Education is a Priority for AFCO Human Resource Manager Donna Baker

CONTACT: LISA GARRETT, EXT. 2315

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 11/9/2001
(By Lisa Garrett)

ANDERSON --- One of Donna Upchurch Baker's first priorities when she became manager of human resources and general affairs at AFCO was the company's training department.

She called Tri-County Technical College's Corporate & Community Education Division to talk about training opportunities and began to schedule departmental seminars, such as Zenger Miller, Team Building and Problem Solving, that have evolved into annual plant-wide training sessions. "In this fast-paced, high-volume, attention-to-detail business, sometimes communication, team building and problem-solving classes aren't a priority when the day is already 110 percent full. But we've made it a priority because our associates need an analytical, technical-based foundation. Because of our environment, it's a must," said Baker, who is a 1983 alumna of Tri-County's Business Technology department.

"Evaluations showed unanimous positive comments, so we'll continue to take advantage of Tri-County and its many resources. Tri-County's Business and Industry Training Department has helped us to narrow our focus and to prioritize our needs. The bottom line is to keep the customer happy and to develop training as it meets AFCO's needs. The automotive industry is extremely competitive. People and their skills will help us to maintain our competitive edge."

Education is a priority of Baker's. She understands first-hand the commitment and sacrifice involved in pursuing a college degree while working a full-time job. She began taking classes at Tri-County while a senior at Seneca High School "because I wanted to get a jump on college." She also held down a job at Sears. She chose Tri-County's Business Management curriculum because she wanted to pursue an administrative role. She also wanted a bachelor's degree. "My associate degree allowed me to get a job, which paid for my bachelor's degree," said Baker. After earning her degree from Tri-County in 1983, she spent another year at the College taking university transfer classes. She later transferred to Winthrop University, where she earned a Business Administration degree -- while working at Sears Credit Center in Charlotte. At age 20, she was a credit authorizer for Sears. "I was able to secure that job because of my Tri-County degree. My degree opened the door," she said.

After completing her bachelor's degree, Baker worked in human resources for Archer Consulting in Rock Hill for around three years. She accepted a human resource job at Willamette Industries and later worked as associate relations manager at Monsanto in Spartanburg until its closure. She subsequently accepted her position at AFCO, the number-one fuel pump manufacturer in North America and Canada. In 1999 she earned a master's in human resource development from Clemson University.

Recalling those long days filled with work and college classes make her sympathetic to her many associates at AFCO who are working full-time and pursuing an education. "I understand the hardships associated with attending college, working a full day and taking care of family responsibilities. You have to make sacrifices – I know -- I've been there and done it," she said. She urges associates to take advantage of AFCO's tuition reimbursement plan, which finances 100 percent of an associate's college tuition and books -- up to $7,000 a year.

"When I was working at Archer Consulting, I still kept my Sears job," she remembers. "I had to! I had student loans for seven years after graduation," she explained. AFCO's tuition reimbursement plan, now valued at $90,000 per year and funding around 20 associates' college educations, alleviates that financial burden.

This year the company also established an AFCO Scholars Program to award a full Tri-County scholarship annually to a recent high school graduate or current student. "We hope the student will go to work part-time for us while attending Tri-County and accept employment with us following graduation," she said.

Baker says a Tri-County degree is a plus when applying for a job at AFCO or when being considered for a promotion. "The degree really makes a difference."
-30-