Sandvik honored as ACC’s Business Partner of the Year | Business

Jackie Cole, president of the ACC Foundation, made the announcement during the annual Public Officials and Business and Industry event on Wednesday, Dec. 4. Accepting on behalf of Sandvik were Tom Humphrey, business controller/indirect purchasing and direct materials manager, and Pattie Baldwin, administrative assistant.

Sandvik Coromant, a metal-cutting machine tools manufacturer with a plant in Mebane, is the epitome of an ideal business partner, the college said in a press release. Its significant contributions of time, energy, financial gifts and opportunities for ACC students over many years include:

• Donating nearly $300,000 in support to ACC students and to the Computer-Integrated Machining program over the past 40 years.
• Hiring a significant number of ACC graduates over the years.
• Hosting the “Girls Take Over Tech” open house at its Mebane campus in April. This annual event welcomes dozens of middle and high school girls to learn about industrial careers from women already in those fields that have historically been male dominated. In addition to providing a welcoming space for presentation tables, Sandvik televised videos during the event that presented the inspiring journeys of accomplished women at Sandvik Coromant.
• Since 2012, supporting the Alamance-Burlington School System and ACC Computer-Integrated Machining partnership, a component of Career and College Promise, which provides machining classes on the college campus.
• In 2023, donating 70 Surface Pro laptops worth about $15,000 to ACC for faculty and student use.
• Hosting multiple Work-Based Learning students over the past three to four academic years. At least two of these students have been hired by the company, launching their careers in information technology (IT). This fall, Sandvik is providing work experience and training for two of ACC’s Work-Based Learning students.
• Hosting ACC’s apprenticeship night in 2022 that drew more than 160 participants.
• Consistently welcoming ACC groups of visitors for tours of their facility.
• Partnering with ACC’s Corporate Education Department to create separate youth and adult apprenticeship programs, as well as a customized training project. Sandvik has consistently opened their doors for Corporate Education’s visiting groups to visit.
• IT Coordinator Maria Moore being an active partner by reaching out to ACC first when seeking entry-level IT staff.
• Controller Tom Humphrey currently serving on the ACC Foundation Board
• of Directors.
• Hosting a ‘Welcome to the community’ event for ACC President Ken Ingle in May.

The annual award recognizes such organizations that provide outstanding support to ACC students and graduates in the number and quality of volunteers provided to the college; opportunities provided by the organization for current ACC students; the number of ACC graduates hired annually; and the level of philanthropic support to the ACC Foundation and college.