Centralina WDB Hosts Events to Bring Partners Closer

Faith-Based Community Responds to Workforce Challenges

The Centralina Workforce Development Board (WDB) hosted two key events this summer designed to engage the faith-based and community organizations in developing workforce solutions. More than eighty people turned out to develop new strategies for preparing individuals for successful employment in local business and industries.

The two events, promoted as Build Your Community Network, were among about twenty such events being held around the country with financial support from Performance Excellence Partners, Inc. a U.S. Department of Labor contractor. The Centralina Workforce Development Board was able to join forces with the Pee Dee, Regional Partnership and High Country Workforce Development Boards to facilitate the meetings held on June 3rd in Wadesboro and August 12th in Boone.

As the United States moves to a knowledge-based economy, there are more opportunities than ever for high-wage, high -skilled jobs as long as the workforce is equipped with competitive skills.

“Hosting these one day events gave us an opportunity to interact with nontraditional workforce partners and get their input on how we can work together to build our communities through workforce development“, said David Hollars, Centralina Workforce Development Board Executive Director

After listening to several speakers representing business, education and the traditional workforce system, attendees participated in “visioning sessions” to map out strategies for their involvement and develop specific steps to partner with local workforce development boards in assisting individuals to become work-ready. The group plans to continue meeting to network and discuss ways to tap new resources for their organizations. To find out more contact Vail Carter, Centralina WDB Business Services Coordinator at 704-348-2710 or vcarter@centralina.org.

Speakers for the Build Your Community Network event in Anson County included Tom Ramseur, Stanly County Chamber of Commerce and Centralina WDB Board Member, Dr. Don Altieri, New Ventures Business Development and Centralina WDB Board Member, Inez Williamson, Richmond County Employment Security Commission, Erica Pelman, Center for Faith Based and Community Initiatives for the US Department of Labor, and Jean Wooten from the NC Department of Commerce.
 
Photo above article:  Many within the faith-based and community organizations in and surrounding Boone attended the Build Your Community Network event.

Customer Service High Priority for Anson Businesses

Centralina WDB and Anson Economic Development Team Up for Workshop

The huge turnout for the Customer Service Workshop held in Wadesboro on August 19th was no surprise to the staff at the Centralina Workforce Development Board. Over 65 people came to hear Denise Ryan noted speaker with the Raleigh, North Carolina based FireStar. This high-energy session, designed to improve customer service skills, gave the participants the opportunity to learn while having fun. The workshop was sponsored by the Anson County Economic Development Commission with assistance from the Centralina Workforce Development Board, the Anson County Tourism Development Authority and the Anson County Chamber of Commerce. South Piedmont Community College made arrangements for the event to be held at their Lockhart-Taylor Center in Wadesboro.

Vail Carter, Business Services Coordinator for the Centralina Workforce Development Board addressed the group and shared a statistic from a survey that was conducted last year. The survey of Anson area businesses indicated customer service and interpersonal communication skills as being top training needs for their existing workforce and for new recruits.

"I’m excited that our organization was able to partner with Misty Harris and the Anson County Economic Development Commission to make this training available," Carter said.

Ms. Ryan also commented that the Anson County business community has a unique opportunity to make a good impression to the millions of people who pass through the county each year and good customer service is a way to make sure they come back.

If you have training needs for your business check us out at www.centralinaworks.com. For more information on how the Centralina Workforce Development Board can help your business or your community successfully address customer service needs, contact Vail Carter at (704) 348-2710 vcarter@centralina.org.

Denise Ryan with FireStar spoke to a large group in Wadesboro about Customer service.
 
Over 65 people attended a Customer Service Workshop sponsored by partners throughout Anson County.

Centralina Workforce Development Board Has Training Money to Help Your Business!

Incumbent Worker Funds Now Available

Want a great way to help upgrade the skills of your current workforce and prepare for the future? The Centralina Workforce Development Board can help. The Board is currently accepting applications from local businesses for Incumbent Workforce Development training.

The Incumbent Workforce Development training is designed to upgrade employees' skills and increase companies' competitiveness in the global marketplace.

The first application round for funding will close on September 19, with two other rounds to follow. The maximum amount of funds available per business is $25,000. Since the grants are competitive, local businesses are encouraged to submit their applications as soon as possible.

The Centralina WDB looks forward to working with new local businesses to submit applications, as well as, past companies who want to resubmit from previous periods. For more information and to review the NEW Incumbent Worker guidelines and application, please visit the Centralina WDB website or contact Vail Carter, Centralina WDB Business Services Coordinator at (704) 348-2710.

Please contact Vail prior to submitting your application to the Board. Vail is available to assist your company in completing the application and getting it to the Board for review prior to September 19, 2008. So don’t delay, submit your application today!

Golden Leaf Foundation Focuses on Anson County with a $2 Million Grant

Two million dollars is up for grabs and residents of Anson County must decide how to spend it. The Golden Leaf Foundation has chosen the county for a grant initiative designed to improve Tier 1 counties formerly dependent on tobacco.

Anson’s 21st Century Subcommittee comprised of local non-profits, faith-based and public organizations has been busy constructing an action plan to prioritize the county’s top needs. Formed in October 2007, the committee has looked at ways to improve Anson in all aspects including business retention, recruitment, education, tourism, and workforce development.

