Area Industries
Using Center To Train Their
New Employees
I!\ II UK\ PC)I?K
Classes aie iiim .1 vt "i A.tlk away. 1 ;u ? Wednes
day. employees ot 1 m.Io '? Lvmmus aiui Vi tai: 1 k Inc.
?n the 1 eland Indite ai I'aik train to help sav lives.
1'hcv arc ta? ic a hrsi re ix'iulcr- salety ourse that
their employers have arranged through Brunswick
Community College Hie Industrial Training Center,
completed at the park n August, is starting to Iwk up
with programs aimed at helping new and expanding
businesses train then v..- V rs, in ih-s case, what to do
should an av\ idem cur at the plant
"!t\ helptul tor away trom the plant. u\" said
Bernard \K Ko\ 'i ot 1 eland, a member >l ! xulc's
salctv team who is :,>k>-ie the v ourse alone with rune
other employees t? ?m the two v ompantcs
:1k class has received t'PR cardiopulmonary re
suscitation) 'raining ,u?d has studied patient ??.. ssment
and hemorrhage control techniques Students meet tour
hour - each Wejnesd.o with instructor Jo! Bellamy,
who is also training oliicer arid chiet ot " wn Creek
Volunteer Rescue 'squad
" \ first res-ponder is th. 'trsi person on ih. - ene of
an accident.' Bellamv san "his coin %e is lesigned so
that they'll Know what to do to sustain someone's iile
until resi ue help arr \ es "
f vidc employees aNo i-\.-ivcd training :n "policy
and procedures and a. ma I hands on applications" at the
lav. i!it\ before being hired K the company tins tall, said
I-vide employee Chet Hanc-.
Classes covered shop knowledge of tools and ma
chinery and 40 hours ot hands-on assembly line pro
v if. ti.'i. v,. rk '^--.c vC'i'P'! -ting the prog:.nr., trainees
are then certified as F \uk iss(\ lates.
\s a member oi the plant's safety team. Harvey's
sob will be to "assess tfv .ene an ! kcci pedestrian ?
away and prepare the v n. tun lot tlu I-\5 is (Enieigency
Medical ledum. tansi We do a lot of CPR. stop the ma
ioi bleeding Then the 1 Ml- will taki care ot the rest,"
he added.
The SI 1 million facility was built by Brunswick
County to convince new industries to Uvau here so that
jvopk hke Koy. a county native, coul.' have a job.
Hv.de was the center's first customer and actually
helped design the building.
About 70 employees have already trail ed at the fa
cility and have been hired by I vide, wh ,h manufac
tures unintcrruptablc power sources, un s that keep
^
STAFF PHOTO BY TE?*Y ron
INSTRUCTOR JOHN BELI^AMY (left) leads a first respondent course at the Brunswick County
Industrial Training Center for Exide and Victaulic employees. Practicing lifesaving techniques are,
at center, Chet Harvey and Bernard McKoy Jr.
supplying electricity to computers during a power out
age. Out of 30 who initially trained in July, 28 were
placed as permanent employees. In October. 40 of 45
people trained were hired.
Training Center Manager Sherwood Peacock be
lieves Exidc and Victaulic arc only the first of a long
line of companies which will benefit from the training
center in the future. In three weeks, another cycle of 40
ixncnual Exide employees will train at the center fol
lowed by a program in basic electronics for the plant's
newly-hired workers.
Within the next five years, Exidc plans to hire more
than 500 local people, each of whom will go through
some type of training at the center. In September, a
class was given at the plant to leach supervisors how to
train workers.
"They're already way ahead of ihcir schedule."
Peacock said.
A general education course tor teachers is held at the
center on Saturdays. Teachers can receive college transfer
or renewal credits for the "Teacher. School and Society"
class. During winter quarter, classes in math, English and
business taxes arc also scheduled at the center.
"Our plans are, by next fall, to add additional class
es of that nature but to concentrate on industrial train
ing," Peacock said. "I envision by next September,
we'll be fully occupied in this building. A big thrust of
programs will probably be offered here in the fall."
