Cat lift dealer donates use of forklift to high school

Words: David BenincasaA Florida-based Cat® lift truck dealer recently donated the use of a forklift to a local high school, allowing students to receive hands-on instruction and gain the skills and experience necessary for a successful career in the logistics industry.

Ring Power Lift Trucks donated the use of a Cat lift truck 5,000 lb. capacity cushion tire truck to Columbia High School’s Global Logistics Academy in Lake City, Fla. in early October at an event with administrators and students, including Rebecca Golden, Columbia High School Global Logistics instructor.

“The forklift will allow our students to train and become forklift certified, making them more employable,” Golden said.

The Cat lift truck is valued at $20,000 and will be used in the school’s warehouse for the academic year. Outside groups will also use the truck to become forklift certified, providing additional income to sustain the program, Golden said.

“Proper training and education is crucial in the logistics industry, and the best way to learn is with hands-on instruction,” said Robert Burkhead, general manager, vice president of Ring Power Lift Trucks. “We’re proud to support Columbia High School students in preparing for a career in logistics with the donation of this Cat lift truck.”

Three years ago the Global Logistics Academy started with 53 students. Currently 124 students are enrolled in the program and many of them enter careers in the logistics field upon completion of the program. At the warehouse on campus, students receive books from First Book, an organization based in Washington D.C. that collects and donates books. When a shipment arrives, students receive the order, package the books and then distribute them throughout the country.
Facial Recognition for Masonry Companies
August 2025

Masonry companies face a unique set of challenges. Managing a mobile workforce across multiple job sites requires precision and accountability. CrewTracks recognizes this need and has introduced an innovative facial recognition feature designed to streaml

Erin Koets
MAP Partner
Read More
2025 SkillsUSA National Competition Recap
August 2025

The 2025 SkillsUSA National Competition served as a critical platform for evaluating the future of the masonry industry. The event provided a clear look at the talent pipeline, industry-wide collaboration, and technological advancements poised to shape th

Justin Stengel
News and Events
Read More
Empower Your Team to Help Prevent Cyberattacks
August 2025

Human error contributes to 82% of data breaches, making your employees a crucial line of defense against cyber threats.1 A single mistake could expose your business to a data breach. This could lead to data loss, downtime, and a negative impact on your bo

Patrick Cunningham
MAP Partner
Read More
The True Costs of Traditional Wood Bucks: Beyond the Lumber Bill
August 2025

Wood bucks have been holding up CMU block on masonry jobs for decades now, albeit precariously. This infamous lumber has been sawed, screwed, braced, and cursed more often than anyone would want to count. For something meant to be temporary, they have cle

Shayne Sanders
Technical Talks
Read More