Gene Williams, president of Optima Chemical Group, LLC, remembers all too well his experience after graduating from college in 1977.
"When I got out of school in the mid-70s, there was a big brain drain," he says. "Students from Georgia with in-demand degrees like chemistry and engineering were finding employment outside the state."
The Douglas-based Optima now provides opportunities for such students.
"It's important for us to have qualified chemical and engineering candidates. Georgia Tech assists us by providing the engineers and chemists we need to run the plant," says Williams. "I'm proud of the fact that Optima Chemicals provides opportunities for students to stay in Georgia and contribute to their communities."
However, Georgia Tech's involvement with Optima does not end with providing an educated workforce. In fact, Tech began consulting with the company before it was ever located in Douglas and continues to provide advice today.