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Business Partners of the Year: Ocean County
2010—Dawn Food Products
Dawn Foods has a longstanding partnership with Ocean County Vocational Technical Schools. The company, along with the New Jersey Bakers Board of Trade, has stored and transported the equipment culinary arts students need for SkillsUSA competitions for more than 20 years. Dawn Foods also donates all the food products needed for students' entry in the SkillsUSA commercial baking and wedding cake competition every year. The company also donates the outstanding student award to the bakery and pastry program every year, and supports the Pastry Arts program with demonstrations by their baking technicians, sales representatives and Manager Joe Soboti. The company's commitment to the education of district sfudents and baking industry is exemplary.
2009—Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 9
Training Coordinator Timothy Fox and Instructor John Bennett have worked extensively with the Ocean County Vocational School District during the past year in preparation for the school's new plumbing program. They have met with district staff and advised them on how to set up the shop, helped to order supplies, materials and equipment. All of this was needed to start the plumbing program. They were experts who were gracious and generous in offering their time and expertise.
2008—Tuckerton Seaport
The Ocean County Vocational Technical School partnership with the Tuckerton Seaport allows students from the Marine Academy of Technology and Environmental Science (MATES) to gain extensive learning experiences about the natural resources of the Barnegat Bay. The Seaport has also employed several students as interns during the summer, providing students with valuable lessons in skills and seamanship that will last a lifetime. The Tuckerton Seaport, once known as the Barnegat Bay Decoy and Baymen's Museum, has evolved into a 40-acre historic maritime village located along historic Tuckerton Creek.
2007—Perlmart, Inc.
The Perlmart, Inc. family of Shop-Rite stores has been a strong business partner of the Ocean County Vocational Technical School district for over ten years. With six stores in Ocean County, their employees annually provide students with work-based learning experiences, host field trips, offer job-shadowing experiences, serve as guest speakers in the classroom, and work as student trainers in the school-based learning environment. Perlmart, Inc. also provides representatives to career-based advisory committees, enabling courses to stay current with industry trends. Through the opportunity to work within their stores, hundreds of students have gained the confidence and skills necessary to become valued employees. Perlmart, Inc. has an excellent human resource staff that offers students employment. For graduating students, Perlmart, Inc. recognizes their accomplishments by annually presenting scholarships.
2006—Pine Belt Chevrolet
Pine Belt Chevrolet Shop Foreman Steve Zboray has gone out of his way to accommodate students and instructors at Ocean County Vocational Technical School (OCVTS). Each year, he has allowed OCVTS to send 60 students to job shadowing and CIE experiences. Representing Pine Belt Chevrolet, Mr. Zboray has served on the General Advisory Committee, Automotive Advisory Committee and participated in professional development activities. Since 1990, Pine Belt has hired many students and provided them with training opportunities. The company participates in the Automotive Youth Education Systems program, providing junior OCVTS students the opportunity to gain dealership experience. Mr. Zboray and his mechanics have also served on the NATEF certification and recertification teams.