Earlier this week, to no one’s surprise, Georgia Ports announced it had posted another record year, moving 3.3 million containers in 2014.
Good for our ports — and good for anyone looking for a job in Savannah’s fast-growing logistics industry.
Now Savannah Technical College has joined forces with the state’s Workforce Development Division and Coastal Workforce Services to introduce a program for qualified students to earn a Warehouse and Distribution Specialist certificate.
The eight-week Fast Track Warehouse and Distribution Specialist course combines classroom instruction and online learning with hands-on safety and operations skills practice in a “living lab” warehouse environment.
Kevin Werntz, vice president for economic development at Savannah Tech, said the college has collaborated with nearly a dozen regional warehouse and logistics companies to develop a curriculum that meets their needs. Among the companies onboard are Home Depot, Dollar Tree, Coastal Logistics Group, Schneider Truckload and Transportation Services, Matson Logistics and Nordic Cold Storage.
Reggie Sykes, retired director of operations for Georgia Ports Authority, will teach the course.
“This course will cover the major areas of importance for the warehouse and distribution industry, including global supply chain logistics, safety and equipment operation and ‘pick and pack’ procedures,” Werntz said.
Students who successfully complete the course will get a minimum of two interviews with participating companies, he said.
The initial pilot course, which will begin Feb. 10, will be sponsored by the Georgia Department of Economic Development. Subsequent courses will be under the auspices of the Coastal Workforce Services. The course, funded through a federal Workforce Investment Act grant, is free to qualified individuals.
“To qualify, you must be either unemployed, underemployed or dislocated — meaning your job has been eliminated,” said Odie Donald, executive director of Coastal Workforce Services.
“You don’t need to have specific skills — we will give you those skills. But you do need to have a keen interest in being employed in the field,” Donald said.
“We’re extremely excited about this program,” he said. “It’s the first time we have brought partners from business, education, the state and community together to address this kind of need.
“This is a huge step in putting people to work and sustaining an important industry.”
To apply or learn more about the course, call Janet Jones at 912-658-8527 or email jjones02@savannahga.gov.
Senior business reporter Mary Carr Mayle covers the ports for the Savannah Morning News and savannahnow. She can be reached at 912-652-0324 or at mary.mayle@savannahnow.com.
Following are the ships expected to call on Georgia Ports Authority’s Garden City and Ocean terminals this week. Schedules are supplied by GPA and are subject to change.
TERMINAL VESSEL ETA
GCT GOLDEN UNITY Today
GCT MSC SHANGHAI Today
GCT MSC SARAH Today
GCT NYK METEOR Today
GCT MAERSK COLUMBUS Today
GCT GOLDEN UNITY Today
GCT MSC SHANGHAI Today
GCT MSC SARAH Today
GCT NYK METEOR Today
GCT MAERSK COLUMBUS Today
OT UNDINE Today
OT PARSIFAL Today
GCT HYUNDAI SUPREME Saturday
GCT MAERSK DAMIETTA Saturday
GCT MAERSK KOTKA Saturday
GCT MOL PARADISE Saturday
GCT ZIM SAN FRANCISCO Saturday
GCT MSC SINDY Saturday
OT OCEANPRINCE Saturday
GCT DURANDE Sunday
GCT NEW DELHI EXPRESS Sunday
GCT NYK DEMETER Sunday
GCT ATB FREEPORT Sunday
GCT MSC VANESSA Sunday
OT MASUREN Sunday
GCT KOBE EXPRESS Monday
GCT HANJIN MALTA Monday
GCT APL AGATE Monday
GCT HANJIN ELIZABETH Monday
GCT GUANG DONG BRIDGE Monday
OT ITHAKI Monday
GCT CAFER DEDE Tuesday
GCT MSC VIENNA Tuesday
GCT EVER LIVING Tuesday
GCT YORKTOWN EXPRESS Tuesday
GCT ZIM COLOMBO Tuesday
GCT YM ELIXIR Tuesday
GCT YM MOBILITY Tuesday
GCT APL ANTWERP Tuesday
GCT HANJIN DURBAN Tuesday
GCT ZIM TEXAS Wednesday
GCT ANNA MAERSK Wednesday
GCT UASC JEDDAH Wednesday
GCT ISLANDIA Wednesday
GCT GRASMERE MAERSK Wednesday
OT UNIVERSAL BARCELONA Wednesday
GCT MSC INGRID Thursday
GCT ZIM SHANGHAI Thursday
GCT HANSA ARENDAL Thursday
GCT NYK DELPHINUS Thursday
GCT MOL MATRIX Thursday
OT GRANDE CONGO Thursday
OT ELLIE Thursday
OT FIDELIO Thursday