BY: Cindy Scott, Central Educational Center
When a child’s first words are VROOM, VROOM rather than mama or dada, an engineering
career seems preordained. “His first sounds were car noises and he loved anything that had four wheels
and made noise,” said Charmaine Goldbeck, mom to Central Educational Center (CEC) senior Cooper
Goldbeck.
Goldbeck has parlayed an early interest in LEGOs and robotics into one of Georgia’s first highschool European style apprenticeships at local German-based manufacturer Grenzebach. “We started
our partnership with CEC last year with two Northgate High school engineering apprentices and this year
we expanded the program to include Cooper’s welding-based apprenticeship,” explained Chief
Operating Officer Martin Pleyer. “We’re thrilled with the work he has been doing.”
Pleyer and Mark Whitlock, CEC’s Chief Executive Officer, are working together to implement a
European style apprenticeship program in Coweta County. Ideally, such a partnership would train a pool
of skilled, technical employees that could work in high-tech, high skill roles throughout the county,
Georgia and the nation. “We’re a multi-national, family-owned company that has been in Coweta
County for 26 years. We’re here for the long-term, focused on our employees and excited about this
possibility,” Pleyer said.
“In Germany, about 65% of high school students apply for apprenticeships. Then companies
given them work contracts and over the next two to three years these students learn technical skills
while also attending high schools much like CEC,” Pleyer said. “When they graduate, they receive
certificates in fields ranging from engineering to retail and the students are qualified for jobs that are
well paid and offer strong employment opportunities.”
“The results of our new co-op apprenticeship program with Grenzebach are already exciting,”
Whitlock said. “Germany has the lowest young adult unemployment rate in the industrialized world. In
fact, their rate is half of the corresponding U.S. rate which shows that the close relationship between
Germany’s business and education sectors produces a higher-skilled, more tech-savvy work force at a
younger age.”
“By linking business, the Coweta County School System and West Georgia Technical College to
create the joint venture known as CEC, we think Coweta County is closer than many other communities
to replicating the types of opportunities and results that Germany has known for decades,” Whitlock
continued.
Interestingly, Grenzebach’s Senior Welder George Evans realization that he was part of an aging
work force was a catalyst’s for the company’s program. “A few years ago I started realizing that I’d be
retiring soon and so would many of my fellow welders and it would be a domino effect. We didn’t have
anyone ready to take over. I shared my concerns with Martin (Pleyer) and he suggested this internship
program that Cooper’s doing.”
Working with his mentor Evans since last summer, Goldbeck feels that the internship has
improved his life well beyond his welding skills. “George has taught me everything from the way metal
reacts to heat, to basic bead laying to more intense blueprint reading, but he’s also taught me real life
skills. We’ve really bonded and he treats me like I’m his own son.”
“Cooper’s doing very well, he’s a fast learner and working with him has made me feel lucky that
I’m able to give something back to my company and my community,” Evans said.
Goldbeck’s parents believe that his Grenzebach internship is directly attributable to the CEC’s
hands-on learning opportunities. “CEC’s approach to learning makes sense for him and a lot of boys,” his
dad Ken Goldbeck said. “His classes opened his eyes to his own role in his education and gave him the
opportunity to not only find a potential career, but he has also had speaking opportunities that are
wonderful as well.”
Since his sophomore year, Goldbeck has taken Pre-Engineering, Robotics I and II, JAVA
Programming, BioTechnology, Introduction to Metals and dual enrollment College Welding
(Certification) classes at CEC. “One of my neighbors that I worked on cars with, Cody Cordle (an ECHS
2013 graduate and CEC student), encouraged me to sign up for CEC’s Introduction to Metals class. That
class gave me an opportunity to try some new skills,” Goldbeck said. “I ended tops in my class and that
lead to taking welding which lead to my internship at Grenzebach.”
Grenzebach’s Manufacturing and Installation Manager Roger Schultz credits Goldbeck’s outside
the box thinking with opening eyes at the company. “CEC students like Cooper are extremely wellorganized and have a great attitude. They are very open to learning and that it makes them easier to
teach.”
Cooper first learned about CEC after volunteering to help with a CEC VEX Robotics competition
in 8 grade. Scott Brown, CEC’s Pre-Engineering Director said that he noticed Goldbeck’s promise early
on. “That summer he participated in my YES! Summer Pre-Engineering Camp and his interest and
abilities were apparent. As a sophomore, he took a leadership role, found his passion and his team
competed well.”
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Though robotics is very tech oriented, Charmaine Goldbeck said that her son’s exposure
developed other skills as well. “Robotics allowed him to work on his creative side, that side of him that
likes to build things and figure out how they work,” she said. “Though he’s usually easily frustrated,
working to stay calm, helping other teammates and having to tell others about his projects have really
improved his communication skills.”
Brown attributes Goldbeck’s success to both his strong work ethic and high family expectations.
“He’s found his passion and his family instilled a strong work ethic,” Brown said. “Too, he works on
things like his Eagle Scout project and an extensive car restoration that keep him happy and busy.”
Since his pivotal 8th grade year, Goldbeck and his dad Ken have been working on a joint project
that stems from his first childhood words. “My dad was a fast-car guru and we started working on a
1973 Dodge Challenger back then,” he said. “It’s been a long road, but we’re making good progress,”
dad Ken added.
Work on this project may have to wait awhile if Goldbeck’s post high school plans include a trip
to Germany. “Mr. Pleyer and Mr. Schultz have asked me about my plans after graduation and I told
them that I wanted to finish my additional welding degrees. They said that there’s a possibility that I
could go to Germany (Grenzebach’s headquarters) to learn more about TIG welding and the company’s
apprenticeship program and that would be amazing.”
“Cooper will be my child who flies away; I can already see that,” his mom said.
Cooper’s sister Candace, a 2014 Mercer University graduate, sums up her brother’s adventures
best. “He’s always been smart, but traditional lecture style classes weren’t his thing. CEC was the best
thing for him. Now, he’s forged his own path to fit his needs and I trust he’s found something he enjoys
and that makes him happy.”
From a daredevil whose first engineering challenge was to make his childhood four wheeler go
faster, to a young man enjoying a unique engineering apprenticeship, Cooper Goldbeck’s work-based
learning experience demonstrates that with perseverance, a career-focused high school curriculum, and
a supportive family, a young man can truly speed through life.