Winter 2023

Our Be Pro Tour Operators Alisha and Justin are having a terrific semester -- we have recently surpassed a lifetime total of 25,000 visitors who have experienced the Mobile Workshop, and we aren't done yet! All of us at Be Pro Be Proud SC love hearing from students after a fun day on campus; these are just a few of the cards and letters that we have received post-visit.

In addition to handwritten notes and social media mentions, we occasionally receive pictures and videos from the school teachers and administrators themselves. Here is one recent submission, from Beechwood Middle School in Lexington. In addition to creating the video, students provided enthusiastic feedback about their experience:

"This was an amazing experience to get to learn about new opportunities and to have a fun time throughout the day. This has been one of the best experiences I have had in all of middle school!" -Karla C.

"I loved the entire experience. Not only were we able to learn trades and various jobs, but we had lots of fun with it too. I totally recommend this to anyone and everyone.  P.S. Truck Driving is hard!"  -Jonathan H.

 Click on the picture to play the video:

Pictured from left to right: Angel T., Jonathan H., Mrs. Stacy Clarke (8th-grade guidance counselor), Karla C., Billy E., & Mrs. Shannon Boatwright (8th-grade teacher)

Are YOU a Be Pro Partner?
If the answer is YES, then CHECK THIS OUT....

One of the Benefits of Partnership is the chance to talk with students DIRECTLY.
Are YOU doing that?
 

Follow these easy steps:

1. Look at the BPBPSC schedule regularly to determine when the Mobile Workshop will be near you.
2. Create special handouts/business cards to give to students with info about your company, job openings, benefits, training/certification requirements, etc.
3. Consider bringing a table and tent or a piece of equipment/machinery to set up outside the Mobile Workshop to enhance student experience.
4. Email SuzAnne at SuzAnne@BeProBeProudSC.org to secure your preferred day.
5. Enjoy meeting some of SC's next generation of workers and making a BIG impression on them!

SEFL’s Richard Bogan Retires
SCTA honors an extraordinary servant leader
 

“SCTA has been very fortunate to have had Richard Bogan, Senior Vice President, Southeastern Freight Lines, as a standout, cornerstone leader for the past decade. His legacy of effort will extend well beyond that.
 
Richard enthusiastically gave unfettered time, access, engagement, invaluable coaching and advice. Association leaders crave and thrive on that.
 
He joined our Board of Directors in 2012, served as chairman in 2019, and chaired the board of the Associated Industries of SC Foundation in the years since. Richard and Southeastern (including recently-retired “Technical Advisor” Lee Long) provided SCTA and its AISCF and five-organization Steering Committee the confidence, assurance, and resources to forge ahead and pursue the Be Pro Be Proud workforce initiative.
 
He grew to understand and appreciate the critical role SCTA and its members must play in matters of public policy advocacy and political engagement.
 
A true servant leader, Richard has been a much relied-upon and valued ally, advocate, and friend.
 
We wish Richard and Judy all the best in this next life-phase, and we invite them to continue to visit and engage with us.
 
Richard, thank you for extraordinary service to and support of SCTA and the 'trucking industry.' By extension we thank Tobin Cassels, the epitome of the servant leader, for sharing and empowering Richard as well."

    - J. Richards Todd, SCTA President & CEO

Do YOU have GOOD NEWS to share?

Be Pro Be Proud SC wants to celebrate Partner successes and Be Pro relevant happenings in every community in South Carolina!

Email SuzAnne at SuzAnne@BeProBeProudSC.org with pictures from visits to the Mobile Workshop, with employee successes, and with exciting new hires from our local next generation of workers. We want to be a true partner to our supporters and will include as many Good News Stories as we can on our website, in social media, and through our newsletters.

Let's celebrate success TOGETHER!

We have taken advantage of opportunities during the 2022-23 school year to get in front of school administrators, counselors, teachers, and students to spread the word about the efforts of Be Pro Be Proud SC and to find ways to partner with other groups who share our goals.

