Two men turned to Georgia Northwestern Technical College (GNTC) mid-career, furthering their knowledge of Business Management to advance along very different career paths.

Darren Goodwin, a native of Acworth, took Business Management classes at GNTC’s Floyd County Campus in Rome and online and graduated with his associate degree in December 2022. He has worked in the air conditioning business for 22 years, 15 of those with Daikin Applied.

Casey Hunter enrolled in the Business Management program at GNTC’s Walker County Campus in Rock Spring and earned his associate degree in May 2021. He has worked for Mohawk Industries since 1995.

“I am a nontraditional student,” Goodwin said. “In 2018 I transferred positions in my company. My manager asked if I was college educated. I told him I was not. He urged me to take the step and get my degree.”

Goodwin said he has been “’hyper-focused” on completing his degree at GNTC and that he is still weighing his options about which college he will attend for his bachelor’s degree. He feels the specialized business classes he took at GNTC will help him move forward.

“Principles of Leadership and Team Project stand out to me as ones that I can use moving to the next level of my education,” he said.

Hunter’s motivation to attend college echoed Goodwin’s.

“I began getting promoted slowly,” said Hunter, who has lived in the Trion/Summerville area all his life. He started off as an entry-level lift truck driver. From there, he moved to various jobs, including operator, crew leader, supervisor and then production manager. 

“I liked doing that type of work and want to continue progressing with Mohawk,” he said. “A degree could possibly open doors for me in the future.”