Arkansas Environmental Training Academy to offer TEEX safety and health training

CAMDEN, ARKANSAS – Safety professionals in Arkansas will have easier access to safety and health training thanks to a new agreement between the Arkansas Environmental Training Academy (AETA) at Southern Arkansas University Tech and the Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service (TEEX).

The two organizations signed the agreement on Feb. 25 on the campus of SAU Tech in Camden, AR. The agreement officially recognizes the Arkansas Environmental Training Academy at SAU Tech as a host training organization for the TEEX Region VI OSHA Training Institute Education Center. Under the agreement, the Arkansas Environmental Training Academy is approved to teach TEEX courses using its own verified instructors and facilitators.

“The Arkansas Environmental Training Academy is excited about the opportunity to partner with TEEX to provide safety and health training for the state of Arkansas. This partnership will allow the Academy to assist facilities statewide in providing quality health and safety training to their workers,” said Randy J. Harper, Director of the Arkansas Environmental Training Academy at SAU Tech.

The agreement was signed by Harper and Ron Peddy, Director of the Region VI OSHA Training Institute Education Center.

“We’re excited to partner with the Arkansas Environmental Training Academy to provide more opportunities to meet the demand for safety and health training and ultimately reduce workplace incidents in Arkansas,” Peddy said.

Other TEEX personnel attending the signing ceremony were TEEX Safety & Health Program Director Bill Stansbury, JB Gregory and Laura Shehan. Representatives from SAU Tech included Executive Vice Chancellor Robert Gunnels and Vice Chancellors Gaye Manning, Valerie Wilson, David McLeane, and Diane Betts. AETA Advisory Board Members attending included Kathryn Catlin, Michael Grappe’ and William Wright. AETA staff in attendance included EHS Program Coordinator and Asst. Director Rickey Cole, Ken Nutt, Jay Northern, Letitia Rusch and Mitzy Bynum.

The TEEX Region VI OSHA Training Institute Education Center provides OSHA-authorized safety and health training in Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Arkansas, and New Mexico.

(Photo Caption L-R: Rickey Cole, AETA, Asst. Director, EHS Program Coordinator/Instructor; Robert Gunnels, SAU Tech Executive Vice Chancellor; Randy Harper, AETA Director; Ron Peddy, Division Director of TEEX Infrastructure & Safety Training; and Bill Stansbury, EHS Program Director at TEEX.)

About The Arkansas Environmental Training Academy
The Arkansas Environmental Training Academy is a training division of Southern Arkansas University Tech and is the designated Environmental Training Center for the State of Arkansas. The Academy’s mission is to provide training that leads to sustainable employment in the fields of public health, worker safety, water treatment, wastewater treatment, backflow prevention, and solid waste management. Students utilizing the Academy’s training receive the skills necessary to protect the state’s natural resources, environment, and ensure the public health and welfare of the citizens of State of Arkansas. The Academy provides training on the SAU Tech Campus, at training locations statewide, and by Internet delivery.

About The Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service

World renowned for its hands-on, customized training, TEEX offers a wide range of technical and skills training programs aimed at employed workers and those entering the labor force. From its headquarters in College Station, TX, TEEX provides training and technical assistance to people from every state and territory and more than 80 countries. TEEX is also the sponsoring agency for Texas Task Force 1 and home to a Region VI OHSA Training Institute Education Center. TEEX makes a difference by providing training, developing practical solutions and saving lives.

TEEX Media Contacts:
Brian Blake, TEEX Communications Director
[email protected]
PH: 979-458-6837, Cell: 979-324-8995

Will Welch
[email protected]
PH: 979-458-6979, Cell: 979-220-2840

AETA/SAU Tech Media Contacts:
Kimberly Coker, Director, Communications, Public Relations & Grants
[email protected]
PH: 870-574-4533

Randy Harper, Director, AETA
[email protected]
PH: 870-574-4550