The industrial training courses arc funded through
grants by the N.C. Department of Community Colleges,
If Youre Having A Bad Day;
It's Noi Your Customer's Fault
B\ SIS ASM I). SARTKLLK, KXKCLTIVE MCK PRKSIDKNT
South Brunswick Islands Chamber Of Commerce
I recently gave a specch at Toastmastcrs ? an organization that
helps me improve my speaking skills ? and a chambcr member who
was visiting the club that day called to comment on
my speech saying that 1 should share the message in
my weekly column. Here goes. Jody. Thanks!
It's not my problem if you're having a bad day.
What kind of image do you project for your business
or the business where you work?
Not too long ago. 1 went into a business ? a lo
cal business to buy some needed supplies. The
cashier was in a horrible mood...her feet hurt, she
was working overtime, she was mad at the manager.
Consequently, she was not nice to me. I was the cus
tomer. I told the lady I hoped her day would get bet- SARTEIXE
ter. There was no way. she said, as long as she had to work there. 1
smiled anyway.
If I didn't believe so strongly in patronizing local businesses. I prob
ably would not have gone back into that business. But I did...only to be
treated the same way. Nov. what kind of image do you think that busi
ness is projecting?
Attitude is a very important part ol success. And outward attitudes
display the image of the business.
Fifty-five percent ol our communication is non-verbal...our actions,
tone of voice and attitude.
We all have bad days, but if we want to keep customers, we can't
show it 1 am certainly not excluded from having bad days. And since il
is important to practice what you preach, I have been very attentive to
how I treat people lately. It's not too much to ask to be nice.
II you're having a bad day, it's not your customer's fault. So don't
lake it (Hit on the wrong person. Step back, take a deep breath, and
smile That customer could be the one who makes your day better.
BUSINESS BRIEFS
Required Vehicle Safety Class Set
A North Carolina Salet) Inspec
tion class will he offered Saturday.
Jan. 12, from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at
Brunswick Community College.
The eight-hour course is required,
as of Sept. 14, 1990, for state motor
vehicle inspectors and mechanics to
retain their certification.
The course will be taughi by Roy
Hornaday, lead automotive instruc
tor, at the BCC automotive shop on
the main campus.
A S25 registration fee must be
payed at the class.
To pre-register for the one-day
course, call Hornaday or Continuing
Education Director Perry Hall at
754-6900,457-6329 or 343-0203.
Leaf Producers To Meet
Gerald Pcedin, extension tobacco
OPEN DAILY
7 AM TO 6 PM
SATURDAY
8 AM TO 1 PM
ALL WORK DONE ON PREMISES
CLEANING
SHIRT LAUNDRY
ALTERATIONS
P :< .v I EAT HER SFRVICI S
754-4435
DOWNTOWN SHALLOTTE
116 VILL AGF RD. CORNER OF 179 & 17
specialist, will speak al the annual
Brunswick County tobacco produc
tion meeting Thursday, Dec. 13, at
6:30 p.m. at Joe's Barbecuc in Shal
lotte.
The meeting is sponsored by the
Brunswick County Agricultural Ex
tension Service office.
Pecdin will discuss updates in
sucker control, the tobacco outlook
for the year, disease problems and
labor rules and regulations, said
Milton Coleman, county extension
director.
Copies of the 1991 Tobacco Pro
duction book will be available for
producers to pick up.
Producers who plan to attend are
asked to contact the extension ser
vice office at 253-4425 to make re
servations.
Wins $ 1 00
Dr. Rencc Barnes of Shallottc is
the latest winner of $100 in the
South Brunswick Islands Chamber
of Commerce
Hometown Hol
idays giveaway.
This is the
chamber's major
effort to pro
mote shopping
at kx:al busi
nesses during
the holiday sea
son. The pro
gram is de- BARNES
signed to help area merchants as well
as shop|>crs, who can register for a
i. .i h prize each week.
Barnes, who works in the
dentist office of Dr. John Madison
in Shallotte, won the second draw
ing lasi Thursday. Other drawings
will be I Kv 13 and 22.
Barbee Realtor Of Year
Terry D. Barbee (left) has been chosen 1990 Realtor of the Year by
the Brunswick Islands Board of Realtors. Barbee, who is president
of Island Realty Co. at Ocean Isle Beach, is pictured with Evelyn
Madison, president of the Board of Realtors. Barbee was chosen
for his community service and dedication to the Board of Realtors.
