Michelin, Tri-County Making Manufacturing More Attractive To Students

When asked what keeps him awake at night, Michelin Executive Vice President Wayne Culbertson says it’s the thought of not having a qualified and skilled manufacturing workforce.

Culbertson, who, since 1974, has worked for Michelin in various manufacturing roles, including serving as plant manager of the Spartanburg, Sandy Springs, and Starr facilities, spoke to a crowd of business, industrial, education, government and political leaders at Tri-County Technical College’s Annual Report Luncheon.

It’s Michelin’s mission to communicate to young people the rewarding and broad range of career opportunities available to them in manufacturing, said Culbertson, who currently is Personnel and Chief Human Resources Officer. He said the company is teaming with Tri-County and the other technical colleges in the state to make manufacturing jobs more attractive to students beginning in middle school. He added that the company will triple the Tech scholars program, whereby students work part time at the plant, attend classes at Tri-County part-time and are paid by Michelin. “It’s a known formula that works. There will be 13 Michelin Tech Scholars at Tri-County next year,” he said.

“For 40 years we’ve been partners with Tri-County,” said Culbertson. “We have a strong partnership with the College and the other technical colleges in the state. It’s an important relationship for us. Hundreds of Tri-County graduates are now Michelin employees. We must do more to make the workforce of the future aware of these career opportunities. We want to appeal to kids and help them to develop an interest in technical fields and manufacturing. People are our most valuable resource. I am confident we will meet these challenges of the future.”

Following Culbertson’s speech, President Ronnie Booth talked about the College’s 50^th anniversary celebration that is coming to a close in December.

“In 1962, Tri-County Technical College had one goal – to help students to reach theirs. Fifty years later, the College remains dedicated to providing students with the education and support they need to stay on track and be successful in achieving their academic, individual, and professional goals,” he said.

“We’re now trying to be more intentional in terms of discovering and understanding what students’ goals are and helping students to reach them,” said Dr. Booth.

These goals are as diverse as the students nationwide who attend community colleges like Tri-County. Today, reaching a goal, or student success, doesn’t just mean earning a degree or certificate and entering the workforce. “It’s about getting students from where they are now to where they want to be,” explained Dr. Booth. “The starting and ending points are different for each student,” he added.

“Our job is to be your college in the community,” he added.