Albany Technical College has officially launched its new Center for Business Solutions (CBS), which will serve as an extension of the College's Economic Development division to provide expanded business solutions for area employers.

Dedicated to improving workplaces around all of Southwest Georgia, CBS will focus heavily on providing customized business training and continuing education, as well as provide outlets on the college campus for venues and services to clients.

Whether it is workforce skills, technical skills or professional development, the Center for Business Solutions at Albany Tech can design, develop and deliver training solutions to specifically meet the needs of any area businesses and within each company's time frame. Solutions are always customized to company-prescribed guidelines and delivered how, when, and where it is convenient to each business.

"At our new Center for Business Solutions, we are dedicated to providing solutions to improve your business operations and impact your bottom line," said Matt Trice, Vice President for CBS at Albany Tech.

With the existing program offerings at Albany Tech, including Business Logistics, Lean Six Sigma, Operations Management, and the upcoming Project Management Program, the Center for Business Solutions provides comprehensive workforce training solutions and professional development for area employers and their employees.

The Business Logistics program through CBS has been called one of the best logistics educational online programs in this region. The program's goal is to teach the next leaders the business of logistics, which is more important than ever in ensuring our goods and services are delivered at the right time, place and costs in the global marketplace.

Lean Six Sigma offers both green and black belt certifications through CBS's partnership with The Quality Group in Atlanta. This program is designed to equip individuals with the methodologies and tools that will enable them to make, at times, dramatic improvements to processes that can reduce waste, improve effectiveness, and raise profitability. And, in comparison to other institutions offering Lean Six Sigma, Albany Tech's program remains the lowest in the state and is HOPE Grant eligible.

Operations Management is a new program that will be offered through CBS in January 2013. This program is designed to plan, direct, or coordinate the operations of public or private sector organizations. Individuals earning the associate degree in Operations Management will complete the educational requirements for Certified Associate Project Manager (CAPM®) and have the opportunity to complete other requirements for certification testing. CBS will also offer PMP® certification and CAPM® certification in a non-credit offering for individuals and companies needing this specialized training.

Individuals earning the associate degree in Operations Management will complete the educational requirements for Certified Associate Project Manager (CAPM®) and have the opportunity to complete other requirements for certification testing. CBS will also offer PMP® certification and CAPM® certification in a non-credit offering for individuals and companies needing this specialized training.

An additional program to be offered by CBS in January is Project Management. This program will consist of a blended format utilizing online components, as well as in-class lab experiences. Major subject areas will include Initiating, Planning, Executing, Monitoring and Controlling, and Closing the project. This conforms to the educational requirements of the Project Management Institute for sitting for the PMP® certification exam.

Those in the current workforce can continue their education through CBS classes such as Entrepreneurship, CPR Certification, Forklift Training, and several computer classes. Additional opportunities through continuing education include Vehicle Escort Certification, Driver's Education Courses, and Commercial Truck Driving (CDL).

Through the Center's new Pearson VUE Testing Center, individuals can test for licensure, certification and assessment programs from around the world, including the I/T Exam and General Education Development (GED®) test.

Event planning and catering services will also be offered through CBS. Facilities such as Albany Tech's Kirkland Conference Center, Logistics Auditorium, Executive Boardroom, computer labs and classroom space are available for rental by area employers and businesses. A new catering service – Titans Culinary Cuisine – will be launched to provide the finest quality food and service to those businesses needing catering for events both on and off campus at Albany Tech.

For more information about CBS, visit http://cbs.albanytech.edu. You can contact them by calling 229.430.3563 or emailing [email protected].