FLOYD’S TRUCK CENTER NOMINATED FOR NATIONAL AWARD BY WDTC
RAPID CITY, S.D. – Western Dakota Technical College (WDTC) has nominated Floyd’s Truck Center for the Silver Star of Excellence Award. Mark Gillam, Chairman, at Floyd’s Truck Center, accepted the nomination award during WDTC’s Spring 2024 Advisory Board on February 7th, 2024. The nomination recognizes Floyd’s support and commitment to postsecondary technical education.
Ann Bolman, President of WDTC in Rapid City, nominated Floyd’s Truck Center for the award. She noted that Floyd’s is a major employer of Western Dakota Tech graduates with 52% of our diesel technicians being alumni in our Rapid City location alone.
Bolman also cited Floyd’s Truck Center’s generosity in providing $20,000 towards training aids in the past two years. Just this year, WDTC’s diesel program received $10,000 in training aids, four differentials, four diesel exhaust particulate filters and a Western Star brake and suspension trainer. Other assistance for its programs includes receiving 10 free Daimler Trucks North America (DTNA) diagnostic licenses and free “Get Ahead” training for every student enrolled in the program.
Diesel tech students pose with WTDC instructors and Floyd’s staff among donated class materials.
Handful of WDTC alumni currently employed at Floyd’s pose for photo-op.
Left to Right: Colton Ladeaux, Alex Rous, Mason Brink, Nate Malone, Nick Krebs.
Along with WDTC, Floyd’s Truck Center has also partnered with WyoTech, Casper College and Laramie Community College, and a variety of community colleges across the West and Midwest regions, which will provide resources for further career development and training across the DTNA network.
Each year, Floyd’s continues to expand its partnership with WDTC and is consistently looking for new ways to work with colleges in supporting students and creating a more sustainable workforce in our region. Floyd’s has done this through scholarships, donations of equipment and educational materials, internships, part-time jobs for students, as well as through service on the diesel programs’ advisory board and the WDT Foundation Board.
“Because of the ties between Floyd’s Truck Center, through Jon Gillam and other Floyd’s employees, many students at WDT have been able to finish their education”, Bolman wrote.
“We have been honored to partner with Western Dakota Technical College on several projects and programs over the past few years. This partnership has been instrumental in developing the next generation of technicians that support our supply chain. Right now the number of diesel technicians projected to leave the industry is outpacing new growth by more than a 5:1 ratio so it’s invigorating to see WDT guiding the next generation,” commented Jon Gillam, Vice President of Parts for Floyd’s Truck Center. “Really, I like what WDTC does for the community, it’s more than just diesel techs. They have done a great job of educating folks that come from difficult backgrounds, and helping them through to graduation. The education they provide really allows those individuals to improve their lives through the jobs and financial stability they get with a WDTC degree.”