Starting this fall, Owensboro Health and OCTC will partner on a program that aims to train forty-five new Certified Medical Technicians before June 30th, 2023. The program is funded by a $325,000 grant from the Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education.

Owensboro Health will select students and hire them as Patient Care Technicians prior to the start of classes. Three groups of fifteen students, the first beginning October 24th and the next beginning in January and April, will follow a “work and learn” model. This model will allow the students to work at Owensboro Health with educational release time to travel to OCTC and complete their credentials.

The credentials the students will earn are the State Registered Nursing Assistant, Phlebotomy Technician, Certified Medical Technician, and the Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Certificate.

“Owensboro Health is proud to collaborate with OCTC on this innovative approach to developing the next generation of healthcare workers and providing them with new pathways to career success and fulfillment,” said Mark Marsh, President and CEO of Owensboro Health. “This outstanding program is another example of how our communities are meeting the region’s most vital challenges through teamwork and creativity.”

“OCTC is grateful to CPE for this opportunity, and we are excited to partner with Owensboro Health to help meet their current and future direct patient care hiring needs,” said OCTC President Dr. Scott Williams. “We are proud to be a part of this novel, public-private collaborative approach to help address the healthcare workforce shortage.”

Scholarships are available for this program along with other assistance such as childcare, books, supplies, etc. For more information on this program and help with registration, enrollment, or other student needs contact LaTasha Shemwell at latasha.shemwell@kctcs.edu or 270-686-4455.

The Greater Owensboro Economic Development Corporation, in partnership with MakeMyMove, launched a campaign encouraging remote workers to relocate to the Owensboro community. Offering $5,000 and other perks, EDC executives invite remote talent to bring their jobs and families, establish roots and call Owensboro home. Prior to the launch of this campaign, more than 180 remote workers have already applied through MakeMyMove.com, showing great interest in moving to Daviess County.

“Owensboro is a perfect location to become a hot spot for remote workers,” said Brittaney Johnson, CEO of the Greater Owensboro Economic Development Corporation. “We’re excited to continue building this new pipeline of talent to the region.”

The “Grow The Boro” incentive program is designed to offset moving expenses and connect newcomers with local amenities. Program perks include:

● A $5,000 stipend to cover relocation expenses
● A one-year membership at the Owensboro Health Healthpark
● A one-year membership at the Western Kentucky Botanical Garden
● A one-year Chamber Young Professional Membership
● Two 4-day tickets to ROMP Festival 2023, benefiting the Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame & Museum and more.

Interested candidates must fill out an application, currently reside outside of Kentucky, be employed full-time with remote privileges, or be self-employed and able to bring their business anywhere to be considered. “We’re evaluating applications for candidates that want to bring their unique talents, help contribute to the growth and development of our community, and remain in Owensboro for many years to come,” added Johnson.

As the pandemic wanes, remote work remains a permanent fixture in the American jobs landscape. With an ability to work from anywhere, these kinds of workers are increasingly on the move. Anywhere between 14-23 Million Americans are expected to relocate as a result of remote work.

“Without an office to commute to, remote workers are re-evaluating where they live,” said Evan Hock, co-founder of MakeMyMove. “Owensboro has so many features that remote workers are looking for — affordability, a connected community, great schools, a real sense of growth and forward momentum. We’re pleased that MakeMyMove can be a partner in that continued growth.”

Applications for the “Grow The Boro” program are open now. Remote workers who are interested in applying or learning more should go to https://www.makemymove.com/get-paid/owensboro-kentucky.

Kentucky has continued to build on recent economic momentum, and manufacturing has been a focal point of this growth. Gov. Andy Beshear has designated the month of October to be Manufacturing Month to honor this sector that employs nearly 250,000 Kentuckians. 

“Manufacturing is at the heart of everything we do in terms of economic development in this state,” Gov. Beshear said. “This sector has been a driving force behind our recent success and will continue to be a pillar of our economy for generations to come. I want to thank every manufacturer across the commonwealth for their part in our continued success, as well as every single resident who works to produce Kentucky-made products that are distributed around the world.”

