Wednesday, April 9, 2003

WORKTEC comes through for FC&A

For more than a dozen years, Frank Cawood & Associates has counted on WORKTEC to assist its workforce when business booms.

FCA is a Peachtree City-based publisher currently distributing 44 titles that mainly consist of medical and self-help books. When orders peak, WORKTEC sends a truck to FCA to pick up and deliver books to the Center's warehouse for packaging.

Individuals with disabilities and other work barriers train in the WORKTEC warehouse so staff can measure their capabilities and to gain experience that is transferable to the outside workforce. Assignments for FCA include assembly of stuffers with books so they can be sealed in cardboard mailers.

The FCA and WORKTEC relationship has been going on for so long it is hard to find anyone who can remember how it first began. Bruce Cabot, FCA production supervisor, says the partnership was in place when he joined the company 14 years ago.

"I was familiar with county training facilities and the services they offer," explained Cabot. "So I was glad to see that FCA and WORKTEC had forged a relationship. WORKTEC offers some unique services that we could not find any place else. Their staff is well-organized and it is a big advantage that they will provide transportation for our publications ­ that's probably 30 percent of the challenge of finding outside help when we need it."

Since July 2002, WORKTEC has packaged 211,000 books, approximately 17,600 per month ­ quite a successful venture for a home-based business that began in Frank Cawood's Peachtree City garage in 1969.

The mainstay of the privately owned business is direct marketing through advertisements in publications such as AARP's magazine. During the 2002 calendar year, FCA distributed more than 621,000 publications, and WORKTEC's flexibility and productivity is the key to fluctuations in FCA's employment needs.

"I would encourage other businesses, especially those that need small package assembly and other types of workforce needs whether on-site or at the WORKTEC warehouse, to contact the Center," said Cabot. "The WORKTEC staff is always professional and quick to respond when I am in a bind."

WORKTEC is a work training and employment center based in Jonesboro. For 25 years the center has provided evaluation, training and job placement services to people with disabilities and other barriers to employment in the Clayton, Henry and Fayette county areas.

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