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Alumna Views College as Valuable Resource, Training Ground SENECA --- Each time Rhonda Deaton-Gibby hires a Tri-County Tech graduate, she recognizes the same high standards and work ethic her instructors stressed fourteen years ago when she was a student in the Office Systems Technology curriculum. "Tri-County graduates are well prepared, they have good reasoning skills, and an excellent work ethic," said Mrs. Gibby, human resource manager at The Kendall Company in Seneca. "They hit the floor running." That's exactly what Gibby, a 1985 West-Oak High School graduate, did. "Acquiring an education was my goal," she said. "At Tri-County I found a well-informed faculty and staff who gave me the tools and direction to achieve my goal." She began as a day student but switched to the evening curriculum when she got a job at a dentist's office. "I really fit into the evening program. I could work during the day and go to school from 6 - 10 four nights a week." After earning an associate degree in 1987, she soon realized she wanted more education. While working at Clemson University in an administrative position, she developed a love for personnel and came back to her alma mater with a renewed focus: human resources management. She attended university transfer classes on her lunch hour. "My work at Tech was a direct result of my getting a job at Clemson and later when I developed an interest in management, Tech opened doors for me and gave me an opportunity to pursue my education further through university transfer classes. I gained valuable contacts, and I stayed in touch with Tech faculty and staff. I look for Tech grads when I'm filling positions. I feel good placing these individuals because I know the curriculum, and I know they're qualified." After earning a B.S. degree in human resources at Southern Wesleyan University, she worked in human resources at Dempster in Toccoa, Georgia. "It was my first job in industry. I got out on the floor and learned more about the people. I really wanted to help people to realize their goals," she said. She checked into the human resource development master's program at Clemson and enrolled. She left Dempster two years later and began working as a consultant at Etcon in Gainesville, Georgia. She later opened a Seneca office and was a human resource partner with business and industry and established a client base in the area. "When I was at Etcon, I was referring graduates to clients, and many times visited the Office Systems Technology classes to talk to students about how to interview and sell oneself. I always asked myself how I could give back and help the program." It was then she got the call from Orian Rugs in Anderson. "I decided to take my 10 years of experience and nine years of education and see what I could do. It was my biggest challenge and a great opportunity," she said of accepting a job as the plant's human resources manager. "I was happy at Orian, and I had no intention of leaving," she said. But last February she received an offer from Kendall located in her home county. "I wanted to get back to Seneca, and I was traveling one hour one way to Orian. That travel time was no benefit to the company or to my family." At Orian she had the opportunity to hire graduates and currently serves on the advisory committees of both Office Systems Technology and the Textile Management Technology departments. She was instrumental in establishing the Orian Scholarship through the College's Foundation Office. "I found out about the industry-sponsored textile scholarships and knew Orian was generous and supported different causes," she said. She proposed a cost reduction project, and the money saved was used to establish a scholarship. The endowment was begun and currently pledges are made annually. She's doing the same at Kendall. An educational chair was already in place, and the company was active with the Enterprise Zone Act and safety training through continuing education. "We have a tuition reimbursement program and a Kendall Scholarship. We're looking at the possibility of a co-op in the mechanical areas. It's a way to prepare for future retirements. I foresee Tech as our partner with a training program," she said. "We have a true partnership with Tech. It has helped us to meet our training needs. We look forward to a continued partnership as we expand our program to cover basic skills, as well as specific technical areas. We are fortunate to have Tech as our resource." Gibby admits she's still very goal-oriented. "I stretch myself and try to do more. It's not about the title, but what I accomplish while I'm here. I always keep going back to my friend Tech. I've always found qualified people through Tech and the college meets the training needs of industry. The human resources field changes daily. Tech is willing to help me to meet those changes." |
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