The journey towards recognition began on January 12, 2024, when Western Dakota Technical College (WDTC) nominated Floyd’s for the prestigious National Technical Honor Society’s (NTHS) Silver Star of Excellence Award. This accolade isn’t merely a token; it symbolizes a community dedication to supporting postsecondary technical education and their impact on the community.
The award is designed for chapters to achieve national recognition for their educational excellence and community involvement. This nomination recognizes Floyd’s support and commitment to postsecondary technical education.
Accepting the nomination at WDTC’s Spring 2024 Advisory Board on February 7th, 2024, Mark Gillam, Chairman of Floyd’s Truck Center, acknowledged the company’s enduring commitment. This commitment was further emphasized by Ann Bolman, President of WDTC, who highlighted Floyd’s unwavering support, particularly through the efforts of Jon Gillam, Vice President of Parts.
To support the diesel technology program at WDTC, Floyd’s has donated $20,000 towards a new training engine, a C12 CAT engine, and a complete tandem differential with brakes for a training aid in the past two years. Just this year, WDTC’s diesel program received $10,000 in training aids, four differentials, four diesel exhaust particulate filters and a Western Star brake and suspension trainer.
It was after this last donation of classroom materials that we took a look the numbers and found that Floyd’s is a major employer of WDTC graduates with 52% of our Rapid City diesel technicians being alumni. Some going back as far as 24 years; many more employees at Floyd’s graduated from other WDTC programs, such as business and accounting, as well as receiving CDL training at WDTC.
While being an active member of WDTC’s Diesel program advisory board, plans were made to get WDTC into Daimler Trucks North America’s (DTNA) “Get Ahead” Program. Today their diesel program annually receives 10 free DTNA diagnostic licenses and free “Get Ahead” training for every student enrolled in the program. This free training provides students with the ability to receive Get Ahead certifications while they are still being actively enrolled, thus improving skill sets.
Back during the days of the pandemic WDTC found themselves in the fray along other used truck buyers. WDTC’s professional truck driving program needed to purchase an additional diesel truck to meet demand for truck driving instruction. Because of manufacturers being shut down across the nation and the supply chain challenges, finding diesel trucks for sale new was challenging. Despite these shortages, Floyd’s was able to source a high-quality used truck within WDTC’s price range, which was below the market value at that time.
Along with WDTC, Floyd’s Truck Center has also partnered with WyoTech, Casper College and Laramie Community College, and a variety of community colleges across the West and Midwest regions, which will provide resources for further career development and training across the DTNA network.
Each year, Floyd’s continues to expand its partnership with WDTC and is consistently looking for new ways to work with colleges in supporting students and creating a more sustainable workforce in our region. Floyd’s has done this through scholarships like Build Dakota and our in-house Brian H. Greif Memorial Scholarship, donations of equipment and educational materials, internships, part-time jobs for students, as well as through service on a variety of advisory boards.
“Because of the ties between Floyd’s Truck Center, through Jon Gillam and other Floyd’s employees, many students at WDT have been able to finish their education”, Bolman wrote referring to Jon’s work on the WDT Foundation Board.
Jon served on the WDT Foundation Board for six years, two terms, including as President. In fact, since 2018, Floyd’s has donated monthly to the foundation for a variety of scholarship programs as well as making larger donations to fundraising campaigns like the 80/20 Student Emergency Fund endowment. The endowed emergency student fund provides any WDTC student with access to up to $500 per year to mitigate an emergency situation that will help a student stay in college. This includes situations like unexpected expenses caused by illness or accidents.
“Mr. Gillam’s strong, positive influence on the Board, including his support of the Student Emergency Fund endowment, as well as his work to articulate and solidify the Foundation’s role to support the college and its students, exemplifies the perfect combination of corporate leadership and tangible resources brought to bear in support of technical education at WDTC.” – Ann Bolman
“We have been honored to partner with Western Dakota Technical College on several projects and programs over the past few years. This partnership has been instrumental in developing the next generation of technicians that support our supply chain”, stated Jon. “Right now the number of diesel technicians projected to leave the industry is outpacing new growth by more than a 5:1 ratio so it’s invigorating to see WDT guiding the next generation”.
Jon was adamant to point out that he truly liked what WDTC does for the community, pointing out that it’s more than just diesel techs. He continued to share what a great job they have done in regard to educating folks that come from difficult backgrounds and helping them through to graduation. “The education they provide really allows those individuals to improve their lives through the jobs and financial stability they get with a WDTC degree.” - Jon
The culmination of these efforts was Floyd’s well-deserved victory of the Silver Star of Excellence Award, announced on February 27th. The award ceremony at the ATEA National Conference in Wichita, Kansas, on April 11th, served as a moment of pride, not just for Floyd’s but for the entire community. Today, as the Silver Star proudly adorns the walls of Floyd’s Rapid City office, it stands as a testament to a decade-long partnership rooted in a shared vision of empowering students and building a sustainable workforce.