Now that the NC Department of Commerce has taken an interest in Anson, the county is hoping citizens will arrive at future meetings armed with feedback and ideas.

So what is the committee looking for? In one word, projects. What can revitalize Anson’s economic and social structure? A business park to offer new businesses? New technology for schools? More training for the unemployed?

The county must prioritize its ideas. The executive committee of 21st Century has 15-20 projects already but wants more. The county would like to have 25 to 30 possible projects with the public’s input.

Want your input heard on this impressive grant? The next meeting for the public to express ideas will be held on Tuesday September 2, 2008 at the Lockhart-Taylor Center in Wadesboro, at 1:00 p.m.

It is that time of year again as workforce professionals across North Carolina gear up for the Workforce Development Partnership Conference 2008. This year conference titled North Carolina’s Talent Pipeline: Linking Workers to Business will be held October 22-24 at the Sheraton Four Seasons Hotel and Joseph S. Koury Convention Center in Greensboro. Several featured presenters have been highlighted. They include, Greg Newton, Eric Rowles, Bob Knight, John Metcalf and Mary Ann Lawrence. Also, many excellent featured workshops have been outlined. A few titles include, Engaging our Biggest Employers: Small Business, Balance, Grasshopper: Staying Sane While You Do More With Less, and PGT: Blueprint for Success Using WorkKeys & CRC.

Registration and preliminary agenda information can be found at the NC Workforce Development Training Center website at www.ncwdtc.com. The early registration deadline is September 22, 2008. So don’t delay and sign up today! And be sure to make your room reservations at the Sheraton Four Seasons as soon as possible at 1-800-242-6556 or www.sheratongreensboro.com. For more information about the NC Workforce Development Partnership Conference please contact Robbin Davis Broome, Conference Coordinator at (919) 329.5588 or rbroome@nccommerce.com.

There's a JobLink Near You!

Anson County  - 704-694-6551

Cabarrus County - 704-786-3183

Iredell County - Mooresville - 704-664-4225

Iredell County - Statesville - 704-878-4241

Lincoln County - 704-735-8035

Rowan County - 704-639-7529

Stanly County - 704-982-2183

Union County - 704-283-7541

For more information on Centralina region JobLink Career Centers, click here.

Let Us Know

Every month the Centralina Workforce Development Board works hard trying to bring you the most up to date and innovative stories from around the region. We try to incorporate information that can be beneficial to both businesses and job seekers, as well as promote the accomplishments that are being done throughout the Centralina region The Centralina Workforce Development Board is currently undergoing a rebranding process and we need your help! We want to know what you think of the monthly E-Newsletter. We want to know if the articles are informative and if they are relevant to you and your organization. We’d like to know what you’d like to see more of in the newsletter, as well as what you’d like to see less of. We are looking to improve so that we can give back to you the most cutting-edge and informative newsletter out there.

Please send any comments about the monthly E-Newsletter to Emily Clamp at eclamp@centralina.org. If you are new to the newsletter and would like to see our previous issues please visit them at www.centralinaworks.com. We thank you in advance for your feedback and your assistance in our rebranding process!

An Expansion and More Jobs? Sweet!

Concord-Based Gelato Firm Expands

Things are looking pretty sweet for PreGel America, a Concord gelato company, is looking to invest another $12 million to $16 million in the region, after it already has invested $15 million in a new operation that has been open since May 2008. The company is also seeking local government incentives that would total $321,300 at the $12 million investment level.

PreGel wants to build a 40,000 square-foot building at its North American headquarters in the International Business Park in Concord. The move will add 10 full-time jobs, with an average annual salary of $46,000.

PreGel employs 37 people at its current 135,000 square-foot building. The expansion may be tied to a new product line, said Ryan McDaniels of the Cabarrus Economic Development Corporation.

The Italian company supplies ingredients, toppings and fillings used in gelato and other specialty desserts for restaurants, hotels, grocery stores and other groups. The current Concord site houses research and development space, administrative offices, a warehouse and a training center for current or potential gelato shop owners and others.

The Centralina Workforce Development Board is proud to see existing companies in the region continuing to expand and grow. Please continue to look to the Centralina Workforce Development Board monthly E-Newsletter for more updates on this development!

Union County Business is Growing!

Industry Profile: Cox Machine

Cox Machine in Monroe started out in 1987 as a self described “chip cutter”, Doug and Sue Cox have built the company into a family owned and operated business that currently supplies machine shop services and specialty machinery for manufacturing facilities throughout the area and across the United States.

The company also fabricates products in the automotive specialty aftermarket, primarily front-end suspension parts for hot rods and parts for local companies manufacturing automated entrance doors, found in most banks, hospitals, or large office buildings.

Cox Machine has moved from a one-man operation located in the family’s backyard, to a 14-staff free-standing business. Although, the business is doing well, the transitions have not been without its ups and downs.

Like most businesses, Cox Machine has had to modify how they operate in order to remain competitive. As bigger and more complex machinery has become available the business has not only had to put out the funds to purchase it, but has also had to dedicate the time and man power to learn how to use the computer-driven equipment. The company also uses state-of-the-art CNC mills and lathes which require computer programming skills and use integrated dimension controls capable of crafting large size metals into working pieces of machine art.

One standout specialty project that Cox Machine has been involved with is the fabrication of equine scanning tables used in the veterinarian profession.

