Veteran's Day
Lisa Szymanski, Veteran's Coordinator, serves cake during A-B Tech's Veteran's Day remembrance Nov. 11 in the Coman Student Activity Center. The event provide a time to recognize the sacrifices and contributions made by our veterans, past and present, on behalf of our nation.
Oil Furnace Donation
A-B Tech's Air Conditioning, Heating and Refrigeration Technology Program received a ThermoPride Oil Furnace from the North Carolina Petroleum Marketers Association. The two-burner furnace will be used for lab and class work. "It's about as fuel efficient as you want an oil furnace to be," said Vernon Daugherty, dean of Engineering and Applied Technology. The furnace was manufactured in Denton. The North Carolina Petroleum Marketers Association is a trade organization comprised of wholesale/retail petroleum marketers and convenience stores/service stations throughout North Carolina, to promote the welfare and protect the interest of those engaged in marketing and distribution of petroleum products in North Carolina.
Students Conduct Training On Microsoft Producer For Educators
Technical Support Functions student Kaleb Marske, project manager for the training, leads a session on Microsoft Producer for A-B Tech employees and Buncombe County School teachers.
Students enrolled in Jacqueline Larsen's CIS 170, Technical Support Functions, had an opportunity to switch roles and become the teachers during a Nov. 15 Microsoft Producer Training session.
Attendees included teachers from Buncombe County schools and members of A-B Tech's faculty and staff. The training session represented 20 percent of each student's final grade in the class.
Pam Silvers, chair of Business Computer Technologies, did a presentation on using Microsoft Producer, software that allows users to synchronize personal video and audio with PowerPoint presentations, at the Curriculum Expo in June 2004.
"The instructors attending the Expo were so excited about the possibilities they went back to their schools and told others about it," Silvers said. "As a result, I got a telephone call from Leland Blankenship (director of Career Technical Education of Buncombe County Schools) asking if I would do a MS Producer workshop for the teachers or if I could suggest someone."
In the meantime, Larsen wanted a "real life" training experience for her students. The opportunity presented itself for the students to plan and complete the training. They did a session in fall 2004 for the Buncombe County School teachers and this fall Larsen wanted to offer a similar opportunity to her students. However, because of timing, only a few of the teachers in the Buncombe County School system could attend so it was opened it up to employees at A-B Tech.
"There are nine students in this fall's CIS 170 Tech Support class and the training event will be graded. It's part of their requirements to complete this course," said Larsen. "Students actually learn the technology and teach it."
It's a project handled entirely by the students. One of the students is a project manager who manages the project and delegates tasks. Larsen has minimal involvement, just some oversight. "It truly is a real-world experience for the students, most of whom will go on to obtain jobs in information technology in Western North Carolina. Throughout their careers, they will undoubtedly be required to train end users of technology in various hardware and software packages. So, it's a win-win for the students, A-B Tech and Buncombe County teachers," Larsen said.
Yelton Attends Incubation Workshop In Shanghai
A-B Tech's Small Business Center Director Russ Yelton recently returned from a weeklong trip to Shanghai, China, where he attended the International Training Workshop on Promoting Local Economy through Business Incubation sponsored by the Shanghai International Business Incubator.
"China's economy is one of the fastest-growing markets in the world," said Yelton. "It's critical for us to open up the markets to medium and small businesses here and create economic opportunity for their products."
The workshop's aim was to promote worldwide cooperation and to strengthen international ties between China and other countries. "We are in the process of creating memorandums of understanding with economic groups ranging from New Zealand to China and South Africa," said Yelton. "The more markets there are for businesses to sell to, the more jobs we will be able to create."
Workshop activities included roundtable discussions and case studies to allow members to interact and share their knowledge and experience. Yelton presented material about A-B Tech's Small Business Center and Incubator. "There were many presentations on individual incubators, including Finland, Iran and ours. The attendees asked many questions and there was lots of very positive feedback on our program," he said.
Yelton was also asked to do a presentation on venture capital that was well received. "I have one incubator in Shanghai very interested in working with us and have now been approached by incubators in Nigeria, South Africa and Iran. Actually, I now have a formal invitation to visit Tehran somewhere in the future," he said. "It's quite remarkable what people all around the world are doing. We seem to be right on target with our program, but I did get some good ideas."
Workshop participants were able to see first hand different incubation models in Shanghai, visit Fudan University and tour Shanghai's Pudong area, including the Orient Pearl Tower.
Here are excerpts from Yelton's travel journal while in Shanghai.
Sunday
Finally arrived here. Left from Asheville to Detroit, from Detroit, flew over Canada and Alaska to arrive in Tokyo. From Tokyo, flew past South and North Korea to Shanghai. Total travel time: 24.5 hours and 7,752 miles!
While I arrived, my luggage did not! So, yesterday I had to find a suit and clothing. $37.50 for the suit, $15.00 shirt and $2.50 for a handmade silk tie from Korea. Shopping here is quite different from the U.S. My experience in the market place, priceless!
I am about to leave this morning with the group for our first formal meeting. Have already had one incubator approach me about working with them and hope to have more talks with them later in the week. The city is somewhat polluted, but I hope other parts will be better when I see them.
Monday
Well, it is Tuesday morning here. Yesterday was quite impressive. We had breakfast at the hotel and then headed off for the first incubator of the day. It was at least 55 stories tall and quite nice! We were taken into a room that resembled something from the United Nations! Sliding leather chairs, top-notch wood desks and everything electronic so that when you wished to speak you hit a button and took control of the speaking system for the room.
There were people everywhere with video and regular cameras. The chairman of the group began speaking in Chinese and would pause for the interpreter to speak then in English.
Tuesday
What a day! I started off with a breakfast of two eggs, bread and a bowl of pork porridge. Actually is better than it sounds! Finished off with fresh fruit. They eat fruit with every meal!
After that, headed to an incubator for a presentation on the history of the Chinese culture. Very interesting and very animated. We then had a fun time learning some Chinese and were each given our own Chinese name! While I cannot write it in English, I did learn how to say it in Chinese and even write it in Chinese! In our terms it means "General" - a great honor.
We then were taken out to a very special restaurant for a formal meal. While the rice and fruit were good, the fish heads and chicken feet left one wishing for a bucket of KFC chicken.
I am told my luggage will arrive on Thursday so I hope everyone at the conference loves my one suit I now own!