More businesses join WSCC Powerful Partnerships program

Hanceville, Ala. — Three more companies have signed on the dotted line to join the Powerful Partnerships program at Wallace State Community College, providing their employees with benefits and training specific to their needs

LP Building Solutions, NAFCO and YKTA each recently joined the Powerful Partnerships program. The agreement is designed to assist the partnering companies through customized training, employee educational opportunities and the development of a talent pipeline to fill current and future workforce needs.

Ryan McCuiston of NAFCO said joining the Powerful Partnership program is a way to provide more opportunities to their employees.

“We just want to provide the best benefits to our employees and their family members to take advantage of these opportunities that are available to them to further their careers and continue to provide those opportunities moving forward,” McCuiston said.

Shawn Merritt of YKTA said they will make use of Excel training classes for their employees and have plans for interview preparation and Spanish classes as well.

“It just makes sense to join the partnership and tap into those benefits,” Merritt said. “We have employees who are training to be team leaders, so they are really excited about taking part in the interview class because it’s something they don’t learn in school.”

“LP Building Solutions is excited to sign the Powerful Partnerships with Wallace State,” said Lora Kent Gilliland. “We have already enjoyed the benefit of utilizing the Workforce Training Center for our Leadership Training and we are working on getting some excel courses for our employees that need it to help them in their day-to-day work. We would be remiss to pass up on this opportunity.”

Benefits provided to businesses and industry that join the Powerful Partnership program include: 

• 10 percent tuition discount on up to six credit hours in academic courses for degree and certificate seeking students and Pro Skills Workforce training courses per semester for employees and their immediate families.
• Complimentary evaluation of previously earned educational credits, training and professional certifications and work experience for consideration of prior learning towards academic credit
• Complimentary access to meeting spaces at the Wallace State Workforce Training Center  
• Wallace State Alumni Memberships for up to five employees  
• Special sponsor rate for the Wallace State Future Foundation Student Investment Luncheon  
• Access to a pipeline of workers prepared for internships, apprenticeships, and employment through priority registration for Industry Comes to Wallace State  
• A Powerful Partner registration rate for the annual WSCC Career Fair  
• Featured as a Powerful Partner through various marketing avenues  
• A role on Wallace State’s program advisory boards and Business and Industry Leadership Teams (BILTs) to provide guidance for instructional technology 
• Opportunity to receive access to Athens State University’s Learning Partnership program  

This comprehensive set of benefits ensures that businesses are not just passively involved but actively engaged in shaping Wallace State’s educational programs to better meet industry demands. By participating in advisory boards and leadership teams, companies can directly influence the development of future workers, creating a well-prepared labor force that meets their specific needs.   

For more information about the Powerful Partnerships program and how your business can get involved, email Bethany Campbell at Bethany.Campbell@wallacestate.edu or call her at 256.352.8372.  

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About Wallace State

Wallace State Community College (Ala.), a member of the Alabama Community College System, is a comprehensive community college in north central Alabama offering more than 200 options in academic, health and technical programs of study leading to an associate degree, certificate or transfer, as well as workforce-credit training and adult education. An Achieving the Dream Leader College, nationally recognized by the Aspen Institute as a finalist for the 2025 Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence, ranked by Southern Business and Development among the Top 3 institutions in the South for workforce development, named a Center of Excellence by the National League for Nursing and the National Security Administration, rated the Top Online Community College in Alabama, a Military Friendly Institution and an All-Steinway School, Wallace State is an outstanding place for students to pursue their education and career goals. Classes are offered online and on campus, day, evening and on weekends, with numerous start dates each year. Visit Wallace State’s beautiful main campus located on 300-acres in Hanceville, Ala., our satellite location in downtown Oneonta, Ala., find us online at www.wallacestate.edu, or call 256.352.8000.