The Oklahoma Association for Career and Technology Education (OKACTE) recognized top industry partners for training and employing thousands of Oklahoma workers through CareerTech programs at an awards banquet at the Oklahoma Summit this month.
Pioneer Technology Center selected the Ponca City Fire and Life Safety Council for their valuable partnership in assisting with training future fire, law enforcement and industrial safety personnel.
Lieutenant Governor Matt Pinnell spoke at the event about the importance of CareerTech for the future of Oklahoma. “This system has invested in our workforce & economic development for over a century,” remarked Pinnell.
The mission of PTC’s Partner for Progress is to promote fire prevention and life safety through education and events intended to improve the quality of life for all citizens in Kay County. Fifteen years ago, this council, in alignment with their mission, began the vision to build a local training facility. The group began raising funds for many years to follow.
It was 2017, when Pioneer Tech became a partner in this vision for Kay County and in December of 2018, the PTC Board of Education approved the plan to build an Emergency Services Training Center on the eastern side of its property.
The Ponca City Fire and Life Safety Council’s investment in the initiative and expertise in design assistance as well as their monetary contribution were instrumental in bringing the project to life. The building was designed specifically to meet the training needs of firefighters, law enforcement as well as industrial safety for North Central Oklahoma. The joint venture had strong support from area industry, agencies and volunteer fire departments, and it fulfilled the continued mission of the Ponca City Fire and Life Safety Council. Through their contribution and shared vision of the training center’s success they became and continue to be a valuable partner in this endeavor.
The 44-foot training center is multifunctional allowing for increased usage among industry and service agencies. Safety training is an additional aspect that PTC’s business and industry clients will benefit from to advance safety skills and preparation opportunities which can be customized to meet specific needs. Other areas of training include Wind Energy and Law Enforcement.
Both PTC and the safety council continue to serve each other and support growing areas of safety and emergency services in the district and beyond.
Traci Thorpe, Superintendent/CEO of Pioneer Tech said, “Our partnership with the Ponca City Fire and Life Safety Council has changed our campus for the better. We offer more and can assist our district fire, law enforcement and safety industry essential training. This is a well-deserved award, and we value our collaboration with this team of professionals!”
PHOTO: The Oklahoma Association for Career Technology Education recognized top industry partners for training thousands of workers through CareerTech programs at the annual Partners for Progress awards in Oklahoma City. Pictured left to right in the back-row Oklahoma State Representative Ken Luttrell; Oklahoma Senator Bill Coleman; Johnny Thornburgh, Industrial Coordinator at PTC; and Jake Pierce, P66 Emergency Response Specialist. Front row left to right Molly Kyler, Executive Director of Business and Industry Services at PTC; Bart Snyder, Emergency Response Lead/Fire Chief P66; Brett Smith, Executive Director of Operations for Ponca City Schools; Traci Thorpe, Superintendent/CEO at PTC; and Gary Vap, Firefighter/EMT Instructor at PTC.