Philips Professional Luminaires Wins State Award for Worker Training
Friday, December 04, 2009 | 06:06am
Dept. of Labor & Workforce Honors Company
NASHVILLE –Tennessee Department of Labor & Workforce Development Commissioner James Neeley presented the third annual Jim Alford Memorial Award for Outstanding Incumbent Worker Training to Philips Professional Luminaires North America, Sparta, Tennessee. The award publicly acknowledges the exceptional efforts of a Tennessee business that has provided incumbent worker training through the Incumbent Worker Training program. Philips Professional Luminaires North America received a $24,925 to train more than 165 workers in Lean Manufacturing, Basic Switch & Router Configuration, Total Production Maintenance and Hydraulics and Pneumatics Trouble Shooting. They are projected to create 20 new jobs and save 264 jobs by providing this training.
The Jim Alford Memorial Award is given to companies that enhance job skills and personal development, help prevent downsizing, create new jobs, prevent relocation while increasing the profitability of the company and improve short-term and long-term wage levels of the employees being trained. The award is given in memory of Jim Alford, former director of employer services for the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development. His hard work and dedication helped train more than 24,000 employees. Alford passed away in 2007.
"I am honored to give this award to Philips Professional Luminaires North America,” said Commissioner Neeley. “This industry leader has gone above and beyond the call of duty to provide workplace training in tough economic times, and as a result they have been able to add and stabilize jobs for employees. I know Jim Alford would be proud of the hard work Philips Professional Luminaires North America has done.”
The Upper Cumberland Human Resource Agency played a key role in assisting Philips Professional Luminaires North America in winning the Jim Alford Memorial Award and assisting them with the Incumbent Worker Grant program.
The Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development administers the Incumbent Worker Training program. The following criteria must be met to qualify for the training program. Employers must be in operation in Tennessee for at least one year prior to application date. Employers must have at least five full-time employees, demonstrate financial viability and be current on all state tax obligations. Funding priority is given to businesses whose grant proposals represent a significant layoff avoidance strategy and represent a significant upgrade of skills.
*Photograph of Commissioner James Neeley presenting the Jim Alford Award to Lisa C. Norris, Human Resources Manager with Philips Professional Luminaires North America in Sparta, Tennessee, available upon request at (615) 741-2257.
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