SAVANNAH – The State of Georgia recently honored Savannah Technical College with the Commissioner’s Recognition Award for model performance on the FY2015 Human Resources Audit. The award was given at the Georgia Department of Administrative Services Spring Human Resources Forum.

“Congratulations on the outstanding performance shown by your organization,” said Georgia Department of Administrative Services Commissioner Sid Johnson. “Savannah Technical College has shown itself as a model for others to follow in Classification Management and Recruitment and Selection. Your staff is commended for its diligence in ensuring effective implementation of HR policies and practices that help your organization attract, develop, and retain the talent needed to realize your core mission.”

The College was one of nine selected within the Technical College System of Georgia to participate in a human resources (HR) audit. The overall objective of the HR audit is to support state organizations in their efforts to build and maintain a qualified workforce by minimizing risks and encouraging best-practice operations within their HR program. The audit includes six modules. To earn the performance awards, the College scored 100% on the modules for Classification Management and Recruitment/Selection. The College’s scores exceeded the state average for the other four modules.

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Photo: Savannah Technical College HR employees stand with STC President Dr. Kathy Love. (Pictured left to right): STC Vice President of Administrative Services Sue Turner, STC HR Coordinator Desire Alexander, STC HR Coordinator Lakia Maxwell, STC Payroll Technician Samantha Allen, STC HR Director Melissa Banks, STC President Dr. Kathy Love. 

1605 | July 23, 2015
Media Contact: Amy Shaffer, APR
912.443.5512 or ashaffer@savannahtech.edu

SAVANNAH – The Georgia Board of Nursing has appointed Asha Anumolu, Savannah Technical College’s Department Head/Instructor of Practical Nursing, to serve on the Nursing Education Committee. Anumolu was appointed for a two-year term.

“It is an honor for Asha to be appointed as a leader in nursing education for the state of Georgia,” said STC Dean of Health Sciences H. Scott Kroell. “Her career-long commitment to excellence in nursing and curriculum expertise will be an asset for this volunteer board. Her service is a great example of Savannah Technical College’s commitment to serve our communities.”

Anumolu is a 1992 graduate of Georgia Southern University with a master’s of science in nursing with a specialization in maternal-infant nursing. She earned a bachelor of science in nursing from Columbia Union College in Silverspring, Maryland. At Jesus and Mary College in New Delhi India, she earned a bachelor’s of arts in economics & statistics with honors in 1982.

Prior to starting her career in education, Anumolu worked as a nurse for more than a decade and was a clinical nurse specialist at Brunswick hospital, and a staff nurse working in labor and delivery at Candler Hospital. She was a nursing instructor at the Georgia Southern University School of Nursing for 14 years, where she was active on committees and coordinated clinical placement of students at all three Savannah hospitals.

In 2008, Anumolu was named department head for the Practical Nursing program at Savannah Technical College. Anumolu completes annual accreditation reports for the Georgia Board of Nursing and the National League of Nursing. She revamped STC’s course curriculum to reflect the course competencies and accreditation requirements. She also instituted policies to maintain safe practice standards. She is consortium chair for the region and participates at state and national levels to review core curriculum for practical nursing.

Savannah Technical College’s nursing program has had an average 97.15% National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) passing rate for the last two years. This competitive admission nursing program prepares graduates to pass the NCLEX-PN to test to be an LPN and work in doctor’s offices, for the health department or for nursing homes. For more information on the LPN and other Health Sciences programs visit: savannahtech.edu/HealthSciences.

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#1604 | July 22, 2015
Health Sciences Academic Advisor: Cindy Cole
912.443.5721 or ccole@savannahtech.edu

Media Contact: Amy Shaffer, APR
912.443.5512 or ashaffer@savannahtech.edu

 

SAVANNAH – Savannah Technical College has selected H. Scott Kroell, Jr. as its Dean for Health Sciences. In this role, Kroell is responsible for managing initiatives related to the Health Science programs and instructional services including community, high school and college programs; E-learning and faculty department. He will also serve as a liaison between Academic Affairs and other units of the college.

“We are thrilled to have Scott Kroell as the new dean for our Health Sciences division,” said STC President Dr. Kathy Love. “His extensive leadership in health care, understanding of the value technical education provides for workforce development, along with his service to our communities made him the top candidate. He knows the health care needs of the communities we serve and will be a great leader for the College as it works to expand healthcare-related training in Liberty County.”

Kroell holds a master of health administration from Georgia State University and a bachelor of industrial engineering from Georgia Institute of Technology. He recently retired as Chief Executive Officer of Liberty Regional Medical Center in Hinesville, Ga., after two decades of service. He is a Fellow with the American College of Healthcare Executives, a board member of the Georgia Board of Nursing Home Administration, Healthcare Georgia Foundation and has been a member of the Governor’s Rural Hospital Stabilization Committee and Governor’s Ebola Task Force.

The Health Sciences division offers programs that prepare individuals for entry-level positions in the health-care community including: Dental Assisting, Dental Hygiene, Emergency Medical Services Professions, Health Care Assistant (Central Sterile Processing, Nurse Aide, Patient Care Technician), Health Care Science (for Dental Hygiene and Surgical Technology), Medical Assisting, Medical Coding/Insurance Data Entry, Phlebotomy, Practical Nursing and Surgical Technology. Some of these programs use a competitive entry process and require applicants to submit an application to be considered for acceptance into the program. The Division offers associate degrees to professional diplomas and technical certificates for programs that prepare graduates for careers in hospitals, dental offices, nursing homes and other health/illness care facilities, including home care.

