The main purpose of an Occupational Advisory Committee (OAC) is to strengthen the career and technical education program of a school by making recommendations for program improvement and providing technical assistance to assure the most up-to-date curriculum content, appropriate applications of technology, and the implementation of new teaching strategies.
Advisory committees are a vital link between the career and technical education program and business and industry. Committee members representing business, industry, labor and the general public bring a unique perspective to education and training programs. They provide a viewpoint which is invaluable to the career and technical education program.
Advisory committees serve in an advisory capacity only. They do not have administrative or governing authority. Nevertheless, their work is important to the effective operation of a career and technical education program. Programs with a close association and which function in cooperation with business, industry, labor, employers, employees and the general public are usually more successful than those which do not have such an association.
OPPORTUNITIES FOR ENGAGEMENT
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- Provide advice on establishment and maintenance of a realistic education.
- Provide advice about curricula content, training techniques and equipment.
- Investigate the types of facilities and equipment currently used in business and industry.
- Assist in the preparation and selection of course materials.
- Inform school personnel of changes in the labor market.
- Research and explain technical information.
- Determine student and community interest in cooperative education and adult classes.
- Inform the school about business and industry personnel needs.
- Follow up on recommendations made to instructors, administrators, and the Joint School Committee.
- Research and recommend changes in computer technology education programs.
- Identify opportunities for job shadowing, internships and cooperative work experience.
- Encourage cooperation and a better understanding of career education programs among employers, students and the general public.
- Develop plans for recognizing outstanding students.
- Be an advocate for career and technical education within the community.
- Recommend resource personnel, guest speakers and instructors.
- Serve as judges for local awards, contests, and exams.
BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY PARTNERS SERVING ON OAC’S
- 5 Star International Truck
- AAA Berks
- Academy of Massage Therapy
- Adams Metal & Dirt Design Inc.
- Adelphi Kitchens
- Affordable Remodeling Services
- Al Control Systems, Inc.
- Aladin Food Services
- Albright College
- Albright Learning Center
- Aluminum Alloys, Inc.
- Alvernia University
- American Crane
- AMPN Design
- Anderson Group
- Anewalt’s Landscape Contracting
- ASB Contracting
- Ashley Furniture
- Aureus
- AWS & Anchor Fire Protection
- B.C. Adult Probation & Parole
- Bailey Wood Products
- Barbey Electronics
- BARTA
- BCIU
- BCTC-East
- BCTC-West
- Berks Cardiology
- Berks County Cooperative Extension
- Berks County Office of Aging
- Berks Digital
- Berks Fire Water Restoration
- Berks Hematology/Oncology Associates, Ltd.
- Berks Massage Works
- Berks Medical Equipment
- Berks Visiting Nurses
- Berkshire Mechanical
- Berks-Lehigh Regional Police Department
- Binkley Remodeling
- Blouch Fuel
- Borelli Design
- Bowers Marine Sales
- Bowers Photo
- Boyertown Planing Mill
- Boylan & Burek Chiropractic
- Bricklayers Union
- Brubaker Heating & Cooling
- BTI
- Callowhill Nursery School/Kindergarten
- Calvin Smoker Builders
- Cambria Racing
- Care’s Lawn Service
- Carriers Lawn and Landscape
- Cartech
- Century Cabinetry
- Christie’s Memorable Cakes
- City of Reading
- Clean Image
- Clinical Operations
- Clothes Tree
- Colonial Electric
- Colours
- Columbia Cottage
- Comfort Keepers
- Community Services for Children
- Compass-Canteen
- Cougle’s Recycling Inc.
- Country Meadows
- Crafter
- Crowne Plaza Hotel
- Deer Mountain Kitchens LLC
- Deitsch Eck Restaurant
- Denise Shade Design/Albright College
- Denny’s Electric
- Difeaux Tax Service
- Dillon Floral Corp.
- Don Kauffman’s Sewing Machines
- Dori Martin Catering
- Earl Kegerise, Inc.
- East Central PA Health Educ. Ctr.
- East Penn Manufacturing
- Ecolab
- Elite Sportswear
- Embroidery Creations
- Emily’s Restaurant
- Eshbach Masonry
- Essig Plumbing
- Excalibur Consulting
- Feesers, Inc.
- Fleetwood Fixtures
- Forino Construction
- Fraser Advanced Information Systems
- Gai-Tronics Corporation
- Gaspari Farms
- Giant Foods
- Gilbert Architects
- Glass & Wesner Collision Repair
- Glen-Gery Corp.
- Godbee Service
- Golden Oaks Country Club
- Gossiger Mid-Atlantic
- Green Giant Tree & Lawn Care
- GTS Welco
- Hair Affair Styles
- Hassler Automotive/Truck
- HB Frazer
- Head Hunters
- Headstart – BCIU
- Health South
- Herbein & Company, Inc.
