David
Hollars spoke to the great workforce training the community colleges,
particularly Mitchell Community College, provided to Workforce Investment
Act (WIA) participants, as well as training by the college to local
employers through the Incumbent Worker Grant Program. David noted
that the 39 Incumbent Worker grants provided to Iredell County employers
since 2003 have provided over $922,000 in economic investment in
the county and served to retrain over 2,400 employees. And, 70%
of the training was provided by Mitchell Community College.
Building the Road to SuccessStanly Community College Graduates First Heavy Equipment Operations Class
“Our students have gained technical knowledge, practical abilities and problem solving skills, equipping them for employment opportunities in the heavy construction field. I’m extremely proud of each student's accomplishments, as well as our heavy equipment operations lead instructor Josh Aldridge, other part-time instructors and staff, and finally our heavy equipment industry partners,” said Ed Gann, SCC’s Career & Technical Educational coordinator.
“We expect there to be a continued strong demand for trained operators as the economy recovers,” said Ed Thomas, Dean of Technical and Vocational Training at Stanly CC.
For more information about the Heavy Equipment Operations Program, visit online at www.stanly.edu, or contact Josh Aldridge at (704) 991-0173 or jaldridge0653@stanly.edu.
|
Students
completed approximately 675-contact hours, with planned subject
modules that included: industry core skills, civil drawings
and construction math, operator skills I and II, earthmoving
procedures, computer skills and more. 
The Great Within the 58
Rowan-Cabarrus CC Graduate Patricia Wayne Receives Prestigious Award and Embarks on New Career
Patricia
Wayne graduated this May from Rowan-Cabarrus
Community College (RCCC) and is looking forward to
her career as a nurse. As a grandmother, she's at a different stage
in her life from most of those in her program — although at
54, she's not the oldest, she says. She has, however, been recognized
as being one of the best.
Annually, the 58 community colleges in North Carolina participate in an awards program called "The Great Within the 58." As part of this, each community college gives one student an award for academic excellence. Among all students at RCCC, Wayne was chosen to receive the award. On Wednesday April 14, she traveled to Raleigh to accept it at the North Carolina Community Colleges Excellence Event 2010 at the Jane S. McKimmon Center.
In
the awards booklet, Wayne is quoted as saying, "Fifteen years
ago when I became a single mother to four teenagers, I would never
have dreamt that my long-ago dream of being a nurse could be fulfilled."
Certainly Wayne's path to becoming a nurse has been a roundabout one. The Minnesota native moved to Rowan County almost 20 years ago with her husband, with whom she split up several years later. He moved back to Minnesota, but Patricia decided to stay in Rockwell (in Rowan County), where she was living at the time. Her children were teenagers, and she says she couldn't stand the idea of uprooting them at that time in their lives.
She was working as a floral designer at Salisbury Flower Shop, a job she would hold for 18 years. Ultimately, she decided she needed to do something else.
"I saw myself there for the rest of my life if I didn't make a change," she said. The cost of living was going up, she explained, while her pay was going down as the business cut hours each year.
She also realized that if she continued in the floral industry she would never get to spend holidays with her family, and that was another factor in her decision to change careers.
So when she was 47 and her youngest daughter, Crystal, graduated from East Rowan High School, she decided to go back to school part time.
If she had any worries about going back at that age, they were soon laid to rest. She had no problem keeping up with her younger classmates. After a few semesters, she decided to focus on the prerequisites for the nursing program.
As
a young girl, Wayne wanted to be a doctor, she says. But as the
oldest of 10 children, she says that she knew that financially,
that wouldn't be feasible for her family. When she decided to go
back to school, none of her old credits transferred, so she was
basically starting from scratch. For the first five years of her
studies at Rowan-Cabarrus Community College, Wayne attended part-time
while continuing to work full time at the flower shop.
Once she was accepted into the nursing program, she attended school full-time and worked part-time. Finally, she quit her job at the flower shop and began working as a home health aide for Bayada and Caring Hands. In her job as a home health care aid, Wayne did everything from grocery shopping for clients to cleaning their bathrooms.
After she graduates, the next step for Wayne will be taking the state boards. After she passes those, she will be a registered nurse.
The Centralina Workforce Development Board is a proud partner with Rowan-Cabarrus Community College and congratulates Patricia Wayne on this great award and for achieving her dreams! For more information on the Centralina Workforce Development Board, please contact Emily Clamp at (704) 348-2732 or by e-mail at eclamp@centralina.org.