Art Gaines, owner of Artec Imaging, of Cornelius, engaged Cox Machine to help fabricate parts used for one of the nation’s first equine mobile CT table (see below). The equipment is basically a laser-guided system that tracks the movement of a regular CR scan table which allows for the scanning of leg injuries and abnormalities of the brain, skull and nasal passage of the horse. Only 3 of these veterinarian tables exist in the United States at Auburn University, North Carolina State and the University of Florida. Another table is in production to be sent to Oregon State University.

Did you know that this business was in your region? Do you think your neighbor knows? Pass along the great work of our businesses! The Centralina Workforce Development Board is proud to have a groundbreaking locally owned and operated business in the region. For more information on Cox Machine please contact Doug Cox at (704) 296-0118. Thanks also to Monroe Economic Development Commission for sharing this article.

Please continue to look to the Centralina Workforce Development Board’s monthly E-Newsletter for Industry Profiles on businesses throughout the Centralina region. Test your knowledge of your community!

Cox Machine helped to fabricate parts used for one of the nation’s first equine mobile CT table. The equipment is basically a laser-guided system that tracks the movement of a regular CR scan table which allows for the scanning of leg injuries and abnormalities of the brain, skull and nasal passage of the horse. Only 3 of these veterinarian tables exist in the United States.

Local Hospital Honored

Stanly Regional Medical Center Receives Honor for its Stroke Care Facilities


Stanly Regional Medical Center (SRMC) has a reason to celebrate. They have recently received golden status from the Joint Commission.

Upon evaluating the hospital’s quality and commitment toward stroke related entities, which includes educational and other prevention/awareness services, in addition to having a knowledgeable staff, the Joint Commission bestowed its Gold Seal of Approval to SRMC, which is the award received when achieving Primary Stroke Center Certification.

“It didn’t happen overnight,” said Margaret Rudisill, RN, stroke coordinator and director of Disease Management/Health promotion, in reference to the lengthy certification.

Stanly Regional Medical Center sees an average of 110 stroke discharges annually, and began going through the process of certification as early as 1998.

Since taking such a strong stance towards stroke relations, SRMC has been a resource in communities across the county and region for information.

The Centralina Workforce Development Board is a proud partner with Stanly Regional Medical Center and is happy to see them honored and achieve gold level status! Stanly Regional Medical Center is an active member of the Allied Health Regional Skills Partnership and was one of the many sponsors at the July Allied Health Solutions Summit. For more information concerning the award-winning stroke program at Stanly Regional Medical Center please call (704) 984-4318 or visit www.stanly.org.

Time Races Near!

New ZMax Dragway in Concord is Ready for Business

Time is racing closer for the new drag strip to open at Lowe’s Motor Speedway on September 11 -14, 2008 for the National Hot Rod Association drag strip event and the facility is ready

The new drag strip, which has recently been named ZMAX Dragway has been billed as “the Bellagio of drag strips.” Officials have stated that they have incorporated the finest elements of other drag strips while compressing construction of what would ordinarily be a year-long project into six months.

The biggest selling point of the facility will be its racing surface, which is four lanes wide as opposed to the standard two and is paved entirely with concrete to minimize tire spin and create more consistent conditions.

Other highlights include: the track will feature sound-mitigating walls that are 540 feet long by 24 feet high, and all 40 of the track’s suites have been sold for the September event.

For more information on this beautiful new motorsports facility, please visit www.lowesmotorspeedway.com/dragway. Continue to look to the Centralina Workforce Development Board’s monthly E-Newsletter for updates on this developing story.

The ZMax Dragway is four lanes wide as opposed to the standard two and is paved entirely with concrete to minimize tire spin and create more consistent conditions.

One-Stop Business Resource for Women in Anson County

New Ventures Business Development, Inc. Receives
Grant to Host Women’s Center

Women in Anson County will soon have a “one-stop” source of agencies and providers that will help them become self-sufficient leaders in their families, communities and businesses.

A $75,000 grant from the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation will fund operational expenses for the proposed center that will be administrated by New Ventures Business Development, Inc. (NVBDI) and housed in South Piedmont Community College’s (SPCC) Lockhart-Taylor Center in Wadesboro.

The Anson Women’s Center is hoping to become one of four women’s centers in the state under the National Small Business Association; the others are in Raleigh-Durham, Fayetteville and Asheville.

Dr. Don Altieri, NVBDI Director and Centralina Workforce Development Board member, said that the center will serve as a resource and referral center for women seeking help to build or improve job skills, to locate needed services, and to explore the possibilities for starting a small business.

“Many individuals, particularly women, have a strong desire to start a business, but do not have the confidence or know the process to do so. This center will allow SPCC and NVBDI to focus on the specific needs of women as they prepare to start a small business or enter/re-enter the workforce,” Dr. John McKay, South Piedmont Community College President said.

Lois Crumpler, outreach coordinator for NVBDI will direct the new center and has already put together a growing team to develop a resource directory for the one-stop.

“We are taking a total approach in training and entrepreneurial development through a collaborative effort with NVBDI, SPCC and hopefully all agencies and entities,” Crumpler said. “If we can help women accomplish their goals, we will have accomplished our goals.”

