On September 14, the Greater Beloit Chamber of Commerce held their annual dinner in person at the Eclipse Center after a challenging year of supporting businesses virtually through the pandemic.
The featured speaker was Josh Sitton, a former Green Bay Packer, and co-founder of Bear General Contractors, a Florida-based contracting company. Sitton praised the work of the community throughout this challenging time, and the Chamber presented several awards to local businesses and professionals.
Each year the Chamber awards a Small Business of the Year (fewer than 50 employees) and a Large Business of the Year (more than 50 employees). This year, Blackhawk Technical College was honored with the Large Business of the Year Award.
“Even though our focus has been, and continues to be, workforce training and education that meets the needs of industry, Blackhawk Technical College plays a much larger role in our community,” said BTC District Board Member Rob Hendrickson who accepted the award on behalf of the College. “We thank the Greater Beloit Chamber of Commerce for this recognition – it means a lot to us. It is a testament to the Blackhawk team, their talent, and their focus on service to our community, making it a good place to work. It is a testament to our students and tens of thousands of alumni, many of you in this room, who have utilized BTC in one way or another. Their impact continues to make our community better.”
Over the past year, Blackhawk Technical College has raised its presence in the region by actively serving Rock County’s educational needs. In March 2020, after the state shut-down of on-campus instruction, Blackhawk seamlessly transferred all academic programs to online or hybrid instruction using the College’s distance-learning technologies. Students were provided with additional technology resources (laptops, hotspots, etc.) to give them the access and flexibility needed to continue their coursework during the pandemic.
In addition, the College has raised its presence in the region by actively serving Rock County’s community health needs. In February 2021, Blackhawk partnered with the Rock County Public Health Department, Wisconsin Department of Health Services, and AMI Expeditionary Healthcare to host the state’s first community vaccination clinic. “We’re very proud of the work that we’ve done over the past year,” said Dr. Tracy Pierner, President of Blackhawk Technical College, “and are pleased that we were able to continue providing quality education to our students throughout the pandemic. We’re also honored that we were able to partner with community organizations to provide additional health, safety, and protective measures to our entire community through testing, vaccinations, and training first responders that will serve our state for years to come.”
The College continues to serve as a critical resource in the region’s workforce. After more than two years of research, planning, and local stakeholder engagement, BTC has begun work on the Public Safety + Transportation Center. This state-of-the-art, comprehensive facility will enhance training for the region’s first responders and transportation workers.
“For more than 100 years, the College has supported members of Rock and Green County communities by educating over 8,500 students in nearly 70 programs that form the bedrock of our local economy and provide essential services to others. I’m thrilled with this recognition from the community,” said Lisa Hurda, BTC Director of Advancement and Foundation.