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Bright lights, new jobs

Preparing to transfer its retail business unit from North Carolina to Peachtree City, Cooper Lighting recently inked an agreement with Quick Start and Griffin Technical College to train 50 new employees in customer service, leadership skills, and Flash Pro and other computer systems.

The expansion marks the fourth Quick Start project for Cooper Lighting. Previously, Quick Start trained new employees for the distribution center, call center and relocated headquarters.

“Quick Start has touched every aspect of our business, including finance, telecommunications, customer service and operating a forklift,” said George Jones, Cooper Lighting VP of operations.

Cooper Lighting first came to Georgia from Chicago in 1997. Later, it moved its entire headquarters to the Peachtree City facility. Tim Forse, VP of marketing and new product development, reflected on his dealings with Quick Start in enabling a smooth transition. “I served on the advisory committee of Quick Start, then chaired the committee because I know all the great things it can do,” he said.

On behalf of Cooper Lighting, Jones awarded DTAE Commissioner Dr. Ken Breeden a plaque of appreciation to recognize his agency’s achievements in workforce development.

Guests at the training plan signing toured “Source,” a 35,000-sq.-ft. facility that hosts hands-on lighting seminars and displays lighting for every imaginable space and circumstance.

Cooper Lighting,
Quick Start are tops

Featured at the Cooper Lighting training plan signing was Chris Clark, president and CEO of the Fayette County Development Authority, who cited Cooper Lighting as an exemplary corporate citizen. “I tell other companies to follow the lead of Cooper Lighting,” he said. “Their outreach has impacted the lives of everyone in this community.”

Clark also presented the findings of a study that assessed various economic incentive programs offered by the state of Georgia. In the study, the Georgia Economic Developers Association’s (GEDA) Public Policy Committee surveyed GEDA members and asked them to rank 25 incentives for their recruitment value.

“We expected Quick Start to be in the top five, but it ranked No. 1,” Clark said. “Almost everyone in the local economic development community has talked to someone from Jackie Rohosky’s team.”

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