For more information on the Women’s Center please contact Lois Crumpler at (704) 272-5457. For more information on the New Ventures Business Development, Inc. please contact Dr. Don Altieri at (704) 272-5457. Please continue to look to the Centralina Workforce Development Board’s monthly E-Newsletter for updates on this exciting development!

August's Business Survey Prize Winner is…

Each month, the Centralina Workforce Development Board holds a drawing from Business Surveys that area businesses have completed and posted on our website.

Centralina is pleased to announce that the winner of this month’s drawing is Albemarle Glass Company, Inc. in Albemarle, NC. Phyllis Coley of Albemarle Glass Company, Inc. completed and submitted the survey. We thank Phyllis for helping us with our continuous improvement feedback process! For more information about Albemarle Glass Company, Inc. please visit their website www.albemarleglass.com.

If you haven't completed the survey, you can do so now by going to our website. It only takes a couple of minutes and by completing the survey, it will guarantee your entry into our next drawing.

For more information on the Centralina Workforce Development Employer Survey and the business services available through the Board and our local JobLink Career Centers, please contact Vail Carter at (704) 348-2710 or by email at vcarter@centralina.org.

 

Employment Statistics
 Updated Monthly on this E-Newsletter

July 2008
(Source: NC Employment Security Commission)
County
Unemployment Rate
Persons Employed
Anson
9.0%
10,105
Cabarrus
6.4%
79,264
Iredell
6.7%
78,917
Lincoln
8.0%
38,811
Rowan
7.9%
65,756
Stanly
6.8%
29,200
Union
6.1%
87,517
Centralina WDB Region
6.9%
389,570
State of NC
6.8%
4,347,866

For more information on employment, click here

What Did You Do This Summer?

Workforce Investment Act Youth Report on Their Summer Activities

The August 21, 2008 meeting of the Centralina Youth Council showcased reports from the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) contractors highlighting the summer youth component experiences for their young people. The reports touched the hearts of each Youth Council member and guest as they heard about the youth growing and learning important skills for their careers and their life.

Salisbury-Rowan Community Action Agency began their summer youth component with their Annual Youth Summit, held June 25-27, 2008. Summer employment began June 30 and ended August 1, 2008. During the summer program, several presenters were invited to share with the youth. Thomas Barksdale conducted several workshops with focuses on self image, work values, personalities and career choices. The Rowan-Cabarrus Community College Biotechnology Program Department presented interactive experiments on Chromatography and DNA extraction. Author Sharice D’Zion held a book signing and discussion with youth on her book entitled: Never Too Far Gone. Vernetta Willer from Carolinas Medical Center gave a presentation on Health occupations. Sarah Lightner conducted a workshop on financial literacy, which resulted in four youth opening up savings accounts.

Paula Holmes of Union County Community Action Agency, Inc. (UCCA) presented a review of UCCA’s summer youth component. They began with the Summer Work Experience Enrichment Week in which participants prepared and took the Career Readiness Certification (CRC) at South Piedmont Community College and 8 of 15 youth earned their CRCs! Terri Cooper, Executive Director of Human Resource for Union County Public Schools, gave youth helpful interviewing and job seeking tips, complete with active role playing, the “Do’s and Don’ts of job interviews”, and mock interviews. Youth participants created a Job Resource Center. They researched available employment opportunities in the Monroe and Union County area using the Internet, newspaper and other pamphlets/ brochures from local businesses and employment agencies. Each person contributed ideas by placing information gathered onto the bulletin board and display table.

Fifteen youth participants worked at various businesses and agencies from June 16, 2008 through July 24, 2008. They clocked a total of 125 hours of work experience. The summer program concluded with local business owner Clay Parker speaking with youth about the importance of developing positive self-esteem to accomplish their personal goals.

I-CARE’s summer youth component was themed “The Gathering”. The opening session was held June 11, 2008 and was led by Eric Rowles and Miranda Thompson of Leading to Change. I-CARE held sessions on Healthy Life Style Choices, Personalities, and Financial Literacy. The summer program concluded on July 18, 2008. Eric Rowles’ final word during the closing session of “The Gathering” stressed the importance of giving back. Focus, trust, listening, leading, following, planning, follow through and teamwork were just a few of the leadership skills that I-CARE WIA youth learned over the summer. The information youth received during The Gathering” was not just for self improvement, but to help others, to apply on the job and to apply in the community.

The Resource Development Center (RDC) focused their summer youth component on working with high school dropouts in Stanly County. The youth in the program visited the North Carolina Biotech Center. Youth visited the Restaurant Forty Six in Kannapolis after completing 52 hours of Customer Service training. The RDC partnered with Alcoa Badin and Homes of Hope to provide work experience over the summer for youth in the program.

The Centralina Workforce Development Board and the Centralina Youth Council are proud of all of the youth for completing their summer experience. The Board and the Council believes that strong youth lead to a strong workforce. If you would like to view the presentations about the each organization’s summer youth component, please visit the Centralina Youth Council website at www.way2work.org. For more information on the Centralina Workforce Development Board or the Centralina Youth Council please contact David Hollars at (704) 348-2717 or by email at dhollars@centralina.org.

Paula Holmes from Union County Community Action Agency, Inc. gave a presentation to the Youth Council on the summer activities in which their youth participated.
 
Two Centralina youth describe their summer activities and how they are applying what they learned to their life and their career.

