(Pictured from L to R) Skye McNiel, Sean Kouplen, Glen Cosper, Jeanette Capshaw, John Manfred, Liz White, Jessica McAvoy, Darrell Weaver, Steve Ketchum, Chris Lange)
The Oklahoma Association for Technology Centers recognized top industry partners for training and employing thousands of Oklahoma workers through CareerTech technology center programs this week at the annual Partners for Progress awards ceremony.
Each technology center statewide selected a recipient who has displayed a commitment to advancing career technical education through utilization of CareerTech programs and through exemplary commitments to workforce excellence and education in their community.
State secretary for commerce, Sean Kouplen, who was on hand to congratulate award recipients said, “Partners for Progress represents a powerful alliance between CareerTech and employers to train Oklahomans and put them to work in quality jobs. Last year alone, almost 7,000 organizations took advantage of CareerTech training resulting in more than 350,000 enrollments statewide. That is a powerful step toward building a top ten state with skilled workers.
“We have the top CareerTech system in the country and not enough people know that. We need to do a better job telling the world about it,” said Kouplen.
Skye McNiel, executive director of the Oklahoma Association for Career and Technology Education, which administers the program said, “Partners for progress symbolize the potential all Oklahoma employers can tap into when working closely with CareerTech to grow their workforce, upskill their workforce or utilize CareerTech programs and resources to meet their organizational goals.”
Award recipients for each tech center were as follows:
Autry Technology Center/Vance Air Force Base
Caddo Kiowa Technology Center/Apache Tribe Vocational Rehabilitation Program
Canadian Valley/Signature Quarters
Central Tech/MHC Kenworth Eastern Oklahoma County/Central Staffing Solutions
Francis Tuttle/7725 Connect
Gordon Cooper/Canadian Valley Electric Cooperative
Great Plains Technology Center/Fort Sill
Green County Technology Center/Liberty Partners
High Plains Technology Center/J&R Transport
Indian Capital Technology Center/Firstar Bank
Kiamichi Technology Center/Eastern Oklahoma Medical Center
Meridian Technology Center/Kinnunen
Metro Technology Centers/The Education And Employment Ministry
Mid-america Technology Center/B&H Construction
Mid-del Technology Center/Bath Fitter
Moore Norman Technology Center/Norman Regional Health System
Northeast Technology Center/Pelco Structural
Northwest Technology Center/Woods County Law Enforcement
Pioneer Technology Center/AllianceHealth Ponca City
Pontotoc Tech Center/Lafarge Holcim
Red River Technology Center/Duncan Recycling And Refining (Dr2)
Southern Tech/DOT Foods
Southwest Tech Center/City Of Altus Utilities Department
Tri County/Livepet
Tulsa Tech/Melton Truck Lines Inc.
Wes Watkins Technology Center/CoreCivic’s Davis Correctional Facility
Western Technology Center/Haines Wrecker Service