BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY RELATIONSHIPS

Introduction

The Business and Industry Services (BIS) staff is focused on meeting the needs of the district's customers. The BIS staff includes the BIS Director, the ACE Coordinator, Agricultural Business Management Coordinator, Business Development Services Coordinator, Industry Trainer, and the support staff These team members work together to serve their customers in an effective and efficient way.

The staff is actively involved in the community through a variety of economic development activities including chambers of commerce boards, chamber meetings, economic development authorities, civic clubs, and Business and Industry Services Council meetings.

Commendations or Strengths

The BIS team is staffed to provide expertise for all types of businesses: farming/ranching, small business, and industry. A reasonable cross-section of businesses is being served at this time through a variety of services provided by the BIS staff as well as the technology center as a whole.  The industrial maintenance and safety programs continue to be strong.

Specific Recommendations for Improvement

This administrative review standard was met.
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The BIS team should continue to develop strong advisory committees that are made up of individuals who will not be reserved when giving constructive criticism or suggestions for improvement of BIS training, etc. Upon gaining input from the advisory committees, the team should consider revisiting the district strategic plan to better reflect the needs of business and industry. Currently, the strategic plan is heavily weighted toward the product (students) and marketing (enrollment) rather than on the customer (industry).
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Specific growth goals need to be included in the strategic plan. Currently, there is mention of increasing retention rates but no real mention of growing the number of companies being positively affected.

In the previous evaluation, it was recognized that having a BIS marketing plan would be beneficial. However, no evidence was found that such a plan now exists.

It is also recommended that the Chickasha campus form an advisory committee for Adult and Continuing Education that would meet once or twice a year to utilize the members' input in the development and delivery of programs.

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