Blue Bird visits South Georgia Tech to recruit skilled workers

May 4, 2022

South Georgia Technical College Director of Career Services Cynthia Carter is shown above on the front row with Blue Bird Senior SR Business Partner Stephanie Thompson, Recruiting Manager Ashley Mixon, and Director of Training Robert Jason Carrigan along with SGTC Vice President of Academic Affairs David Kuipers. Shown on the back row are: SGTC Air Conditioning Technology Instructor Johnny Griffin, Aircraft Structural Instructor Jason Wisham, Precision Machining and Manufacturing Instructor Chad Brown, Auto Collision and Repair Instructor Starlin Sampson, Academic Dean Dr. David Finley, and three Aircraft Structural students.

Three representatives from Blue Bird Corporation in Ft. Valley, GA, visited South Georgia Technical College recently seeking to employ skilled workers for their bus manufacturing facility. Blue Bird is the leading independent designer and manufacturer of school buses, with more than 550,000 buses sold since its formation in 1927.

Robert Jason Carrigan, Director of Training, Stephanie Thompson, Senior HR Business Partner and Ashley Mixon, Recruiting Manager, were the officials from Blue Bird that met with South Georgia Technical College Career Services Director Cynthia Carter and SGTC Vice President of Academic Affairs David Kuipers as well as instructors and students from SGTC’s Commercial Truck Driving, Industrial Electrical, Welding, Air Conditioning Technology, Precision Machining and Manufacturing, Auto Collision and Repair, and Automotive Technology programs.

“We are hiring,” said Robert Carrigan, Director of Training for Blue Bird Corporation. “Some of the positions that we have difficulty filling are Class A Commercial Truck Drivers, Press Brake Operators, Precision Machining and Manufacturing, HVAC, Forklift Operators, Welders, Laser Turret, Mechanics for gas, diesel, propane, and CNG, body repairmen and automotive painters. We are here to meet with your students or recent graduates who are interested in a career with Blue Bird.”

Blue Bird employees have one common goal, to design, build, sell and service the world’s finest school bus. It takes multiple skill sets to manufacture a school business and Blue Bird provides unique opportunities for diverse professionals. The meeting with South Georgia Technical College officials was designed to help create a partnership that could lead to internships or jobs for SGTC students and graduates.

South Georgia Technical College has been providing the surrounding area with skilled technicians for nearly 75 years. It is one of only two technical colleges in Georgia with on-campus housing and offers students the “Complete College Experience” with over 200 associate degree, diploma, and technical certificate of credit programs.

For more information about South Georgia Technical College visit the website: www.southgatech.edu or visit the campuses in Americus and Cordele. Students can be job ready within eight weeks to two years and SGTC has a 99% job placement rate for graduates. Financial aid is also available.

The college is currently registering students for an eight-week summer semester. Classes begin May 25^th and will end July 28^th. Students can apply, enroll, and register now. An in-person registration day is set for Tuesday, May 24^th. To apply visit the website or contact the admissions office in Americus at 229-931-2394 or in Cordele, 229-271-4040. Fall semester begins August 18^th.