Greenville Tech Selected for Collaborative Program with Johnson Controls

CAREERCONNECT grooms students for promising career as facility technicians

MILWAUKEE -- (September 1, 2004) -- Greenville Tech of Greenville, S.C. is one of five U.S. technical colleges selected by Johnson Controls, Inc. to participate in CAREERCONNECT, a new collaborative program dedicated to training the next generation of heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) technicians. 

Through CAREERCONNECT, Johnson Controls will donate more than $50,000 of resources to each partnering school to enhance its learning environment, HVAC program curriculum and students' experience.  The company's contributions will also include instruction from industry experts, learning materials, equipment donations and faculty training. 

The overall goal of CAREERCONNECT is to increase the number of skilled graduates of HVAC programs entering the workforce.  This is in response to a lagging number of HVAC program graduates entering the trade, an aging workforce, and an increasing demand to transform buildings into cost-effective and efficient facilities. 

"Johnson Controls strives to hire the best and brightest talent that the industry has to offer.  To meet the needs of our growing service business, we are taking action that goes beyond recruiting from traditional resources.  We are committed to developing and retaining the best candidates," said Gary Brimmage, vice president, Service North America, Johnson Controls.

Colleges were evaluated for inclusion into CAREERCONNECT based on school and program demographics including diversity statistics, curriculum and ability to modify it, geographic areas served, enrollments, placement statistics, strategies, and its relationship with Johnson Controls.   

"Greenville Tech is thrilled to have been selected for CAREERCONNECT.  We expect that Johnson Controls' involvement will not only expand and enhance our program, it will make a degree in HVAC more attractive to prospective students.  The relationship offers students an advantageous stepping stone to a promising career," said Dr. Tom Barton, president, Greenville Technical College.

Johnson Controls, Inc., is a global market leader in automotive systems and facility management and control.  In the automotive market, it is a major supplier of integrated seating and interior systems, and batteries.  For non-residential facilities, Johnson Controls provides control systems and services including comfort, energy and security management.  Johnson Controls (NYSE: JCI), founded in 1885, has headquarters in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.  Its sales for 2003 totaled $22.6 billion.  For more information on Johnson Controls, Inc., visit the company's Web site at www.johnsoncontrols.com.

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