Wiregrass Work Ready Region

1. Wiregrass Work Ready Region Presenter: Tony Powell, WWRR Regional Project Manager East Central Technical College

2. Geography

3. What are the highlights of your Region’s geography, and how does it support your WRR project? • Centrally located between 4 interstate highways • I-75, I-95, I-16, & I-20 • Lies within close proximity of Georgia’s growing seaports which connects with 206 foreign destinations • Land is affordable and industrial parks offer site-ready opportunities with utilities, roads, & initial permitting complete

4. Economic Statistics

5. What are three of the most interesting economic statistics on your WRR strategic industry? • Average unemployment rate in six counties exceeding 13.5%; seventh county is 8.7% • Statistics show a steady decline in manufacturing labor force; will continue to decline due to closure of Pilgrim’s Pride facility in Coffee County • High school graduation rates remain well under state average

6. Workforce Development Statistics

7. What are the three most interesting workforce development statistics provided in the C2ER regional workforce information? • While leadership team has reviewed the C2ER workforce data, we have not been afforded the opportunity to study this material in depth due to other commitments along with Core, Home, & Industry Network Team meetings. • Commuting patterns for good jobs has been accepted as ok element in work climate for Wiregrass residents. • Will be developing a plan to engage Wiregrass Leadership and Industry Network Team by utilizing Mark White & Andrew Brower as co-facilitators for future Industry Network meeting

8. Project Leadership Team

9. Who are the members of your project leadership team, what are their backgrounds, and why were they selected? • Tony Powell, WWRR Project Manager • Retired, Delphi Automotive/GM • Industry experience • Brandy Wilkes, WWRR Project Coordinator • VP of Economic Development, ECTC • GWR, ECTC Economic Development Division • JoAnne Lewis, WWRR Business & Industry Representative • President, Douglas-Coffee County Chamber of Commerce • Well-established relationships • Cheerleader, go-getter • Christy Cobb • Director of Economic Development, ECTC • Georgia Work Ready Program Administrator

10. Core & Home Team Agencies

11. What agencies are represented in your core team? • Andy Brannen, Okefenokee Technical College • Rebecca Burnett, Jeff Davis Chamber of Commerce • Starling Bussey, Department of Labor (Tifton Career Center) • Keith Carter, Jeff Davis Development Authority • Cindy Eblin, Southeast Georgia Regional Development Center • Nell Ford, Atkinson County Commission • Hank Hobbs, Altamaha Technical College • Judy Hesters, Okefenokee Technical College • Kay Cornell, Wilcox County High School • Philip Jay, Ben Hill County Commission • Roberta Lovett, Southeast Georgia Regional Development Center • Carla Parks, Wilcox County Family Connections • Maxine Peebles, Wilcox County High School • Cherry Rewis, Alma-Bacon County Development Authority • Mayor Lamar Royal, City of Ocilla • Sammy Sweat, Retired - Georgia Forestry Commission • Reba Van Meter, Workforce Investment Board

12. What agencies are represented in your home team? • Dr. Virginia Carson, South Georgia College • John Flythe, Fitzgerald-Ben Hill County Economic Development Authority • Becky Gay, Fitzgerald-Ben Hill County Communities in Schools • Nathan Gibbs, Wilcox County High School • Betsy Giddens, Fitzgerald-Ben Hill County Chamber of Commerce • E.J. Harris, East Central Technical College • Christy Norris, Jeff Davis High School • Frank Jackson, Coffee County Commission • Terrell Jacobs, City of Douglas • Cam Jordan, City of Fitzgerald • TBD, Ben Hill County Board of Education • Hazel McCranie, Ocilla-Irwin County Chamber of Commerce • Carl McDonald, South Georgia College • Tracy Mizell, Atkinson County Board of Education • Curt Nicholls, Wilcox County Chamber of Commerce • Michelle Shaw, Georgia Department of Economic Development • Betty Sue Stripling, Irwin County Board of Education • Lisa Tomberlin, East Central Technical College • Al Walker, Department of Labor (Douglas Career Center) • Joey Whitley, Irwin County Commission • Steve Wilmouth, Coffee County Board of Education • Steve Smith, Wilcox County Board of Education

13. Greatest Challenge

14. What is your greatest challenge at this time? • Establishing boundaries between WRR and CWRC entities • ACWRC grant applications

15. Best Practices

16. What are your best practices you would like to share? • Leadership Team’s ability to successfully engage community, educational, and industry leaders • Wiregrass Work Ready e-newsletter • Wikispaces page • www.wikispaces.com • Core & Home Team members already added & members utilizing content • Industry Network Team members to be added next week • Assessments offered once a week on each campus • Assessment schedule set through December 09 & posted on ECTC and GWR websites • Training Needs Survey conducted with all 3 teams; working to get survey online • Outreach materials • Links, signage, GAP training, guest speaker opportunities • Bob Dixon &/or Amy Harrelson attended Kick-Off Meetings for all three teams

17. Meeting Work Ready Community Goals

18. Do you see any challenges in meeting the WRC goals (both certificate & high school graduation rate)? • No foreseen challenges in meeting goals provided we ensure all regional communities remain engaged in order to achieve metrics within established timelines