Kentucky’s manufacturing presence makes up 13% of the state’s workforce, which is well above the national average of 8.5%. This is a diversified workforce made up of automotive, aerospace, distribution and logistics, metals, health care, food, beverage, agritech and many others. Since the start of the Beshear administration, manufacturing projects have contributed to 475 private sector new location and expansion announcements that are creating more than 25,300 full-time jobs for Kentuckians with over $18 billion in new investment. 

This continued growth is carrying over into 2022. 83 manufacturing related projects have already been announced this year. These projects are contributing nearly $6 billion in new investment and over 7,000 full-time jobs. Along with the growth in investment we have seen a wave of well-paying job opportunities in Kentucky. Through september 2022, Kentucky’s average incentivized hourly wage is $25.96 before benefits. This is an 8% increase over the same figure for 2021. Nearly 7.5 billion has been invested into the Kentucky economy and more than 13,000 full-time jobs have been created in that same time. Along with this, Kentucky has posted record low unemployment rates for five consecutive months, holding at or below 3.9% since April 2022. 

Kentucky’s success in manufacturing has been recognized by both S&P Global Ratings and Fitch Ratings, which has upgraded the state’s financial outlook to positive. In addition, Site Selection magazine placed Kentucky at 6th in its annual Prosperity Cup rankings for 2022, which recognizes state-level economic success based on capital investments.

Data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics showed that Kentucky lead the entire nation in job growth for the month of August, adding 26,700 nonfarm payroll jobs. In September, Kentucky reported August 2022 General Fund receipts hit an unprecedented high for any August on record, marking 21 straight months of growing revenues for the state.

Frank Jemley, president and CEO of the Kentucky Association of Manufacturers (KAM), said Kentucky is a leader within the industry.

“It’s exciting to celebrate Manufacturing Month in the commonwealth and salute the quarter-million Kentuckians who work so hard to make so many world-class products,” Jemley said. “Manufacturing remains the backbone of the Kentucky economy, thanks to our exceptional workforce, low-cost business climate and central location. Kentucky is a manufacturing leader among the 50 states, and the world has noticed. That’s something we can all celebrate this month.”

 

Kentucky House Bill 8 has expanded the sales and use tax base to include a number of new services effective January 1, 2023. Some of the new services added include photography and photo finishing services, marketing services, and personal fitness training services. With these changes in legislation your company may be eligible for a substantial tax credit. The Kentucky Small Business Tax Credit Program offers between $3,500 and $25,000 per year. To qualify for this program your business must have hired and sustained at least one new job in the last year and purchased at least $5,000 in qualifying equipment or technology. 

Things to Know

• Most for-profit businesses with 50 or
  fewer full-time employees are eligible
• The tax credit is available to all businesses
  including retail, service, construction,
  manufacturing and wholesale
• The tax credit applies to the state tax
  return for the year it was awarded, with
  a five year carry forward
• To qualify, there are specific
  requirements for wages paid and hours
  worked
• The position(s) must be newly created
  and additions to your existing workforce
• Examples of qualifying equipment
  and technology include computers,
  equipment, furniture, fixtures, furnishings
  (excluding artwork) and vehicles titled in
  the legal name of the business, etc.

More information on requirements, guidelines, and an application form here: Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development

The Reentry Success Program is a partnership between the Greater Owensboro Economic Development Corporation, Owensboro Community & Technical College, Daviess County Detention Center, the City of Owensboro, and the Daviess County Fiscal Court and will work to prepare inmates for re-entering the workforce by providing skills training prior to their release. 

The inmates selected for the program have been classified as community or minimum-level custody inmates and have already been assigned as inmate workers at Daviess County Detention Center. These inmates were viewed as ideal participants in the program because they are serving for non-violent convictions and are no longer awaiting trial, which means they will likely return to the community within a matter of months. 

Once completed, the program will provide inmates with the Enhanced Operator I and Workforce Readiness Certificates via Owensboro Community & Technical College’s online FlexTrain platform. The courses are designed to help the inmates develop critical workplace skills that will aid in gaining employment from manufacturing and skilled trade companies upon release. Course curriculum consists of topics such as hand and power tools, lean operations, safety, problem solving, and workplace principles. After completion of the course, the names of the inmates will be shared with employers. Employers who have already joined the partnership include TTMA, Envision, UniFirst, CRS, and Sun Windows & Doors.

