11/20/2007 - MMA 2006-07 Chairman Tommy Dulaney presents gifts to Meridian Community College and Hope Village for Children

Tommy Dulaney, founder and president of Structural Steel Services in Meridian and immediate past chairman of the Mississippi Manufacturers Association, recently presented his MMA chairmans award and appreciation gift to the Meridian Community College (MCC) Division of Industrial Technology and Hope Village for Children. A $10,000 donation was presented to Dr. Scott Elliott, president of Meridian Community College, Monday, Nov. 19, at the Meridian campus. This award is presented at the end of each chairmans term and is to be presented to an educational institution chosen by the outgoing chairman. “The MMA Chairman’s Award represents the MMA’s commitment to education in Mississippi,” said Jay C. Moon, CEcD, FM, MMA president and CEO. “We recognize that a well-educated, well-trained workforce is the key to bringing industry to the state and remaining competitive in our global economy. We hope this gift will enable Meridian Community College to continue meeting area industrys workforce training needs and to continue to improve Mississippi industry as a whole.” Dulaney said he chose the MCC Division of Industrial Technology as the recipient of this year’s award because of MCC’s plans to develop a state-of-the-art advanced skills training center. “Meridian Community College, with the purchase of the old Wal-Mart building on Highway 19 North, is taking a major leap forward by converting the building into an advanced manufacturing training center,” he said. “This center will give our area workers, unskilled and skilled, a place to receive the training necessary to succeed in today’s workforce.” “Tommy Dulaney is one of the finest servant-leaders and astute entrepreneurs I have ever known, and he is a person who well appreciates the correlation between workforce training and economic development,” said Elliott. “It is a tremendous honor for Meridian Community College to be the recipient of this donation through the MMA in recognition of Mr. Dulaney’s service.” With the recent purchase of the 65,000-square-foot facility, “our next step is to launch a major fundraising drive to raise the money to complete the project. Mr. Dulaney’s donation will hopefully ignite a lot of momentum in community support for the project,” he said. “Just having Tommy’s name associated with the project provides it with great credibility.” Dulaney has served on the MCC Board of Trustees for a quarter of a century, including several terms as its chairman. He is an alumnus of MCC and a charter member of the college’s “Hall of Fame.” He is also a longtime member of the MCC Foundation Board of Directors and a past chairman. Dulaney presented his MMA Chairmans appreciation gift to the Hope Village for Children in Meridian. Dulaney presented the $600 gift to Hope Village Executive Director Tina Aycock at the facility Monday, Nov. 19. The MMA chairman’s appreciation gift is presented to the Association’s chairman at the end of his term to be given to the charity chosen by the chairman. Dulaney served as MMA chairman of the board from October 2006 to September 2007. “Hope Village for Children takes children that have been deemed in need of protection by the MS Department of Human Services,” said Dulaney. “These children have been abused, neglected, and abandoned. Hope Village for Children takes these children into a stable, loving environment and gives them hope for the future. Hope Village for Children is deserving of our financial support.” “At Hope Village we strive to afford our children with every opportunity for success,” said Aycock. “These opportunities would not be possible without the support and generosity of individuals like Tommy Dulaney. We are so blessed to have him, not only as a member of our community, but as a member of our board of directors.” Photo: From left, Jay C. Moon, CEcD, FM, president and CEO, Mississippi Manufacturers Association; Tommy Dulaney, president, Structural Steel Services, Meridian, and immediate past chairman of the Mississippi Manufacturers Association; Dr. Scott Elliott, president, Meridian Community College; Dr. Richie McAlister, dean, MCC Division of Occupational Education.

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