News and Media

BATON ROUGE - LSU Online & Continuing Education, or OCE, received the Award of Excellence in the Post-Secondary Continuing Education category by the Greater Baton Rouge Industry Alliance Inc., or GBRIA, at its 14th Annual Craft Workforce Development Awards banquet. LSU OCE was nominated for this award by Turner Industries, a long-time and ongoing partner of LSU OCE.

“The partnership creates opportunities to develop the current workforce so the employees have ample opportunities to improve skills and advance in the company,” said Ray Neck, Workforce Development Director of Turner Industries. “This includes training that allows laborers and helpers to obtain the skills to move to skilled craftspeople. It also includes exceptional leadership training that prepares skilled craftspeople to move into leadership roles and thrive in those roles. This advancement creates opportunities at all levels.”

The banquet was held at the Renaissance Hotel in Baton Rouge, LA on December 7th, 2021. Lisa Verma, senior director of Professional Development at LSU OCE, accepted the award.

“LSU Online & Continuing Education has been providing access to education throughout the state, nation, and globally for over 98 years. Our award-winning programs would not be possible without the organizations and individuals who look to LSU for high-quality learning opportunities for workforce training and professional development,” Verma said. “We are honored to have our partner, Turner Industries, nominate us for the GBRIA award but—more importantly—for giving us the opportunity to provide workforce development courses and training programs for Turner employees since 2000.”

LSU OCE partners that also received awards:

• Associated Builders & Contractors-Pelican Chapter, or ABC Pelican, Award of Excellence in Post-Secondary Technical Education
• Alliance Safety Council, Award of Excellence in Post-Secondary Continuing Education
• Turner Industries Group, LLC, Award of Excellence in General Construction & Maintenance, Division III and Best of Division Awards, Division III
• Turner Specialty Services, Award of Excellence in Technical Support, Division II and Best of Division Awards, Division II
• ISC Constructors, Award of Excellence in Specialty Trade (Hard Craft), Division II

LSU OCE offers professional development programs that individuals can take online, on campus or on-site. Areas of study are in business and management, paralegal, computer and IT, and safety management. If you are an employer looking to invest in your workforce by improving proficiency, explore LSU continuing education programs at ce.lsu.edu or email answers@outreach.lsu.edu.

About the GBRIA Craft Workforce Development Awards

The GBRIA Craft Workforce Development Awards act as both awards and benchmarking program. This program was developed in 2007 through a joint effort of GBRIA’s Contractor Workforce Development Committee, Board of Directors and local contractors. The program has been designed to promote best practices to improve the skills and retention of craft personnel in the region and to recognize and reward contractors, member plants, schools, educators and other individuals who contribute to recruitment, assessment, training, career path education and retention efforts. More information on the organization can be found at www.gbria.org.