Tax Favored Benefits Makes Donation
(Okmulgee) – Using technology to teach technology — that was the inspiration
behind a recent gift to the new SouthWestern Association Industrial and
Farm Equipment Technician Training Programat Oklahoma State University
in Okmulgee, OK. The donor, a company that describes itself as a full
service employee benefits and retirement planning firm, Tax Favored Benefits,
Inc. (TFBI), presented an interactive whiteboard and projector to the program.
The SWA Program is a cooperative two-year college level student technician
education program that leads to an Associate in Applied Science degree
with a major in Industrial and Farm Equipment Technology.
David Wentz, Chief
Executive Officer of Tax Favored Benefits Inc., visited the campus to make
the donation and explained his company’s interest in the technician education
program. “We help 200 farm equipment dealershipsthroughout the United States,
and every time we visit with a dealer, we are told about their concern
regarding the number of technicians needed to help their businesses thrive.
This program addresses that concern and we wanted to do something aside
from our normal services to help them and the program be successful.”
“Industry
has been remarkably helpful with this program,” said David Martin, instructor
in the OSU-Okmulgee program. “We probably have one of the best advisory
boards at the University. We had more than 25business people here at our
advisory meetings to give us insight on what is needed, what we can do
to serve their needs and what they would be willing to do to help.”
Martin
says that the students currently in the program are from four different
states including Kansas, Texas, Missouri, and Oklahoma. He hopes to have
at least 20 students each year in order to meet the continuing industry
demand for new technicians.
The new technology is called a SMART Board and
is described by the manufacturer as the “world’s leading interactive whiteboard.”
By touching the large display, users can access and control computer applications
or multimedia platforms, including the Internet, CDs and DVDs. Martin
says it allows him to do things in a classroom that simply cannot be done
with older projector screens and a separate whiteboard. “I am able to draw
over pictures and diagrams,” Martin explains. “With a regular whiteboard
I had to turn the projector off, slide the screen aside, and then draw
any illustrations or diagrams. This new technology allows me to create
instant visuals for a quicker understanding. And, the board lets me save
the information and print it for hand-outs. It allows me to deliver a greater
amount of information in a shorter amount of time.”
The SouthWestern Association
program at OSU-Okmulgee provides technical education on agricultural and
industrial equipment and components and includes the latest developments
in: Engine Repair; Hydraulic Systems; Electrical and Electronic Systems;
Test Procedures and Diagnostic Tools. According to Division Chair Steve
Doede, since the program is dealer-driven, manufacturers and service providers
associated with the program now see the real interest that dealers have.
“They are coming on board with tools, equipment and training aids. It’s
a winning situation for everyone! We certainly appreciate the donation
by Tax Favored Benefits Inc. and look forward to creating with them our
own version of TFBI – Technology For Better Instruction.”
Oklahoma
State University - Okmulgee is known for its hands-on technical education,
world-class equipment and active partnerships with industry. Degree programs
are developed according to emerging educational and labor market needs.
Seventeen programs of study lead to Associate in Applied Science degrees,
three programs of study lead to Associate in Science transfer degrees,
and three programs lead to Bachelor of Technology degrees - Information
Assurance and Forensics, Instrumentation Engineering Technology and Civil
Engineering Technology. Through frequent advisory board meetings, corporate
partners make significant contributions to curriculum, faculty improvement,
equipment acquisition, internship experiences for students and employment
opportunities for graduates. OSU-Okmulgee also promotes economic development
among small Oklahoma firms by providing training and assistance with technology
deployment, financing, bidding and purchasing procedures.
For more information
call 918.293.4678 or 1.800.722.4471. Information also is available online
at http://www.osu-okmulgee.edu.
Sitting (L): R. David Wentz, CEO, Tax Favored Benefits Inc. Sitting (R): Jeff Flora, CEO, SouthWestern Association. Standing, left to right: Mike McCrate, owner of Tulsa New Holland; Tag Webb, Regional Manager of SouthWestern Association; David Martin, OSU-Okmulgee SouthWestern Program faculty; Roy Achemire, Program Chair, OSU-Okmulgee’s Heavy Equipment and Vehicle Institute.
