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New Carolina announces Engineering Cluster: Lee Stogner serving as chair

Submitted by: John Warner on Dec 18, 2007 at 4:20 pm Tagged with: Engineering, Innovation Source: New Carolina

Contact: Amy Love at 803.760.1402 or alove@newcarolina.org

Columbia, SC, December 18, 2007 – New Carolina, South Carolina’s Council on Competitiveness has formed the South Carolina Engineering Cluster. Lee Stogner will lead the cluster and its steering committee which represents government, economic development, academia, engineering companies and professional societies aiming to promote engineering in South Carolina.

New Carolina defines a cluster as a group of interconnected companies in a similar line of business that collaborate to build and expand their products and services. Specific goals of the Engineering Cluster include the following:

- Promoting the services and products of state-based engineering organizations
- Promoting continued investment in the South Carolina engineering economy
- Providing a forum to discuss engineering issues in the state
- Partnering with others in the growing Knowledge Economy
- Recognizing the accomplishments of South Carolina engineers
- Encouraging young students to choose engineering as a career
- Telling the accurate story of engineering

There are more than 45,000 South Carolina engineers developing new technologies and designing major projects around the world in almost every industry including electronics, automotive, chemical, biotech, energy and infrastructure. “The creation of the South Carolina Engineering Cluster will help continue the growth of this important part of the South Carolina economy,” said New Carolina Executive Director George Fletcher. “It provides ties linking Personal Pathways to Success in schools to career clusters for students, and will also positively impact other clusters such as Advanced Security.”

New Carolina Change Agent Beth Meredith is facilitating the Lowcountry’s Advanced Security Cluster in Charleston, South Carolina. "We're excited to partner with Lee on helping fill some gaps in workforce that our Advanced Security Cluster has identified. The industry needs more engineers that are ready to fill the available jobs in this growing cluster."

More information on the Engineering cluster can be found on their web site, www.southcarolinaengineering.org, or by contacting Lee Stogner at leestogner@southcarolinaengineering.org.

Together with partners, S.C.’s Council on Competitiveness is driving the movement towards a New Carolina – a South Carolina with a brighter future and a competitive, winning economy. The focus is on a strategy to play to the strengths of the state’s core industries, emphasize education, and build an environment that fosters innovation. Visit www.newcarolina.org for more information.

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