Former Smith employees retraining at Pioneer Technology Center

More than a dozen employees who were laid off during the Smith Bits plant shut down in Ponca City have chosen to retrain for new careers at Pioneer Technology Center.

“When we first learned of the closure, we immediately began working with Ponca City Development Authority and Workforce Oklahoma, as well other community leaders, to find a way to assist these employees,” said Bruce DeMuth Superintendent/CEO of Pioneer Tech.

Smith Bits, a Schlumberger Company, announced in October of 2016 that they would be closing the Ponca City location and moving everything to Houston.  Since that time, these employees have enrolled in programs like Business Information Technology Education, Construction Technology, Industrial Technology and Machine Tool Technology.

For more information about Pioneer Technology Center’s programs and initiatives, call (580) 762-8336 or visit their website www.pioneertech.edu.

Over a dozen employees who were laid off during the Smith Bits plant shut down in Ponca City have chosen to retrain for new careers at Pioneer Technology Center. Pictured from left are students in the Construction Technology Class — Jeff Strange, Mickey Woltz, Scott Tipton and David Rush.