WCC names business and industry center director
By Staff Reports
Published in News on August 13, 2017 1:45 AM
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Foucht
Wayne Community College has named Craig S. Foucht as its new Wayne Business and Industry Center executive director.
A 1999 WCC graduate and 15-year employee, he taught in the automotive program and headed the transportation department. He was named a Distinguished Chair in 2009.
His family moved to the area through his father's military career, living on Seymour Johnson Air Force Base until he graduated from Eastern Wayne High School.
He and wife, Nikki, both graduated from WCC. Foucht also earned a bachelor of science degree from East Carolina University in industrial technology with a concentration in industrial supervision.
In his new role, he will be the liaison between the college and local business and industry.
"This is what drew me more to the job than anything else. I get to sell Wayne Community College to businesses and industries," he said. "It is something I've done for one area, now I get to do it for the whole college. This is the part I am excited about.
"I get to deal with the chambers of commerce and the development alliance. I'm very excited about that, too."
Under the umbrella of the Business and Industry Center are the Small Business Center, Specialized Industry Training, Military Business Center, and Soft Skills Training.
Foucht will be working on economic and workforce development and growing the WORKS (Wayne Occupational Readiness Keys for Success) Initiative started by his predecessor, but one aspect of his job description that will be different is his responsibility for the training center that will be located on Dixie Trail. It currently houses the Business and Industry Center and is slated to become the home of several of the college's Applied Technologies programs.
"The center has the potential to be a shining star and a beacon of light and potential for Goldsboro and Wayne County," Foucht said. He will have a major role in getting it up and running and keeping it going.
The center will provide training for students seeking college and continuing education credit as well as employees of industries with specialized training needs.