AGRU America hosts the first meeting of a local human resources coalition to support regional workforce development.
[Georgetown, South Carolina, February 19, 2025 —] AGRU America, Inc. (“AGRU”) hosted the first meeting of the HR Coalition at Horry-Georgetown Technical College. The coalition consists of professionals interested in collaborating to solve regional HR challenges.
Jody Reed, Human Resources Business Partner at AGRU America, suggested creating an HR coalition for the Georgetown area and collaborated with HR Manager Candy Bonura and HR specialist Holly Wheeler to execute the idea. The AGRU Human Resources and Marketing Departments made this collaboration possible with the assistance of the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce.
“In our field, we are always creating solutions, tools, and safeguards for our coworkers so they can safely and efficiently clock in and work every day,” said Jody. “HR employees often forget to put their oxygen masks on first. This coalition will not only allow HR employees to share solutions their companies have utilized but will allow us to solve problems together. We can share perspectives and become allies for each other.”
The coalition intends to gather monthly, with companies rotating as the host. Each meeting will consist of pre-selected topic presentations and potential guest speakers, and it will share solutions and resources that every member can use at their companies.
“We all will face the same problem, the unexpected,” said Vicki Delaney, Corporate Administrator at AGRU America. “The human component of human resources makes our jobs and the problems we must solve unpredictable. This coalition allows members of the Georgetown community, who are involved in any capacity with HR, to have a collaborative space to solve these problems and help one another. Ultimately, we hope that the HR Coalition will support the continued development of our region’s workforce.”
The first meeting consisted of 22 participants, including the AGRU HR department, with sights set on growing. Members Tonia Appel and Vincent Myers presented on Apprenticeship Carolina, a program built to help companies provide apprenticeship programs for a stronger workforce. Future meetings will feature other speakers sharing more resources available to companies.
The coalition emphasizes the importance of bringing companies of all sizes. For these companies, the coalition has the potential to provide resources to not only assist in knowledge of standard human resource practices but also provide a community of allies when problems occur.
“I am pleased that AGRU America has come together with other industries in our community to share knowledge, connections, and resources,” said Robert L. Johnson, President/CEO at AGRU America. “As a company that did not always have the privilege of a focused HR Department, we understand the value the HR coalition can bring to other companies. I want to thank Vincent Myers, the workforce development team at Horry-Georgetown Technical College, the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce, and AGRU America’s HR department for making this coalition possible.”
About AGRU America, Inc.
Since 1988, Georgetown, SC–based AGRU America, Inc. has created innovative engineering plastics solutions for a safer and more sustainable future. AGRU America is part of AGRU Kunststofftechnik GmbH, an Austrian family-owned enterprise in business since 1948. AGRU maintains production facilities in Austria, the United States, and China. AGRU solutions, including state-of-the-art products such as AGRU geosynthetics, concrete protective liners, pipes and fittings, and semi-finished products, are sold in over 100 countries on six continents from over 150 distribution sites. Learn more about AGRU America at https://www.agruamerica.com.
Press Contacts
Yuse Lajiminmuhip
yuse@agruamerica.com
