U.S. Rep. Mac Collins, a long-term

supporter of the SmartStart program, is expected to participate. Also

present will be Clayton State President Dr. Thomas K. Harden and Georgia

Power President and CEO David M. Ratcliffe.

"The basic idea behind

SmartStart is to help junior enlisted military personnel transition to

civilian employment, and to fulfill the promise made to them when they

enlisted," stated Dr. Wallace Shakun, dean of Continuing Education

at Clayton State.

Georgia Power's corporate partnership

will allow the company access to a diverse pool of applicants to meet

its future employment needs, in keeping with its well-established support

of military veterans.

"We are excited to be

a part of this new program" said Debra Howell, director of staffing

at Southern Company, Georgia Power's parent company.

"The SmartStart program

provides a valuable link between our workforce planning needs for all

of Southern Company and the skills these military personnel posses."

SmartStart initially will be

limited to junior enlisted military persons serving at selected military

installations in Georgia and other Southern states.

However, the use of the SmartStart

Website's on-line job preparation packages will allow easy and rapid expansion

to U.S. military installations worldwide. The non-credit training provided

through the University's Division of Continuing Education, is job specific

and directly related to the skills and education requirements of the program's

corporate partners.