New Early College Debuts in Iredell

Partners Come Together to Start First Ever Visual Arts Early College

The first “Early College” in the state to focus on the Visual and Performing Arts will open this fall in Iredell County. The program is a collaboration among Iredell-Statesville Schools, Mitchell Community College, and Catawba College. The newly renovated Mac Gray Auditorium on the Statesville High School campus will be used for the program.

Underwritten by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, North Carolina New Schools Project and the Governor’s Learn and Earn initiative, “Early College” allows students to enter in the 9th grade and in five years complete the requirements for a high school diploma and two years of college transfer credit at no cost.

“This is an exciting opportunity for high school students interested in the arts to pursue their interests and earn college credits,” said Lisa Miller, the school’s principal. Miller states that the first class will be limited to fifty students, and applications are currently being accepted.

The design of this early college high school allows class sizes to remain small, provides a rigorous curriculum, and enables students to form relationships of support with administrators, teachers, and fellow students.

“Mitchell Community College is looking forward to being a partner in this unique high school to college opportunity,” said Judy Morgan, Mitchell’s vice president for external programs. “Our own Associate in Fine Arts program will afford these students a chance to pursue their interest in the arts and the further collaboration with Catawba College offers a seamless pathway for these students from high school all the way through to a bachelor’s degree.”

There are currently four other Early College programs in the Centralina region, however this is the first in the region and in the state to focus on the Visual and Performing Arts. The Centralina Workforce Development Board is proud to have this ground breaking school in the region and looks forward to seeing the great outcomes of this program. For more information on the Iredell County Early College program or to receive an application packet please call (704) 978-0034.

Things are Cooking Up in Anson County

New Ventures Business Development Secures Funding for Commercial Kitchen

With $225,000 in grant funding in hand, New Ventures Business Development, Inc. (NVBDI) is moving ahead with plans to construct a shared-use certified commercial kitchen at South Piedmont Community College’s Lockhart-Taylor Center in Wadesboro.

New Ventures has received grants of $75,000 each from the United States Department of Agriculture and the North Carolina Rural Center, plus an additional $75,000 in local funding to begin work on an approximately 700 square-foot commercial kitchen that will be adjacent to the Ingram Room.

“In past surveys, NVBDI found that Anson County has a number of caterers without access to a public, certified kitchen,” said Dr. Don Altieri, New Ventures’ executive director and Centralina Workforce Development Board member.

Dr. Altieri said the NVBDI project will focus on caterers and value-added products.

New Ventures formed an advisory committee composed of caterers, value-added food producers, a representative from South Piedmont Community College, a county environmental health representative and an architect. The committee has outlined the project in four phases and established a timeline that will guide the project to fruition with a targeted opening date for client use of May 2009.

The commercial kitchen, once completed, will be a result of New Ventures’ pro-active approach to provide opportunities to Anson County’s artisans and entrepreneurs. For more information on New Ventures Business Development, Inc. please contact Dr. Don Altieri at (704) 272-5457 or you can visit their website at www.nvbdi.org.

R3 Center Announces New Programs and New Hours!

Located at 164 Dale Earnhardt Blvd., in Kannapolis, the R3 Center is a career development center established by Rowan-Cabarrus Community College (RCCC) to assist workers who are unemployed or under-employed. The center will begin new office hours starting in September. These are: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, and 8 a.m. to noon on Saturday.

The center’s mission is built on three Rs – a refocus on individual skills and interests, retraining and further education, and partnering with other workforce development agencies to secure career-oriented re-employment.

The center’s September schedule of workshops includes the following. Due to the popularity of its free workshops, the R3 Center strongly encourages clients to call the center in advance, and reserve a seat.

  • New Client Mondays – 9:30 a.m. and 6 p.m. on September 8, 15, 22 and 29. New Client Mondays is an orientation program offered for persons who have never attended an R3 Center workshop or taken advantage of its other services.
  • The ABCs of Computer Usage – 9:30 a.m. on September 5;
  • Top Jobs for Your Personality – 9:30 a.m. on September 9;
  • Looking for Work with a Criminal Record – 9:30 a.m. on September 12;
  • Is It Time for More Training? – 6 p.m. on September 16;
  • Stand Out from the Competition – 6 p.m. on September 17;
  • Lay-Off Survival Tips – 9:30 a.m. on September 19;
  • Looking for Work at 50+ – 9:30 a.m. on September 23; and
  • Interview Techniques – 9:30 a.m. on September 24.

The R3 Center will offer a number of free resume clinics to help job searchers improve their current resume or create a new one from scratch. The resume clinic schedule includes day and evening sessions. Clinics will be offered at:

  • Thursday September 4 – 2:00 PM
  • Wednesday September 10 – 9:30 AM
  • Thursday September 18 – 6:00 PM
  • Friday September 26 – 9:30 AM

The R3 Center also will offer the “N.C. Research Campus Careers 101” workshop in September. This program will help individuals learn more about the types of jobs being created by the N.C. Research Campus and the training and education needed to qualify for these positions. Call 704-216-7201 for a complete schedule of workshops and to reserve seats.

The R3 Center helps adult workers assess and profile their skills, aptitudes, training and academic credentials, and future career interests to develop a plan for career growth. All R3 Center services are provided free of charge.

