Training Agreement Signing Ceremony Held July 17
Power Partners, a leading manufacturer of pole-type distribution transformers, diversified in 2007 its product portfolio and began manufacturing a lightweight, roof-mounted solar water heater whose design enables easy installation by professional installers and do-it-yourselfers.
Diversifying from the manufacture of electrical transformers to solar water heaters is a natural extension of Power Partners' mission, according to Sherrie Ford, chairman and majority owner of the company. "Power Partners continues to serve the power industry, but by going green, we're stepping forward and doing something positive to mitigate global environmental challenges. Being a leader is a role each of our employees eagerly embraces. Solar thermal is an industry that is growing significantly each year, and the Power Partners Solar water heating systems offer many advantages to environmentally aware and cost-conscious residential, commercial and industrial users."
Quick Start is Georgia’s internationally acclaimed economic development program that provides customized workforce training at no cost to qualified new, expanding and existing businesses in Georgia. Since 1967, Quick Start has trained more than 600,000 employees through 5,100 projects with a broad range of industries.
The Quick Start training agreement was developed based on a Project Study that was conducted at the Power Partners in Athens, Ga. The training agreement is based on Power Partners’ commitment to providing jobs for Georgians and investing in the economy of the Clarke County area. Quick Start will be designing and developing training material, as well as providing instructors, for the classes.
The training program involves three distinct partners: Power Partners, Athens Technical College and Quick Start. Each partner will be responsible for the successful completion of this program. The partnership will not end when the Quick Start training is completed. Athens Technical College will be available to assist Power Partners with ongoing training programs.
Dr. Flora Tydings, president of Athens Technical College said, “We are pleased to be working with Power Partners. Clarke County is extremely important to us at Athens Technical College.”