Farley, Alliance Pickens Honored For Workforce Education Efforts

Ray Farley, the Executive Director of Alliance Pickens, was recently presented with the “Outstanding Business and Industry Friend of Career and Technology Education Award” by the South Carolina Association of School Administrator’s Career and Technology Education Division.
The annual award is given to a member to the business and industry community that has demonstrated his or her support for career and technology education.  In Farley’s case, it was his dedication to strengthening the relationship between the business and education communities that stood out.
“There have been many relationships built with existing businesses as Ray’s staff organizes meetings and visits to our center.  Many students have been offered internships, co-ops and full time employment resulting from meetings and visits he has organized,” said Leonard Williams, director of the Pickens County Career and Technology Center, who is also responsible for nominating Farley.
“Through these visits many positive connections and partnerships have been formed with our local businesses.  He is truly an ambassador for our school and for the students in Pickens County.”
While the recognition of the efforts to promote career and technology is gratifying, Farley is quick to mention that strengthening the local workforce through training and education is always a priority for Alliance Pickens.
“Providing Pickens County companies with a highly-skilled and technically trained workforce is crucial to our efforts at Alliance Pickens,” Farley said.  “Modern manufacturing techniques require workers that understand mathematics, mechatronics, robotics and other technically advanced processes and our Pickens County Career and Technology Center plays a crucial role in educating local students in those areas.”
“Receiving this award from South Carolina’s school administrators serves as validation of the efforts undertaken by Alliance Pickens, the Pickens County existing industry community and the School District of Pickens County to strengthen our future workforce.”