Oct. 5, 2018

2017 Workforce Development Salute to Honor Supporters of Greenville Technical College


The Greenville Tech Foundation will host the 2017 Workforce Development Salute on October 10, 2017. The annual event emphasizes the importance of developing a skilled labor pool for Greenville’s growing business economy and will honor community leaders for their significant contributions toward that effort. The 2017 honorees are Jim Benson, Stewart Spinks and Melvin Younts.

“It is important to recognize the role our honorees have played in seeing that Greenville Technical College can deliver the skills individuals need to qualify for some of today’s best jobs and the graduates employers need to succeed and grow,” said Dr. Keith Miller, president of Greenville Technical College. “We look forward to saluting leaders who assist us with our mission of driving personal and economic growth through learning.”

“We are grateful for the opportunity to recognize three individuals who have been advocates for workforce education in the Upstate,” said Ann Wright, vice president for advancement of the Greenville Tech Foundation. “As the business community in the Upstate prospers, it is more important than ever that we continue to provide workers with the skills and education they need to meet the demands of area companies. This event recognizes the outstanding efforts from community members to support this cause and helps us to fund scholarships and other critical needs of our students and Greenville Technical College.”

Jim Benson has given more than $5 million to equip and expand Greenville Technical College’s Benson Campus in Greer, which serves more than 2,500 students each year. Stewart Spinks has created two endowed scholarship funds and recently donated a Falcon 10 Jet airplane to the college’s Aircraft Maintenance Technology program. Melvin Younts has given generously of his time as a member of the Empowering Tomorrow Campaign Committee and recently, with his wife Dollie, donated more than $1 million to benefit the college’s Center for Manufacturing Innovation.

The Greenville Tech Foundation supports the efforts of Greenville Technical College to build programs to train and educate the labor force of the Upstate. The Foundation hosts this event annually to celebrate the successes of students, the efforts of the college, and the contributions of the businesses and community members in building the local workforce.

The Workforce Development Salute will be held on October 10, 2017 at 6 p.m. at the TD Convention Center. For more information regarding event sponsorships or tickets to the event, visit www.workforcedevelopmentsalute.org.