Kaskaskia College has honored two industries with Business and Industry Partnership Awards for their work with the college on training programs. Auto part manufacturer Groupo Antolin of Nashville won the 2022 award and food manufacturer Con Agra of Centralia the 2020 award delayed by COVID-19.
KC Dean of Workforce Engagement and Industrial Career Services Joy Fitts presented the awards.
She noted Group Antolin reached out for training programs, is on a KC advisory board, attended career fairs and utilizes the college for continuing education of employees. The award was accepted by Engineering Manager Jeff Pelka.
“I actually have some of my process technicians taking classes here currently. It’s just a big help to have a college like KC fairly close to our facility. And they get a great education here. We are happy to continue working with KC.”
Fitts said Conagra began working with the college in 2018 to enhance training for employees in the areas of welding and equipment maintenance and have joined a KC advisory committee, has provided scholarships, and has developed an apprentice program. Maintenance manager Mark Greene praised the college in accepting the award.
“Willing to accommodate things that we need at our facility that is specific to us. It’s not just a cookie cutter program, it’s exactly what we need. They do everything they can to provide our employees the training that they need to excel. Not everyone can get a 2 or 4 year degree, people are working for a living. It gives us a path to allow people an opportunity to advance their education and skill.”
Greene noted that the relationship with Kaskaskia College is something special that isn’t available at many of their other plants across the country.
Kaskaskia College Dean of Workforce Engagement and Industrial Career Services Joy Fitts (left) presents the 2020 KC Business and Industry Award to ConAgra in Centralia.
