PREFERRED VENDOR/PARTNER n Good Samaritan Hospital www.stmarys-health.org St. Mary’s Good Samaritan Hospital is a 25bed critical access hospital in Greensboro, GA, offering services like general surgery and 24/7 emergency care. Our board-certified physicians provide specialty services locally, with seamless access to advanced care at St. Mary’s Hospital in Athens when needed. preparing students for meaningful careers through hands-on experiences and stronger ties with the business community. Over the next 18 months, he plans to expand work-based learning opportunities that connect students with local industries. “By the time they’re juniors, I want students spending part of their day at school and part of it working in the field,” he explains. To make these experiences successful, Ellenberg is committed to ensuring students train with equipment and supplies that reflect real-world industry standards. “We want lab experiences to mimic what’s happening in the workplace,” he says. This means partnering with local businesses to address equipment and resource needs. Ellenberg encourages companies to reach out to schools and ask how they can contribute. “If you’re in welding, ask the school if they need electrodes. If you’re in construction, think beyond laborers—ask if there’s a student in the business and technology pathway who could be your future office manager.” Ellenberg emphasizes that these collaborations benefit students and businesses. By engaging with schools early, companies can shape the skills of future employees and even establish internship pipelines that extend through college and into full-time roles. “Businesses need to get plugged in now,” he stresses. “The more involved you are now, the better prepared students will be to meet your needs when they graduate.” With his eyes on these objectives, Ellenberg is working to ensure Greene County students have access to opportunities that prepare them for success—and that local businesses see the schools as vital partners in their growth and sustainability. 274 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 06, ISSUE 01
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