Chattahoochee Technical College honored its Class of 2019 Surgical Technology program graduates in a ceremony held Thursday, July 25, at the college’s North Metro Campus.

“The future is bright for the graduates of this program,” said Chattahoochee Tech Surgical Technology Program Director Lorraine Wilderman. “Some of them already have jobs waiting for them. They’re not having any problem getting jobs.”

The Surgical Technology Program ceremony featured remarks from Ron Webb, the college’s Dean of Health Sciences, along with remarks delivered by Class of 2019 graduate Hannah Fisher and previous program graduate Brittany Collum. “I can honestly say that going into this field, I was trained absolutely perfectly,” said Collum, who graduated from Chattahoochee Tech in 2018. She currently works as a Certified Surgical Technologist (CST) at Marietta Plastic Surgery. “You’ve been shown by the best faculty what to do,” she said. “No one could have trained me any better.”

The Surgical Technology program at Chattahoochee Tech is a competitive admissions program in which graduates earn an Associate of Applied Science degree. Program graduates also will take the national CST examination, which is administered by the National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (NBSTSA). The Chattahoochee Tech Class of 2019 Surgical Technology program graduates included: Ashlan Bloodworth, Kelly Burns, Destiny Carter, Anna Correa, Elizabeth Devereaux, Hannah Fisher, Brenda Gonzalez, Peyton Hanks, Janese Hunte, Jasmine Ivey, Shayda Nikdel, Lisa Orr, Toccara Richardson, Regina Riney, Kelsey Sanford, Breianca Smothers, Alexis Stevens, Tiffany Wood and Grace Wright.

Students from Chattahoochee Technical College were top award winners at the Future Business Leaders of America – Phi Beta Lambda 2019 National Leadership Conference held recently in San Antonio, Texas.

Nicole Sciortino, of Paulding County, earned a first-place award in the event’s Social Media Challenge. The team of Alicia Thompson and Sue Nguyen, both of Cobb County, placed second in Management Analysis and Decision Making. Nguyen also placed third in Sales Presentation, with Thompson finishing in tenth place. Jemetria Mabrey, of Cobb County, placed fourth in Computer Animation. Also competing at the national event were Chattahoochee Tech students Stephanie Chadwick and Aerika McCants, both of Cobb County.

“My favorite thing about serving as their advisor is seeing the success these students achieve through their hard work and dedication,” said Chattahoochee Tech Business Management Instructor Ryan Greene. “To see them smile when their names were called showed the pride they took in their achievements. I was thrilled to shared in this great moment in their lives.”

Future Business Leaders of America – Phi Beta Lambda is the nation’s largest business student organization for college students from two-year and four-year colleges, with over 10,000 members and more than 500 chapters across the United States.

Atlanta’s WSB-TV Channel 2 television station showcased the Chattahoochee Technical College welding program in a television news broadcast on Thursday, Aug. 1. Channel 2 News Anchor Linda Stouffer toured the college’s Paulding Campus welding lab and interviewed Chattahoochee Tech Welding Instructor Jim Thomas, who noted that Chattahoochee Tech welding students gain valuable skills which translate into good jobs in a high-demand career field.

“The Chattahoochee Tech welding program features a world-class welding lab with a curriculum that matches industry expectations,” said Thomas, who emphasized that opportunities exist in this profession for men and women.

Stouffer also interviewed Chattahoochee Tech welding students Sarah Macedo, Katarina Highley-Sowers and Ceason Eisele. These three students each demonstrated their welding skills, showing that this profession is for women too. Making use of Computer Numerical Control (CNC) technology, Thomas guided the welding class in created a “CTC Welding” memento that they presented to Channel 2 News Anchor Linda Stouffer.

A delicious, farm-to-cup coffee break is now available on the Chattahoochee Tech Woodstock Campus at Alma Coffee. Business has been great since the coffee shop’s grand opening eight weeks ago, said Rachel Neal, a 2016 graduate of Etowah High School who works as a barista for Alma Coffee.

“We’ve been getting a lot of people in here, and we’re super excited for students to come back for fall semester” said Neal. “We’ve done really well so far, and we’re excited about the future.”

