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Boeing likes local company
Boeing, the conference's main sponsor this year announced that it is in negotiations to enter into a mentorprotégé contract with Thomasville-based General Sheet Metal. "The ultimate goal of these agreements is to get to the point where these companies are making money with us and that money's going into the local economy," said Chuck Allen, vice president of rotorcraft systems for Boeing and keynote speaker for the event. The agreement has not been finalized yet; the program will be connected to homeland security projects including border security products, Allen said. Boeing's mentor-protégé program is meant to develop small businesses into business partners with Boeing, Allen said. There are currently 24 companies working with Boeing under the mentor-protégé program.
A typical mentor-protégé agreement brings in Boeing's expertise to help smaller companies with quality assurance, training, marketing and business development. "The U.S. Department of Defense Mentor-Protégé Program pairs large companies with eligible small businesses to enhance their capabilities and enable them to successfully compete for larger, more complex prime contract and subcontract awards," according to a Boeing press release. Burke's Office It was also announced at the conference that Burke's Mechanical will be opening an office in Thomasville. The amount of work the company does in this area and a joint effort between city officials and Burke's managers made the expansion possible. Positive comments Allen praised Thomasville for its efforts. "I wish I cold transplant the leadership [to his hometown]," Allen said. Allen also stressed that workforce development would be key for any area looking to land high quality jobs. "Whenever we talk about putting something in an area, the first question is always, do they have the workforce for it?" City officials have reacted positively to this year's conference. "We have deemed the third conference a success," said Debra Fox, economic developer for Thomasville and organizer of the event. "Boeing, our cosponsor, seemed very pleased." "Feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, both from exhibitors and companies. Each of the "primes" [contractors] left with viable new contacts for potential supplier relationships and the attendees found the Marshall Council's presentation quite informative." Mayor Sheldon Day also felt the conference was a success. "People were here to do business," Day said. "That surprises the people who are here for the first time thinking this is just a meet and greet. We've heard a lot of good things coming out of this conference already." Cong. Artur Davis and Cong. Jo Bonner both attended the conference and had positive things to say. "It's quite a statement that a small town can take a leadership position for an entire region," Bonner said. Bonner spoke about the Mercedez Benz plant that was landed in previous years. "Today ladies and gentlemen, Alabama is the second largest automaker in the 50 states." "That's what this conference is all about, because you look at Hope Hull and Vance, they are smaller than Thomasville and they didn't have the local cooperation you have here in Thomasville." Davis said the good things happening in Clarke County now are a result of committed leaders and teamwork in the community. "Just a few years ago, we would have found a community divided, but over the years people have found a way to come together. We've cut unemployment by half since 2000; we have better schools and healthcare. When I look at this state, I see a time that is about to be that will shatter our parents expectations." Computer donation Approximately 100 used computers were donated to the city by Aetos Systems and the Chickasaw Nation Industries through a "Project TREE (Technology Recycling for Excellence in Education)" program during the conference Friday. Thirty computers were installed at the elementary school. The remaining computers will be split between the local middle school, and third lab, which will be established at the old city hall site. A ribbon cutting was held at TES during a break in presentations Friday.
"This is a real opportunity to prepare students for using a computer in everyday life," Donna C. Coleman, Aetos founder and president, said at the ribbon cutting. "…I'm really excited to kick off this pilot program and work with the school to capture some results so we can move it forward and hopefully implement it across the state.
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