What Great Plains Technology Center does

Great Plains Technology Center (GPTC) is a public career and technical education institution operating as School District No. 9 under the Oklahoma CareerTech system, headquartered at 4500 SW Lee Blvd., Lawton, Oklahoma, with a secondary campus in Frederick. Founded in 1971 (firmographics note 1969; company history notes 1971), the institution serves Southwest Oklahoma across Comanche, Cotton, Tillman, and Kiowa Counties, delivering 28 full-time programs at the Lawton campus and 7 full-time programs at the Frederick campus spanning healthcare, information technology, skilled trades, transportation, creative arts, public safety, and emergency services. Core technology consists of industry-standard training facilities — healthcare labs, skilled trades workshops, IT/computer labs, culinary kitchens, and emergency services simulation equipment — supplemented by partner-delivered online learning through Ed2Go (250+ courses) and United Training. Notable programs include Paramedic (CAAHEP/CoAEMSP accredited), Industrial Automation, Cyber Security Analyst, Python Programming, Aviation Maintenance, and Firefighter/EMT Academy.

Revenue is generated through multiple streams: full-time program tuition (eligible for Federal Pell Grant, SEOG, Work Study, OTAG, and foundation scholarships such as the McMahon Foundation), short-term continuing education classes priced $25–$1,699, customized contract training for businesses (delivered at one-third national average cost per contact hour), and partner-delivered online training. The institution serves three primary customer segments: high school students seeking dual-enrollment career and college credit, adult learners pursuing career transitions or HSE credentials, and 200+ local businesses annually through Business and Industry Services including workforce development, safety training, and government contracting assistance. Go-to-market is community-led and event-driven, anchored by 29+ career program advisory committees, employer panels, career fairs, and campus tours. Leadership includes Superintendent Joelle Jolly (with GPTC since 2005) and Deputy Superintendent Morgan Gould (Certified Public Accountant), supported by a 14+ member administration team, a five-member elected Board of Education, and the Great Plains Technology Center Foundation, Inc. (20-member board formed in 1980). Reported outcome metrics include 91% positive placement rate, 94% completion rate, and 1,089 certifications awarded annually.

Name

Great Plains Technology Center

Legal name

Great Plains Technology Center

Website

https://greatplains.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1971

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Great Plains Technology Center is a public career and technical education institution serving Southwest Oklahoma with two campuses (Lawton and Frederick), offering 35 full-time programs plus short-term classes and business training to high school students, adult learners, and 200+ local employers annually.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Career and Technical Education

NAICS

Technical and Trade Schools (61151), Technical and Trade Schools (6115), Computer Training (611420), Professional and Management Development Training (611430)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Technical Community Colleges (Applied/CTE-Focused) (EDAHADAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Information Technology & Software (EDAAAPAB), Healthcare & Life Sciences (EDAAAPAA), Technology & Software (EDABALAZ), Emerging Tech & Specialized Computing (IoT, Edge, AR/VR, Blockchain, HPC) (EDABAFAO), Education & Training (Teaching/Instructional Design) Certifications (EDAAANAM)

Keywords

• Career technical education
• Workforce development
• Adult continuing education
• Skills certification programs
• Vocational training

Headquarters

HQ city

Lawton

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Full-Time Program Tuition: Tuition and fees for full-time career programs for adult students; Federal Pell Grant, state aid, and scholarships can be applied
2. Short-Term/Continuing Education Classes: Various priced short-term classes ranging from $25 to over $1,000 for skills training and professional development
3. Contract/Business Training: Customized training programs for businesses including safety training, soft skill training, and industrial technical training at one-third the national average cost per contact hour
4. Scholarship Administration: Foundation scholarships for tuition assistance funded by local businesses, citizens, and foundations such as the McMahon Foundation

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Great Plains Technology Center delivers career and technical education through 28 full-time programs at its Lawton campus and 7 at its Frederick campus, covering healthcare (nursing, paramedic, surgical tech), skilled trades (HVAC, welding, carpentry, electrical), information technology (cyber security, Python programming, IT services), public safety (firefighter/EMT, criminal justice), creative arts (video production, 3D animation, graphic design), and transportation (aviation maintenance, automotive). It supplements these with short-term continuing education classes, adult education and HSE preparation, customized business and industry contract training, and a national certification Testing Center.

