Twenty-seven technical college executives from across the state of Georgia just graduated from the Technical College System of Georgia’s (TCSG) Executive Leadership Academy. Hank Griffeth, Vice President for Satellite Operations of Central Georgia Technical College was among the 2007 academy class graduates.

Participation in the academy is selective and by invitation only. Griffeth was nominated to attend the academy by his college president, Ronald D. Natale, and then approved by the Executive Leadership Academy’s board of directors.

Currently in its second year, the intensive, ten-month academy is held on technical college campuses across Georgia and is designed to acquaint participants with the leadership and managerial responsibilities of TCSG executives. While the program is specifically geared to the policies and procedures of the TCSG, the curriculum is sufficiently broad in scope to have application to public two-year colleges in any state and includes topics ranging from ethics and board operations to institutional effectiveness, accreditation issues, strategic planning, and more.

“Our focus is to use the academy to develop the next generation of great leaders for Georgia’s technical colleges,” said TCSG Commissioner Ron Jackson. “The academy’s programs are ideal for providing these rising executives with unique opportunities to obtain valuable leadership experience.”

Jackson also had high praise for the academy participants. “I can tell you first hand that this class possesses superb leadership talents and an intense dedication to technical education,” said Jackson. “This group was very poised, and each possesses exceptional skills and strengths that will carry our system forward in the years to come.”

Last year, more than 6,500 instructors educated 152,000 students enrolled at the 33 colleges of the Technical College System of Georgia. The colleges offer more than 600 degree, diploma and certificate programs in a variety of fields including the growing and in-demand career areas of healthcare, aerospace, life sciences, energy and the environment, and agribusiness.