“We are very excited to implement this program,” said Brittaney Johnson, President/CEO of the Greater Owensboro Economic Development Corporation. “As we continue to face workforce challenges here locally and across the nation, we hope this is another way to continue to grow our pipeline, while also helping incarcerated men and women begin new chapters in their lives after they are released.”

As of September 7, 2022, five inmates have completed the Reentry Success Program. These inmates have successfully completed the coursework necessary to earn their certifications from Owensboro Community & Technical College, and a graduation ceremony was held for them at the Daviess County Detention Center. These graduates were then given the opportunity to participate in employer interviews after the ceremony.

“Greater Owensboro is fortunate to have a strong base of manufacturing and skilled trades employers. This program is another tool to grow the talent pipeline for these industries while also providing formerly incarcerated individuals the skills needed to earn a family sustaining wage upon reentry into the workforce,” noted Cindy Fiorella, Vice-President Workforce Solutions, Owensboro Community and Technical College.

Our community partners will continue to plan and support new ideas for streamlining the Reentry Success Program. The next group of inmates are on track to graduate, and we hope to continue in assisting qualified inmates turn their life around and successfully reenter the Greater Owensboro community. 

 

 

 

 

The Owensboro, KY MSA has been named one of the “Top 10 Manufacturing Hubs” for cities with a Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) fewer than 150,000 people. The Metro Rankings were conducted by Business Facilities Magazine and were published in the July/August 2022 Issue. Owensboro earned the No. 6 spot in the country’s Top 10 Manufacturing Hubs (Small MSAs) and was the only city from Kentucky named in the rankings. Owensboro was named in the Top 10 among nine other cities across the country: Columbus, Indiana; Sheboygan, Wisconsin; Lima, Ohio; Decatur, Illinois; Kankakee, Illinois; Napa, California; Morristown, Tennessee; Dalton, Georgia; and Kokomo, Indiana.

“This Top 10 ranking exemplifies the work we’ve put into making the Greater Owensboro region one of the premier manufacturing destinations in the country,” said Brittaney Johnson, President/CEO of the Greater Owensboro Economic Development Corporation. “Business Facilities Magazine specializes in educating corporate executives on prime locations for future business and growth, to be published by them is an honor.”

“This is yet another illustration of the great work we’re doing in the Greater Owensboro region to continue bringing new investment to our area,” said Mayor Tom Watson. “Every time Owensboro is mentioned in a national ranking like this, I feel a strong sense of pride for our wonderful community. We must keep the momentum going. Hopefully this will result in more growth and economic development in our community.”

“This commendation reinforces the efforts of the City, County, GO-EDC, and the Commonwealth to build success for Owensboro – Daviess County in the manufacturing industry,” said Daviess County Judge-Executive Al Mattingly. “With our commitment to cultivating growth and development, we will continue to see new and existing companies invest in our community, creating positive momentum for years to come.”

Business Facilities Magazine is a leading full-service media brand specializing in the site selection marketplace. Each of the brand’s channels educated corporate executives on issues related to choosing the best location for their growing companies.

Whether it’s for a new job, the delightful aroma of barbecue, or the low cost of living, Owensboro is the perfect place to settle down. Here in Owensboro, individuals can start a career with the help of workforce programs and families can enjoy exciting activities around town in an inviting atmosphere all while the pleasant townsfolk wave “hi!” Here are 10 reasons that moving to Owensboro, KY might be the right decision for you.

1. It has a low cost of living.

Living in Owensboro is inexpensive! The cost is lower than the national average and lower than most Kentucky cities. Its cost of living index is 84.9, putting it 15.1 percent lower than the U.S. average.

2. It has scenic views of the Ohio River and a lively downtown.

The riverfront and downtown area offer a walkable way to go shopping, dine out, and see the sights. Make your way along the river and find various events that are hosted each year such as Owensboro Symphony Orchestra concerts at the RiverPark Center and the Kraftucky Arts and Crafts Expo at the Owensboro Convention Center. Other notable attractions close by the riverfront include Smothers Park and Kentucky’s second-largest art museum the Owensboro Museum of Fine Art.