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#1603 | July 17, 2015
Health Sciences Academic Advisor: Ebony Walker
912.443.5721 or ewalker@savannahtech.edu

Media Contact: Amy Shaffer, APR
912.443.5512 or ashaffer@savannahtech.edu

SAVANNAH – At its June 25 annual meeting, the Savannah Technical College Foundation Board of Trustees recognized long-serving members, announced leadership changes including a new Chair and Vice Chair and welcomed four new members.

Jennifer Abshire, Ben Price and Pete Liakakis were honored for their service to the Board.  All of them had served for more than ten years. Scott Center was honored for his long-time service to Executive Committee; he will remain a member of the Board.

Brian Foster, recently retired CEO of First Chatham Bank was announced as the new Board Chair; Sam McCachern, President and CEO of Thomas & Hutton was announced as the new Vice Chair. They, along with Past Chair Jim LaHaise, Secretary Helen Downing and Treasurer Stan Sparks constitute the Board’s Executive Committee.

Foster retired last year after a 45-year banking career. During his more than 25 years in Savannah, he served as chairman of United Way Campaign and board, chairman of the Chamber twice and chairman of SEDA. He was also the first chair of SDRA and of CHSA. He also served on the boards of Union Mission, Candler Hospital, and the Telfair where he is a committee chair for this year’s Telfair Ball. He is also a past President of the Rotary Club of Savannah.

McCachern is registered as a Professional Engineer in Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina.  His 29 years of experience includes site assessment, rezoning, preliminary engineering, permit applications, engineering design, contract documents and specifications, construction administration for a wide variety of projects.  He earned a BS in civil engineering from North Carolina State University and is Level II – Erosion and Sedimentation Control Program Certified.

Bill Dickinson, Lynn Marini, Michael Traynor and Ansley Williams were welcomed as new members.

Dickinson is a licensed, practicing psychologist in Savannah since the early 1980s. He is also the CEO and President of Wet Willie’s Management Corporation, one of our area’s fastest-growing businesses. He is also very active in the Savannah Riverfront Association and the Tourism Leadership Council. Dickinson is the driving force behind the Patrick Ansley Williams Scholarship Fund at Savannah Technical College and is also an Army veteran.

Marini is the Chief Executive Officer for The Center for Digestive and Liver Health and The Endoscopy Center, the largest gastroenterology practice outside of Atlanta for the past 12 years.  She oversees the finances, medical billings, operations, and compliance for the group. She has been responsible for new facility development and strategic planning and served as a consultant for other medical practices. She served more than a decade as Director of Operations for Physician Practice Management with St. Joseph’s/Candler Health System and had oversight of 20 primary care and internal medicine practices.

Traynor is the publisher of Savannah Morning News and has been with the newspaper for more than twenty years. He is the current chair of United Way of the Coastal Empire and serves on the Savannah Community Foundation, Union Mission, and Savannah Chamber Board among others.

Williams studied aviation engineering at Georgia Tech, but quickly found his way into the hospitality industry and has never looked back. Now owner, operator and partner in Live Oak Restaurant Group, which includes some of our area’s most successful restaurants, Williams has always been active in the community. He has been involved with Savannah Technical College for several years through the establishment of the Patrick Ansley Williams Scholarship Fund that honors his late son and supports students in hospitality and culinary arts.

Savannah Technical College Foundation, a 501(c)3 organization that raises funds to support Savannah Technical College, is currently involved in a $10 million campaign to support growth and expansion in precision manufacturing, health sciences, culinary arts and heritage tourism, technology and student support.

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#1602 | July 8, 2015
Media Contact: Amy Shaffer, APR
912.443.5512 or ashaffer@savannahtech.edu

SAVANNAH – Savannah Technical College has selected Dr. Charlene R. Ford as its Dean of Adult Education. In this role, Ford is responsible for establishing adult education programs for individuals and employers, promoting the program to public and private organizations and overseeing administration for assessment and placement test for all Adult Education students, as well as the English as a Second Language program, which serves more than 1,500 students annually.

Ford holds a Doctor of Organizational Leadership with a specialization in Educational Leadership from Nova Southeastern University, along with Education Specialist and a Master of Business Administration from the same institution. She also achieved a bachelor of Business Administration in Computer-Based Information Systems Management from Howard University.

Previously she was STC’s Adult Education Coordinator and Adult Education Transition Specialist. She also served as an adjunct instructor at Edward Waters College and Palm Beach State College in Florida. Her secondary education experiences include principal, assistant principal, CTE program specialist, and instructional support team leader with the School District of Palm Beach County, Florida and the Savannah Chatham County Public School System. She holds secondary and postsecondary certifications and has experienced the business community as a program coordinator with the Richmond Hill – Bryan County Chamber of Commerce.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, a person with a high school or GED® credential earns $10,000 more per year than a non-high school graduate. The income level increases substantially more for those who go on to complete a college certificate, diploma or degree program. There are more than one million Georgians who are 25 years of age or older and do not have a high school education or GED diploma. Savannah Tech’s Adult Education Program serves those who need to improve their basic literacy and math skills, improve their oral and written English, practice for the GED® test to attain a high school equivalence degree, and prepare for college. Instructors also help students with science and social studies test preparation for GED® testing.

Savannah Technical College teaches adult education classes in Bryan, Chatham, Effingham and Liberty Counties with multiple locations in each community. Registration for GED classes opens July 13 for classes beginning August 31. For information, contact Adult Education at 912.443.5446 or visit http://www.savannahtech.edu/cwo/GED_Adult_Education and look for the GED Computer-Based Testing Registration Information link.

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#1601 | July 8, 2015
Adult Education (GED Classes/Registration):
912.443.5446

Media Contact: Amy Shaffer, APR
912.443.5512 or ashaffer@savannahtech.edu