Patricia Wayne poses with her “The Great Within 58 Award.” To her left is Dr. Scott Ralls, President of the NC Community College System. To her right is Hilda Pinnix-Ragland, Chair of the State Board of Community Colleges. |
|
Honor Manufacturing in the Region2010 Advanced Manufacturing Awards Ceremony is a Great Success!
Over 100 attendees participated in the ceremony to honor the nominees and winners of this regional awards competition for advanced manufacturing. Twenty other local businesses and organizations that support manufacturing in the region joined to promote this competition and were on hand to honor the winners at the ceremony. After a warm welcome from EDC Chair George Dunlap, EDC Vice-Chair Bill Thunberg began the festivities. Dr. Brigid Mullany from the Charlotte Research Institute at UNC-Charlotte was the keynote speaker.
The 2010 Advanced Manufacturing Awards winners are: • Polymer Group Inc. of Mooresville (Iredell County), Best Green Process • Clearwater Manufacturing of Huntersville, Innovation Award for employee size 1-49 • Livingston & Haven, LLC, Charlotte, Innovation Award for employee size 100-499 • Advanced Machine & Fabrication of Denver (Lincoln County), Best Process Improvement for employee size 1-49 • PGT Industries and Performance Fibers Operations both of Salisbury (Rowan County) tied for Best Process Improvement, Company size 100-499 Polymer Group Inc., Advanced Machine & Fabrication, PGT Industries and Performance Fibers Operations all have received Incumbent Worker Grant funding from the Centralina Workforce Development Board. These grants have provided funding for Lean Manufacturing, Process Improvement, ISO certification, and/or Teaming Building skills training. The training offerings have made these companies more efficient and more productive. The Centralina Workforce Development Board was proud to be a Gold Sponsor of this event and congratulates the fine companies for the excellent work that they do. David Hollars, Executive Director of the Centralina WDB said “It was great to have companies represented from all around the region but we were especially happy to see firms we’ve worked with being honored for their outstanding commitment to excellence in manufacturing. These are the companies that will be here to employ the great workforce we are building.” Laura Mundell, Director of the Centralina EDC, said, “The awards give us a chance to highlight the advanced levels of manufacturing in our region. While the numbers of people employed in manufacturing has declined the technical aspect of producing quality products has grown tremendously. Most of the manufacturing in the Greater Charlotte Region is done by small and medium sized businesses.” “Firms that have upgraded technology, trained their workforce and made process improvements are seeing their productivity soar,” Mundell said. To find out more about the awards and advanced manufacturing in our region please log on to www.mindsthatmanufacture.com or www.centralinaworks.com. For more information about the event please contact Vail Carter at (704) 348-2710 or by email at vcarter@centralina.org.
Senator Visits Anson County ManufacturerNC Senator Richard Burr Tours Columbus McKinnon in Wadesboro “I try to take some portion of every day to see the manufacturing facilitates we’ve got here in the state,” Burr said. Last July, the company announced it would be adding 65 jobs over the next three years, replacing positions that had been lost in layoffs and creating 49 new positions. In a little less than a year, the plant has gone from 136 workers to about 200. “We hope to build up to a full second shift in the near future,” HR manager and Centralina Workforce Development Board member Bob Stowe told Burr. In response to questions from the senator about the Wadesboro operation’s customer base, general manager Joe Ombrello replied that about 70-80 percent is domestic, but the company also ships to various European counties, as well as South America. “And the end use of a majority of your products is manufacturing?” Burr asked. Ombrello responded that it mostly is, including industrial, manufacturing and wastewater uses. The company also has some clients in the entertainment industry, Stowe pointed out, which uses hoists for lights and sound equipment at concerts, Broadway shows and so on. When Ombrello mentioned that Columbus McKinnon’s Michigan operation had been consolidated into the Wadesboro plant, Burr said it was due to the hardworking ethic of most of North Carolina’s workers. “You’re sometimes competing with other facilities,” he said. Ombrello agreed, saying, “We could’ve easily closed instead of them consolidating here.” Ombrello also pointed out the company’s emphasis on education, and Burr said he’d love to get both Stowe and Ombrello “on tape, talking about community colleges, training and retraining.” “It’s great that they can train at night where you’re not taking them out of a wage-earning situation,” he added. Burr said that he was impressed with the Wadesboro operation and enjoys touring manufacturing facilities across the state. “When a community sees signs of life – an increase in employees, manufacturers making investments in the community – it gives kids in high schools a reason not to leave,” Burr said. “They can look around and see visible signs of revitalization.” The Centralina Workforce Development Board awarded Incumbent Worker Training funding to Columbus McKinnon (then Coffing Hoists) in 2004-2005 to provide Lean Manufacturing training to all of its employees. This training has made the Wadesboro plant more efficient which played a big part in the recent expansion. Please continue to look to the Centralina Workforce Development Board’s monthly E-Newsletter for updates on this exciting development in our region!
