LEHIGH VALLEY, Pa.,
June 8, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Air
Products (NYSE: APD) literally had a front row seat today when
President Obama announced a major expansion of "Skills for
America's Future" at Northern Virginia
Community College in Alexandria, Va. The "Skills for
America's Future" program is designed to improve industry
partnerships with community colleges to maximize workforce
development strategies. Air Products' chairman, president and chief
executive officer, John E. McGlade,
was extremely proud to have the company invited to the event and
applauds the President for his dedicated efforts to strengthen the
country's workforce skills.
"I could not agree more with the importance President Obama has
placed on the workforce skills necessary to compete with companies
in this global economy. We are very passionate about workforce
development at Air Products to do our part to ensure a skilled
workforce for the competitiveness of the country and to support our
own future employment needs. Partnering with SkillsUSA has been an
excellent way for us to meet these goals," said McGlade. "We
believe the answer to help meet the challenging and changing needs
of the workforce is to take a creative and hands-on approach, and
to be actively involved in preparing the youth of this country for
the necessary technical and employability skills essential to
success."
Air Products was an invited guest to the President's skilled
workforce themed-event because of its many years of work with
SkillsUSA -- a nationwide partnership of industry and over 300,000
student and teacher members annually in career and technical
education programs dedicated to preparing America's highly skilled
workforce. Air Products and SkillsUSA work together served as
an example of a successful industry partnership with an
organization targeting the development of a highly skilled
workforce benefitting the manufacturing industry.
A White House news release on the President's speech highlighted
Air Products efforts with SkillsUSA as one of a number of
public-private partnerships that leverage the core competencies of
the technology sector, media companies, and federal agencies to
enhance these efforts through their own initiatives to bolster the
nation's manufacturing workforce. Specifically the release
stated: (The full news release can be found at:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2011/06/08/president-obama-and-skills-americas-future-partners-announce-initiatives.)
- Building These Credentials into High School Pathways:
Given that many students begin to seek manufacturing training
before college, Air Products, a global manufacturer serving
customers in industrial, energy, technology and healthcare markets
worldwide, is partnering with SkillsUSA to build partnerships in
3,500 member high schools and more than 200 colleges to adopt these
credentials in their schools.
Among many collaborative projects, Air Products has delivered
the first-ever "PlayBook," a how-to guide developed by industry for
industry to establish and build partnerships at the local level
between manufacturers and career and technical education schools.
Air Products and other industry partners will concentrate efforts
on building partnerships in many of the 3,500 member high schools
and more than 200 colleges, and with SkillsUSA's alumni network of
10.2 million. The consortium will also challenge schools and
colleges to include industry-recognized credentials in their Career
and Technical Education pathways and to champion credentials with
manufacturers and students.
Air Products has integrated support for SkillsUSA in a number of
ways with employees from around the country serving on technical
committees for the SkillsUSA Championships, and on task forces and
boards of state and local SkillsUSA chapters in California, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania and Texas. Air Products' employees are active in
judging local, state and national student competitions, and with
the SkillsUSA Youth Development Foundation. The company provides
financial support for SkillsUSA initiatives such as the
Professional Development Program, and is helping SkillsUSA build
its national network through support of the Alumni & Friends
Association.
In recognition of these efforts, McGlade was presented the
inaugural SkillsUSA CEO Champion of the Year award in October 2010. The CEO Champion award is to be
given each year to recognize the leadership of the chief executive
of an organization doing exemplary work in the creation and support
of America's highly skilled workforce. The award will also
recognize CEOs for their corporation's involvement in promoting and
supporting career and technical education.
About Air Products
Air Products (NYSE:APD) serves customers in industrial, energy,
technology and healthcare markets worldwide with a unique portfolio
of atmospheric gases, process and specialty gases, performance
materials, and equipment and services. Founded in 1940,
Air Products has built leading positions in key growth markets
such as semiconductor materials, refinery hydrogen, home healthcare
services, natural gas liquefaction, and advanced coatings and
adhesives. The company is recognized for its innovative
culture, operational excellence and commitment to safety and the
environment. In fiscal 2010, Air Products had revenues of
$9 billion, operations in over 40
countries, and 18,300 employees around the globe. For more
information, visit www.airproducts.com.
About SkillsUSA
SkillsUSA is a partnership of students, teachers and industry
working together to ensure America has a skilled workforce. It
helps each student excel. The nationwide organization serves more
than 300,000 high school, college and postsecondary students -- and
their instructors -- in training programs in technical, skilled,
and service occupations, including health occupations. SkillsUSA
has the active support of more than 1,100 corporations, trade
associations, business and labor unions at the national level. Over
9.9 million people have been members of SkillsUSA since its
founding as The Vocational Industrial Clubs of America in 1965.
SkillsUSA instructional programs teach leadership, citizenship and
character development to complement technical skill training. The
association emphasizes respect for the dignity of work, ethics,
workmanship, scholarship and safety. For more information, go to
www.skillsusa.org.
***NOTE: This release may contain forward-looking statements
within the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities
Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are
based on management's reasonable expectations and assumptions as of
the date of this release regarding important risk factors. Actual
performance and financial results may differ materially from
projections and estimates expressed in the forward-looking
statements because of many factors not anticipated by management,
including risk factors described in the Company's Form 10K for its
fiscal year ended September 30,
2010.
SOURCE Air Products