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Business Partners of the Year: Sussex County
2010—McGuire Chevrolet Cadillac (Jim Swistack)
Jim Swistack is the general service manager for McGuire Chevrolet Cadillac. He has donated tools, information, and personal time to meet with Sussex County Technical Schools students to demonstrate General Motors processes and to personally help students complete projects. He has shown students that businesses need career and technical education schools and students as much as the schools and students need employers, and he has provided work opportunities to students who demonstrate the characteristics GM and McGuire seek in future employees. Mr. Swistack has served as a liaison between the students and the manufacturer of GM products for repair information. He has provided insight into dealer responsibilities, service schedules, technological information, and repair processes. He never hesitates to answer questions and calls often to check students' progress in the auto shop to see if he can lend a hand.
2009—Wayne Van Horn
Wayne VanHorn has worked with Sussex County Technical School in a advisory capacity and cooperative employer for the last 10 years. Well over 15 students have been employed during that time. Many of the students were from our special needs population and Mr. Van Horn took the special challenge and helped to make all the students successful in their work experience. He should be recognized as a great supporter of Sussex County Technical School.
2007—MKP Architecture Inc.
MKP Architecture Inc. has been a valuable business partner to Sussex County Technical School since 2003. Throughout the years, the company has employed students of the computer-aided drafting and design program (CADD) and shared their professional knowledge and expertise with students. MKP Architecture owners Thomas Makris and John Kedzierski have advised Sussex County Technical School in many areas including curriculum, evaluation, and professional development; served as members of the CADD Advisory Council; provided invaluable suggestions to the instructor; and conducted simulated student interviews on Career Day. The support that MKP provides to the school has made a significant difference in the lives of many of the students and benefited the faculty.
2006—Ideal Industries
Roseanna Reese, Senior Area Sales Manager for Ideal Industries, provides ongoing support services to the Electrical Trades shop at Sussex County Technical School. She hosts an annual training seminar that culminates in a "Conduit Bending" contest between Electrical Trades and Environmental Systems (HVAC) students. Ideal Industries donates electrical tools as prizes for this contest, which has been an annual event for the past 10 years. Ms. Reese is a liaison between our Electrical Trades shop and the electrical industry and has arranged for our instructor and students to receive invitations to dinner meetings with local electrical unions. Last year, Ms. Reese was instrumental in establishing a scholarship, which was awarded to a graduate from our Electrical Trades program. She maintains an outstanding rapport with the students, who look forward to future "Conduit Bending" contests and scholarship opportunities for many more years to come.