Englewood, Ohio – Rick Little, a resident of Englewood and President of Starwin Industries on Woodman Drive in Dayton, was inducted into the Miami Valley Career Technology Center (MVCTC) Hall of Fame on Thursday, October 6, 2016, during the All Advisory Dinner. Little attended the Precision Machining program at MVCTC (when it was known as Montgomery County Joint Vocational School) in 1971, the very first year the school was open. Upon graduation, he used the skills he learned in the Precision Machining program to secure a job as a machinist trainee.  Over the course of the last 40-years, Rick assumed positions of increasing responsibility, from machinist to floor supervisor to manufacturing manager, culminating in his current role as President of Starwin Industries.

Rick attributes his success to the solid foundation he acquired from his education and training at MCJVS/MVCTC.  He has positively affected many machinists through his guidance and mentorship, in an effort to show young people that they, too, can have a great career in manufacturing. Throughout his career, Rick has been a committed advocate for manufacturing in the Dayton Region.  He has been active in the Dayton Region Manufacturers Association for a number of years, first by serving on its Government Relations Committee and then on its Board of Trustees.  Rick is the current chairman of the Board.  Rick also serves on the City of Dayton Mayor’s Manufacturing Task Force, which is a committee of community leaders, manufacturers, and labor representatives who advocate for manufacturing in the city.  He also serves on the Dayton Region Military Collaborative, representing the manufacturing industry in defense-related initiatives.  He was the keynote speaker at the 2016 STEP II graduate recognition ceremony hosted by Sinclair Community College.

Rick shared the following about his MCJVS/MVCTC education, “Through the years I’ve watched fellow employees struggle to solve problems that seemed second nature to me because of the foundational education I received at the MCJVS/MVCTC. I was able to walk into the work environment with an understanding of manufacturing processes and realistic expectations for my future.”

Rick is the “poster child” for career technical education.  He was a member of the first graduating class at MVCTC, found immediate employment in his field (precision machining), and is now the president of Starwin Industries and the chairman of the Dayton Region Manufacturers Association’s Board of Trustees.  He is the epitome of how career technical education lays the foundation for a successful and lucrative career!

The ten new MVCTC Hall of Fame members received a special crystal award presented to them by MVCTC Superintendent Dr. Nick Weldy and Director of Instruction Mrs. Rhonda Phillips at a dinner meeting attended by over 350 program advisory members. Their portraits will be displayed in the school and their names will join the other 49 names engraved on a perpetual Hall of Fame plaque in the student activity center. MVCTC Hall of Fame members are inducted every five years from nominations that come from educators, family members, business, and employers. Mrs. Cathy Hutton, Northmont Area Chamber of Commerce Director; Mr. Eddie Mowen, Editor for the Register-Herald, and Ohio Representative Jeff Rezabek judged the Hall of Fame nominations this year.

Dr. Nick Weldy, MVCTC Superintendent, stated “We are proud to honor our returning alumni who have been so successful after leaving the Miami Valley Career Technology Center! Their former instructors provided a firm foundation to assist them in building careers that have blossomed. I appreciate the fact that all of the inductees returned to campus from across the United States to participate in the ceremony and show their dedication to our current mission of educating students to be career and college ready. They serve as inspiring role models for our current students. I congratulate each of our inductees and wish them the best of luck in their quest for continued success.”

For more information about MVCTC, please visit www.mvctc.com.

For over 45-years, MVCTC has been providing career technical education for 27 partner school districts encompassing five counties, including Darke, Miami, Montgomery, Preble, and Warren Counties.  MVCTC is dedicated to providing in-demand workforce training for youth, adults, and organizations in the Miami Valley. 

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