MOUNT VERNON — For the first time since it opened, the Richard J. McLarnan Technology Center at the Knox County Career Center hosted Business After Hours for Knox County business and professional people.
The center is for adult workforce education, career development programs and enrichment/hobby type programs. It was named for McLarnan, a long-time booster of education and a member of the school board.
Opened in October 2003, the center is located behind the Knox County Career Center on Martinsburg Road. It features classrooms, two computer labs, and nursing and massage centers. There are six main programs: Pratical nursing, medical insurance billing, medical assisting, massage therapy, cosmetology and computerized office technologies.
Adult workforce education is the main thrust of technology center, a provider of postsecondary adult training. To that end, it provides customized training to enhance employee performance; leadership development for people in business and solutions for small businesses in human resources issues.
According to information provided by the center, the typical student is between 16 and 65 years old with the average age of 30 to 35 years. The majority of students work at least part time, and attend classes afternoons and evenings in what the center calls Adult Workforce Education. Overall, there are 100 career enhancement courses available. The center has students from Knox County, but also many students from outside the area.
A longtime Knox County educator, Ken Boeshart, heads the center as adult education supervisor. Myra Wilson is the customized training/human resource development coordinator and David R. McGough is the diversified industrial training coordinator. Course catalogs are mailed to many residents in Knox County so they can easily choose a subject to study.
Business After Hours is a monthly event hosted by the Mount Vernon-Knox County Chamber of Commerce.