- Hess Embroidery & Uniform LLC
- High Printing
- High Steel Structures
- HMTQ
- Holiday Hair
- Homemade Sweetness
- Homescape
- Hospital Central Services
- Hyde Villa Auto Parts
- IBEW Local 743
- Idle Media Design
- Illusions at 306
- Isimac Machine Company, Inc.
- Isolator Fitness
- JJN Landscaping
- Justin Jones Design
- K2 Builders
- Kevin Engleman’s Beauty Salon
- Keystone Software Solutions
- Kindred Transitional Care & Rehabilitation Wyomissing
- Kitchens by Eileen
- Kline’s Automotive
- Konopelski Katering
- L & B Water Supply, Inc.
- Lancaster General Health
- Landis Logistics
- Launch DM
- Lebanon CTC
- Lee Myles Transmission
- Len Christ Bldg/Remodeling
- Licht Embroider
- Little Angels Academy
- Live & Learn Station
- Lords and Ladies Salon
- Lowe’s Sinking Spring
- LS Creative
- Luppold Hardware
- Luthern Home Topton
- Lutz Masonry
- M & M Associates
- MAB Paints
- Manor Care Laureldale
- Masano Architects Group, Inc.
- Master Craft
- McCarthy & JG
- Medlar Electric
- Merkel’s Service
- Met Ed
- Metals Your Way
- Misco Products Corp.
- MMS
- Mohnton Knitting Mills
- Moore Performance Power
- M-Tech Control Corp.
- Muddy’s Smokehouse BBQ
- Muhlenberg Township
- Muhlenberg Township Police Department
- Muhlenberg Ambulance
- Muhlenberg School District
- My Salon
- Neo Pangea
- Nerdz Online Tech Systems
- Net Mediazone
- New Century Millwork
- Noggin Box Creative
- Northwest Middle School
- Nuvar
- Occupational/Physical Therapy-RHMC
- Offset Impressions
- PACE Institute
- Pacific Fiber Products Inc.
- Passmore Service Center
- Patient First
- Patrick J. Murphy & Associates
- Peanut Bar
- Peiffer Machine Services
- Penn Ironworks Machine Shop
- Penn State Berks
- Penn State University
- Penske Truck
- Pepsi Corp.
- Permacultivate
- Personnel Garment Care
- Philly Pretzel Factory
- Pied Piper Nursery/Kindergarten
- Pikeville Equipment
- Potts Nursery
- Pro Max Fence Systems, Inc.
- R.M. Palmer Company
- Rabbit Run Hair Salon
- RACC
- Ray’s Yamaha
- Reading Collision Center
- Reading Electric
- Reading Foundry
- Reading High School
- Reading Hospital & Medical Center
- Reading Hospital Post-Acute Rehab.
- Reading Hospital School of Health Sciences
- Reading Housing Authority
- Reading Plastic Fabricators
- Reading Police Department
- Reading School District
- Reading Truck Body
- Real Pit BBQ
- Redner’s Distribution Center
- Respiratory Specialist
- RHMC – School of Health Sciences
- RHMC
- RHMC-Respiratory Therapy Department
- Rineer Builders, Inc.
- Rita’s First Class Travel
- Riverview Christian Early Learning Center
- Riverview Tree & Landscape Inc.
- Rose Corporation
- Russell Plywood
- Ryan’s Painting and Coatings
- Sacred Heart Villa
- Sam’s Club
- Sandy’s Sewing
- Say Cheese
- SEI
- Sewing Guild of Berks County
- Shape Smart Wellness Spa
- Sherwin Williams Co.
- Sid Harveys
- Singer Equipment
- Sovereign Bank
- Special T Design
- Sposto Interactive
- Square Wheel Ind.
- St. Joseph Medical Center
- Standard Group
- State of PA
- Stevens College
- Stokesay Castle
- STV Architects
- Styling Yourself
- Summit Steel & Manufacturing Inc.
- Sweet Addictions Bake Shop
- Sweet Street Desserts
- Sysco Foods
- T-bone & Aljax
- Teleflex
- Temple Fire Company
- Temple Greenhouse
- The Goddard School
- The Manor at Market Square
- The Nosegay Florist
- The Well Dressed Cake
- The Whoopie Pie Company, LLC
- TIMET
- Tom Masano Ford Lincoln
- Tom Sheehan Worldwide
- Touching the Future Inc.
- TransAmerican Office Furniture, Inc.
- Tray Pak
- Trievel Associates Design Group
- Trimmaster
- Tropical Bakery
- Trupp’s Garage
- T-Tech Corp.
- UB Tech
- UGI Utilities, Inc.
- Universal Concrete Products
- Universal Technical Institute
- US Axle, Inc.
- USAF
- Vision Mechanical
- Visiting Angels
- VIST Bank
- Viva Good Life
- W E Painting & Paper
- Walmart
- Watermark Media, LLC
- Watkins Architects
- Webber/Smith
- Werley’s Auto Service Center
- Winedown Cafe
- Women’s Clinic
- Worlds Famous Pike Cafe
- Worley Parsons
- Yeager Supply
- Zimmerman Masonry