East Mississippi Community College representatives were joined by politicians, educators and community leaders at the college’s Golden Triangle campus Wednesday afternoon to send out thanks to local industry.
“We want to say thank you to our local industrial partners and all those who support workforce,” said EMCC Vice President of Instruction Dr. Steve Vacik, during EMCC’s annual Industry Appreciation Luncheon. “In the state of this economy things could be even worse if not for the work you do.”
Mississippi Development Authority Executive Director Gray Swoope, keynote speaker for the event, encouraged Mississippians to start thinking outside the box, in terms of economic expansion.
“We are not immune to a global economic crisis,” said Swoope. “We need to make sure we’re taking care of what we’ve got, but when it comes to courting new industry you have got to be relentless.”
The event was organized by EMCC’s Workforce Training staff under the leadership of Dr. Raj Shaunak. Near the end of the luncheon Shaunak handed out awards to several businesses which the school believed to be deserving of special recognition.
“I don’t want anyone to feel slighted if they don’t get an award,” joked Shaunak. “But if everyone got an award then we’d be Communists or something, wouldn’t we?”
Industry awards
Awards for Best Practices — companies exhibiting outstanding examples of workforce training, quality management and business practices — were presented to American Eurocopter, Severstal, Weyerhaeuser and Southern Ionics.
Special recognition
Special recognition awards were handed out to Three Rivers Planning and Development and EMCC Vice President of Finance Debbie Gard. A final award, the Director’s Award, was given to 4-County Electric Power Association.
