posted 5/21/98
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A memorial fund honoring the late founder of Oklahoma's acclaimed vo-tech system has recieved a $20,000 boost toward its $500,000 goal, thanks to the generosity of a Tulsa company.
State Vo-Tech Director Dr. Roy Peters, Jr., said the contribution by Commercial Finanical Services will be used to help fund an endowed chair in Oklahoma State University's College of Education honoring the late Dr. Francis Tuttle.
Tuttle, who passed away in February 1997, is given much of the credit for creating the state's vo-tech system. That system includes 54 state area vo-tech school campuses, nearly 1,300 high school vocational programs, and 14 skills centers operating in state prisons.
CFS has made extensive use of that system, especially its Training for Industry Program, said company co-founder Bill Bartmann.
"Vo-Tech has played a key role in helping us train our 3,700 Oklahoma employees," Bartmann said. "Our rapid growth has made employee training a continuing process and an absolute necessity for us."
CFS is Oklahoma's fastest growing private company and one of the fastest growing firms in the nation. It ranked eighth last year on Inc. Magazines's list of fastest growing companies.
Dr. Ann Candler-Lotven, dean of the OSU College of Education, praised the working relationship between the College of Education and the Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education. Their collaborative efforts continue to make a positive impact on education throughout Oklahoma.
"The Tuttle Chair will not only strengthen the existing collaborative efforts between Oklahoma's higher education aand vocational-technical systems, but also will provide an opportunity to bring the expertise of academic scholars and visiting corporate leaders to Oklahoma to serve students throughout the state," Candler-Lotven said. "CFS is truly making "dreams come to life".
Peters said he hopes that CFS's contribution will spur other Oklahoma companies into similar donations.
"Through this contribution, Mr. Bartmann and CFS have paid an enormous tribute to Dr. Tuttle and to our vo-tech system," Peters said.
