Tri-County Departments Merge to Meet Training, Education
Needs of Manufacturing Companies, Service Industries

CONTACT: JOHN BENSON, EXT. 2275

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 2/21/2002
(By Lisa Garrett)

PENDLETON --- Tri-County Technical College is combining two of its departments to enhance its ability to meet the training and education needs of local manufacturing companies, service industries and individuals seeking to upgrade their professional skills.

The Business and Industry Training Department will merge into the World Class Training Center. The instructors and support staff of the department will become the staff of the World Class Training Center.

For years the Business and Industry Training Department's five full-time instructors have conducted customized, in-plant, round-the-clock training on a wide assortment of topics including teambuilding, supervisory development, quality, safety, electrical, pneumatics, hydraulics and related interpersonal and technical skills.

The College's World Class Training Center, established in March of 1990, has provided the additional training resources that companies need to survive and to stay in business in today's fiercely competitive global economy. Many local manufacturing and service companies have joined the World Class Training Center. In return for a membership fee, the participating companies receive discounts on training services, have exclusive use of an extensive collection of training resource/materials, are awarded a seat on the board of directors and routinely make direct input into curriculum development. The membership fees allow the College to purchase training resources and to certify instructors in the most up-to-date training technology or latest trends in the manufacturing and service industries.

"We will combine the strengths of both departments and focus our efforts on helping companies to achieve or exceed their performance goals," said John Benson, director of the World Class Training Center. "Our instructors have the expertise to assess a company's training needs and the hands-on experience in manufacturing to develop a comprehensive training program customized to meet those needs," said Benson, who has led the Business and Industry Training department for five years.

"This organizational change will improve our ability to offer relevant, effective and affordable training to companies in our area and to individuals seeking occupational advancement," said Benson.

For more information, e-mail John Benson at jbenson@tctc.edu or call him at Ext. 2275 at one of these numbers: Anderson County, 225-2250; Oconee County -- 882-4412; Pickens County -- 859-7033; or Clemson/Anderson/Pendleton -- 646-8361. Persons who are deaf, hard of hearing or speech disabled should call TDD/VOICE 1-800-735-2905.
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