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The Director of DeKalb Technical College’s newly formed Green Technologies Academy (GTA) announces the formation of an advisory board. A panel of experts from nearly every aspect of construction and business and industry will advise administrators of the GTA.
At the advisory board’s first meeting June 26, 2009 members got acquainted and elected officers. 
Roger Cone, CEO of Soenso Energy was elected unanimously by members of the newly-formed board to serve as Chairman. Roger Trueba, National Accounts Manager for Regal Chemicals will serve as Board Vice-Chair, and Dr. Kyle Frantz, Associate Professor of Biology and Neuroscience at Georgia State University will be Board Secretary. Other members of the 15-member Advisory Board are:
Green Technologies Academy Director, Brian Lovell, says “The Board includes representatives from architectural and engineering firms, corporate CEOs, entrepreneurs, well-respected scientists, community leaders and experts in higher education.” He goes on to tout the vast knowledge of this group by saying, “Such an accomplished group of advisors will benefit the Academy by keeping the curriculum current and responsive to industry needs.”
The GTA launches its first series of classes in the fall quarter. It will incorporate five core courses. They include Green Concepts; Green Living; Green Buildings; Green Technologies and Green Communication. DeKalb Tech will offer both degree and diploma programs under the Green Technology Academy.
Converting classroom building “C” on the Clarkston campus into a living laboratory is part of the curriculum. Lovell says the 20,000 square foot building will become a showcase of what students have learned. The students will then apply things like solar energy and smart-home technology to building “C”. The 47 year old building will become a “real world laboratory of what the students’ learn.” according to Lovell.
Leading the charge with this ground-breaking program is a team of instructors. Brian Lovell, Director of the Green Technology Academy and Jeryll McWhorter, (DeKalb Tech’s Teacher of the year) Executive Director of the Green Technology Academy are also coordinators for the Building Automation System and Commercial Refrigeration Programs. Coordinators for the other programs include: Natoshia Anderson (Computer Graphics & Design); Terry Moore (Automotive); Charlie Thompson (Air-Conditioning); and Bryan Sexton (Electronics, Home Integration Technologies).
DeKalb Technical College, a unit of the Technical College System of Georgia, promotes a student-centered environment for lifelong learning and development, encompassing academic and technical education for employment in a global community. The college has eight centers of learning in DeKalb, Newton, Rockdale, and Morgan counties. Established in 1961, DeKalb Technical College currently has more than 4,000 students enrolled in diploma or degree programs and more than 9,000 in adult education classes. Academic Technical programs at DeKalb Tech cover more than 100 different occupations. For more information visit our website at www.dekalbtech.edu.
