Golden LEAF Awards $250,000 Grant to College for Welding Lab
From left are Max Queen, vice president of Continuing Education; Pat Freeman, NC Community College System Western Region economic developer; Mike McCarthy, Corporate and Economic Development executive director; and seated, Ken O' Connor, Focused Industrial and New and Expanding Industry Training director.
A-B Tech received a $250,000 grant from the Golden LEAF Foundation as part of a highly collaborative effort to retain more than 200 existing jobs and add 275 new manufacturing jobs in Buncombe County at the Volvo Construction Equipment plant.
The expansion to Volvo will bring welding, fabrication and machinist jobs to a plant that has primarily assembly jobs. "A-B Tech's efforts with local economic developers have created a win for Buncombe County in the successful location of a new product line at Volvo," said Max Queen, vice president of Continuing Education. "A-B Tech has been involved throughout the process of recruiting and negotiating with Volvo to locate their new production line at their Asheville facility."
Workers will be specifically trained for Volvo in welding at the College. An Advanced Assembly and Welding Simulation Model Training Lab at the College will provide training to workers. The training for the Volvo expansion will be available to the public.
"A-B Tech's success at acquiring a $250,000 grant though Golden LEAF will provide the College with the additional resources to upfit our welding shop with new high-tech tools specifically used for heavy equipment production," said Queen.
The lab will be segregated from manufacturing and dedicated to training activities. Funds will be used to purchase the training simulator and specialty metal working equipment needed to support worker training for the fabrication, machining and welding of parts to support the new equipment line that Volvo will be installing.
Equipment to be purchased includes MIG and TIG welders, torch, carbon cutting and SMAW rigs, welding hoods, grinders, test equipment, an industrial worktable, hydraulic tools, and other virtual factory components. The welding lab will be available for training programs at A-B Tech long beyond the Volvo expansion.
Ken O' Connor, Focused Industrial and New and Expanding Industry Training director, serves as the project director. Mike McCarthy, Corporate and Economic Development executive director, Pat Freeman, North Carolina Community College System Western Region economic developer, and Queen are also working on the project.
"A-B Tech is proud of its efforts in the Volvo project," said Queen. "The economic impact from 275 jobs, which pay a living wage in our community, will be felt throughout Western North Carolina."
Bailey Presented The Order of The Long Leaf Pine
President K. Ray Bailey receives the Order of the Long Leaf Pine from Buncombe County Commissioner David Gantt during the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce annual meeting.
A-B Tech President K. Ray Bailey was awarded The Order of the Long Leaf Pine from the Governor's Office of Citizen and Community Services during the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce annual meeting.
Rep. Bruce Goforth nominated Bailey for the award, which was presented by Buncombe County Commissioner David Gantt.
"The Order of the Long Leaf Pine is among the most prestigious awards presented by the Governor of North Carolina," said Gantt. "It is most often presented to those North Carolinians who have given extraordinary service to the state."
Other recipients of the Order of the Long Leaf Pine have included Dr. Billy Graham, Dean Smith, Maya Angelou, Michael Jordan and Dale Earnhardt.
"Who is a more deserving recipient of this honor than K. Ray Bailey? His focus on student success has led A-B Tech to be the best community college in our state, and his focus on economic development and workforce training has led A-B Tech to be a linchpin in the local economy," said Sharon Morrissey, vice president of Instructional Services.
"But his good work does not end on Victoria Road. As a servant-leader, Ray has played a significant role in the development of our community. He spends countless hours working on commissions and board, to the benefit of the people who live here. I know that the North Carolina Community College System has benefited from Ray's leadership. I know also that Asheville is a better place because of his contributions to this community," she said.
According to Dennis King, vice president of Student Services, the award recognizes Bailey's continuous and significant service to the community and the state.
"I have worked for six presidents on four campuses, and none has inspired confidence and managed an institution better than Ray," said King. "He makes employees want to do their best for the College because they want to do well for him."
"Through his commitment to education in our community, President Bailey has touched the lives of thousands of people," said Richard Mauney, vice president of Administrative Services. "He is a masterful leader who is admired and respected by people across this state."
Bailey serves on numerous boards in the community, including the Mission Hospitals board of directors and the Mountain Area Health Education Center, where he serves as chair. He had been a chair of the United Way of Asheville and Buncombe County's annual campaign, serves on the Daniel Boone Council for Boy Scouts of America and the Eblen Foundation board. He has volunteered by serving on boards with Bele Chere, the American Red Cross, Goodwill Industries and WNC Tomorrow.
"K. Ray Bailey's unselfish dedication to Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College, this community and the North Carolina Community College System for 40 years is duly acclaimed by the presentation of the Order of the Long Leaf Pine," said Anita Metcalf, vice president of College Relations. "He is, indeed, a true servant leader. We, at A-B Tech, are very proud to call him our President and friend."
"President Bailey has demonstrated a lifelong commitment to excellence through community service. Our College has earned its reputation for excellence and dedication to student success through his leadership," said Max Queen, vice president of Continuing Education. "Scores of students and citizens have benefited from his efforts throughout Asheville and Buncombe County. Our community is a better place as a result of the efforts of K. Ray Bailey."
Employees Recognized For Excellence in Public Service
Marty Rice, maintenance mechanic and safety technician, received a 2006 Asheville-Buncombe Excellence in Public Service Award during the 16th annual awards ceremony May 24 at A-B Tech's Enka campus.
The Greater Asheville Public Service Council presented awards in 12 categories ranging from Outstanding Executive Manager to Heroic Act.
Rice was named Outstanding Trades, Crafts and Service Maintenance Employee for his work as a maintenance mechanic and safety technician, including climbing on roofs when needed to maintain uninterrupted radio service between the College's switchboard and Security Department.
Other A-B Tech employees who were nominated and recognized during the awards breakfast were Dr. Toby Mapes, Biotechnology chair, for the Outstanding Manager category; Chef Sheila Tillman, Hospitality Education chair, for Outstanding Supervisor; and Ken O'Connor, Focused Industrial and New and Expanding Industry Training director, for Outstanding Community Service.
"The Excellence in Public Service Awards Program makes public the seldom known and often unrecognized accomplishments of our community's public servants," said Steering Committee Chair Anita Metcalf of A-B Tech. "These individuals represent all public service employees and should be proud of their contributions to the quality of services provided, and the health, well-being, and quality of life enjoyed by people in Asheville and Buncombe County."
Paramedic John Kosmeh of Buncombe County Emergency Medical Services received the Heroic Act Award for diving into a car to treat a woman whose vehicle crashed into a building on Merrimon Avenue in September, even as bricks, wood and metal fell around them.
Cook Supervisor Lula Buchanan won the Suzanne S. Turner Unsung Hero/Heroine Award for her devotion to the youth at the Buncombe Regional Juvenile Detention Center. Buchanan bakes what is sometimes the first real birthday cake the youth there have ever had and is such a good cook that the youngsters ask for her recipes to share with their mothers and grandmothers.
The Food Pantry Team of the Buncombe County Health Center won the overall award for serving a record number of individuals in 2005 6,769, of which nearly half were children. The cost per person served was only 80 cents. The pantry received nearly $124,000 worth of food at a cost of $5,400, leveraging every dollar of actual expense nearly 25 times over.
This occasion is the opportunity to recognize the positive accomplishments of public service employees who work in the federal, state, county, city, and municipals governments in Buncombe County.