Learn more about the Georgia Work Ready initiative at www.gaworkready.org

Dr. Ellen Harvill Honored as Work Ready "Administrator of the Year"

Columbus Technical College Director of Community Education and Professional Development Services, Dr. Ellen Harvill, has been named the best of the best for her Work Ready field. During an awards luncheon sponsored by Governor Sonny Perdue and the Governor’s Office of Workforce Development on October 29, Dr. Harvill was named the “Administrator of the Year” for the Georgia Work Ready initiative.

October 29, 2008: Columbus Technical College’s Dr. Ellen Harvill receives her Georgia Work Ready “Administrator of the Year Award” from Chairman Mark Musick of the Governor’s State Workforce Investment Board.

In her nomination form for Dr. Harvill, the Vice President of Administrative Services for Columbus Technical College, Betty Jackson, wrote: “Ellen actively schedules her Work Ready activities around plant operating schedules, high school block schedules, and college course schedules to ensure that no customer is denied access at the time they need it. Follow-up calls to applicants not achieving gold level are standard practice where she orients that applicant to opportunities available both in the classroom and on-line for skill development training.”

Dr. Harvill was humbled by being named Administrator of the Year. She gave much of the credit to her hard-working staff members. “I was thrilled when the Governor’s office announced the Georgia Work Ready initiative because my staff and I had been administering work keys for several years,” Dr. Harvill said. “We understood the impact this credential could and would have in the state. I have been very fortunate to have a staff who were ready and willing to make this initiative a success in our area.”

Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue said, “Together we are providing richer job opportunities for Georgians and delivering larger dividends to the companies that call our state home. Work Ready demonstrates that Georgia knows what it is going to take to be competitive in the future and we are preparing our workers and companies today.”

Georgia’s Work Ready initiative is based on a skills assessment, certification and skills gap training for job seekers and a job profiling system for businesses.

Other big winners at the Georgia Work Ready Awards luncheon were:

Jefferson County, GA – Certified Work Ready Community
Solo Cup Company and Toppan Interamerica – Work Ready Businesses of the Year
Joy Anthony, Daniel Griffith and Zane McElroy – Work Ready Success Stories
Athens Technical College’s Economic Development Team – Work Ready Job Profiling Team of the Year
Tammy Hufstetler – Work Ready Administrator

For more information on the Georgia Work Ready initiative, visit: www.gaworkready.org.

Local Media Coverage:

"Ellen Harvill of Columbus Tech Honored as Work Ready Administrator of the Year." Northland Neighbors. November 12, 2008 (pdf).