Preformed Line Products located in Albemarle (Stanly County) has been selected to receive the 2010 Governor’s Award for Excellence in Workforce Development as an “Outstanding Employer.” This award is an annual award sponsored by the North Carolina Department of Commerce and the NC Commission on Workforce Development.

The company was nominated for the award by Stanly Community College and the Centralina Workforce Development Board. This is the second year in a row that a Stanly County employer has been nominated by Stanly CC and the Centralina WDB and has won the Governor’s Award.  Storm Technologies in Albemarle was the 2009 award winner.

Preformed Line Products is a worldwide designer, manufacturer and supplier of high quality cable anchoring and control hardware and systems, fiber optic and copper splice closures and high-speed cross-connect devices. PLP is based out of Cleveland, Ohio and the Stanly County facility is at 1700 Woodhurst Lane in Albemarle.

Criteria for the award includes: (1) The extent to which the business has demonstrated a continuing commitment to the workforce development system through donation of employee time and services, exemplary hiring practices and the encouragement of business involvement in workforce development efforts; (2) The extent to which the business has demonstrated involvement/use of public education and training programs; and (3) The extent to which the business has promoted positive community/public relations for workforce development programs and supported/encouraged individuals in need of workforce development.

Preformed Line Products has encouraged its employees to become involved with a wide variety of programs in Stanly County.

Plant Manager John Ziebarth serves on the Stanly County Managers Association. The company and its employees support various special interest groups in Stanly County including the American Red Cross, Hospice, United Way, Boy and Girl Scouts of America, and community athletics by conducting fund raisers or volunteering their time.  

The company also participates in and financially supports events held by the Stanly County Managers Association, an organization whose fundraisers go to sponsor two scholarships at Stanly Community College. Preformed Line Products is a member of the Stanly County Chamber of Commerce and supports their “Buy Local” campaign.

Preformed Line Products has supported two initiatives offered by Stanly Community College, Stanly County Chamber of Commerce, Stanly County Schools, and the Centralina WDB -  Career Academy for Educators (CAFÉ) and the Creating Success seminar.  These  events allowed businesses and companies to share what jobs skills, education level, and training would be needed to obtain jobs for those seeking employment. The company has also utilized Stanly Community College to provide training for their employees through the college’s Customized Training Program as well as seminars, curriculum and continuing education courses.  Classes were offered both on-site at Preformed Line Products and at the college.

In December 2009, Preformed Line Products achieved “Carolina Star” status due to a three year intensive safety project by the company and its employees.  

Companies in North Carolina that achieve this very safety award, serve as models for effective safety and health programs in their industries. Moreover, STAR worksites have demonstrated workers’ compensation cost reductions, reduced employee turnover, quality improvements, and other benefits which are helping to convince skeptics that productivity, quality, profitability, and safety are complementary outcomes.

Preformed Line Products takes conservation seriously by aggressively reducing the use of materials that are hazardous to the environment, instituting a recycling program, selling unusable scrap for recycling, and has plans to power certain areas of their facility with solar panels.

Stanly Community College, in conjunction with Centralina Workforce Development Board, nominated Preformed Line Products and congratulates the business as a recipient of the 2010 Governor’s Award for Excellence in Workforce Development.

The Centralina Workforce Development Board is a proud partner with both Stanly Community College and Preformed Line Products. The Board is extremely happy to have another Governor’s Award winner in its region!  For three years in a row individuals and organizations have been recognized by this wonderful award.  The Board is proud that the rest of the State gets to see the reason why the Centralina WDB region is the best around!  For more information on this award, please contact David Hollars at (704) 348-2717 or by e-mail at dhollars@centralina.org.