Larry Smith joins the Tech policy board

Tri-County Technical College’s Commissioners welcomed a new member to the governing board at a bi-monthly meeting October 7. Larry A. Smith, retired plant manager for Schneider Electric in Seneca, attended his first board meeting since being appointed by the governor to fill the Oconee County seat vacated by Ham Hudson, who retired in June after serving 18 years on the board. “When Senator Thomas Alexander called and told me Ham was retiring and asked if I was interested in being nominated to serve, I quickly replied yes, given my belief in Tri-County and all the good work the College has done and continues to do in preparing folks for the future,” said Smith. “I was honored to be asked because of the importance of the role and because of my respect for Senator Alexander and all he has done for our community and for South Carolina,” he said. Smith says the 26 years he served as plant manager of Schneider Electric, as well as the eight years he served as president of the Oconee County Industrial Group, kept him aware of the educational and workforce initiatives developed and implemented by the College. He is a strong proponent of building and maintaining a skilled workforce which he says is critical for local industries to be successful.