ICTC business, industry staff focuses on ‘helping people’

While there may be those who don’t need help succeeding in business, they may be the exception. At least that’s the perspective of Indian Capital Technical Center’s Business & Industry Services staff.

That’s why Kathy Adair, director of business and industry services and adult career development, and her staff work with companies in Sequoyah County and neighboring counties.

“Indian Capital is like a threelegged stool — they have the fulltime programs, the night classes and our business and industry leg. That’s what we represent.” she told those who attended Wednesday’s Sallisaw Chamber of Commerce monthly membership luncheon at the Wheeler Event Center.

“What we do is work with companies within our district — and that includes Sequoyah County as well as Adair County, Muskogee County and all the counties — and provide training for the companies,” she explained.

And that’s where Industrial Coordinator Jerry Hooper takes center stage.

“The things I’m over is industrial maintenance training, which if you talk to anyone in industry, they’re lacking those type of people that have those skills,” he said after presenting a five-minute video about what ICTC’s B&I programs offer and how they assist companies.

“It’s helping people, that’s what it’s all about. Without the right people, these companies or organizations, they just don’t work. So that’s what we’re about is training those people and helping them get those skills that they need to be successful at their job.”

Hooper is also an outreach trainer in safety for the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), and provides training for volunteer fire departments. ICTC also offers supervisory training and, a new program, CDL training.

Additionally, a free service offered is helping those who want to become part of the bid process for doing business with the federal and tribal governments, teaching all the strategies companies need to succeed.

“We help people do business with the federal government and the tribal, state, local entities,” said Katey Blair, ICTC’s bid assistance coordinator. “The premise is to get you prepared to receive the correct consulting that you’re gonna need to enable your business to capture those contracts from the government, for the state or tribal.”

Blair told chamber members that she and Fabiela Kemble, coordinator for the Oklahoma Procurement Technical Assistance Center, will shepherd companies through the bideligibility process.

“We’re gonna be with you to hold your hand. We’re not gonna do it for you, but we’re gonna show you how you can be self-sufficient, expand your business to the next level and, ultimately, be able to continue and grow,” Blair said.

Member of the Month The Sallisaw Chamber of Commerce announced its January member of the month as JRT Trucking, which has been in business since 2006. While the company’s main focus is frac sand delivery for oilfield exploration, JRT also utilizes its fleet of more than 120 trucks in various other avenues, working in Oklahoma, Arkansas and six other states. The company has working contracts and extensive relationships with oilfield exploration elite companies such as Halliburton and many more. JRT’s corporate office is in Sallisaw, with another hub in Greenwood, La.

Upcoming events • Members’ Night Out is Feb. 4 at The Rink. Theme for the event is “Saturday Night Fever.” Cocktail hour begins at 6 p.m. The dinner buffet begins at 6:45 p.m. Call 775-2558 for reservations.

• 58th annual Sequoyah County Junior Livestock Show is Feb. 15-17 at the Sequoyah County Fairgrounds.