In 23 years’ teaching, Doug Allen says he has never seen as many requests for technically-skilled employees as he has in recent months. According to Tri-County Technical College, Allen should know. For he teaches industrial electronics classes and is acting dean of the engineering and technology division. Allen and Tech students should notice a night-and-day difference in quality of instruction now that Tech has officially opened its new, 43,000 square foot Industrial Technology Center. Located on highway 76 in a building near Sandy Springs that once was Virginia/Carolina Tobacco Products, the building now houses Tech’s Welding and Heating, Ventilation, and Air-Conditioning programs. It has been designed to mimic a real-world industrial setting and is billed a showplace by economic development prospects and local companies.