President's REport
“We are in the business of transforming lives. We started doing it 50 years ago, we are doing it now and we will continue this commitment for years to come.”
As you may know, I started my own education at a technical college. If someone had told me then that I would end up where I am today, I would not have believed them. As a product of a two-year program, I know that there is no other segment of higher education that can have such a profound impact on someone’s life.
That being said, I am grateful for the opportunities and the experiences I’ve enjoyed during my 30-plus years of learning and working in the technical college environment. But after much consideration and many conversations with family and with members of the Area Commission, I plan to retire on June 30, 2017.
Though I will be leaving, I know that this college will continue to grow and inspire for years to come because I’ve seen firsthand the commitment faculty and staff have to the success of our students. As you’ll see in this year’s report, that same dedication has stayed strong throughout the history of the college.
Through this website, you’ll get a glimpse of the journey the college has taken from its creation in 1966 to now. You’ll also hear stories from faculty, graduates and former administrators whose lives were transformed, like mine, by their technical college experiences.
Looking at our 2015-2016 academic year, you’ll have an opportunity to learn more about our new HVAC Training Center, while also getting a full overview of our academic year through press releases, photos, videos and more.
We’ll also show you a few key projects we have on the horizon, which will further our mission to strengthen the educational opportunities available to students in the counties that we serve.
Above all, I hope you will see, as I have over the years, that a deep sense of caring on the part of those who work at Piedmont Tech is what has made this institution great for five decades. Someone cared enough to address the workforce needs of this region and the college was formed. Others recognized that additional locations and distance learning options would further meet the educational needs of residents in the seven county area. And today we know that we have to train students for the workforce of the future. So we work hard to provide the right resources and programs to meet that need.
At Piedmont Technical College, we are in the business of transforming lives. We started doing it 50 years ago, we are doing it now and we will continue this commitment for years to come.
L. Ray Brooks, Ed.D.
President