Canadian Valley Technology Center Hosts
State Legislators and Business and Industry Professionals

By Mena Ganesan
Canadian Valley Technology Center

Canadian Valley Technology Center (CVTC) recently hosted local business and industry leaders and state legislators for a roundtable discussion on the mutually beneficial relationship of career and technology education centers, local businesses and state legislators.

		Six technology centers from the northwest part of the state attended the meeting: Northwest Technology Center, High Plains Technology Center, Autry Technology Center, Chisholm Trail Technology Center, Western Technology Center and Canadian Valley Technology Center. “We had a lot of positive comments from our business and industry leaders and our legislators about this meeting,” said Dr. Earl Cowan, CVTC Superintendent.  “The meeting was an excellent forum for the tech centers to give our legislators a better idea of the how business and industry and the tech centers benefit each other in each of our tech districts.” Dr. Phil Berkenbile, Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education State Director, opened the meeting with an update from the state office.
From Left to Right: Canadian Valley Technology Center Superintendent Earl Cowan; Senator Mike Johnson; CVTC Asst. Superintendent Clark McCaskill; Security Solutions CEO Bill Dillard, Mustang; CVTC Business and Industry Director Bill Hulsey

Mr. Patrick McGregor, Executive Director, Oklahoma Association of Career and Technology Education & Oklahoma Association of Technology Centers closed the meeting with remarks from the two associations.

Legislators who attended were: Rep. Susan Winchester, Rep. Ray Young, Rep. Phil Richardson, Rep. Curt Roggow, Rep. Mike Jackson, Rep. James Covey, Senator Mike Johnson, Senator Patrick Anderson and Senator Ron Justice.

Business and Industry professionals who attended were: Ernie Courier, Enid mayor and vice president of Security National Bank; Jane Gaskill, Share Convalescent Home administrator; Gary Badgett, Badgett Corporation; Bruce Baade, Oklahoma Folding Carton Company; Rick Wallace, CEO, St. Mary’s Regional Medical Center; Marva Wohlgemuth, owner and office manager of Bramco, Inc.; Bill Spencer, Great Lakes Carbon management representative; Merle Patzkowsky, Mobile Products,Inc., general manager; Bill Dillard, Security Solutions; Daron Rudy, senior vice president of Central National Bank; Rick Lepa, plant manager and Mike Pantlik, human resources manager, Universal Trailer Corporation; Garen Martens, owner of Garen Martens Manufacturing Company; Mickey Quoetone and Chris Russo, Pro-Fab and Brian Hayden, vice president of Advance Food Company.