The Chattahoochee Tech Foundation celebrated outstanding alumni and industry partners at the college’s sixth annual SPARK Workforce Awards ceremony, held Thursday, May 1, at the Marietta Campus.
Alex Crenshaw, Paulding Market President at First National Community Bank, received the 2025 SPARK Workforce Alumni of the Year award. Crenshaw, a 2013 graduate of Chattahoochee Tech’s Business Management program, was nominated by Vice President of Student Affairs Missy Cusack for his professional accomplishments and community impact.
LGE Community Credit Union was named Industry Partner of the Year, and Atlanta Gas Light was honored as Benefactor of the Year. Rodney Grizzle, Chief Lending Officer at LGE Community Credit Union and a member of the college’s Board of Trustees, accepted the Industry Partner award. LGE has contributed more than $40,000 to Chattahoochee Tech over the past eight years, including two annual scholarships, sponsorship of the Student Leadership Academy, and support for a new professional clothing closet to prepare students for job interviews and career events.
Tiffany Callaway Ferrell, Vice President of Operations for Atlanta Gas Light and Chattanooga Gas Company, accepted the Benefactor of the Year award. The company contributed $27,000 last year for Chattahoochee Tech, providing critical funding for scholarships and college operations. Kenny Horton, Director of Regional Operations for Atlanta Gas Light and a member of the college’s Board of Trustees, shared remarks emphasizing the company’s strong commitment to education.
Launched in 2019, the annual SPARK Workforce Awards honor individuals and organizations whose contributions drive student success and, in turn, support the development of a strong, local workforce. These awards also showcase the vital role that Chattahoochee Tech graduates play in addressing local workforce needs.
“I’m so proud of our graduates who were nominated for this year’s award,” said Chattahoochee Tech President Heather Pence. “They all represent exactly what our communities and local employers need – skilled, dedicated professionals who are ready to make a difference. I’m also deeply grateful to our generous supporters who help bridge the gap – sparking the drive that empowers our students to achieve success.”
Alumni award winner Alex Crenshaw was selected from a field of exceptional graduates, including top-two finalists Clareece Cunningham, an Interior Designer with Sunshine on a Ranney Day, and Jordan Shuler, Area Manager at North Georgia Staffing.
Alumni award nominees also included Sgt. Michael Couey of the Chattahoochee Tech Police Department; Welding Instructor Shelly Downs; Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant and Lab Instructor Elizabeth Knighton; Magdalena Ramirez, a Dental Assistant at Canton Smiles Dentistry & Orthodontics; Ashley Vild, an Interventional Radiologic Technologist at Northside Hospital Cherokee; Gordon Wallin, the Automation Tech Lead for Duluth Trading Company; and Alonah Watson, a Licensed Master Cosmetologist at Hiram Square Salon.
This year’s SPARK Workforce Awards event also featured a juried student art exhibit. Karina Loyd won first place, followed by Michael Moore in second place, Anthony Jasso Garcia in third place, and Sun Park with an honorable mention. More than 50 students submitted entries, with the event’s art juror Howard Franklin selecting 15 entries for the competition.
The Chattahoochee Tech Foundation is a 501(c)3 organization established to support the mission of Chattahoochee Technical College, its students, faculty, staff and programs.
