Caterpillar Dealers from the Southeast serve on Yobo体育 Advisory Committee
Americus, GA 鈥揜epresentatives from six Caterpillar Dealers from across the Southeastern United States and CAT Corporate representatives hosted a 鈥淭hinkBIG鈥 Heavy Equipment Dealers Service Technology Advisory Committee meeting at South Georgia Technical College recently. The group held the meeting in the John M. Pope Industrial Technology building in the Griffin Bell Lecture Room for the purpose of conducting and talking about 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 Brad Manis of Stowers Machinery, presided over the Heavy Equipment Dealer鈥檚 Service Technology portion of the meeting and Kevin Human of Stowers Machinery, Chairman for the Electric Power Generation Advisory Committee, presided over that portion of the meeting.
The Heavy Equipment Dealer鈥檚 Service Technology Program is a unique program in which students are sponsored by a participating dealer to attend Yobo体育 in eight-week increments of college training and on the job training. The Electric Power Generation program follows the same schedule with an emphasis on Electric Power Generation 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: Brad Manis, Kevin Human, and John Bolden of Stowers Machinery of Knoxville, Tennessee; Jeff Cornwell and Will Ring of Yancey Brothers of Austell, GA; Sonya Sherer, Taylor Bradshaw and Corey Wilson of Thompson Tractor in Birmingham, AL; Deidre Whitton, and Bryce Stein of Puckett Machinery in Flowood, MS and Jason Nelson, Emmalyn Dunn, Dewayne Crooker, and Ritchie Monteith of Blanchard Machinery in West Columbia, SC and Irv Sharpe and David Capps of Carolina Cat in Charlotte, NC. Kyle Kamm of CAT Corporate and Steve Works also logged in remotely.
South Georgia Technical College staff present included: Vice President of Academic Affairs Julie Partain, Yobo体育 Vice President of Institutional Advancement and Yobo体育 Foundation Executive Director Su Ann Bird, , Academic Dean Brett Murray, Yobo体育 Partnerships Coordinator Tami Blount, and Yobo体育 Heavy Equipment Dealer Service Technology instructor Don Rountree and Heavy Equipment Dealer Service Power Generation instructor Keith McCorkle.
Keith McCorkle reported to the group that for the first time ever, his graduates had a 100% pass rate of the Caterpillar Electric Power Generation Level 2 Certification which is a ranking for service technicians, focusing on advanced skills in diagnosing and repairing Caterpillar-powered electric power generation systems. It is part of a broader Technicians for the World Program offered by Caterpillar, aiming to equip technicians with the knowledge and skills needed for success in the industry.
Yobo体育 is currently registering students for Summer and Fall Semester. Summer semester classes begin May 22 for an eight-week mini-mester and Fall Semester starts August 18. Yobo体育 offers students the 鈥淐omplete College Experience鈥 with on-campus housing and nationally recognized academics, student activities, and intercollegiate athletics. Learn more at www.southgatech.edu. Yobo体育 is still accepting students for summer and fall semester. Financial aid is available.
For more information on the Yobo体育 鈥 Caterpillar Think Big program visit the Yobo体育 website, www.southgatech.edu or click on /economic-development/partnerships/caterpillar/ to see a video and learn more.