More Jobs for the Centralina WDB RegionGerman Business Announces Creation of 40 New Jobs in Lincoln CountyA German manufacturing company with jobs paying an average of $800 a week is coming to Lincoln County. Hydac, a leader in fluid power, offers a range of hydraulic products. The company has more than 1,000 distributors and 2,300 employees worldwide. Within two years, Hydac will invest $10 million for the building, machinery and equipment. Of that $10 million, $8.2 million will qualify for incentives from the county. The county will provide cash grants of $35,055 per year for five years to Hydac. The county will begin paying the grants beginning in the tax year after the project’s completion. Please continue to look to the Centralina Workforce Development Board’s monthly E-Newsletter for updates on this exciting development in our region!
Iredell County Company is an “E” Star!Slade Inc. Recognized for their Exports from Our RegionIn 1994, Slade Inc. established its first distributor to export to Spain. It was done the old-fashioned way by knocking on doors and making multiple trips to Europe, said company president Ward Crosier. The Statesville company's strategy changed after it started using the Gold Key Service (GKS) provided by the U.S. Department of Commerce, along with the Export-Import bank.
Slade received an "E Star" Award earlier this month from U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke. The "E" Star award recognizes companies that exhibit continued superior performance in increasing or promoting exports, according to a Commerce Department press release. Locke also presented the Presidential "E" Awards, which are the highest U.S. government honor for increasing exports. Slade's products are now sold to distributors that were identified with the assistance of the overseas offices of Commerce Department and U.S. Embassies. Crosier said they have to make just one trip, and the embassies usually have the meetings, tours and anything else they need in order to make a decision. "It takes all the fear out of the process," he said. "We would spin our wheels and waste so much time if this wasn't available." The high-tech textiles seal firm has 25 employees. About two-thirds of its manufactured goods are sold overseas. Slade Vice President Greg Raty said the company's success rate with the GKS program has been around 90 percent. The company has used the Export-Import Bank of the United States, the official export credit agency that insures Slade and other companies' receivables, Raty said. Raty said the government's international offices keep them well informed before any meetings take place. "You really know who is sitting in front of you, and
they all want our product," he said. Please continue to look to the Centralina Workforce Development Board’s monthly E-Newsletter for updates on this exciting development in our region! |
On
Thursday June 24, 2010 the Centralina Economic Development
Commission hosted the first annual Advanced
Manufacturing Awards event at the Embassy Suites
in Concord. 
The
awards recognized excellence in manufacturing in three separate
categories: Process Improvement, Innovation, and Green
Process Improvement. Teams of judges who were experienced
practitioners or subject matter experts were used in each
of the categories. Each category was judged by a separate
team of judges. Applications were reviewed for content using
specific judging criteria.
The
plant, located on Country Club Road just outside Wadesboro,
makes powered and manual hoists, trolleys, cranes and other
material-handling equipment for diverse applications worldwide.
The
company plans to begin construction of its facility before
next March. An exact location has not yet been chosen, but
the company has shown an interest in Airlie Park at Ingleide
in Denver.
Now
Cheung works fulltime on his solar panel business, which is
located at 379 Central Drive in Concord. Cheung said he had
originally planned to develop a large manufacturing facility
locally that would have generated about 40 jobs locally.Tim Antoszyk, of SBM Solar, tests one of the company's solar panel at its Concord facility. |
Automotive Company Expands in Lincolnton
Cataler North America Breaks Ground for New Expansion
Cataler North America at Lincoln County Industrial Park recently celebrated the groundbreaking for its second building expansion since their start of production in 2002. This expansion will add 61,000 SF to its existing facility, as well as additional parking lot space.
