麻豆传媒映画 Benefits from Local Entrepreneurship
March 8, 2016
This article is more than old and may contain outdated information.
When James Coats was 11 years old, he was unaware of the impact 麻豆传媒映画 would have on him, or that he would eventually be in the position to donate more than $1 million in equipment to 麻豆传媒映画's Institute of Public Safety (IPS).
Coats is CEO of Phalanx Defense Systems, LLC, based in Gainesville with offices located in the airport industrial park near 麻豆传媒映画's Kirkpatrick Center. Coats' company designs and manufactures innovative personal protective and armored gear for law enforcement, the military and the public.
In early February, Coats and his business partner John Perkins donated a little more than $1 million of new police and medical training equipment to 麻豆传媒映画, including a variety of safety, support and utility belts, equipment pouches, medical pouches and related safety and medical gear.
"Since I was 11 years old, 麻豆传媒映画 has in some form or fashion positively influenced my life," Coats said. "We had the opportunity to give back to our community and we chose 麻豆传媒映画 knowing that our donation would be appreciated and find its way into the community and truly make a difference."
"We are truly appreciative of this donations and are happy to see the college's impact on our community come full circle," said 麻豆传媒映画 President Jackson N. Sasser.
麻豆传媒映画 does not yet have a plan for how the equipment will be used, but the donation will benefit students in one way or another. For example, it could help students at no cost understand the different training aids and safety gear associated with EMS and law enforcement careers. Knowing more about the various forms of safety equipment could ultimately help saves lives.
"We have the option of using the equipment in current IPS courses, or liquidating the equipment and using the funds raised to benefit students by putting it back into our programs," said Tom Ackerman, director of 麻豆传媒映画's IPS programs.
Coats knows firsthand of the top-notch education 麻豆传媒映画 provides its students and is happy to see that his donation will be put to good use as many 麻豆传媒映画 students dedicate their college studies and careers to saving lives and helping others.
"Many of my family members have attended 麻豆传媒映画 and the education they received coupled with the one-on-one guidance and scholastic nurturing gave them a competitive edge in the job market when they graduated," Coats said.