He serves as an Ocean Isle Beach commissioner, the Ocean Isle
Beach fire chief, a director of the South Brunswick Islands Cham
ber of Commerce and will serve as the 1991 president of the Hoard
of Realtors.
Small Businesses May Enter
National Award Competition
South Brunswick Islands Cham
ber of Commerce is participating in
The Blue Chip Enterprise Initiative,
designed to help small businesses
succeed in an increasingly competi
tive environment.
The nationwide initiative, spon
sored by Connecticut Mutual Life
Insurance Company and endorsed
by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce
and Nation's Business, will seek
out, learn from and recognize busi
nesses with a proven record of over
coming challenges.
"Statistics suggest that small
businesses are the real blue chip
companies of America," says Sus
anne D. Sartclle, executive vice
president of the South Brunswick
Islands Chamber of Commerce.
"Just look at their share of job cre
ation, innovation and gross national
product over the last decade. Yet
most arc faced with tough new pres
sures, ranging from a shrinking pool
of qualified labor and rapid techno
logical growth to increased compe
tition. This program will help busi
nesses meet these pressures head
on, continue their momentum and
grow in a demanding market."
A major part of the initiative is
the Blue Chip Enterprise award, a
national recognition program for
small businesses that have demon
strated exceptional enterprise in
meeting today's competitive pres
sures. All businesses with between
live and 3(X) employees and that
have been in continuous operation
at least three years, arc urged by
Sartellc to participate.
Any small business can apply for
the Blue Chip Enterprise award by
requesting and completing an appli
cation from the South Brunswick
Islands Chamber of Commerce.
Companies may also be nominated
by others (current or retired em
ployees, community leaders, ven
dors, customers).
Applicants will be required to
submit a case history that demon
strates how their company used
available resources to overcome ad
versity and emerge stronger. A pan
el of independent judges will review
the applications and select up to
four outstanding businesses from
each state and the District of Co
lumbia. Each of these companies
will receive an award and a listing
in Nation's Business. They will also
receive a Blue Chip Enterprise logo
for their advertising and signage.
From these companies, 51 state
designees (one from each state and
D C.) will be identified and featured
on "Nation's Business Today" on
ESPN TV network. Ultimately, five
independent national judges will se
lect three national designees to rep
resent the nation's small business
community. They will attend die
U.S. Chamber of Commerce annual
meeting in Washington, D.C., in
April, 1991, and receive extensive
national publicity for dicir business
es and strategies.
Applications for the award must
be submitted by Jan. 31, IWI. lor
furdier information about the pro
gram, call I (8(10)262-1626, or the
South Brunswick Islands Chamber
of Commerce at (919)754-664-1.
Peacock said. Plans must be submitted to the state for
prior approval.
"These must be new or expanding businesses," said
Peacock. "Expanding means hiring for new positions,
not the replacement of employees."
Peacock, who served as head of vocational and
evening programs at Sampson Community College, was
hired in October to manage the facility. He said the cen
ter was the main factor in Exide's decision to locate in
Brunswick County. When choosing a place to build, in
dustries are "kx)king for this kind of support," he added.
It's a unique situation, said Peacock, a county train
ing center operating on community college funding de
signed to train workers for private industry. The added
jobs and the boost to the local economy are its benefits.
"It's not a typical situation, probably one of a kind,"
Peacock said. "To my knowledge there's not another
one like this in North Carolina. I think it's good for the
community and the industries."
Other industries provide training centers, such as in
Nash County where Cummings Diesel built a separate
training center to train workers for jobs there. Peacock
said.
The college will not schedule avocational classes,
such as hobby classes or arts and crafts programs, in the
center. Those will still be offered by BCC but not at the
training center
"We hope to work closely with the public school
system," Peacock said. "But our top priority is with the
industries."
The center has a 10,000-square-foot production as
sembly area that can accommodate more than one in
dustry at a time. It has a large 3,WXVsquare-foot class
room with a seating capac ity for 450 people. That room
can also be divided with partitions. The center also
houses two conference rooms or study areas, a media
center, three smaller classrooms and a break area.
