Chamber of Commerce

BacktoWork I BY MICHAEL JAENICKE Miller-Motte provides necessary training to local people n an economic climate that features temporary and long-term layoffs, downsiz- ing and higher production with fewer workers, there is an alternative for the dis- placed and unemployed. Miller-Motte Technical College is providing a blueprint to quickly train All-America City residents and get them back to work. Few who enter the school's programs are left behind for jobs they likely never envisioned a few short years ago. "Our retention rate is in the 75 percent range and placement rate after graduating is near the 70 percent threshold," said David Sessoms, regional campus director. "I like to call us a hidden secret. We have many, many marvelous success stories, but my theory is if you don't look for it, you'll never find it." Miller-Motte offers programs in barbering, cosmetology, esthetics, criminal justice, med- ical assisting, phlebotomy, bill and coding, office assisting and paralegal studies. The pro- grams are generally shorter in length than college and community colleges, and specialize in the essential skills, principals and the hands-on fundamentals of a trade. "The key to our success is hiring a quality staff," Sessoms said. "Life happens and you have to understand what students are going through. They have a desire to learn. They want to get out into their fields and work. They want to go directly from the classroom to a career." Most students at Miller-Motte are in the 27 to 30 years old range. Single mothers, mili- tary personnel and disabled veterans represent a big portion of the student body popula- tion of 770. "But the truth is we don't market to an age range," Sessoms said. "The market finds us and it can vary from time to time and year to year." 22 | ACCENTS • 2012/2013

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