21 Businesses Honored by County Vocational-technical Schools

A student working at Gilchrist and Soames, whose plant manager, David Baron, was named Business Partner of the Year by Middlesex County Vocational and Technical Schools.

New Jersey businesses have been stepping up their education outreach by offering hands-on work experience to high school students in the county vocational-technical schools.

Recently, those schools honored 21 business partners with 2019 Business Partnership Awards for their contributions to career and technical education. The honorees serve on county vocational-technical school program advisory boards, offer students opportunities to gain valuable work experience, donate equipment, or serve as mentors and role models for students.

“We could not fulfill our mission of providing relevant career and technical education without the active involvement of businesses and employers in our communities,” said Scott Moffitt, the president of the New Jersey Council of County Vocational-Technical Schools and the superintendent of the Morris County Vocational School District.

“These business partners help our county vocational-technical schools develop strong career and technical education programs for our students,” Moffitt said. “At the same time, these employers devote their time and energy to our schools because they understand the critical need to develop a technically trained workforce for their industries and New Jersey’s economic future. This is really a win-win for everyone involved.”

NJBIA has maintained a successful partnership with the NJ Council of County Vocational-Technical Schools to promote career and technical education as a way to close New Jersey’s skills gap. Such education requires the direct involvement of businesses to ensure that students are learning the skills they will need in today’s workplace and get the hands-on experience they need to make their lessons meaningful.

Since 2001, awards have been presented to business partners by the individual county vocational technical school districts during the month of December. Here’s a look at the 2019 Business Partners of the Year and the schools that honored them:

• Atlantic County Institute of Technology recognized Atlantic City Electric, whose employees serve on the vocational-technical school’s advisory board.
• The Bergen County Technical School District honored Michael Hern of Luxury Living by Michael Hern Real Estate.
• Burlington County Institute of Technology honored Holman Automotive, which has offered students the opportunity to participate in Holman University.
• Camden County Technical School District honored Vanessa A. Ravenelle, MHS, the ombudsman/community liaison for state Superior Court in Camden County.
• The Cape May County Technical School District honored Cape May County Fire Training Academy, which has provided vital guidance to the district’s advisory board, as well as collaborative planning and curriculum review for the past four years.
• Cumberland County Technical Education Center has recognized Morey’s Piers, which operates a classic seaside amusement park in Wildwood. Family owned and operated since 1969, Morey’s is run by second generation Morey brothers, Will and Jack.
• The Essex County Schools of Technology honored the New Jersey Manufacturing Extension Program (NJMEP), a nonprofit organization that works with manufacturers in the state to improve their productivity and efficiencies, reduce costs and enhance employee performance
• Gloucester County Institute of Technology (GCIT) honored C. Schultes, which specializes in the development of groundwater and surface water resources in the Mid-Atlantic region.
• Hudson County Schools of Technology honored Louis Gargiulo Co., Inc., a third-generation family-owned and operated business specializing in industrial, commercial, and municipal construction.
• Hunterdon County Vocational School District recognized Sumner Siecke, the owner and operator of Hunterdon Horizons Excavating, a full excavating and septic installation company based in Flemington.
• Mercer County Technical School honored the Princeton Plasma Physics Lab, a U.S. Department of Energy research facility affiliated with Princeton University.
• Middlesex County Vocational and Technical Schools honored David Baron, plant manager at Gilchrist & Soames, a soap manufacturing facility.
• The Monmouth County Vocational School District honored the Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office, led by Sheriff Shaun Golden, for its partnership with the Academy of Law and Public Safety.
• The Morris County Vocational School District honored Chilton Medical Center, a 260-bed hospital in Pompton Plains that has provided allied health students with internship opportunities that enable them to work with healthcare professionals in nearly every hospital department.
• Ocean County Vocational Technical Schools honored Yamaha Motor Corp., which partners with technical colleges and high schools nationwide through its Yamaha Marine University to help foster qualified marine technicians.
• Passaic County Technical Institute honored Scott Barna, the president of Route 23 Auto Mall, a Ford dealership in Butler.
• Salem County Vocational Technical School honored the Salem County Sheriff’s Office, which includes the Department of Emergency Management, Emergency Medical Services, the 911 Call Center, the Fire Academy and the Correctional Facility.
• The Somerset County Vocational & Technical School  District honored Prestige Medical Solutions, a private vocational institute in North Plainfield that specializes in career training for the medical profession.
• Sussex County Technical School honored Thorlabs, a high-tech photonics manufacturing facility in Newton.
• Union County Vocational-Technical Schools honored Dr. Susan Rele, the owner of AmeriCare Physical Therapy, which has multiple locations in Union, Somerset and Middlesex counties.
• Warren County Technical School honored welders Dino Forst and William Heins, who have served on the district’s welding advisory committee for a number of years.

