The senior director of plant operations of Polaris in Limestone County on Wednesday told Boy Scouts and community leaders that personal achievements acquired through scouting combined with a technical education is a key to a successful future.

Eric Blackwell made his comments at the annual breakfast hosted by the Boy Scouts of America’s Greater Alabama Council. Despite a threat of severe weather, dozens of scouts, school leaders and economic development officials attended the fundraiser at the Limestone County Event Center.

Though now an executive with Polaris, Blackwell told the scouts he thoroughly enjoyed the years he spent as a millwright and tradesman. He urged scouts to consider a four-year college but not to discount what they could learn through a technical education.

He explained technology has helped Polaris evolve from the creation of the first snowmobile in 1965 to specialty vehicles like the Ranger and Slingshot vehicles, which were prominently displayed inside the event center.

“Think about the evolution of your first car to the one you have now,” he said. “We need to make sure our team members are prepared for the technological evolution. … It’s a competitive advantage to work with our trade schools and community colleges and have team members we can quickly prepare to be a success in our environment.”

Benefits of scouting

Limestone County Schools Superintendent Dr. Tom Sisk, who also gave some remarks, has been a proponent of both a technical education and scouting. Sisk said this year marks 40 years he’s been involved with Boy Scouts of America.

In speaking about why people should support scouting, Sisk explained scouts have given more than 11.9 million hours of documented community service and more than $206 million in goods and services nationwide in the past year.

“Many of those projects go on actively here in the Tennessee Valley,” he said.

In closing, Blackwell told the scouts to apply their training up to this point to their future career.

“We look forward to having you Boy Scouts and Eagle Scouts becoming part of our organization,” he said.