Employees now involved in the first respondcrs
class arc just two weeks away from completing the
course. They'll return to their jobs with new titles and
responsibilities.
"I think they're all capable of giving CPR,"
Bellamy said. "I'm confident they can do it."
The center has provided a convenient classroom for
10 workers who have spent 40 hours of on-the-job
training which one day may help save the life of a fel
low employee.
Small Businesses Advised
To Prepare, Just In Case
BY TERRY POPE
A winter workshop designed for
small business owners in Brunswick
County begins with that "r" word,
recession.
While local economic indicators
predict Brunswick County will ex
pcricnce growth in the '90s,
Brunswick Community College's
Small Business Center is hoping
that owners of small businesses will
approach the future with caution.
"I think a lot of businesses may
feci some type of repercussions
from the economy," said Vcima
Jenkins, director of BCC's Small
Business Center, "but there are
ways businesses can protect them
selves from a great impact."
"Recession Proof Your Business"
is a thrcc-hour workshop scheduled
lor Feh. 25 from 6:30 p.m. to 9:M)
p.m. at the college in Supply. It will
be taught by Bryan Hamilton, who
teaches business administration at
Duke University.
The Center for Business and
Economic Services at the
University of North Carolina at
Wilmington recently released its
predictions for area economic
growth. Economics professor
Claude Ferrell said he expects
Brunswick County to be the "back
bone" of growth in Southeastern
North Carolina in the '90s.
The UNC-W Center is anticipat
ing an X perccnt rate of growth for
Brunswick County this decade, the
result being a doubling of the local
economy. That growth is expected
to come from increased retirement
and tourism development along the
coast and with industrial and com
mercial growth away from the
coast.
"Small business is still the back
bone of Brunswick County," said
Ms. Jenkins. "Tourism has a very
[X)sitive effect on small businesses.
Thai's how they survive."
While nationally there is talk of
an impending economic recession,
the number of small businesses in
Brunswick County continues to
grow.
"Wc still have a lot of people
who are willing to go into busi
ness," Ms. Jenkins said. "I'm still
having as many calls as I've always
had. That hasn't stopped."
BCCs Small Business Center op
erates as an information service for
residents wishing to open their own
small business. The center also co
ordinates in-depth assistance to
business owners and provides limit
ed business counseling. Its hours
are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays.
The number of service businesses
in Brunswick County has seen a
rapid increase in recent years, Ms.
Jenkins said. These businesses pro
vide a service to residents, such as
plumbing or heal and air condition
ing repair work. With an increase in
county population, there will be a
need to provide services for those
new residents.
"Service businesses do not have
lo have an inventory," Ms. Jenkins
explained. "When you don'i have
an inventory, your storefront could
be within your home."
The February seminar will dis
cuss what businesses need to do fi
nancially to survive a recession.
"Where do you cut back? Should
you take out a loan now or wait?
When should you do these things?
When shouldn't you do them?
Those are the questions dial will be
answered," Ms. Jenkins said.
Brunswick County hasn't had any
businesses to lay off large numbers
of employees recently due lo a fail
ing economy, she said.
"We still have a belter chance to
survive a recession than other ar
eas," she predicted.
County Permits 70 Mobile Homes
During November the Brunswick eluding $756,007 for Uie I } houses.
County Building Inspection Depart- Also issued were 108 clcctrical,
mcnl issued permits for 70 mobile eight plumbing and 39 mechanical
homes and 13 single-family, slick permits.
built homes. Since Jan. 1 the department has
The 129 building permits issued issued 3,844 permits. Of the 1,701
during the month also includc two building permits issued, 1,079 were
commercial buildings, eight addi- for mobile homes, 168 for single
tions, lour garages, three decks or family units 56 for commercial
porches and one pool, according to buildings.
the department's monthly report. Estimated value for permitted
Total value of the construction construction of all types was
was estimated at SI,015,623, in- $21,207,200.
O'NEIL CAISON CONSTRUCTION
?Site preparation for homes and businesses
?Driveway, street and road construction
?Drainage and land clearing
?Septic tank installation
OFFICE AT STOPLIGHT AT HOLDEN BEACH
(919)842-3190 (919)842-2564
OFFICE HOME
* ? X* '? f <~.P SVSV ? m A con