BrucePac receives OSRHE Business Partnership Award
By Dan Hoke
Attending the Partnership Excellence Award presentation were Chancellor Glen D. Johnson, Southeastern president Sean Burrage, BrucePac general manager Bob Delveaux, former Durant Industrial Authority executive director Tommy Kramer, Southeastern athletic director Keith Baxter, Southeastern director of university communications Alan Burton, Southeastern vice president for advancement Dr. Kyle Stafford, and Oklahoma Secretary of State, Education and Workforce Development Dave Lopez.
April 9, 2018
DURANT, Okla. – Twenty-seven business and higher education partnerships throughout the state were recognized recently as innovative collaborations that further the education of Oklahoma’s workforce.
The Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education’s Regents Business Partnership Excellence Award is designed to highlight successful partnerships between higher education institutions and businesses and to further cultivate the higher learning environment through State Regents’ Economic Development Grants.
Locally, Southeastern Oklahoma State University and BrucePac were recognized with the partnership award.
“Our colleges and universities are working side by side with leaders in the private, public and nonprofit sectors,” said Chancellor Glen D. Johnson. “These collaborations between business and industry and our state system institutions ensure that we continue building the skilled workforce needed for Oklahoma to be globally competitive.”
BrucePac, a newcomer to Durant, has already made it a point to partner with Southeastern Oklahoma State University’s communication and athletic departments. BrucePac produces and supplies cooked meat products. It is headquartered in Woodburn, Ore., but has a production facility in Durant.
Although the company has been in Durant for only a couple of years, it has been very supportive of the community and the university. In 2017, BrucePac’s Durant location donated a refrigerated truck to Southeastern to use at various events throughout the year, such as homecoming and the Presidential Golf Classic. The vehicle was also used by the athletic department to store ice for post-practice therapy for student athletes. In addition to donating the truck, BrucePac has added the university and Southeastern athletics logos to the vehicle.
In addition, BrucePac is working with the communications department at Southeastern to develop a student internship program that will assist with developing training videos for the company’s human resources department.
“BrucePac is a valued member of the Durant business community,’’ said Southeastern president Sean Burrage. “Beyond that, the company gives a great deal back to the community by supporting numerous worthwhile projects, which ultimately results in a better quality of life for our citizens.’’