Through February 2023, we have attended the following events:

• the all-day Creating Career Connections seminar for teachers and counselors hosted by Midlands Education and Business Alliance (MEBA) -- we also hosted a breakout session at this event;
• the two-day Business and Industry Showcase geared towards 8th-graders in the Midlands at the State Fairgrounds (also hosted by MEBA);
• and the two-day Pathways 2 Possibilities Showcase in Myrtle Beach for 8th-graders in ten northeast SC counties.

On the schedule for the remainder of the school year are several more events of a similar nature: two days in Columbia at Saluda Shoals Park, a two-day event in Charleston, and an evening event in Aiken. The Mobile Workshop will not be in attendance at these events, but we will have materials to provide to interested attendees and will be promoting the Be Pro goals to students, parents, and school officials all the same. We also intend to have a strong presence at the SC Education and Business Summit in Greenville at the end of June.

Additionally, we are now a lead sponsor for a MEBA-led event in May at Segra Park called High School to Hired, which is similar to our Arkansas Be Pro counterpart's Draft Day events. The goal of the High School to Hired event is to match graduating seniors with local businesses to secure employment opportunities immediately upon graduation for those students not intending to enter post-secondary education or the military. A smaller version of this was hosted last year in one school district, with 75% of the participating students receiving job offers as a result of the event. This year's event will encompass all of Lexington, Richland, and Fairfield counties; we look forward to participating in its success and continuing it into the foreseeable future.

If you have any information about upcoming events that you think Be Pro might want to join, please reach out to SuzAnne at SuzAnne@BeProBeProudSC.org.

is happy to be partnering with

To find out how YOUR company can participate in this upcoming hiring event,
email SuzAnne at

SuzAnne@BeProBeProudSC.org

or click here to register.*

*Deadline to register is Friday, March 10th. Contact SuzAnne if you miss this deadline to see if there is room available for additional company participation.

What is Apprenticeship?

Apprenticeships are an "earn-while-you-learn" training model that combines structured on-the-job training, job-related education, and a scalable wage progression. These apprenticeships are a great opportunity for students to get their foot in the door before graduating high school. They also benefit companies by bringing new employees into the business early in their careers, when they are open to being trained the way YOU want them trained. 

Interested in starting an apprenticeship for YOUR company/organization? An Apprenticeship Carolina consultant will speak with you at no cost, working with you on the following steps:

• Understand the registered apprenticeship training model
• Identify existing models for your occupations of interest
• Connect you with appropriate resources to assist with your program
• Draw up your Standards and Training & Education outline based upon your input
• Submit your registration paperwork to the USDOL for full recognition in the National Registered Apprenticeship System
• Assist you with program updates as your workforce needs evolve

If you would like to learn more about Apprenticeship Carolina or get an apprenticeship started for your company, please click the link below to get started and find your consultant. 

Learn More about Apprenticeship Carolina

Let's Get Social!  

Join us on LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram for informational posts about Mobile Workshop visits, recent happenings in the Skilled Trades universe, and updates about BPBP partners and businesses around the state. Click on the logo or the link for each platform to get started.

Once you have liked or followed the BPBPSC social media accounts,  PLEASE SHARE the posts you see on our page within your OWN sphere...LET'S GET THE WORD OUT! To change the perception of the Skilled Professions, to generate the respect that EVERY worker deserves, and to close that Skills Gap, we need MAXIMUM reach....this means YOU!

But WAIT...there's MORE!

We are always looking for PROS to highlight on social media and in publications such as this one; do YOU know any skilled tradespeople who deserve some recognition?
Email SuzAnne at SuzAnne@beprobeproudsc.org with their name and contact info (with their permission, of course!) and tell us why you believe that we -- and the world -- should know about them!

A Heartfelt THANK YOU To Our Sponsors!

Thank you again for your support as we attempt to
CLOSE THE SKILLS GAP, ONE STUDENT AT A TIME.
We couldn't do any of this without YOU!
~ SuzAnne

Be Pro Be Proud SC