The R3 Center partners with other workforce development agencies, including the Centralina Workforce Development Board, JobLink Career Centers of Cabarrus and Rowan counties, N.C. Employment Security Commission and other area community colleges.

For more information about the R3 Center and its services and programs, call 704-216-7201, or visit the center’s website at http://www.rowancabarrus.edu/r3center/.


NC Research Campus Update

Find Out What’s the Latest With This World Renowned New Development

Biorepository to be Built for Campus
Castle & Cooke and LabCorp are partnering on a new biorepository building on North Cannon Boulevard. The biorepository, a warehouse with specialized refrigerators that holds biological samples, will be integral for researchers participating in the Murdock Study.

Site work has already begun at the corner of Cannon Boulevard and Chipola Street, where the 40,000 square-foot building will stand. The biorepository will be able to hold biological samples collected over scientists’ careers and will allow them to use them for research. It is expected to be completed in the first part of 2009.

Martha Stewart Visits NC Research Campus
Martha Stewart toured the NC Research Campus on Thursday July 31, 2008. Campus founder David H. Murdock gave Stewart a tour of the 350-acre biotechnology complex that broke ground in February 2006. She plans on taking ideas from the research campus back to her Center for Living at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York.

"It's fascinating to see something happening in such a short time," Stewart said. "The effort should be applauded."

The 950 Has Arrived
The NC Research Campus has received the Avance II 950 US2, one of the world’s strongest magnets and the celebrity occupant of the Core Lab basement.

The instrument, a 950 megahertz Nuclear Magnetic Resonance spectrometer with the strongest actively shielded superconducting magnet in the world, puts the Research Campus at the forefront of the biotechnology industry even before scientists in downtown Kannapolis have conducted a single experiment.

The world’s first 950 went to Frankfurt, Germany. Kannapolis has the second and a third machine will arrive in Paris next month.

Please stay tuned to the Centralina Workforce Development Board’s monthly E-Newsletter for more developments on these exciting stories. For more information on what is going on at the NC Research Campus please visit the Centralina Workforce Development Board’s website at www.centralinaworks.com.

Martha Stewart toured the North Carolina Research Campus with David Murdock on Thursday July 31, 2008.


Program Helps Young People with Computer and Life Skills

Charles Patton, Bill Lawry, Worth Murdoch and student mentor Robert Howell were all present at the Centralina Youth Council meeting held on August 21, 2008 on behalf of the Students in Training Program (SIT) founded by Charles Patton in the hallway of East Rowan High School in 2003.

SIT trains and mentors students in computer and life skills. Students do all the work, they refurbish donated computers and equipment, build web pages, set up networks, recycle computer parts, develop EBAY accounts to auction parts and pieces and more. SIT supplies non-profit and low income clients with computers and training, when needed, free or at a reduced cost. In 2007 alone SIT donated over 400 computers and kept 40 tons of e-waste out of landfills and out of the local water supply.

Worth Murdoch, a mentor at SIT and engineer discussed the recycling program. Students in SIT recycle 100% of the parts from computers and other equipment. They dissect computers, piece by piece, and dispose of each part in recycling bins that is then shipped to local recycling agencies. SIT will be ISO 14000 certified in the Fall of 2008. The average age of the youth in the program is 14.

Each participant goes through a “cycle” once enrolled in the program. Each student first goes through the recycling training, followed by the EBAY training. Students sell parts that SIT cannot efficiently use and they buy parts that are needed. The next training is in Web design. Students learn HTML through mentors and hands on experience. SIT has created and continues to maintain websites used by Sacred Heart, Meals on Wheels, Piedmont Plastic & Oral Surgery Center, Peerless Builders, Robertson Family Foundation, and Geared Up 4 Success. Imaging is the next training after web design. Students learn to install Windows 2000 and XP and Microsoft Office. Students then are taught to manage servers. They manage the internal network – the domain and inventory, mail service, web hosting, and daily back-ups.

The students offer repair services on and off site. They conduct virus removal, hardware repair and replacement, software repair, and network set-up. The repair fees are usually around $35 for in house repair and $45 for offsite repair – a considerable savings from most other computer repair services.

SIT is preparing for expansion in several parts of North Carolina, South Carolina, and even Santa Fe, New Mexico and hopes to have a satellite program at North Carolina State University (NCSU) soon. The program already has four NCSU students in Raleigh who manage the server by remote.

The SIT program was recently visited by Senator Elizabeth Dole. During her visit Senator Dole was able to meet with the students and see a presentation of all that SIT offers. For more information, please visit www.sitorg.org. Interested students should visit the site at 112B South Main Street in Salisbury or call 704-637-8915.

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2nd Annual Centralina Youth Council Youth Summit

The Centralina Workforce Development Board’s Youth Council is proud to announce that the 2nd Annual Youth Services Summit “Turning Barriers into Bridges” will be on Friday September 19, 2008 at the Charles Mack Citizen Center in Mooresville. The Summit will be held from 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM.

The keynote speaker for the event is Adonis “Sporty” Jeralds who is the author of “The Champion in You.” Featured workshops include understanding millennial youth culture, music/video literacy, and many more!

