South Georgia Tech recognizes employees with over 300 years of service to students

December 11, 2019
SGTC President Dr. John Watford is shown above (back row, far right) with the SGTC employees who were reaching a milestone with the college this year. The employees shown are: Jeff Wiseman, Don Smith, Karen Werling, Terri Smith, Tami Blount, Mark Brooks, Michele McGowan, Melissa Grantham, Chris Ballauer, and Dr. David Finley. SGTC Human Resource Director Sandy Larson is also shown with the group. Not shown are: Matthew Burks, Bob Cook, Audra Ekkel, Tonya Visage, Kevin Beaver, Victoria Herron, Katrice Taylor, Sammy Stone, Mike Enfinger, Randy Greene, and Dr. Deborah Jones.
SGTC President Dr. John Watford is shown above (back row, far right) with the SGTC employees who were reaching a milestone with the college this year. The employees shown are: Jeff Wiseman, Don Smith, Karen Werling, Terri Smith, Tami Blount, Mark Brooks, Michele McGowan, Melissa Grantham, Chris Ballauer, and Dr. David Finley. SGTC Human Resource Director Sandy Larson is also shown with the group. Not shown are: Matthew Burks, Bob Cook, Audra Ekkel, Tonya Visage, Kevin Beaver, Victoria Herron, Katrice Taylor, Sammy Stone, Mike Enfinger, Randy Greene, and Dr. Deborah Jones.

    South Georgia Technical College recognized 21 full-time employees from both the Americus and the Crisp County Center campuses who celebrated five, 10, 15, 20, 25, and 30 or more years with the college recently. Those 21 employees have given over 300 years of faithful service to the students attending South Georgia Technical College.

    “It is my honor to recognize the outstanding administrators, faculty and staff who are celebrating an important milestone at South Georgia Technical College,” said South Georgia Technical College President Dr. John Watford.  “Our greatest asset is our people.  Each of the individuals being honored today as well as each and every employee at South Georgia Technical College are valuable because of what they do each and every day.  You bring value by providing our students the assistance they need to cross the stage to receive a degree or diploma with the credentials that allow them to start a career.  Your actions are impacting not only today’s students, but also those who come in contact with our students for generations to come.  We are extremely fortunate to have individuals that believe in technical education enough to dedicate their careers to training the workforce of today and tomorrow.”

    Each employee who celebrated 10 years of service with the college this year were presented with a 2” X 2” marble paperweight with the college’s name and years of service engraved into the marble.  The individuals with 20 years or 30 years received a larger marble paperweight with the college’s name and 20 or 30 years of service.  Each employee also received a certificate for five, 10, 15, 20, and 30 years of service, if applicable.

   Mark Brooks, Director of Administrative Services, was the employee with the longest years of service.  He has completed 32 years at South Georgia Technical College. Three individuals celebrated their 25th anniversary at South Georgia Tech this year.  Maintenance and Facilities Director Jeff Wiseman, Computer Information Technology Instructor Randy Greene, and Assistant Vice President for Student Navigation were each singled out for 25 years of service.

   Four employers were recognized for their 20th anniversary at the college.  Those four individuals were:  Crisp County Center Instructor Mike Enfinger, Academic Dean David Finley, Business and Industry Director for the Crisp County Center Michelle McGowan, and Special Assistant to the President Don Smith.

    Fifteen year certificates were presented to Economic Development Assistant Tami Blount, Campus Safety Director Sammy Stone, and Vice President of Operations Karen Werling.  Ten year plaques and certificated were awarded to High Performance Engines and Motorsports Instructor Kevin Beaver, Aviation Maintenance Instructor Victoria Herron, Student Affairs Assistant Terry Smith, and Crisp County Center Student Affairs Admissions Coordinator Katrice Taylor.

   Six employees were recognized for their 5th year anniversary and those were: Jets assistant basketball coach Chris Ballauer, John Deere Technology Instructor Matthew Burks, Commercial Truck Driving Instructor Bob Cook, Registrar Assistant Audra Ekkel, Law Enforcement Academy Administrative Assistant Melissa Grantham, and Adult Education Instructor Tonya Visage.

     “Thank you for choosing to be South Georgia Technical College employees,” said Dr. John Watford as he presented the individuals with their service awards.  “Each of you are critical to the success of the college and when you add the type of longevity that we see here today, that just increases your value.  It is very appropriate that we call this the faithful service awards.”