Headquartered in Kakegawa, Japan, Cataler is a leading automotive catalyst manufacturer, and parts supplier for Toyota, GM and Subaru. The catalyst is a key component in vehicle emissions technology. Cataler is committed to providing cost-effective solutions that will benefit society through a cleaner environment.
Building construction is expected to begin immediately and continue into January 2011. Current investment plans include equipment installation over the next two years. Soon thereafter, Cataler expects to invest in additional equipment needed to strengthen future business opportunities.
Cataler is deeply appreciative of the support it has received from the City of Lincolnton, Lincoln County and the State of North Carolina, and looks forward to working with the local community toward mutually benefiting from this expansion.
“We are honored to have Cataler as a part of our community, in these days of economic uncertainty it is truly exciting to see a company expanding in Lincoln County. I want to thank Cataler North America for their continued commitment to Lincoln County and to LEDA for their efforts in working to keep existing businesses in our county.” Alex Patton, chairman Lincoln County Board of Commissioners.
Lincoln
Economic Development Association (LEDA), chairman
Pete Acker said, “We are pleased that Cataler North
America is in a position once again to expand their facility,
this is a positive and welcomed example in these economic
times. We appreciate their continued contribution to Lincoln
County and look forward to their future success.”
Please continue to look to the Centralina Workforce Development Board’s monthly E-Newsletter for updates on this exciting development in our region!
Officials and company representatives broke ground on the site for the second building expansion for Cataler North America. |
CMC-Lincoln Sets Hospital Opening Date
Carolinas
Medical Center-Lincoln will open its new, 101-bed
hospital on McAlister Road in Lincolnton on Saturday July
10, 2010. Patients at the current Gamble Drive facility will
be transferred to the new hospital by ambulance that morning.
The old hospital will close once the last patient arrives
at the new facility.
The $90 million, 182,000-square-foot replacement hospital anchors a 64-acre medical campus that includes a 40,000-square-foot medical office building with primary- and specialty-care physicians.
CMC-Lincoln held a ribbon cutting and community open house at the new site from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday June 26, 2010.
The
hospital is owned by Charlotte-based Carolinas HealthCare
System, the largest health-care system in the Carolinas and
the third-largest public system in the nation.
Carolinas HealthCare owns, leases, or manages 32 hospitals
and has more than 44,000 full- and part-time employees and
1,750 physicians.
Please continue to look to the Centralina Workforce Development
Board’s monthly E-Newsletter for updates on this exciting
development in our region!
New Resource Alert!
Rowan Works Offers Tools for Business Success for Entrepreneurs
If you're looking to start a business, or want to find the right tools or information to better your current business, you can always contact the folks at Rowan Works.
But, if you're wanting to learn from the comfort of your home, after business hours, or, from the office, Rowan Works' new site, "Tools for Business Success," is a click away.
The link to the beta (test) site can be found at the bottom right-hand side of www.rowanworks.com, and takes you to an impressive compilation of local and national resources.
"It's the most comprehensive set of business resources that are out there right now," said Robert Van Geons, director of Rowan Works. "We are updating the business tools constantly."
Not only is there a toll-free number for business questions, there is also a live chat feature, connecting you with experts online, where you can ask questions and get answers right away.
The site was put together by Rowan Works and Tools for Business. Economic development commissions, towns, counties and chambers of commerce across the nation use the Tools for Business site, and Rowan Works' site is customized for Rowan County.
Van Geons said he spoke to the folks at Business Tools after receiving many calls from residents asking for information on how to start a business.
"We
spoke to the Business Tools team and we walked through the
site," he said. "We really like the way it is organized."
Van Geons said Rowan Works will be in the test phase for a
while. "If it works, great," he said. "This
is a great set of resources. It's a more robust set of tools
for existing industry and people wanting to start a business.
"We also like the idea that when we can't be there, someone
will be there to answer questions, which is part of our mission."
The site also includes a search bar, giving multiple detailed listings of what you might be looking for.
The following is a sample of information the site provides:
- 10 steps to starting your own business
- Entrepreneurial assessment, testing if you have what it takes to start your own business
- Free online classes and books
- Information on stimulus projects in the area, and other government projects or acts that could bring jobs to the area, or money to businesses
- Tips on selling on the Internet
- Networking tips
- Tools during tough economic times
Other links send you directly to organizations such as the Rowan County Chamber of Commerce, the Small Business Center at Rowan-Cabarrus Community College and the Agriculture Extension Office of Rowan County.