Last year the Summit had a great turn out and this year’s event is guaranteed to be even bigger and better! Be sure to add this save the date to your calendar so you don’t miss this great event! The Youth Council is also seeking sponsorships for the event and encourages everyone to spread the word to potential sponsors

To register for the 2nd Annual Youth Services Summit or to be a Summit sponsor, please contact Natasha Pender at (704) 348-2725 or by e-mail at npender@centralina.org or visit www.way2work.org.

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Career Academy for Educators Brings Stanly County Schools and Businesses Together

The Career Academy for Educators (CAFÉ) was held July 22-24, 2008 at Stanly Community College (SCC) as a way for educators and counselors in the area to hear presentations from businesses in Stanly County.

Through this workshop, the educators found out what was available in the job market for their students who aspire to achieve a college education, a high school education, or perhaps those who do not finish school at all.

Tom Ramseur, Stanly County Chamber of Commerce CEO/President and Centralina Workforce Development Board member said one issue that needed to be discussed was workforce development.

“It’s a two-way street as far as educating each other,” Ramseur said. “Businesses and industries have to know what educators need so they can help encourage students and direct them in the right path. Educators need to understand what kind of jobs are out there as well as what’s expected of their students in these jobs.”

CAFÉ was held at Stanly Community College this year, bringing in several counselors and educators from schools in the county. The three-day event featured tours of Pfeiffer University, Preformed Line Products, Chicago Tube and Iron, High Level Components, Stanly Regional Medical Center West Campus, SCC and Dennis Vineyards.

Presentations were also included in the event that featured S&D Construction, Storm Technologies, Stanly Regional Medical Center, Bank of Stanly and the Stanly County JobLink Career Center, where employees relayed the job availability in their line of work for all students who have a degree or who would rather go straight into the workforce.

Ramseur said the effort was a collaborative one with the help of Dr. Michael Taylor, president of SCC, Stanly County Schools and Superintendent Dr. Samuel DePaul, and the Stanly County Economic Development Commission. The Centralina Workforce Development Board sponsored the event’s lunch and prizes.

The Centralina Workforce Development Board and the Centralina Youth Council are strong supporters of bringing community leaders together for the better of our youth, and our future workforce. For more information on the Career Academy for Educators, please contact Natasha Pender at (704) 348-2725 or by email at npender@centralina.org or visit www.way2work.org.

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Boys and Girls Club of the Piedmont is Ready for Opening Day

The Boys and Girls Club of the Piedmont has ended its summer program and is now gearing up for its after-school program. The club completed its summer long camp program Friday August 8 and the afterschool program will begin on Monday September 15, 2008.

Rudy Davis, Interim Chief Professional Officer and Centralina Youth Council member, will use the break to hire staff and negotiate for the use of temporary facilities. The staff will organize study materials.

Club officials continue to seek grant funding and raise money for the new facility at the corner of Cochran Street and Garner Bagnal Boulevard. Nearly 350 students are expected to participate in the after school program this year. That number may increase if the club receives additional funding. The after-school program will operate from 2-6 pm Monday through Friday and will serve students in kindergarten through eighth grade. The program will run until the end of the school year.

The Centralina Workforce Development Board and the Centralina Youth Council are strong partners with the Boys and Girls Club of the Piedmont and is happy to see the facility blossoming and growing to serve the community. For more information on Boys and Girls Club of the Piedmont, please contact Rudy Davis at (704) 871-1607 extension 16.

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Stanly County Youth Achieves Recognition at SkillsUSA Conference

Students from North Carolina High School and college technical education programs won the nation’s highest awards at the SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference.

Industry leaders representing more than 1,100 businesses, corporations, trade associations and unions recognized the students for their demonstrated excellence in 91 hands-on occupational and leadership contests, such as robotics, criminal justice, aviation maintenance and public speaking.

Sunni Morgan, from Albemarle and a student at South Stanly High School was awarded a Skill Point Certificate in Nurse Assisting. The Skill Point Certificate is earned by achieving a score defined by industry, based on contest standards designed by industry representatives.

“This is the SkillsUSA partnership at its best. Students, instructors and industries are working together to ensure America has a skilled workforce and every student excels. These students prove that career and technical education expands opportunities,” SkillsUSA Executive Director Tim Lawrence said.

All student winners received medallions. Many also received prizes such as tools of their trades and/or scholarships to further their careers and education. The SkillsUSA Championships is for high school and college-level students who are members of SkillsUSA.

The Centralina Workforce Development Board and the Centralina Youth Council would like to congratulate Sunni Morgan and all of the youth who participated in the Conference. With youth achieving their goals there is nothing our future workforce can’t do! For more information on the SkillsUSA Championships please contact Natasha Pender at (704) 348-2725 or by email at npender@centralina.org.


 

  

What's Happening in the Region?

Comings, Goings, Kudos…

  • Dr. Margaret Patchett has been named the dean of academic and student services at Cabarrus College of Health Sciences. Patchett has served as the dean of arts and sciences at Rowan-Cabarrus Community College since 2005. She started her new position on August 27, 2008.
 
  • Steven C. Husemann has been selected to succeed Jamie Justice as Mooresville’s town manager. Husemann is currently the executive director of the Miami Valley Communications Council in Centerville, Ohio. He will begin work on September 2, 2008.
     
  • Wei Jia, a natural foods researcher from Shanghai Jiao Tong University in China has been hired by UNC Greensboro to be the co-director of the Center for Research Excellence in Bioactive Food Components at the NC Research Campus Jia is one of the first researchers to show up on the Campus.
 
