Georgia Power supports South Georgia Tech Foundation and ELA program

Georgia Power Training Supervisor Gordy Morris and Georgia Power Methods and Training Specialist Michael Hardester, who is also a graduate of the South Georgia Technical College Electrical Lineworker Program, visited South Georgia Technical College recently to present the SGTC Foundation with a donation for the college’s Electrical Lineworker program. South Georgia Technical College Vice President of Economic Development Wally Summers and SGTC Foundation Executive Director and Vice President of Institutional Advancement Su Ann Bird accepted the donation on behalf of the college and foundation. “We would like to thank Georgia Power Company for this donation to the South Georgia Technical College Foundation,” said SGTC President Dr. John Watford. “This is a valuable partnership. Georgia Power’s support of the foundation and our college is very important. We appreciate what they have done and continue to do for the college, the faculty, staff, and most importantly, our students.” SGTC Vice President of Economic Development Wally Summers agreed with Dr. Watford and thanked Georgia Power for their assistance with the Electrical Lineworker Program, which helps train individuals for a career in this industry. “Georgia Power and other electric co-ops had a need for electrical lineworkers. Their workforce was aging and they needed a supply of individuals who had the skills, knowledge, and ability to work safely in difficult conditions,” said Summers, when he was talking about how the program initially began. “Together we made it happen by organizing an eight week class to help train and expose individuals to the types of skills needed for this career. Now over 300 graduates of this program are employed with power and utility companies across the southeastern United States.” Michael Hardester, formerly of Americus and now living in Madison, was in the third Electrical Lineworker Class at South Georgia Technical College. He received a Technical Certificate of Credit in June of 2006 and started working with Georgia Power in the Americus area on July 1, 2006 as an Unassigned Apprentice Lineman 1 (UAL-1). In less than 10 years, he progressed to become a Methods and Training Specialist for Georgia Power at the Klondike Training facility. “I was able to apply the skills learned from the Electrical Lineworker program at South Georgia Technical College to become a successful apprentice. I progressed through my apprenticeship program and made UAL-2 in Hawkinsville,” said Hardester. He continued to move up through the Georgia Power system by gaining on-the-job skills and additional training at Klondike. He went on to successfully graduate out of the apprenticeship program and become a lineman in Valdosta, Georgia. He later transferred to the Greensboro, Georgia, operating headquarters and moved his family from Americus to Madison, GA. In 2015, he progressed to the Lead lineman position where he was in charge of leading his own crew and guiding his work group to a safe and productive environment. On June 13, 2016, Hardester became a Methods and Training Specialist on the Strategy Team at Georgia Power Company. In this role, he collects, organizes and structures information and material into new training, policies, and procedures. This also includes balancing training products with understanding new OSHA standards and how they will impact new and current work practices and procedures. The donation to the SGTC Foundation by Georgia Power will help purchase training equipment to be utilized by the students enrolled in the SGTC Electrical Lineworker program. “The South Georgia Technical College Foundation appreciates the partnership that we have with Georgia Power Company,” said SGTC Foundation Executive Director Su Ann Bird. “Georgia Power’s donation is helping students have the equipment needed to train for careers of a life-time. This is a win-win situation for Georgia Power, the College and Foundation as well as the students who are interested in careers in the power industry.” The mission of the South Georgia Technical College Foundation Board of Trustees is to support the mission of the college; to promote the college within the designated counties in the service area and the state at large; to serve as advisors in the advancement of the college; and to plan and implement resource development activities. The Foundation accomplishes this mission by improving opportunities for more students to attend college through scholarships and other forms of financial assistance, procuring special equipment, Individuals or businesses who would like to make a tax-deductible contribution to the South Georgia Technical College Foundation may send donations to P.O. Box 6102, Americus, Georgia 31709 or contact SGTC Foundation Executive Director Su Ann Bird at 229.931.2110. For more information about the SGTC Electrical Lineworker program contact Tami Blount at tblount@southgatech.edu or 229-931-2040. South Georgia Technical College is currently accepting applications for over 200 different associate degree, diploma or technical certificate of credit opportunities. C-term classes in many of these programs start on Monday, March 13th, 2017.