At a glance: Latest updates from across Northwest Georgia

F&P Georgia, a tier one automotive parts supplier located in Rome, is working with Georgia Northwestern Technical College to provide its workforce with an increased set of skills and potential for better career advancement within the company. A new internal program called “Jr. Tech Pool” gives F&P Georgia employees the opportunity to advance their career and education. In order for an employee to be in the Jr. Tech Pool they must be enrolled in, or have already completed, the Industrial Systems Technology diploma program at GNTC. “We have always strived to advance the technical skills at our facility by using GNTC as a recruiting tool,” said Michael Brown, kaizen group manager at F&P Georgia. “This has resulted in advancement greater than anticipated, including a variety of valuable skills and resources.” Employees that are part of the Jr. Tech Pool program work as associates with F&P Georgia, take courses at GNTC, and work beside technicians to receive hands-on experience. Once a Jr. Tech position becomes available, F&P Georgia selects an associate from the Jr. Tech Pool to fill the position. “Sixty-one percent of our current production technicians and kaizen engineers were developed internally in partnership with GNTC,” said Brown. Approximately 17 graduates from GNTC are currently employed at F&P Georgia. Some were already employed and began taking courses at GNTC, while others were GNTC students that were directly recruited by F&P Georgia. “F&P Georgia’s involvement in our community to fill the pipeline for their future workforce is only one of the initiatives that has allowed this company to expand five times and continue a path of solid and stable growth,” said Ken Wright, director of Business and Industry Services at the Greater Rome Chamber of Commerce.