Alma is owned by Al Lopez, a retired corporate executive and military veteran, along with his daughter, Leticia Hutchins, and her husband, Harry. For five generations, the Lopez family has been involved in coffee farming. They source directly from their own coffee farms in Copan, Honduras, as well as from other farmers located there, who are committed to producing high-quality coffee through ethical farming practices. Alma Coffee stores and roasts its coffee at the state-of-the-art Alma Coffee roastery located in Holly Springs. Alma, which means “soul” in Spanish, captures the heart behind their brand’s vision, according to Leticia Hutchins.

“We chose the name Alma because it perfectly illustrates the entirety of the heart and soul that we have put into this business, not just by us but by all the generations before us,” said Hutchins. “Our goal is to promote direct trade in coffee so farmers can be rewarded fairly for their efforts and be good examples for their children.”

Alma Coffee Shop customers can grab a cup of freshly brewed, farm-to-cup Honduran coffee or a bag of locally roasted beans Monday through Friday, from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. in an area known as The Circuit on the Woodstock Campus. Open to the public, The Circuit serves as a working space for local entrepreneurs as well as a Student Center. It represents an innovative partnership between Chattahoochee Tech, the Cherokee Office of Economic Development (COED) and the Woodstock Office of Development.

Bartow County students returning to school for the first day of class on Wednesday, Aug. 7, are looking great thanks to the volunteer efforts of the Chattahoochee Technical College Cosmetology program. For the past 10 years in a row, Chattahoochee Tech Cosmetology students and program graduates have volunteered at the annual Bartow Give a Kid a Chance back-to-school event to provide free haircuts for Bartow County school children.

“We did probably close to 100 haircuts this year at this wonderful event,” said Chattahoochee Tech Cosmetology Instructor Colette Arp, who noted that 15 Chattahoochee Tech Cosmetology students and five program graduates volunteered their skills and time. Arp has led the college’s volunteer efforts at this event for the past decade.

“We wanted to help the kids with one of their most important needs, which is a new haircut,” said Arp. “If they look good, then they feel good!”

Through the annual Bartow Give a Kid a Chance initiative, Bartow County children in need can receive a haircut, backpack, school supplies, t-shirt, and health screenings free of charge, according to Arp. This year’s event was held during the last weekend of July at various sites in Bartow County, including the Bartow County College and Career Academy in Cartersville, where volunteers from the Chattahoochee Tech Cosmetology program provided the children with free haircuts. The Chattahoochee Tech Cosmetology program prepares its students for the state professional licensure requirements, and is offered at three of the college’s campuses – the North Metro Campus in Acworth, the Marietta Campus, and the Appalachian Campus in Jasper.

The Chattahoochee Tech Foundation Board of Trustees welcomed new Board members Arne Irwin, Daniel Jape, Henry Molinet and Megan Richards Flores at the quarterly meeting of the Board held Thursday, Aug. 8, at the Yanmar Evo Center in Acworth.

“We are delighted to welcome these community leaders onto the board,” said Board of Trustees Chairman Jason Anavitarte. “With their professional backgrounds and community involvement, they offer an ideal combination of strategic thinking and collaborative leadership that will benefit the needs of students at Chattahoochee Technical College.”

Arne Irwin, of Cobb County, serves as Director for Customer Support at Yanmar America, which is located in Adairsville. In nearly six years of service at Yanmar America, he also has logged experience there as an Energy Systems Division Manager and Business Unit Manager. Yanmar America is a recognized global leader in the design and manufacturing of advanced diesel engines and diesel-powered equipment.

Daniel Jape, of Cherokee County, serves as President of Reliable Heating & Air, a plumbing, HVAC and electrical contracting company that employs hundreds of the most skilled technicians in North Georgia. He manages the company with his father, who founded Reliable Heating & Air in 1978. Reinhardt University has honored Jape with its “10 Under 10” alumni award, which recognizes distinguished alumni who are successful in business, government, nonprofits, the military or the arts.