3. There’s plenty of outdoor recreation.

Aside from the riverfront and Smothers Park, Owensboro is full of outdoor activities. It’ll be easy to stay occupied when you’re surrounded by Panther Creek Park, Yellow Creek Park, Legion Park, Jack C. Fisher Park, Adkisson Greenbelt Park, and Reid’s Orchard to name a few. Plus, gardening enthusiasts have an opportunity to visit the Western Kentucky Botanical Garden.

4. The friendly atmosphere will put you in a great mood.

Everybody in Owensboro is welcoming and stops to say “hello.” What’s better than living in a community where each individual makes it a goal to help their neighbors?

5. There’s ample entertainment.

Friday After 5 is a free series of outdoor concerts held every Friday from 6 p.m. to midnight from May to September on the riverfront. Not only does the festival includes live bands, but it also features family and kid-friendly events, food trucks, and more forms of entertainment.

6. It’s home to the Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame & Museum.

Speaking of music, Owensboro is the place to be for bluegrass fans. At the Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame & Museum, visitors can experience instrument demos and interactive exhibits. The Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame & Museum also produced the annual ROMP Festival which takes place in Yellow Creek Park.

7. It’s overflowing with top-rated barbecue eateries!

In 2014 an article from Bustle named Owensboro one of the best places for barbecue in the U.S. and in 2017 an article from National Geographic named Owensboro one of the best places to find barbecue in America, specifically mutton. The article listed Old Hickory Bar-B-Q and Moonlite Bar-B-Q Inn in Owensboro as important barbecue spots to try.

In fact, the city holds the annual Bar-B-Q Block Party in Downtown Owensboro. The 2022 event included a carnival, a 5K, live music, the Backyard Cooking Competition presented by Kentucky Legend, and more!

8. It’s a wonderful place to start a family.

Many people move to Owensboro, KY with raising children in mind. You can feel confident knowing that you will be sending your kids to exceptional schools in the area. Compared to other U.S. cities, education in Owensboro ranks high nationally and statewide.

Owensboro schools have a low student-to-teacher ratio of 16 to 1. This low ratio indicates that students are able to receive individual attention more often than usual from their teachers, which points to an overall feeling of inclusiveness.

9. The workforce training programs available can help with skill building for your career.

Owensboro offers several training and certificate workforce programs, with health care, construction, and education being top employers. Job seekers in Owensboro can use this workforce training to become a medical or dental assistant, pilot, truck driver, or even an electrician.

10. It’s a quick drive to everywhere!

 From Owensboro, it’s just a 40-minute drive to Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari. You can be sure to enjoy your summer when an exhilarating theme park and water park are so close by.

Owensboro is also not far from some major cities. It only takes a little over an hour to get to Bowling Green, KY, two hours to Nashville, TN and an hour and a half to Louisville, KY.  With so many interesting things to do and a strong foundation for education and career, moving to Owensboro, KY could be one of the best choices you ever make!

 

OWENSBORO, KY – Heritage Federal Credit Union will be opening a new, full-service branch in Owensboro, KY. The Heritage Federal Credit Union Frederica Branch will be located at 1819 Frederica Street.

Heritage Federal Credit Union is a community-chartered credit union headquartered in Newburgh, Indiana. The company got its start in 1965 as Warrick Employees Credit Union and now has assets of nearly $1 billion.

Heritage Federal Credit Union will provide exceptional member service, deposit service, and both business and personal lending products/services to Owensboro and the surrounding communities. The company will also provide investment services, safe deposit boxes, and drive-thru service at the Owensboro location.

“Here For You!” is Heritage Federal Credit Union’s bottom-line statement, with core values of family, unequaled service, and giving back. The company has found great success in providing client support by implementing a culture that puts employees first and provides an engaging, high-performing, and fun environment that allows employees to succeed. GOEDC President & CEO Brittaney Johnson said, “We’re excited for Heritage Federal’s growth and expansion into Owensboro, Daviess County. We are grateful for the creation of new employment opportunities and the immediate positive economic impact on the Greater Owensboro region.”

The team at Heritage Federal believes that personal and business banking is built on relationships. Even with remote work becoming a new reality for many companies, client interactions remain at the heart of the company’s business model.