Product overview

Great Plains Technology Center is a career and technical education institution offering a unified portfolio of educational products and services. The core offerings consist of 28 full-time programs at the Lawton campus and 7 programs at the Frederick campus, covering healthcare, information technology, skilled trades, transportation, creative arts, and public safety fields. These are supplemented by short-term continuing education classes, adult education (HSE/GED), business and industry training services, and work-based learning partnerships. Online learning is delivered through partner platforms (Ed2Go and United Training). The institution also operates a Testing Center for national certifications and provides student support services including career counseling, financial aid, and disability services. This is not a software product company but an educational institution whose 'products' are training programs and educational services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Full-time Programs - Lawton Campus 28 comprehensive career and technical education programs offering hands-on training in high-demand fields including healthcare (nursing, paramedic, surgical tech, biomedical), information technology (cyber security, Python programming, IT services), skilled trades (HVAC, welding, carpentry, electrical, industrial automation), transportation (aviation maintenance, automotive), creative arts (3D animation, graphic design, video production), and public safety (firefighter/EMT, criminal justice). For high school and adult students.
• Full-time Programs - Frederick Campus Seven full-time career and technical education programs at the Frederick campus serving Tillman and Kiowa Counties, including Construction Technology, Cosmetology, Diagnostic Aide & Nurse Assistant, Multimedia Assistant, and Practical Nursing. For high school and adult students.
• Short-Term Continuing Education Classes Flexible non-degree courses covering business and office skills, emergency medical services (EMT/AEMT), health services (Certified Medication Aide), motorcycle safety training, personal enrichment, professional development (FrontLine Leadership, A+ Certification), public safety, security guard training, trade and industry skills, and QuickBooks. Pricing ranges from $25 to $1,699 per class.
• Adult Education and Family Literacy (HSE/GED) High School Equivalency preparation programs offering GED and HiSET testing preparation, English Language Learners instruction, and personalized academic plans for adults 21 years and older seeking HSE credentials.
• Business and Industry Services Customized workforce development and training services for businesses including agricultural business management, business training, contract training, government contracting assistance, and expansion/relocation support. Delivered at approximately one-third the national average cost per contact hour.
• Ed2Go Online Training Online learning platform offered through partnership with ed2go, providing over 250 online courses for remote skill development for adult learners and professionals.
• United Training Technical and professional training platform provided through partnership with United Training, offering desktop applications, ITIL, project management, and other professional development courses.
• Testing Center Services Nationally recognized testing services including Pearson VUE, PSI, Prometric ASE Professional tests, Oklahoma Department of Health certifications, and Oklahoma Department of Labor examinations.
• Work-Based Learning (WBL) Industry-education partnership program providing job shadowing, internships, and registered apprenticeships that combine classroom instruction with real-world workplace experience for students.
• Candidate Physical Ability Test (CPAT) Physical ability testing for firefighting candidates, verifying ability to perform essential job tasks at fire scenes with certification valid for hiring processes.
• Contract Training Customized contract training programs for businesses including safety training (OSHA-10 for Construction Trades, OSHA-10 for General Industry, Forklift Operator Training, Aerial Lift & Fall Protection), soft skill training, and industrial technical training delivered at employer sites at one-third the national average cost per contact hour.

Quantifiable outcome

• 91% Positive Placement Rate - students employed, in education, or military within 6 months of completion
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.

• Ayers Nursing HomecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 29 June 2026Clinical rotation agreement for healthcare students to gain hands-on experience in nursing home settings as part of their career training programs.
• Altus Emergency Medical Services/Altus FirecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 29 June 2026Clinical affiliation agreement for Emergency Medical Services students to complete required clinical rotations at Altus EMS facilities.
• GoodyearflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustrial Maintenance Trainee Program and Industrial Maintenance Internship Program with dedicated policies and procedures handbook for FY27. Provides pathway for students to enter manufacturing careers.
• Ed2GocoreTechnology or IntegrationOnline learning partnership offering 250+ online courses for students seeking flexible, remote education options.
• United TrainingcoreTechnology or IntegrationTechnical training, desktop applications, ITIL training, and project management training delivered through partnership for workforce development.
• Cameron UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTuition waiver scholarships (Dr. Tom Thomas, Jim Nisbett, Pre-Education, Pre-Engineering) for students planning to continue education at Cameron University after GPTC.
• Lawton-Fort Sill Economic Development CorporationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEconomic development partner supporting workforce development initiatives and business growth in Southwest Oklahoma region.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Oklahoma City Community College: Community college in central Oklahoma offering associate degrees and CTE credentials that overlap with GPTC programs, though as a broader higher-education incumbent rather than a CTE specialist.

Emerging players

• Lincoln Tech: National for-profit career training chain offering automotive, HVAC, welding, and healthcare programs — comparable curricula and student demographic, though operating under a private, tuition-driven model rather than public funding.

Direct peers

• Tulsa Technology Center: Another Oklahoma CareerTech district technology center serving the Tulsa metro area with full-time career programs, short-term classes, and business/industry training — the most direct functional peer within the same state system.
• Meridian Technology Center: Oklahoma CareerTech district in Stillwater offering full-time programs and business/industry services with comparable scale and rural-Oklahoma service area dynamics.
• Moore Norman Technology Center: CareerTech district in central Oklahoma offering full-time technical programs, short-term continuing education, and customized business training with a comparable employer-driven advisory committee model.
• Canadian Valley Technology Center: Oklahoma CareerTech district with multiple campuses serving similar CTE, healthcare, skilled trades, and IT programs alongside contract business training for regional employers.
• Francis Tuttle Technology Center: Oklahoma CareerTech district serving Oklahoma City metro with similar full-time CTE programs, business and industry services, and dual-campus structure — directly comparable in mission, scale, and revenue model.
• Autry Technology Center: Oklahoma CareerTech district serving the Enid area with full-time CTE programs, short-term classes, and customized industry training — comparable program mix and public-funding model.

Regional players

• Southern Oklahoma Technology Center: Oklahoma CareerTech district serving rural southern Oklahoma with similar CTE offerings — a geographic peer operating in adjacent counties rather than directly competing.
• Cameron University: Regional four-year university in Lawton where GPTC graduates often continue education; offers tuition-waiver scholarship partnerships with GPTC and overlaps in IT and education programs.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/great-plains-technology-center
• Xx.com/greatplainstech
• Facebookfacebook.com/117441245892

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Great Plains Technology Center