Henry Molinet, of Cobb County, is Vice President of Operations for Chabert Imports LTD, a wine import business, after serving in a long career with IBM. Starting as a Systems Engineer in the San Juan, Puerto Rico office of IBM, his responsibilities took him to varied locations in the United States and Latin America, concluding as a Business Operations Manager for one of IBM’s Latin America divisions. He is a member of the Georgia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and is a recipient of the GHCC Member of the Year award.

With over a decade of experience, Megan Richards Flores, of Cobb County, provides comprehensive legal counsel on tax estate planning and estate administration matters to individuals and families, as well as privately held businesses. She is a member of Gregory Doyle’s Trust & Estates and Tax and Business Transactions and Corporate Law practices, having joined the firm of Gregory, Doyle, Calhoun & Rogers LLC in 2014.

The Chattahoochee Tech Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization designed to support the mission of Chattahoochee Technical College by making higher education an affordable reality for students through initiatives like scholarships, emergency funding and program support. For the past four years in a row, the Chattahoochee Tech Foundation Board of Trustees has been recognized as a Role Model Board by the Technical College Foundation Association.

Chattahoochee Technical College was well represented at the recent Cobb International Festival by International Services Coordinator Greg Moor. He shared information about Chattahoochee Tech with participants who turned out in large numbers for this event, which was held at the Jim R. Miller Park Event Center. This event featured food, art and entertainment from around the world. The Chattahoochee Tech International Services department supports the college’s culturally diverse student body through a wide variety of service functions.

Chattahoochee Technical College welcomed new Board Member Chip Poth, of Cherokee County, at a meeting of the college’s Board of Directors held Tuesday, Aug. 13, in Ellijay at the Collaboration on River’s Edge (CORE) building, a workplace innovation and initiative of the Greater Gilmer Community Foundation. Administering the oath of office for Poth was Gilmer County Probate Judge Scott Chastain.

Poth serves as the Chief Executive Officer of Universal Alloy Corporation (UAC), which has served the aircraft industry for over four decades, supplying hard alloy aluminum extrusions to aircraft manufacturers and their subcontractors worldwide. Employing over 1,000 people, UAC is headquartered in Canton, Georgia, with additional manufacturing facilities located in California and Romania.

“We are very pleased to welcome Chip Poth to the college’s Board of Directors,” said Chattahoochee Technical College President Dr. Ron Newcomb. “He is a well-respected community leader who brings an unsurpassed level of business expertise to our team.”

Board Member Paige Green, who serves as President and CEO of the Gilmer County Chamber of Commerce, led a presentation at the Board of Directors meeting about CORE. Contributing to the presentation was Greater Gilmer Joint Development Authority Executive Director Kent Sanford. CORE is part business incubator, part resource center, and part collaborative workspace, according to Green, which provides space for entrepreneurs, start-ups and growing businesses.

“Collaborative on River’s Edge is poised to become a vibrant, innovative tool for business and the community,” said Green. “It is rooted in the belief that we are better together – that our unique talents and experiences can multiply exponentially through collaboration and shared purpose.”

Chattahoochee Technical College sponsored the August 2019 Chamber Breakfast for the Pickens County Chamber of Commerce at the college’s Appalachian Campus in Jasper on Tuesday, Aug. 13.

This event featured a program on the Center for Rural Prosperity & Innovation, presented by Project Manager Janet Cochran, who leads the Center’s North Georgia office. The Center for Rural Prosperity & Innovation serves as a central information and research hub for rural best practices, according to Cochran, including community planning, industry-specific assistance and cooperative efforts with community partners. The Center’s North Georgia office is located in Ellijay at the Collaboration on River’s Edge (CORE) building, a workplace innovation space and initiative of the Greater Gilmer Community Foundation.

Also featured at this event was Chattahoochee Technical College President Dr. Ron Newcomb, who spoke about the significance of Chattahoochee Tech’s vital role in serving business and community needs by preparing students for highly-skilled jobs in high-demand career fields.

The Chattahoochee Technical College Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) program provided an Ethics & Jurisprudence continuing education course recently at the college’s North Metro Campus in Acworth for Physical Therapists and Physical Therapist Assistants.

