Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Beene new director of Southwest Learning Center

A new director for the Southwest Arkansas Technical Learning Center has been named.

A press conference was held recently to tell the public Dr. Linda Beene will assume the mantle of leadership for the center.

State Sen. Percy Malone said this is great news, as the Clark County Industrial Council (CCIC) has been working on the learning center for some time.

Ten or 12 years ago, he said, industries challenged the CCIC to have a qualified work force for them if they were to move to Clark County.

"We've been fortunate to bring quality companies to Clark County," Malone said. "We have the opportunity to honor our word and have a trained work force for them with the center."

Malone worked to obtain the money for the learning center in the 1999 session of the General Assembly.

In the near future, he said, a building will be constructed at Sixth Street, conforming to the 2025 Commission's vision for rebuilding Arkadelphia. The building will house the learning center which will provide industry with what it says it needs.

"We'll be able to train our existing work force so they can get the jobs of tomorrow," Malone said.

"Beene is enthusiastic and capable and we're glad to have her," he continued.

Industries will learn what services are available now and what will be available. "This is the icing on the cake," Malone said.

"We'll be asking her to help bring other industries to Clark County. It looks like a lot of good things are happening. We can be a model for Arkansas and the United States."

Rick Izor, president of Scroll Technology, introduced Beene, telling those on hand she was the director of work force education for the Arkansas Department of Education, has done consulting work for Fortune 500 companies and has worked with both Henderson State University and Ouachita Baptist University.

"I wasn't aware of the magnitude of industries here," Beene said, "or their sophistication. I'm convinced my passion for work force training will be beneficial here."

This is a celebration for the people of the county and Arkadelphia, she said. It's due in part because of a state senator who works hard for his constituents by going after resources for the county.

She said the area is blessed with leadership in the public school system, HSU, OBU and with the CCIC.

"You really have it all here," Beene said. "My office will help focus resources on work force training.

"I've been talking with industry leaders on the plans for the building to make sure we have what they want."

Beene has also worked with Goodrich on getting a class together for hazardous waste management and safety through Ouachita and an area technical college.

Additionally, a site has been secured on arkansasjobs.com which will be a tool used to attract people to the area.

"There's a lot of fun things going on," Beene said. "If you're ready to work, we're ready to help."

John Dunn, HSU president, said Beene is a prize and an outstanding leader in education.

"She can make this (learning center) the model for the state and nation," he said.