PTC Staffer to leave current post, but continue strengthening partnerships

It has been announced that Laurence Beliel, Pioneer Technology Center’s (PTC) industrial coordinator/manufacturing specialist, is taking on a new role as the Director of Business Retention and Expansion for the Ponca City Development Authority (PCDA).

Beliel commented, "Of the many achievements I've been privileged to have been a part of while at PTC, the METS Mobile Training Lab has been the greatest. Even though the lab was a vision given to me by my son, Kyle, it couldn't have happened without the support of Dennis Ruttman, Steve Marquardt, Johnny Thornburgh and his students, Doug Major, our Board and many more who also assisted in creating this award winning training and recruitment tool. Pioneer Tech will continue to be an important part of my focus. This organization has the power to create a highly educated workforce, and can take on the responsibility."

"Without question, Pioneer Tech has had a huge impact on my career. In the early 80's, I was married with children working in the oil and gas industry. The industry was in one of it cyclical downturns when I made a decision that I had to take a new career path. In 1986, I attended PTC as an adult student in the machine tool program. Upon completion of the program, Smith Technologies (then known as Smith-Gruner) offered me a job as a manufacturing technician. In less than 2 years, I moved into the HR department as a technical trainer. While at Smith, I taught several evening CNC machining classes at PTC," remarked Beliel.

In the year 2000, Beliel began working for the Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education, in the Business and Industry Development group. His primary focus was developing and funding expansion plans for growing Oklahoma companies.

In 2001, Beliel was recruited to Pioneer Tech as the industrial coordinator/manufacturing specialist. Using his knowledge in Six Sigma, Lean, ISO 9000, process analysis along with other disciplines, he worked with local and state manufacturers to help them find improvement opportunities in manufacturing processes.

As the newly selected Director of Business Retention and Expansion for the Ponca City Development Authority, Beliel plans to rely heavily on PTC for sustaining and creating the community’s workforce. "Other partnerships created with local groups over the last several years will also be key in our community’s continued success," commented Beliel.