Recently, those schools honored 21 business partners with 2019 Business Partnership Awards for their contributions to career and technical education. The honorees serve on county vocational technical school program advisory boards, offer opportunities for students to gain valuable work experience, donate equipment, or serve as mentors and role models for students.

“We could not fulfill our mission of providing relevant career and technical education without the active involvement of businesses and employers in our communities,” said Scott Moffitt, the president of the New Jersey Council of County Vocational-Technical Schools and the superintendent of the Morris County Vocational School District.

“These business partners help our county vocational-technical schools develop strong career and technical education programs for our students,” Moffitt said. “At the same time, these employers devote their time and energy to our schools because they understand the critical need to develop a technically trained workforce for their industries and New Jersey’s economic future. This is really a win-win for everyone involved.”

Cape May Tech students at Cape May County Fire Training Academy, which was named a Business Partner of the Year by Cape May County Technical School District

NJBIA has maintained a successful partnership with the NJ Council of County Vocational-Technical Schools to promote career and technical education as a way to close New Jersey’s skills gap. Such education requires the direct involvement of businesses to ensure that students are learning the skills they will need in today’s workplace and get the hands on experience they need to make their lessons meaningful.

Since 2001, awards have been presented to business partners by the individual county vocational technical school districts during the month of December. Here’s a look at the 2019 honorees:

• Atlantic County Institute of Technology recognized Atlantic City Electric, whose employees serve on the vocational-technical school’s advisory board.
• The Bergen County Technical School District honored Michael Hern of Luxury Living by Michael Hern Real Estate.
• Burlington County Institute of Technology honored Holman Automotive, which has offered students the opportunity to participate in Holman University.
• Camden County Technical School District honored Vanessa A. Ravenelle, MHS, the ombudsman/community liaison for state Superior Court in Camden County.
• The Cape May County Technical School District honored Cape May County Fire Training Academy, which has provided vital guidance to the district’s advisory board and as well as collaborative planning and curriculum review for the past four years.
• Cumberland County Technical Education Center has recognized Morey’s Piers, which operates a classic seaside amusement park in Wildwood. Family owned and operated since 1969, Morey’s is run by second generation Morey brothers, Will and Jack.
• The Essex County Schools of Technology honored the New Jersey Manufacturing Extension Program (NJMEP), a nonprofit organization that works with manufacturers in the state to improve their productivity and efficiencies, reduce costs and enhance employee performance
• Gloucester County Institute of Technology (GCIT) honored C. Schultes, which specializes in the development of groundwater and surface water resources in the Mid-Atlantic region.
• Hudson County Schools of Technology honored Louis Gargiulo Co., Inc., a third-generation family owned and operated business specializing in industrial, commercial, and municipal construction.
• Hunterdon County Vocational School District recognized Sumner Siecke, the owner and operator of Hunterdon Horizons Excavating, a full excavating and septic installation company based in Flemington.
• Mercer County Technical School honored the Princeton Plasma Physics Lab, a U.S. Department of Energy research facility affiliated with Princeton University.
• Middlesex County Vocational and Technical Schools honored David Baron, plant manager at Gilchrist & Soames, a soap manufacturing facility.
• The Monmouth County Vocational School District honored the Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office, led by Sheriff Shaun Golden, for their partnership with the Academy of Law and Public Safety.
• The Morris County Vocational School District honored Chilton Medical Center, a 260-bed hospital in Pompton Plains that has provided allied health students with two- to three-days-per-week internship opportunities, allowing students to work with health care professionals in nearly every hospital department.
• Ocean County Vocational Technical Schools honored Yamaha Motor Corp., which partners with technical colleges and high schools nationwide through its Yamaha Marine University to help foster qualified marine technicians.
• Passaic County Technical Institute honored Scott Barna, the president of Route 23 Auto Mall, a Ford dealership in Butler.
• Salem County Vocational Technical School honored the Salem County Sheriff’s Office, which includes the Department of Emergency Management, Emergency Medical Services, the 911 Call Center, the Fire Academy and the Correctional Facility.
• The Somerset County Vocational & Technical School District honored Prestige Medical Solutions, a private vocational institute in North Plainfield that specializes in career training for the medical profession.
• Sussex County Technical School honored Thorlabs, a high-tech photonics manufacturing facility in Newton.
• Union County Vocational-Technical Schools honored Dr. Susan Rele, the owner of AmeriCare Physical Therapy, which has multiple locations in Union, Somerset and Middlesex counties.
• Warren County Technical School honored welders Dino Forst and William Heins, who have served on the district’s welding advisory committee for a number of years.