  • Gwynn McCombs has been selected as the Cabarrus Regional Chamber of Commerce’s new Vice President of Membership and Marketing. She replaces Liz Horton, who recently became the President and CEO of the Kershaw County South Carolina Chamber of Commerce. McCombs comes from CTC Communications and is a member of the Planning and Zoning Board for the City of Kannapolis.
     
  • Dr. Carol Cheatham and Dr. Huili Wang have been hired by the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill to fill the positions of biotech researchers on staff at its Nutrition Research Institute at the NC Research Campus. Dr. Cheatham will join the Nutrition Institute’s brain research team and also will hold an appointment as assistant professor in UNC-Chapel Hill’s department of psychology. Dr. Wang will focus her research on nutrigenomics, which is the study of how some nutrients change genes and also how genes, in turn, can affect how effectively a person absorbs nutrients.

  

 
  • Joel Mashburn has announced his retirement from his position as Iredell County Manager. He has served in the county’s top administrative position for the past 21 years. Mashburn will step down on February 1, 2009.

  • Robert Fish of Integra Staffing & Search and Bankston Partners has received the Entrepreneurs’ Organization Charlotte chapter’s first-ever Hall of Fame Award. Fish is a member of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Workforce Development Board and serves on the Competitive Workforce Alliance’s Allied Health Regional Skills Partnership. Way to go Robert!

  • Frankie Stepp has retired as the Workforce Investment Act case manager at the Lincoln County JobLink Career Center. Her last day is August 31, 2008. You will be missed Frankie!

  • The Union County Chamber of Commerce is a recipient at the 24th Annual Awards for Excellence (ACE) program of the American Chamber of Commerce Executives (ACCE). Winners were recognized during the ACCE convention 2008 Innovate, July 30-August 2 in Pittsburgh. The Chamber’s entry, Annual Year in Review received an award of merit. The Union County Chamber has now garnered awards for three consecutive years. Congratulations to Jim Carpenter and his fine staff!

  • Bob Wright, president of the Rowan Chamber of Commerce has been selected as one of 50 fellows in the Ford Foundation Regional Sustainable Development program. The Regional Sustainable Development Fellowship will meet to learn about the concepts, policies and practices that support regional approaches to creating long-term, competitive economies. Congratulations Bob!

  • Keri Motley has joined the team at the R3 Center in Kannapolis. Motley was formerly with Goodwill Industries and the Salisbury-Rowan Community Action Agency, Inc.
 

•Centralina Workforce Development Board meeting
Tuesday October 14, 2008 – 4:30 PM
Cabarrus Regional Chamber of Commerce – Kannapolis

• Centralina Executive Planning Committee meeting
Tuesday September 16, 12:00 PM
Carolina Carpet Care & Restoration – Concord

• Centralina Youth Council Services Summit
Friday September 19, 2008 – 10:00 AM
Charles Mack Citizen Center – Mooresville
Contact Natasha Pender at npender@centralina.org to register

• Competitive Workforce Alliance Allied Health Regional Skills Partnership meeting
Wednesday September 24, 2008 – 11:30 AM
Location: TBA
Contact Emily Clamp at eclamp@centralina.org for registration

• 2nd Annual Workforce Development/Economic Development Summit
Wednesday November 19, 2008
Location: Harris Conference Center
Contact: Emily Clamp 704.348.2732 or eclamp@centralina.org

• Nurse Aide I
Monday August 4, 2008 – Monday November 17, 2008 – 9:00 am – 1:00 pm
Classes will be every Monday, Tuesday and Friday
South Piedmont Community College – Lockhart-Taylor Center – Wadesboro
Cost: 149.20
Contact: Sandy Huntley 704.272.5456

• Basic Computer Skills for the Workplace
Mondays, Thursdays, and Fridays from 9:00 am – 12:00 pm
Classes run from September 8, 2008 to October 3, 2008
Gaston College – Belmont Location
Registration Fee: $60.00
Contact for more information: 704.825.3737 extension 276

• Disney Keys to Excellence
Wednesday September 17, 2008 – 8:00 am – 4:00 pm
South Piedmont Community College – Old Charlotte Highway Campus – Monroe
Program Registration: $349.00
Contact: Geri Duncan 704.290.5221

• Business 2 Business
Tuesday October 7, 2008 – 4:00 pm – 8:30 pm
Cabarrus Arena and Events Center
Contact: 704.782.4000

• Junior Achievement is looking for volunteers and sponsors in Cabarrus & Rowan Counties:
Opportunities:
-Volunteer
-Sponsor a class or child
-Help lead the success of Junior Achievement in Cabarrus County
Contact: Stacey Richards, Junior Achievement District Manager
704.563.4858 or srichards@jacarolinas.org

NC Workforce Development Training Center Training Announcements

Career Development Facilitator
Wednesday September 10 – Thursday September 11, 2008
Time: 9:00 am – 4:00 pm
Cost: $525 (includes tuition and materials)
Location: Workforce Development training Center, Raleigh
Contact: E-mail Martha Barefoot at mbarefoot@nccommerce.com

For more information about these and other training offerings or to register for training, please visit: www.ncwdtc.com
 

Visit our website at www.centralinaworks.com to learn more about the Centralina WDB
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