worries about energy costs and conservation, an increase from fifteen percent in 2002. There was a dramatic rise in concerns of Georgia manufacturers about basic skills, with 26 percent noting this as a concern in 2005 compared with 11 percent in 2002. For more information about the survey and services offered by Georgia Tech’s staff please contact Jan Youtie, (404) 894-6111, e-mail: jan.youtie@edi.gatech.edu  or visit www.edtv.gatech.edu  or www.cherry.gatech.edu/survey.

(source: Innovation in Manufacturing: The 2005 Georgia Manufacturing Survey)

Billy Croker Makes Georgia Trend Magazines Most Influential List

Georgia Trend Magazine named it’s 100 Most Influential Georgians for 2006 and Northwest Georgia’s Billy Croker made the list. Mr. Croker, Chairman of the Polk County Board of Commissioners, is also chairman of the North Georgia Council of Chief Elected Officials (CCEO). He is president of the Association of County Commissioners of Georgia and serves on the Georgia Board of Community Affairs and the executive committee of the Coosa Valley Regional Development Center. Congratulations, Mr. Croker.

Incumbent Worker Program

Northwest Georgia has received confirmation from the Georgia Department of Labor State office allowing non-credit Incumbent Worker Healthcare Management/Supervisor Program training. Two schools have expressed interest in the program:

• ·Appalachian Technical College will be training 10-15 workers in a 60 hour non-credit program.
• ·North Metro Technical College will train 15 participants. The school anticipates having at least two sessions which involve 40 class hours per session.

Business Service Mapping Update

Since August of 2005, focus groups have met to discuss the status of business services in the Northwest Georgia area. As a result of the group meetings, three recommendations evolved: 1) improving the job order/job filling process to build on a strength recognized by the employer; 2) improving marketing/ increasing employer awareness of available services; and 3) enhancing the role of the Employer Committees to better market available services and to create a conduit for the exchange of information between the WIB and local employers.

The first steps towards accomplishing recommendation #3 was taken by the Workforce Investment Board and its Business Services Committee at the January meeting. They approved expanding membership on the Business Services Committee to include one member of each Employer Committee in the fifteen county area and the marketing representative from each career center.

Region 1 already has some well established and successful Employer Committees in operation such as the Cartersville Employer Committee and the North Georgia/Blue Ridge Employer Committee. At the Georgia Employer State Conference this past fall, both of these local committees received recognition. The Cartersville Employer Committee was selected as the “2005 Committee of the Year” and the North Georgia/Blue Ridge Committee received the second runner-up award. They were chosen from among 53 employer committees and Career Centers around the state.

Outstanding WIA Youth  Nominee

Derrick Fuller, Northwest GA’s nominee for the Georgia’s “Outstanding WIA Youth Registrant of the Year” award, received the Certificate for “Outstanding Youth Achievement” issued by the Georgia Workforce Investment Board.  With the help of Mary Taylor, Head of Custodial Services, and Drena Lanier, Special Education Teacher, both of the Gordon County School System, Derrick completed 2000 hours of apprenticeship training.

Dates to Remember

• DHR Transportation System—Region 1 Public Meeting to discuss how DHR consumers are served through transportation services, February 22, 2006, 6:00-8:00 p.m., Northwest Georgia Regional Hospital Pavilion, 1305 Redmond Circle, Rome, GA. For information contact Michele Nystrom, (706) 802-5389
• Northwest Georgia Workforce Investment Board Meeting, March 15, 2006 12:00 at B.J.’s Restaurant, Calhoun, GA. The Business Services Committee will meet at 10:00 prior to the WIB at the same location. For more information, (706) 295-6485
• International Council of Career Development 2006 Conference March 27, 2006, Washington, DC, For information or reservations call (301)984-6881 or visit the website at http://www.clarewood.org/01232006ICCDUpdate/ 
• Workkeys National Conference, May 3-5, 2006, Nashville, TN. For more information or to register visit http://www.act.org/workkeys/conf/index.html
• Career Scope Training, Kennesaw State University Project Ideas, Macon, GA, March 14-15, 2006, For information call (770)423-6369 or e-mail sbauersc@kennesaw.edu

New Georgia Workforce Investment Board Named

Governor Sonny Purdue has announced the appointment of new Georgia State Workforce Investment Board Members. Northwest Georgia members are:

Mr. Frank Barron, Rome, a retired officer and director of Coca-Cola Companies. He is president of Echota Realty and Shorter Realty and is a member of the Rome Rotary Club. He currently serves on the board of advisors for the Georgia Conservancy, the board of trustees for the Georgia Public Policy Foundation, and the board of directors for the Georgia Chamber of Commerce. Mr. Barron is a past member of the board of directors of Atlanta Gas and Light Resources, Inc. and the Georgia Council on Economic Education.

Ms. Bebe Heiskell, Chickamauga, Sole Commissioner of Walker County. She has served as vice chair of the Walker County Board of Health, a member of the board of directors of the Coosa Valley Regional Development Center, and a member of the state Board of Community Affairs.

One Stop Agencies Coordinate Services to Help OJT Participant

On-the-Job Training participant, Bruce Fairbanks, has faced far more trials in life than most of us will have to endure. Suffering a spinal injury in 1995 he became permanently disabled. Confined to a wheelchair and limited to only the use of his upper body, he was unable to financially support himself. He sought the services of Vocational Rehabilitation through the Georgia Department of Labor. Through their counseling and encouragement he enrolled in Dalton State College where he studied computers. He also teamed up with an agency called “Handicap Driving Services” where he became mobile again by overcoming his disability and learning to drive. Voc Rehab aided with the modification of his vehicle.

Then in 2004 his counselor introduced him to Alan Proctor, a WIA On-the-Job Training Job Developer. WIA addressed barriers such as mobility in and out of employers’ offices. Alan counseled Mr. Fairbanks on how to dress for success and improve his interview skills. He then assisted him in securing employment as a customer service/order clerk through the WIA program. The WIA OJT program offered the employer up to half of the wages paid during the training period. Mr. Fairbanks has successfully completed the training and has since been promoted to the position of expediter within the company.

He also now plays professional tennis in the Quad A Division and is ranked 4th in singles and 1st in doubles in the Southern Division. Mr. Fairbanks is currently looking for his own home so that he may become completely self-sufficient. He also attends monthly spinal cord injury support meetings. He states he is happy and enjoys his work very much and is most appreciative of all the help he has received. But it was also his own determination that proved to be key in his success.

To submit articles to the Career Depot, email Susan Gentry at
susang@cvrdc.org or mail submissions to CVRDC,
P.O. Box 1793, Rome, GA 30162-1793