
Mark Gignac
In a recent board meeting for the Great Opportunities in Technology and Engineering Careers (GO TEC) project, directors elected their new board officers. Mark Gignac, Executive Director of the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research, will serve as the chair for GO TEC. Jason Wells, President of Kyocera SGS Tech Hub, will serve as vice chair. Robin Ferguson, Director of Career and Technical Education for Patrick County Public Schools, will serve as the secretary. These members will serve as the officers for GO TEC for the 2019-2020 fiscal year.

Jason Wells
Additional Board members include: Dr. Betty Adams (Southern Virginia Higher Education Center), Dr. Angeline Godwin (Patrick Henry Community College), Dr. Jackie Gill Powell (Danville Community College), Dr. Quentin Johnson (Southside Virginia Community College), Karen Jackson (New College Institute), Dr. Dean Sprinkle (Wytheville Community College), Dr. Mark Jones (Pittsylvania County Schools), Dr. Stan Jones (Danville Public Schools), Dr. Sandy Strayer (Henry County Public Schools), Paul Nichols (Mecklenburg County Public Schools), Dr. Amy Griffin (Cumberland County Public Schools), Sonia Truitt (Galax City Public Schools), Brian Cecil (Nilit), Mike Jones (Intertape), Eric Hurza (A2Speed), David Forlines (Mid-Atlantic Testing & Balance), Chris Johnson (Toll Brothers) and Jeff Dunnack (Somic America Inc.).

Robin Ferguson
Together these members will strive to further GO TEC’s mission to expose students to precision machining; welding; information technology and cybersecurity; healthcare; robotics, automation and mechatronics; and advanced materials, ultimately expanding the talent pipeline for these high-demand career sectors.