AMERICUS — South Georgia Technical College (SGTC) Acting President Janice Davis met with representatives from six Caterpillar Dealers from across the Southeastern United States, during the “ThinkBIG” Heavy Equipment Dealers Service Technology Advisory Committee meeting at South Georgia Technical College recently. The group held the meeting in the Heavy Equipment Dealer’s Service Technology building designed for the purpose of conducting training opportunities benefiting the Caterpillar dealers.
The purpose of the conglomerate meeting was to discuss student learning outcomes, admission requirements, competency tests and instructional materials, industry specific equipment, program purpose and goals, program of work, donations, AED accreditation, and additional items as well as financial and equipment loans. Chairman Chip Handley, Ring Power Corporation Heavy Equipment Training Manager Vice President, presided over the meeting.
The Heavy Equipment Dealer’s Service Technology Program is a unique program in which students are sponsored by a participating dealer to attend SGTC in eight-week increments of college training and on the job training. Upon graduation, students receive an associate of technology degree and are eligible to obtain full employment with their sponsoring Caterpillar dealer.
Dealers participating in the meeting included: Duane Gabehart, Stowers Machinery of Knoxville, Tenn.; Jim Larson, Yancey Brothers of Austell, Ga.; Chip Handley and Teri Brown of Ring Power in St. Augustine, Fla.; Teresa Odom of Puckett Machinery in Flowood, Miss.; Scott Suttle of Thompson Tractor in Birmingham, Ala. Philip Welch of Thompson Machinery Corp in LaVergne, Tenn., was unable to attend.
SGTC staff present, in addition to Davis, included Raymond Holt, SGTC Academic Dean; Rick Davis, SGTC instructor/internship manager of the Heavy Equipment Diesel Service Technology Program; Kyle Hartsfield, SGTC HEDST instructor; and Su Ann Bird, SGTC vice president of Institutional Advancement.