Andrew Powell of Perkinston hopes to one day own a business repairing diesel engines.  He is a student at the West Harrison County Center and is in the Heavy Equipment Maintenance Technology program.

“I’ve always wanted to own a business and completing this program should help me get there,” he said.  “Engine repair is something there will always be a demand for and I hope to offer a quality service.”

He currently works at Empire Trucks as a service technician.  He has used the skills learned through the college’s Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP) to help him become a better employee.

MGCCC has the opportunity to develop a new QEP every 10 years as part of its reaffirmation of accreditation. The QEP is designed to improve an area of student learning or student success in a significant way through a college-wide, multi-year initiative. The current QEP focuses on essential skills training, which is offered in MGCCC career programs.  The essential skills focus on soft skills sought by employers including attendance/punctuality, speaking, and listening.

“The QEP has made a huge difference in the way I approach work,” Powell said.  “I have always been punctual, realizing that is definitely something my employers sought. I was not as aware that communication skills are just as important to being a good employee. In fact, communication skills are vital at work and at home.”

Because he hopes to one day open his own business, he said the QEP Essential Skills he has learned as part of his program have proven even more important.  “I know what I will be looking for in hiring new employees and certainly hope that I can teach any employees I have how important these skills truly are.  When working with big equipment, you want good communication between supervisors and employees and employees with each other.  It could be dangerous otherwise.”