Americus, GA –Representatives from six Caterpillar Dealers from across the Southeastern United States and CAT Corporate representatives hosted a “ThinkBIG” Heavy Equipment Dealers Service Technology Advisory Committee meeting at South Georgia Technical College recently. The group held the meeting in the John M. Pope Industrial Technology building in the Griffin Bell Lecture Room for the purpose of conducting and talking about training opportunities benefiting the Caterpillar dealers.
The purpose of the conglomerate meeting was to discuss student learning outcomes, admission requirements, competency tests and instructional materials, industry specific equipment, program purpose and goals, program of work, donations, AED accreditation, and additional items as well as financial and equipment loans. Chairman Sonya Shearer of Thompson Tractor, presided over the Heavy Equipment Dealer’s Service Technology portion of the meeting and Kevin Human of Stowers Machinery, Chairman for the Electric Power Generation Advisory Committee, presided over that portion of the meeting.
The Heavy Equipment Dealer’s Service Technology Program is a unique program in which students are sponsored by a participating dealer to attend SGTC in eight-week increments of college training and on the job training. The Electric Power Generation program follows the same schedule with an emphasis on Electric Power Generation training. Upon graduation, students receive an Associate of Technology Degree and are eligible to obtain full employment with their sponsoring Caterpillar dealer.
Dealers participating in the meeting included: Sonya Sherer of Thompson Tractor in Birmingham, AL; Kevin Human, Taylor Stone, and John Bolden of Stowers Machinery of Knoxville, Tennessee; Will Ring, Brad Manis, and Chris Hickman of Yancey Brothers of Austell, GA; Charles Luckett, Deidre Whitton, and Bryce Stein of Puckett Machinery in Flowood, MS and Jason Nelson, and Dewayne Crooker of Blanchard Machinery in West Columbia, SC and Charles Matteson, David Capps, and Luther Mize of Carolina Cat in Charlotte, NC. Andre Jura of CAT Corporate logged in remotely.
South Georgia Technical College staff present included: SGTC Vice President of Institutional Advancement and SGTC Foundation Executive Director Su Ann Bird, , Academic Dean Brett Murray and Katrice Martin, SGTC Partnerships Coordinator Tami Blount, and SGTC Heavy Equipment Dealer Service Technology instructor Don Rountree and Rance Pross, Heavy Equipment Dealer Service Power Generation instructor Keith McCorkle.
SGTC is currently registering students for Summer and Fall Semester. Summer semester classes begin May 27 for an eight-week mini-mester and Fall Semester starts August 17. SGTC offers students the “Complete College Experience” with on-campus housing and nationally recognized academics, student activities, and intercollegiate athletics. Learn more at www.southgatech.edu. SGTC is still accepting students for summer and fall semester. Financial aid is available.
For more information on the SGTC – Caterpillar Think Big program visit the SGTC website, www.southgatech.edu or click on https://www.southgatech.edu/economic-development/partnerships/caterpillar/ to see a video and learn more.