02 Apr 2023 Putting in the work

Posted at 11:54 PMh in Features by

By Stefanie Brazile

As we look back to August 2015, the 501 remembers an announcement from Conway County that was a game changer for those seeking certification in fields such as heating/air conditioning repair, welding, diesel driving or mechanics.

From the outset, University of Arkansas Community College at Morrilton Chancellor Dr. Larry Davis championed the cause and broadcast the need for vocational-technical training. In 2015, the magazine announced that fundraising had begun for the Workforce Training Center. Only three years later, tours began at the 54,000-square-foot facility, which stands on 17.5 acres.

Carlene and Dr. Larry Davis, who will soon be named Chancellor Emeritus of UACCM.

Also in 2018, Davis wrote a column for 501 LIFE about attitudes he had encountered about vocational-technical education being a “less than” option for students. The former college math professor and experienced chancellor wrote, “Parents will remark that they want nothing ‘less than’ a college education for their high-school age kids, while not considering that college technical programs fall into that category. The retirement of baby boomers is creating, and will continue to create, an unprecedented demand for skilled workers. Most people going to college want a return on their investment and the ability to get a job when they graduate, and college technical programs provide both.”

In the article, Davis got personal. He shared that his father was an auto mechanic in Oklahoma who made a good living for his family and eventually owned his business. Further, his wife’s father was a supervisor/lineman for an electrical cooperative in Arkansas and was highly respected and sought after in his field.

Davis also traced the history of UACCM. “We have gone through multiple changes as an institution,” he said. “We were one of the first vocational-technical schools in Arkansas, transitioned to a technical college, then a college, then joined the UA system of colleges. Trying to find a balance between technical programs and college-transfer programs has been challenging at times.”

Participating in the ribbon-cutting at the new Workforce Training Center on April 26, 2018: UACCM Board of Visitors member Joe Canady, Morrilton Mayor Allen Lipsmeyer, Morrilton Area Chamber of Commerce Chair Shawn Halbrook, UACCM Foundation Board Chair Scott McKennon, UACCM Chancellor Dr. Larry Davis, Gov. Asa Hutchinson, University of Arkansas System President Dr. Donald R. Bobbitt, UACCM Board of Visitors Chair Doug Brandon, Morrilton Area Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Jerry Smith, Sen. Jane English, Conway County Economic Development Corporation Board Chair Rich Moellers, Conway County Judge Jimmy Hart and former UACCM Board of Visitors Chair Raye Pearce. (Austin DuVall photo courtesy of UACCM)

In spring 2018, the college opened the Workforce Training Center, which was made possible by combining an EDA grant with a bond issue, along with almost $3 million in private funds donated by individuals, businesses and industry. Fast forward to 2023, and the center has hit its stride. The facility houses classrooms, lab space in four high-demand, high-wage programs (Auto Service Technology, Welding, HVAC, and Industrial Maintenance and Mechanics Technology), a conference room, and Tyson Training Hall. Tyson Training Hall is an open-floor, 5,000-square-foot space with a 16-foot overhead door for easy access to bring in large equipment for training purposes. The center is a LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Silver-rated building.

A few other features of the training center are:

• 54 welding booths located both indoors and outdoors to mimic actual working conditions

• 11 auto lifts with center room for additional vehicles

• HVAC outdoor garden area housing approximately 30 units donated by industry partners

• Three industrial mechanics and maintenance labs for classroom and hands-on learning to take place simultaneously

• Facilities are accessible to businesses/industry for training purposes outside of UACCM offerings

Lisa Willenberg took the helm as chancellor when Davis retired in 2019. In February, UACCM announced that they will officially name the facility the Dr. Larry D. Davis Workforce Training Center to honor Davis, who served as UACCM’s chancellor from September 2010 to January 2019.

Campaign committee members and major gift contributors gathered along with members of the UACCM Foundation Board and UACCM Board of Visitors for a dedication of the Workforce Training Center property in 2015.

“The Dr. Larry D. Davis Workforce Training Center recognizes Davis’ personal vision and foresight for the construction of the [facility], benefitting not only UACCM students, but the entire state of Arkansas,” a press release issued by the college said. 

The University of Arkansas Board of Trustees approved the recognition for Davis during its Jan. 25-26 meeting. “Anyone who has visited that facility [knows] it’s a huge asset for the campus, the area and the state,” said Morril Harriman, vice chairman of the board.

Willenberg said the naming was an appropriate choice to honor the legacy of Davis due to his noteworthy contributions and the progress the college has enjoyed because of the facility. “Dr. Davis was instrumental in bringing the building to fruition, and it has become a model for workforce training,” Willenberg said. “We get so much use out of that facility.”

This spring, the college will host a dedication ceremony to recognize the new facility name and to bestow the title Chancellor Emeritus on Davis.