“This course was provided to the Chattahoochee Tech PTA program’s clinical partners, which includes clinical instructors from throughout our service area,” said Chattahoochee Tech PTA Program Director Stephanie Puffer. “They serve as preceptors and recognize that educating our future healthcare colleagues is a professional responsibility for the continued growth of our profession.”

The Ethics & Jurisprudence course was provided as part of the Chattahoochee Tech’s PTA program’s ongoing relationship with Mercer University’s Department of Physical Therapy program, according to Puffer, who noted that this course is a biennium requirement for PT and PTA re-licensure in the state of Georgia. Offering instruction at the course was Dr. David Taylor, the Director of Clinical Education and a Clinical Associate Professor in the Department of Physical Therapy at Mercer University. He has provided continuing education in professional ethics and Georgia Physical Therapy jurisprudence for the last 10 years.

Chattahoochee Technical College students beginning their Associate of Science in Nursing studies this week were greeted with a welcome breakfast on Wednesday, Aug. 21, at the college’s Paulding Campus in Dallas. Chattahoochee Tech faculty and staff who are members of the college’s Paulding Engagement Team sponsored this event for the new nursing students.

“We are so proud of you all being chosen for this program. You’ve experienced a hard road to get here, however you’ve earned the right to be here,” said Chattahoochee Tech Executive Director of Admissions and Records Missy Cusack, who led the effort among her colleagues to organize this event.

“We all wanted to kick off the semester with a breakfast to congratulate you, wish you luck, and let you know that we are all in your corner,” said Cusack. “We’re here to help you be successful, and we wish you the best of luck as you start the semester.”

The Chattahoochee Tech nursing program is a highly competitive, rigorous program involving classroom, laboratory and clinical activities, with full approval by the Georgia Board of Nursing and the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing. This program recently was ranked third best in Georgia among all of the state’s colleges, universities and technical colleges, based on the pass rates of students taking the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN).

Chattahoochee Technical College was featured at the West Cobb Business Association’s Power Hour Expo and Luncheon held Thursday, Aug. 22, in Powder Springs with a presentation by Jennifer Nelson, the college’s Vice President for Student Affairs and External Affairs. She also serves as Executive Director for the Chattahoochee Tech Foundation.

Nelson presented an overview of Chattahoochee Tech and described the many ways in which Chattahoochee Tech is serving educational and business needs within the community. As noted in her presentation, Chattahoochee Technical College is the largest technical college in the state of Georgia serving 14,000 students annually throughout six counties and across eight campuses.

“We appreciate this opportunity to interact with the business community of West Cobb,” said Nelson. “Members of the West Cobb Business Association are focused on creating a better quality of life in their community, and Chattahoochee Tech actively supports that mission.”

Leaders from across Georgia gathered at Chattahoochee Technical College’s Appalachian Campus in Jasper on Tuesday and Wednesday, Aug. 20-21, for a meeting of the House of Representatives Rural Development Council. The council was reauthorized during the 2019 legislative session, with Rep. Rick Jasperse, of Jasper, and Rep. Sam Watson, of Moultrie, appointed as co-chairs. Chattahoochee Technical College President Dr. Ron Newcomb welcomed the group and shared information with them about the Chattahoochee Tech’s educational initiatives to help serve rural Georgia students in the college’s service area.

Four Chattahoochee Tech students received scholarships awarded recently by the Paulding Rotary Club. These scholarship recipients included Dallas residents Julie Mullenix, who is a student in the college’s Interiors program, and Richard Omari, a student in the Cybersecurity program. Also receiving a Paulding Rotary Club scholarship were Christopher Kattner, of Paulding County, and Emily Fred, of Cobb County. Kattner is a student at the college’s Paulding Campus in the Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN) program, and Fred is a student in the Physical Therapist Assistant program.

Chattahoochee Tech Executive Director of Admissions and Records Missy Cusack, who is also a member of the Paulding Rotary Club, participated in the awards presentation along with Paulding Rotary Club President Jackie Crum.

“Chattahoochee Tech is grateful for the generous support provided over the years by the Paulding Rotary Club,” said Cusack. “We appreciate them for believing in our mission of changing lives and creating futures.”

Chattahoochee Technical College kicked off the 2019 fall semester with 10,357 students enrolled for classes.

