ATC Nominates Local Companies for Manufacturer’s of the Year Award

Each year Altamaha Technical College nominates companies for Manufacturer of the Year award in the categories of small (up to 150 employees), medium (151 to 750 employees), and large (751 and up).  ATC’s nominees for 2007 were Absorption Corp. in Jesup (small), American Welding & Tank of Jesup (small), Harris Waste Management of Baxley (small), and Beasley Forest Products of Hazlehurst (medium). These companies competed with over 100 nominees across the state, and the winners in all three categories were named at the governor’s award luncheon held in Atlanta on April 12th.  None of ATC’s nominees won the top award, however they will all receive plaques in honor of their nominations.

The week following up to the governor’s award luncheon was Manufacturers Appreciation Week. During that week, speakers from local industry visited ATC and spoke to students, faculty, and staff.  They discussed their company, what they do, what they look for in employees, and the demands they are facing now and will be in the next 10 years.

George Elkins, a representative from the nominee Harris Waste Management Company, in Baxley, was the first to speak. The company manufactures balers for recycling cardboard boxes, scrap metal, plastic products, and household garbage for reducing volume in landfills. Elkins talked about key factors that he looks at when considering a job applicant.  He stressed that work ethics, as well as the specific work skills for jobs such as welding, electrical maintenance, and hydraulics, are the most important features of a prospective employee.
 
On Tuesday, John Swingle from another nominated company, Absorption Corp. in Jesup, spoke about his company and what they do.  Absorption Corp. manufactures litter for small pet cages, and produce the litter from off-spec cellulose and paper products that is chopped-up, cleaned, disinfected, dyed, and packaged for store sales.  In talking about employment, Swingle said he looks for people that exhibited a will to work, has aptitude for learning, and employ good mechanical and electrical skills.
 
On the final day of speakers, Mitch Crosby from Plant Hatch in Baxley came to talk about the nuclear plant and its plans for the future.  He spoke about how the growth of the local economy is forcing the plant to expand and grow in order to maintain the amount of electricity required.  Crosby also talked about Plant Hatch’s current work force and said that due to their employees coming up on retirement age they will be looking to replace between 50-80% of their workers in a 5-10 year period.