Contractor Wyle leads in education

Employee, robotics efforts lauded

Wednesday, June 10, 2009

Click here to enlarge this photo Submitted photo Brent Bennitt, president of Wyle's Aerospace Group, says his firm has participated in four leadership classes at the College of Southern Maryland for its employees. E-Mail This Article | Print This Story Click here to enlarge this photo   The Leading Edge Awards Partnership in Education Award Wyle Laboratories Presented by the College of Southern Maryland. Patuxent Partnership Member Firm of the Year Compass Systems of Lexington Park Presented by The Patuxent Partnership. Calvert County Technology Company of the Year Keep It Simple Computer Training of Prince Frederick Presented by the Calvert County Department of Economic Development. Charles County Technology Company of the Year Port Tobacco Consulting of La Plata Presented by the Charles County Technology Council. Small Business of the Year The Carol M. Porto Treatment Center of Prince Frederick Presented by the Small Business Development Center. CEO of the Year Christine Wray, president and CEO of St. Mary's Hospital in Leonardtown Presented by the College of Southern Maryland Corporate Center. The Leading Edge Awards ceremony will be held at 6 p.m. June 17 at the Jaycees center, 3090 Crain Highway, Waldorf. For tickets Call the College of Southern Maryland Corporate Center at 301-870-2309, ext. 7585 for Charles County; 240-725-5499, ext. 7585 for St. Mary's County or 443-550-6199, ext. 7585 for Calvert County or go to www.corporatecenter.csmd.edu.

Navy contractor Wyle is being honored this year with the Partnership in Education Award by the College of Southern Maryland at this month's Leading Edge Awards.

The Lexington Park business, which employs 800, is being honored by the CSM Foundation for its frequent participation in CSM's leadership workshop and support of the foundation.

"The foundation looks for businesses and organizations that partner with CSM in two ways," said Michelle Goodwin, CSM's vice president of advancement and executive director of the foundation, explaining the foundation's award choice. Goodwin said Wyle has donated time and money to the college, but has also used the college's resources to educate its work force.

According to Brent Bennitt, president of Wyle's Aerospace Group, the company has participated in four of CSM's leadership classes as an investment in its employees' future.

"It's gratifying," Bennitt said of the award.

However, he said his company's association with CSM and other local higher education institutions is a business investment. "We're certainly not in the business of supporting education for publicity's sake."

Bennitt said the award "demonstrates that our commitment to education is felt beyond the borders of Wyle."

Wyle's commitment to local education goes back three decades. The company has operated since the 1970s under different names such as Veda and Veridian.

"We have had a longtime association with [CSM]," Bennitt said.

According to Danice Wilson, spokeswoman for Wyle, the company pays 100 percent of employees' education costs, so long as the classes are somehow related to their jobs.

Bennitt said that the generous education policy is one way the company attracts the best talent. The leadership classes have been another way for the company to improve workforce training.

"They were all very positive about the experience," Bennitt said of employees who have taken CSM's Grassroots Leadership Workshop. "This was taken out of company time. It's an investment on our part."

"They use our college," Goodwin said. "They use our training center and programs."

Wyle also sponsors and provides volunteer judges for the annual robotics competition held at the college for high school students, encouraging the teens to develop their engineering skills.

"Wyle has been very involved in the robotics competition we have every year," Goodwin said. "They do it because they get it."

Goodwin said Wyle recognizes the need for "building a pipeline of future technology people."

"They are willing to make that commitment," Goodwin said.

"It builds an esprit," Bennitt said of the robotics competition. "I think the employees like to see us involved in the community."

jfriess@somdnews.com