SouthCorp Packaging USA was one of more than 100 organizations receiving awards at Georgia's 1998 Workforce Development Conference. SouthCorp earned a Gold Award for instituting a workforce program in 1998 and three Platinum Awards for departments which had an average score above the required eighth grade skill level in the areas of reading comprehension, language arts, and mathematics. SouthCorp Packaging USA, Inc. contracted with North Georgia Technical Institute in July 1998 to offer basic skills and GED instruction to employees on site. Classes began at the Toccoa plant with Nancy Carmack as the teacher at that facility. As an expanding industry in the manufacturing of plastics, SouthCorp plans to hire new employees at its Toccoa Plant. The company has made an enormous commitment to training its employees. Plant Manager John Brouwer explains, "The recent major capital investment at the Toccoa plant will provide additional jobs to this area, while adding technological advances to our facility. It is truly a wonderful situation for the community and the company." Divisional Human Resources Manager Clarence Foster believes, "Training will make employees' jobs a lot easier and improve their standard of living through promotions. We have an obligation as a company to help them improve. One thing that I want to emphasize is that training is a life-long process." Representatives from SouthCorp who attended the Workforce Conference included Clarence Foster, Chuck Jenkins, Ken Roessler, David Brodsky, and John Brouwer. Seven North Georgia Technical Institute staff members and guests also attended the conference. They included Habersham County CLCP Director Hannah Thompson; Patricia 0. Patterson who teaches at Mount Vernon Mills in Cleveland; Vice President of Economic Development Judy Taylor; Continuing Education Program Developer Lynn Hagihara; ESL Coordinator Jackie Reeder; volunteer Carwell Thompson; and Adult Literacy Director Barbara Melichar. Dr. Barbara Melichar Adult Literacy Director North Georgia Technical Institute SDA #4, Clarksville

Division of Human Resources Manager, Clarence Foster Plant Manager John Brouwer, Judy Taylor, and Clarence Foster

Table of Contents  |  From the Desk of the Assistant Commissioner Spotlight on Workplace Programs  |  1998 Workforce Conference Thomaston Mills Presents PowerPoint  |  Gwinnett County Invests in its Employees Southcorp Packaging  |  GED: Looking at the Options  |  Profile in Self-Sufficiency