posted May 7, 2008
East Tech Company President and CEO Roger Layne is funding two scholarships amounting to $3,000 for Chattanooga State Technical Community College students in machine tool technology and mechanical engineering technology.
The students holding the scholarships will serve apprenticeships at East Tech by working part-time in the evening.
Mr. Layne recently presented the scholarships to Chattanooga State President Dr. Jim Catanzaro.
The scholarships are part of East Tech’s Vocational Education Initiative, said Layne, who is partnering with Hamilton County schools and CSTCC to support high-tech manufacturing training education in area schools.
The program includes monthly plant tours of East Tech, a design and manufacturing firm, by Hamilton County middle school and high school students, a vocational video featuring local manufacturing companies and offering information for students about jobs available, pay scale, etc., and financial support for equipment upgrades for high school programs in manufacturing.
“We will develop a co-op program for high school students 18 or older who have good math and blue print reading skills and good attendance,” Mr. Layne said. “We will continue to offer a co-op program to CSTCC students who have completed six months of the machine tool technology programs. We’ve got a lot of exciting opportunities here that I don’t think kids know about these days. Our goal is to show kids that a career in high-tech manufacturing is a viable option.”
East Tech Company, Inc. offers precision engineering and custom-manufacturing, using the latest CNC (computerized numerical control) machining technology, for applications in the power generation, asphalt paving, water treatment, automotive, textile and medical industries.
Business doubled the first two years after East Tech opened its doors in 2004 Mr. Layne started the company in a 10,000-square-foot building with a $1.2 million investment and $700,000 in state-of-the-art equipment. Three years later East Tech moved to a new 30,000 square foot building in Centre South Riverport Industrial Park.
The company, whose customers include TVA, Westinghouse, Roadtec and Alstom Power, was named one of the 100 Fast-Growing Companies in Tennessee in 2007 by Business Tennessee magazine.
In addition, East Tech was a finalist for a Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce Small Business Award and recently received the annual U.S. Chamber of Commerce Blue Ribbon Small Business Award in Washington, DC.
The U.S. Chamber award honors businesses that demonstrate excellence in financial performance and business history, staff training and motivation, community involvement, customer service and business planning.
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