Submitted photoPictured are Barbara Jones, MCC vice president for operations; left, Lynne Carey, MCC workforce project manager; Pam Baranello, MCC veterans services coordinator; Dan McFadden, CertainTeed plant manager; Debbie Jones, CertainTeed plant administrator/HR; Dr. Scott Elliott, MCC president; Kathy Brookshire, MCC associate vice president for development; Dr. Angela Payne, MCC director of admissions; and Joseph Knight, MCC dean for business and community development.

Dan McFadden knows what it’s like to have been in the military. The child of a military dad, a serviceman himself and the dad of a serviceman, McFadden has an affinity for those who serve our nation.

He’s also seen how sometimes veterans struggle after leaving service. “Knowing what people go through when they separate themselves from the service – to extend a hand to help them up – it’s part of our obligation as a nation to do,” McFadden said.

Now as plant manager of Meridian’s CertainTeed, a subsidiary of Saint-Gobain, McFadden is helping combat one hurdle that service personnel face.

“The biggest challenge for people leaving the service is … they step out — especially the ones who joined the service right out of high school – and they have no understanding of what is required to be effective in the workforce. So having a program to train people, give them the requisite skills so they can step right into a good paying job in manufacturing, is very important,” he said. “We have to have a stepping stone for them to find a way to support their families. That’s super important,” McFadden said.

To that end, the Saint-Gobain Foundation has offered that step by giving Meridian Community College Foundation a $2,730 grant earmarked for the Veteran’s Scholarship Fund at MCC. McFadden explained the corporation gives money to its plants to distribute to the community.

He did his due diligence, checking with individuals that led him to MCC. “This is a good place to start some kind of scholarship,” McFadden said.

Criteria for the grant are recipients must be a Mississippi or Alabama resident, must be honorably discharged veterans or members of the National Guard or Reserves, must have a high school diploma or GED, must be pursuing an associate of science or technical degree or a skilled trades certificate through the MCC-Riley Workforce Development Center and must be of good moral character.

“We’re trying to make everybody understand that CertainTeed – in particular – Saint-Gobain – our parent company – is very veteran friendly. We’re encouraging veterans to come here and get some good training that will make them fit into our workforce.”

MCC President Dr. Scott Elliott echoed the sentiment. “We try to support our veteran population well here, too. I think it’s a great investment that you are making,” he told McFadden. Dr. Angela Payne, director of admissions at MCC, said, “We serve about 300 veterans and their eligible dependents. So we are very excited to have these scholarship dollars available.”

Kathy Brookshire, associate vice president for development added: It was great going out to CertainTeed to meet with Dan. When I drove up, tears came to my eyes. The CertainTeed plant used to be Flintkote Company where my Dad worked for 35 years. It was very sentimental for me. I am thrilled for MCC to partner with CertainTeed to help veterans have this great opportunity at the MCC-Riley Workforce Development Center.”

CertainTeed produces a range of ceiling tiles and acoustical wall panels used in commercial construction applications.