The new Frederica branch is part of Heritage Federal’s expansion plan for Daviess County. This expansion follows an approval made by the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) in 2021, allowing Heritage Federal to expand into 22 new counties throughout Indiana, Illinois, and Kentucky. This will be Heritage Federal Credit Union’s second branch in Kentucky, with an existing branch located in Henderson. Mayor Tom Watson added, “We welcome Heritage Federal Credit Union to our community and appreciate their investment in Greater Owensboro.”

“This Frederica branch is part of our expansion plan to place brick-and-mortar locations in Daviess County to better serve the needs of our members and prospective members,” said Tony Aylsworth, president & chief risk officer of Heritage Federal Credit Union. “We are excited about adding this new branch in

Daviess County, and we look forward to providing the same high-quality financial products and services to our members at this Frederica branch that we provide to members at our other Henderson, Warrick, Vanderburgh, Posey, and Gibson County branches.”

Brad Osborne will serve as a senior regional commercial banker for the Frederica branch. Osborne has 16 years of financial institution experience – most recently serving as a senior commercial banker, a producing regional sales manager, Owensboro-Daviess County market president, and a financial center leader/business banking officer in the Owensboro area. Osborne has a bachelor’s degree in Corporate and Organizational Communication from Western Kentucky University and holds an Omega Commercial and Personal Credit Certification, as well as a Moody’s Analytics Commercial Credit Certification.

A grand opening celebration for Heritage Federal Credit Union will be held at the Frederica branch on Tuesday, June 14 from noon-1 p.m., with a ribbon-cutting ceremony held at 12:15 p.m.

 

About Heritage Federal Credit Union

Heritage Federal Credit Union is a full-service financial institution with over $940 million in assets and serves more than 65,000+ members in Gibson, Posey, Warrick, Vanderburgh, Daviess, Knox, Spencer, Pike, Perry, Crawford, Clark, Floyd, and Harrison Counties in Indiana; Henderson, Daviess, Hopkins, Hancock, Ohio, McLean, Webster, Union, and Crittenden Counties in Kentucky; and Lawrence, Wabash, White, Gallatin and Hardin Counties in Illinois. As a nonprofit, credit unions provide low-cost financial services to their members and are mission driven. Founded in 1965, Heritage Federal is committed to improving the daily lives of those we live and work with, providing members the best financial products and services, and giving back to the local communities through donations, sponsorships, and volunteerism. More information regarding Heritage Federal Credit Union can be located at heritagefederal.org

Do you ever wonder what your hometown is known for? Owensboro, Kentucky stands out as a leading source of production for popular products including some big names you’ve probably heard of.

Manufacturers and distributors planning to begin business or relocate should consider settling in Owensboro where local government officials are eager and ready to help and support their local businesses. In fact, these 7 brands currently make their products in Owensboro.

1. RAGÚ

Did you know that every single jar of the popular pasta sauce brand RAGÚ in the nation is made in Owensboro? Mizkan acquired RAGÚ in 2014, and the RAGÚ sauce-making and distribution facility is located in Owensboro. Right now, Owensboro is the only place where RAGÚ and Bertolli sauces are made in the U.S. Every year, Mitzkan makes and ships 410 million jars of RAGÚ and Bertolli spaghetti sauce from their Owensboro facility.  

2. Bradshaw Bourbon 

Terry Bradshaw’s straight bourbon is produced at Green River Distilling Co. right here in Owensboro. Bradshaw Bourbon is known for its original taste with notes of banana, vanilla, toffee, campfire, and leather for the nose; coconut, cinnamon, baking spice, and vanilla for the palate; plus a butterscotch, vanilla, and wood finish.

According to an article from VisitOwensboro.com, Green River Distillery scores fourth on the list of largest independent bourbon distilleries in the U.S. Green River Distilling Co. is part of the Kentucky Bourbon Trail. You can get a taste of their bourbon during one of their tours.

3. Daran® Barrier Emulsions

The Milliken chemical manufacturing facility in Owensboro produces latex polymers for various uses. The plant makes Daran® Barrier Emulsions as a packing solution for sauce portion control cups to keep out odors, moisture vapor, and oxygen. Daran® Barrier Emulsions ensure that sauces stay fresh and don’t spoil.  

 

4. Toyotetsu Mid America (TTMA) Auto Parts

This Owensboro-based stamping and welding automotive facility contains 8 large stamping presses and more than 225 robots producing parts for vehicles. Every day, they process more than 660,000 pounds of steel products. 

