[Clinton, N.C.] – Sampson Community College’s (SCC) Heavy Equipment Operator (HEO) program recently partnered with T.A. Loving Company of Goldsboro, N.C. to provide professional development training for their employees. Their collaboration is a testament to the high-quality operator training provided by SCC and desire to provide workforce training to meet industry demand.
Ashley Grimes, Heavy Equipment Instructor at SCC, mentioned that TA Loving reached out to the College upon hearing about the success of the HEO program. After an introductory visit to campus to see the training site, SCC’s HEO team sat down with BJ Brewer, EHS Field & Training Director, and other members of the company to discuss training needs and career advancement opportunities.
“We sat down and discussed their training needs and explained to them how our team at SCC could help TA Loving meet their training goals,” Grimes recalled. “They were looking to train new employees and current employees on heavy equipment operation, maintenance and safety. They also trained on proper trenching techniques, backfilling, and proper loading techniques of dump trucks.”
With 100 years of construction experience in higher education, healthcare, and civil infrastructure, T. A. Loving Company is a proven local leader in the construction industry. Brewer remarked that his employees have given nothing but positive feedback from the training received at SCC and have recommended the HEO course to anyone seeking to operate heavy equipment.
Jamall Sims, one of the T.A. Loving employees, expressed, “This class is great, it is definitely needed for a beginner just learning or even for a person that needs to sharpen their skills.”
Similarly, Zach Stancil, said, “I really enjoyed the class, It taught me a lot of things that I didn’t know about equipment such as maintenance, fluids and inspections, stuff that I should have known from the start.”
Kevin Young, another operator at T.A. Loving concluded, “Everyone at TA Loving that operates a piece of equipment or even wants to run a piece of equipment needs to take this class.”
In the future, SCC and T.A. Loving plan to continue their partnership, having already received a request to provide more employee training from the company. Grimes hopes that industry partners continue to see the value in the HEO program, as it continues to grow and meet needs across North Carolina.
“We have worked hard to stand this program up,” closed Grimes. “I feel we have the proper equipment and instructors in place to provide the best possible training for the construction industry. Without partners like TA Loving this would not be possible. Their input and knowledge helps us to create an ever-changing program to meet the needs of not only TA Loving but other industry partners.”
Similarly, Brewer thanked, “I would like to thank SCC for the time spent with our employees during our 1st Equipment Operator Training for TA Loving. This partnership with Sampson Community College has helped us to be able to provide our employees with the training that they need for career advancement. Thank you for all your willingness to help us with this training. I look forward to working with SCC in the future as we continue this partnership.”
Sampson CC is grateful for their partnership with T.A. Loving and the opportunity to assist in the professional development of their workforce. The College looks forward to continuing their partnership and hopes to continue to aid industry partners with career advancement.
For more information about the Heavy Equipment Operator program at SCC, visit www.sampsoncc.edu/heo
About Sampson Community College: Sampson Community College is a member of the North Carolina Community College System, located in Clinton, NC in Sampson County. The college offers many programs to include two-year degrees, college transfer, continuing education and workforce development options and early college education. SCC is committed to the principles of equal educational and employment opportunities for all.
