Shown here is the Lunch-and-Learn panel, which consisted of Stephanie O’Donoghue, Dayne Hickey, Gordon Wallin, and Elizabeth Johnson.

Chattahoochee Tech Welcomes Local Industry Representatives and High School Students for Manufacturers Appreciation Week Event

Chattahoochee Technical College hosted high school students and industry representatives from Bartow County for an event celebrating Manufacturers Appreciation Week on Friday, April 29, at the college’s North Metro Campus.

Nearly 100 students from Adairsville, Cass, Cartersville and Woodland high schools and the Bartow County College and Career Academy (BCCCA) gathered with representatives from over a dozen local industries for this event. They toured the college’s Center for Advanced Manufacturing and learned about the innovative technologies available for the programs of study taught in this new facility. The Chattahoochee Tech 20,001-square-foot Center for Advanced Manufacturing houses the college’s Precision Machining and Manufacturing program as well as the Industrial Maintenance and Electrical Technology program.

“Many of the students and companies had never been on our campus, so it was a pleasant surprise for them to see what Chattahoochee Tech has to offer,” said Chattahoochee Tech Dean of Economic Development Shane Evans.

Following the campus tour, a lunch-and-learn panel discussion highlighted the well-paying career opportunities available locally in advanced manufacturing industries. This panel featured Dayne Hickey, of Textron GSE, Gordon Wallin, of Nippon Light Metal, and Elizabeth Johnson, a Chattahoochee Tech student who is working at voestalpine Automotive. Stephanie O’Donoghue, the lead instructor for the college’s Electrical & Computer Engineering Technology program, moderated the panel discussion.

The 2022 Manufacturers Appreciation Week was a coordinated effort involving the Cartersville-Bartow County Chamber of Commerce with support from the Cartersville-Bartow County Department of Economic Development and North Georgia Staffing. Manufacturing industries in Bartow County directly employ over 29 percent of Bartow County’s work force, according to the Chamber, with a total annual payroll of over $744,305,792.

Industries participating in the 2022 Manufacturers Appreciation Week event at Chattahoochee Tech included Anheuser-Busch, Aquafil, Beauflor, Constellium, Georgia Power, IC Biomedical, Nippon Light Metal, Sakai America, Shaw Industries, Textron GSE, TI Fluid Systems, Toyo Tires, Vista Metals Georgia, voestalpine, Wellmade Flooring, Yanmar, and Zep.

Chattahoochee Tech Precision Machining and Manufacturing Instructor Wayne Plos is shown here talking with local high school students about the Computer Numeric Control (CNC) machines used for instruction at the college.
Chattahoochee Tech Precision Machining and Manufacturing Instructor Wayne Plos, shown here on the right, talked with local high school students about the Computer Numeric Control (CNC) machines used for instruction in the college’s Center for Advanced Manufacturing.
Chattahoochee Tech Electrical & Computer Engineering Technology Instructor Andrew Kazemian is shown here talking with local high school students touring the college's Center for Advanced Manufacturing.
Chattahoochee Tech Electrical & Computer Engineering Technology Instructor Andrew Kazemian is shown here on the left talking with local high school students touring the college’s Center for Advanced Manufacturing.
Jason Tanner leading a group of high school students on a tour of the North Metro Campus
Chattahoochee Tech Executive Vice President for Instruction Jason Tanner leads a group of high school students on a tour of the North Metro Campus for Manufacturers Appreciation Week.
shown here listening to a presentation from Chattahoochee Tech Commercial Truck Driving Instructor Katina Barbee.
High School students who toured the North Metro Campus for Manufacturers Appreciation Week are shown here listening to a presentation from Chattahoochee Tech Commercial Truck Driving Instructor Katina Barbee.
High school students and local industry representatives attended a lunch-and-learn at the North Metro Campus.
The Manufacturers Appreciation Week event at Chattahoochee Tech featured a Lunch-and-Learn session for high school students and local industry representatives at the North Metro Campus.
The Manufacturer Appreciation Week Lunch-and-Learn panel at Chattahoochee Tech consisted of, l-r, Stephanie O'Donoghue, Dayne Hickey, Gordon Wallin, and Elizabeth Johnson.
The Manufacturer Appreciation Week Lunch-and-Learn panel at Chattahoochee Tech consisted of, l-r, Stephanie O’Donoghue, Dayne Hickey, Gordon Wallin, and Elizabeth Johnson.