“It is always exciting to welcome over 10,000 students back to school each fall,” said Chattahoochee Tech Executive Director of Admissions and Records Missy Cusack, who noted that the college has students from 75 different Georgia counties enrolled this semester. The average age of students at Chattahoochee Tech is now 24 years old, according to Cusack, which reflects a younger age student every year since 2011. “Even Georgia’s youngest citizens are understanding the value of a technical education,” said Cusack.

With campus locations serving six counties, the college’s Marietta Campus has close to 4,000 students this semester, followed by the North Metro Campus in Bartow County with nearly 3,000 students, and the Paulding Campus with just under 1,000 students. Additionally, there are over 700 students registered for classes at the Canton Campus, and over 600 students registered for classes at the Woodstock Campus. Another 593 students have enrolled for classes at the Mountain View Campus in Cobb County, and 570 students are enrolled at the Appalachian Campus in Pickens County.

Online classes also continue to grow in popularity with many students taking at least one online course. Programs available for completion online at Chattahoochee Tech include Accounting, Business Management, Business Technology, Criminal Justice Technology, Logistics and Supply Chain Management, and Marketing Management.

“Chattahoochee Tech provides a high quality, easily accessible college education at a fraction of the cost of other area colleges and universities,” said Cusack. “The college awards certificates, diplomas and associate degrees in more than 50 programs of study through traditional classroom courses as well as online training. We also provide the community with learning opportunities, including customized workforce training, adult literacy and continuing education programs.”

Now is the time to secure your tickets for the Chattahoochee Tech Foundation’s popular Reverse Raffle annual fundraiser slated for Thursday, Oct. 10, at the Chattahoochee Tech North Metro Campus in Acworth.

“The Reverse Raffle has proven to be such a fun community event that the tickets sell out fast,” said Susan Stephens, Chattahoochee Tech Foundation Secretary and Reverse Raffle Committee Chair. “Our goal is to net $50,000 at this year’s event, with all proceeds dedicated to helping students in need at Chattahoochee Tech.”

“Unlike a typical raffle, the purchaser of the last ticket drawn wins the grand prize at the Reverse Raffle, so the excitement builds throughout the evening,” said Stephens. “Along with the $5,000 grand prize, this year’s event also features door prizes and a silent auction, plus music and great food.”

Thanks to the generosity of its donors, the Chattahoochee Tech Foundation is able to provide a significant amount of help to Chattahoochee Tech students throughout the year, according to Stephens. In Fiscal Year 2019, the Chattahoochee Tech Foundation awarded $92,000 in scholarship funds to well-deserving students, issued $8,000 in emergency grant funds to students at risk of not continuing their education due to unexpected financial dilemmas, and provided $4,600 in textbooks, bus passes and temporary housing to students in need.

Tickets to the Reverse Raffle are $100 each and include dinner as well as a chance for the $5,000 grand prize, noted Stephens. Sponsorships also are available, which include additional raffle tickets, logo promotion and sponsor recognition at the event.

To purchase Reverse Raffle tickets, secure a sponsorship, or for more information, visit: 2019 Reverse Raffle.

Chattahoochee Technical College marked Patriot Day on Wednesday morning, Sept. 11, with a multi-campus appreciation event to honor the college’s Campus Police Department as well as faculty and students in the college’s Paramedicine and Emergency Medical Services Professions (EMT/AEMT) programs.

“It is appropriate for this recognition to take place on Sept. 11, which is Patriot Day, because it serves as a reminder to all of us about the risk that first responders take every day to serve our communities,” said Chattahoochee Tech Veteran Services Coordinator Barry Munday, who organized the event.

“These are the people with specialized training who are the first to arrive and provide assistance at the scene of an emergency, such as an accident, natural disaster, or terrorist attack,” said Munday. “We thank them for their dedication and selfless commitment to providing help in these emergency situations.”

The Chattahoochee Tech Patriot Day appreciation event was held by way of a video connection between seven of the college’s campuses, with employees and students gathered at each location. Delivering keynote remarks at this event was Chattahoochee Technical College Vice President of Student Affairs Jennifer Nelson.

