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AN INTERVIEW WITH
Sherry Maddock

  The Georgia Employer Committee would like to share with its viewers the EMR's who are vital to the success of the Local Committees throughout the State. This month we meet and talk with EMR Sherry Maddock of the Griffin Career Center.

 

Tell us your name, your Career Center and how long you’ve been an EMR?

SM: - Sherry Maddock, Griffin Area Employer Committee (GAEC), Griffin Career Center.

 

Do you have any special talents, hobbies or interests you’d like to share?

SM: - I love to travel, attend theatre, cook and bake. I am very involved in IAWP (International Association of Workforce Professionals) our professional association. When I am not working I spend time on do it yourself projects at home with my pet family, currently 3 dogs and 3 cats.

 

What led you to your position as an EMR and why?

SM: - My work experience is in Human Resources management and marketing andI have worked in healthcare, hospitality and government sectors. Since moving to Georgia I have always been involved in community activities with other local employers and community agencies. After working for the Department of Labor for three years the EMR position came available and it seemed like a natural progression to make use of my former experience.

 

What do you believe is unique about your Employer Committee?

SM: - The Griffin Career Center serves the five county area of Spalding, Butts, Pike, Lamar and Upson. The area consists of a mix of businesses, industry and local government agencies on the south side of the Atlanta MSA, blending rural areas with pockets of industry. During the last several years we have lost textile and manufacturing plants and are working to replace those employers and retrain the workforce to compete in a higher skilled more diverse economy. We are fortunate in having easy access to three campuses of Southern Crescent Technical College, Gordon College and the University of Georgia Griffin Campus.

 

What do you believe is your Employer Committee's biggest challenge for your area, regarding the workforce?

SM: - The Griffin Area Employer Committee currently has 56 members representing banking, industry, education, government and other service providers. In recent years we have planned and sponsored educational seminars for employers, Veterans benefits seminars and Job/Career Fair Expos. The committee also participates in local charity events for the holidays and has just started a program to visit area nursing homes and collect canned foods for food pantries in the counties we serve.
We have a core of very dedicated members but are trying to increase the number of employers regularly attending the bi-monthly meetings to improve the networking aspect of the group. One of the biggest challenges is to make sure we offer meaningful information to our members so they feel their time is well spent. The other challenge is involving employers from all five counties due to the travel distances involved .

 

Has your Employer Committee received any awards or special recognition?

SM: - The Griffin Area Employer Committee has received the following awards:
1990 – 2nd Runner Up for “Committee of the Year”
1994 – Runner up for “Project of the Year”
2000 – Runner up for “Committee of the Year”
2003 - 2nd Runner Up award for “Project of the Year” .

 

What community activities do you participate in as an EMR?

SM: - I belong to the Griffin-Spalding Chamber of Commerce, Butts County Chamber of Commerce, Pike County Chamber of Commerce, Barnesville-Lamar Chamber of Commerce and the Thomaston-Upson Chamber of Commerce and attend Governmental Affairs, Manufacturer’s Roundtable, Workforce and Education Development Alliance meetings, and Business After Hours events regularly.
I also serve on the boards of the Butts County Life Enrichment Team (Vice-President), The Pike County Community Resource Network (Secretary), Griffin-Spalding County Schools Education and Career Partnership Advisory Board; and am an active member of the Griffin Spalding Interagency Transition Council, Pike County Interagency Transition Council, Lamar County Family Connection Collaborative, and Spalding County Collaborative and Spalding Work Ready Committee.
I also participate in various health and career fairs, the Spalding County Kiwanis Fair, Bike Race Across Georgia, and other charity fundraisers, and ribbon cuttings welcoming new businesses to the area.

 

What do you enjoy most about your job?

SM: - I enjoy being involved and feeling I am truly making a positive contribution to improving lives of the citizens and families in my community. Each day I learn more from business and community leaders, and am able help to build relationships between seemingly disparate groups to think and act more regionally to make a tangible difference.

 

In the future what would you most like to accomplish as an EMR

SM: - To be involved in expanding employment opportunities in the region by helping to: 1. attract new employers through community development activities, 2. support existing employers through information exchange, building a more regional perspective, and developing a more skilled workforce, and 3. insuring that lifelong learning, training and re-training are viewed as attainable options to expand opportunities for every member who wants to work.

 

What future trends do you see in employment needs for your area?

SM: - I see an increase in entrepreneurship as a positive trend coming from the loss of local textile and manufacturing jobs and the current focus on education and re-training. Training and education will continue to be the key components of success for citizens and employers, whether in manufacturing, technology, heath care, or research and development. Our schools are stepping up to insure that students are planning ahead for life and career after school by learning early about career paths and the responsibility for self directed learning. I also see on-site training becoming more attractive to employers, to bring the ready supply of applicants up to the necessary skills levels.

 

Griffin Career Center Staff