TTMA is dedicated to providing customers with the highest quality parts in the automotive industry with the utmost attention to detail. The LLC has been flourishing in Owensboro since 2001. 

5. Metalsa Auto Parts

Metalsa is another automotive facility producing car parts in Owensboro. The Metalsa plant in Owensboro is responsible for making all Jeep Gladiator truck structural frames. The frames are then shipped by rail to Toledo, Ohio from the Owensboro Riverport.

 

6. Swedish Match

Swedish Match produces smoke-free products such as ZYN nicotine pouches and chewing tobacco. The ZYN product line, the largest brand of nicotine pouches in the United States, is only produced in Owensboro. In 2021, 173.9 million cans of ZYN were shipped in the U.S.

 

7. Kentucky Legend Ham

Based in Owensboro, Specialty Foods Group produces big-name brand and private-label processed meat products. Their brands include Kentucky Legend, Field, Fischer’s, Scott Pete, Kentuckian Gold, and Mickelberry’s.

One of the most popular products Specialty Foods Group makes is Kentucky Legend ham, a highly sought-after boneless ham in the U.S. They also make turkey, bacon, hot dogs, sausage, and lunch meat.

There are a lot more where those came from. If you’re interested in starting your business in Owensboro, be sure to check out our Guide to Doing Business!

 

Kentucky— like other U.S. states—is facing major drawbacks from workforce shortages due to the pandemic. Thankfully, some Kentucky cities such as Owensboro offer a multitude of programs to assist those who are newly entering the workforce or those who are ready to begin working again.

Through various types of training and certificate programs, career seekers in Owensboro have the option to become medical assistants, dental assistants, electricians, truck drivers, pilots, and more. Below are 10 hands-on training courses offered in the Owensboro area. Eight of the following programs are provided by Owensboro Community & Technical College (OCTC).

1. GO FAME

The GO FAME Owensboro Chapter program at OCTC helps students earn a multi-craft technician degree. During the program, students receive firsthand work experience in manufacturing while collecting minimal to no debt.

 

2. GO Careers

OCTC offers this learn-as-you-work accelerated degree program where students have the opportunity to work three days each week at their sponsoring company while attending college classes two days each week. Career paths include Medical Assisting and Business Administration.

 

3. IBEW Apprenticeship Training

The IBEW Apprenticeship Training program is available to those looking to receive their Journeyman Electrical state license. The 5-year process consists of technical education and hands-on training.

 

4. GO Females

OCTC launched GO Females to help female workers learn the necessary skills to advance their manufacturing careers.

 

5. Tech-X

 

Tech-X is another multi-craft technologist program offered by OCTC with day or evening classes available. Students will have the opportunity to earn their Forklift Operators Certificate, Gas Welder Certificate, Production Line Welder Certificate, and Arc Cutter Certificate.

 

6. CDL Academy

OCTC also decided to launch a Commercial Driver’s License Academy to make strides to improve the driver shortage in Owensboro. Participating individuals will receive 160 hours of training during a four-week period to prepare them for an entry-level job in the truck driving industry.

 

7. OCTC Testing Available testing and assessments at OCTC include the General Education Diploma (GED) Test, College Level Examination Program (CLEP), Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS), National Occupational Competency Testing Institute (NOCTI) industrial tests, WorkKeys tests, and more.

 

8. Nutrition Certification

There are also a handful of certification courses available in Owensboro including the holistic nutrition training program. Interested individuals can choose from an instructor-led 6-week class or a self-paced 3-month class through OCTC.

 

9. Medical Assistant

Ross Medical Center offers both a Medical Assistant and Dental Assistant training program at their campus in Owensboro. Students who complete the Medical Assistant program now have the skills to work in entry-level positions in a physician’s office or clinic. Students who complete the Dental Assistant program can confidently work in entry-level positions such as dental assistant, dental receptionist, administrative assistant, insurance clerk, or supply salesperson. Each of these programs ranges from 30 to 36 weeks.

 

10. Eagle Flight Academy

The Owensboro-Daviess County Regional Airport offers Eagle Flight Academy pilot training. Aspiring pilots have the option to train via the use of the Academy’s aircraft, their own aircraft, or the Academy’s FAA-certified flight simulator.