“It has been 18 years since that tragic day, when attacks occurred on our country,” said Nelson. “We will never forget the events of that day in our country’s history and those who made the ultimate sacrifice – the first responders. At our college, we have over 60 employees and students who have committed their lives to the betterment of others as first responders. They allow all of us to live our daily lives in a healthy, secure and safe environment.”

Chattahoochee Tech Cosmetology students at the college’s North Metro Campus are gaining real-world career experience this fall in the program’s on-campus salon, which is open to the public. Under the supervision of their instructors, these students provide services which range from haircuts, hair styling and color, to facial treatments and manicures.

The Cosmetology program salon located on the North Metro Campus welcomes customers on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 9 a.m. to noon, and from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., according to Cosmetology Instructor Colette Arp, who noted that walk-ins are welcome. Prices range from five dollars for a manicure and ten dollars for a pedicure or facial, to eight dollars for a haircut.

Chattahoochee Tech Cosmetology student Mia Erv, of Cherokee County, began preparing for a career in cosmetology after graduating from River Ridge High School. “I feel confident about taking the state licensure exam after I graduate in December,” she said. “I’m excited about moving forward in my career right away as a Salon Assistant.”

The Chattahoochee Tech Cosmetology program meets state licensing requirements of the State Board of Cosmetology, and is available at the college’s North Metro, Marietta and Appalachian campuses. Cosmetology Program salons also are located on the Marietta and Appalachian campuses, and are open to the public during the spring semester. For more information about services and pricing, or to schedule an appointment this fall at the Cosmetology program salon located at the North Metro Campus, call 770-975-4098.

Additional support is now available for Chattahoochee Tech students who have experienced foster care thanks to a $30,000 grant awarded to the Chattahoochee Tech Foundation by the J.W. Fanning Institute for Leadership Development, a unit of Public Service and Outreach at the University of Georgia.

“We greatly appreciate this support, and we’re excited to put these funds to work on behalf of Chattahoochee Tech students who have experienced foster care,” said Chattahoochee Technical College Advancement Coordinator Amanda Henderson. Working with Henderson and the Chattahoochee Tech Foundation to administer this support will be the Chattahoochee Tech Office of Student Resources, which is headed by Special Populations & Title IX Coordinator Shanequa Nickkie Warrington. “This funding will be allocated for a variety of significant projects designed to serve these students and help them remain in class,” said Warrington.

Projects that will be supported from this grant, according to Henderson and Warrington, include the establishment of an Academic Success Coaching Program and a Student Care Package Program, along with an expansion of the Chattahoochee Tech Foundation’s Emergency Grant Program. Funds also will be allocated to purchase equipment needed for the college’s Golden Eagle Food Pantry as well as the Textbook Lending Program.

The Chattahoochee Tech Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization working to make higher education an affordable reality for students in the community.

The newest graduates of the Construction Ready career training program gathered recently at the Chattahoochee Technical College Marietta Campus for a graduation ceremony that celebrated a 100 percent job placement rate for the 21 program graduates. Partnering with Chattahoochee Tech in this initiative that was designed for Cobb residents was the Construction Education Foundation of Georgia (CEFGA), WorkSource Cobb and HB Next.

This graduating class also had the Construction Ready training program’s 1,000th graduate, Lenworth Fraser III. “Everything you learn here is tailored to make you succeed,” said Fraser. Upon completion of the Construction Ready training program, Fraser participated in a hiring fair for program graduates, and he accepted a job offer from Ujamma Construction.

“I’m extremely proud of all of these graduates for staying the course and doing what they needed to do in order to graduate,” said Chattahoochee Tech Associate Dean of Economic Development Cynthia Brown. “This program is going to be life changing for them, and it is exciting to see what a bright future is available to them now.”

Construction Ready is a nationally accredited and hands-on, four-week construction training and certification program for men and women which connects students to some of Atlanta’s top construction companies, according to CEFGA President and CEO Scott Shelar. Upon successful completion of this program, graduates may earn up to eight industry recognized credentials and participate in a hiring fair. More information about the Construction Ready program is available at www.constructionready.us.