One special feature, the cash flow calculator, which is found under the "10 Steps to Starting Your Own Business" link, allows you to manipulate a financial model, seeing the effects of sales, inventory and other factors that affect cash flow for a potential business.
"Buy Locally" takes you to a page with a link to local businesses, the Rowan County Chamber and the Better Business Bureau.
"We hope this will be useful to everyone," Van Geons said. "We use it ourselves."
For a link to the Business Tools site, visit www.rowanworks.com. For further information about the site, contact Rowan Works at 704-637-5526.
183 New Jobs for Rowan County!
Magna Composites Announces Expansion and Job Growth
Magna
Composites will spend $10 million expanding plants
in Salisbury, Lenoir and Newton, creating a total of 327 new
jobs. The auto-parts manufacturer plans to add 183 jobs at
its Rowan County plant.
The Rowan County facility in Salisbury is the largest. The plant in Caldwell County will add 134 jobs, and the smallest plant in Catawba County will add 10 workers. While individual wages will vary greatly by job function, the overall average for the 327 new jobs will be $33,352 plus benefits.
The expansion was made possible in part by a state Job Development Investment Grant.
"Creating jobs is my number one priority, and this multi-county expansion is a win for the region and state," said Gov. Beverly E. Perdue. "North Carolina's commitment to education, workforce training and maintaining a top-rated business climate makes us well positioned to continue to add jobs and economic opportunities."
Magna
Composites is a division of Magna Exteriors and Interiors,
a subsidiary of Canadian auto parts giant Magna International.
Scott Warden, manager of corporate communications for Magna, said the expansion at the Salisbury facility will add equipment and create more business opportunities.
"We are buying additional new equipment for the plants that allows them to make a wider variety of products and try to win new business with customers," Warden said. "They're expanding their capabilities."
The types of machines Magna is adding are presses, or, molding machines, as well as some assembly and automation equipment.
"We are investing in the new equipment in order to win new business, and in order to keep up with expanded business, they're (Magna) going to need more people," Warden said.
Magna added the three North Carolina plants to its holdings when it purchased portions of Meridian Automotive Systems' composites business in June 2009. Since then, the company has increased employment at the three facilities, which currently provide jobs for 360 workers.
"We have been fortunate to work with many people who understand our business and help us achieve common goals," said Bob Brownlee, president of Magna Exteriors and Interiors. "We're pleased that North Carolina recognizes the need for business-friendly programs, and it helps us remain in close proximity to our customers in this region."
Robert Van Geons, director of Rowan Works, said the partnership involved many people, and he was glad to see it come together.
"We've been working with their (Magna's) team now since the acquisition, discussing possibilities of growth here or in other states," he said. "It was really a team effort."
Van Geons said Duke Energy, the state government, Rowan County's economic development commission and the community have all worked together on the project.
"We all benefitted by making this project happen in North Carolina," he said. "We're hoping this is for the long haul." The 183 workers who will be full-time employees with Magna is a good sign, Van Geons said.
"We have thousands of citizens looking for jobs," he said. "It's great to know that 183 people in and around Rowan County will have an opportunity to be better employed — for them, and their families." "These are good jobs with a good company. I think it's a sign that our economy is stabilizing, but we've got a long way to go."
N.C. Representative Lorene Coates of Salisbury called the announcement "great news for the region and for North Carolina. During this tough economy, it's critical to make the right investments to create jobs and bring economic opportunities to this area."
Rowan County Commissioner Chairman Carl Ford said he was "elated" to hear the good news.
"I'm so glad the jobs are coming," he said. "Anytime you can get a job, much less 183 jobs, it's great."
Ford said the possible expansion of Magna has been on the radar for some time, and Rowan County has been waiting on the final word by the state.
"I'm glad it's finally happened," he said. "Magna's been ready, we've been ready. We are so happy this is coming to Rowan County, and very thankful."
Rowan County JobLink Career Center Manager Debbie Davis said she's glad the jobs are growing here in Rowan County. "I'm glad to hear that jobs are going to be growing," she said. "That's good news."
Davis said the JobLink/ESC didn't know the specifics yet on the openings, and that the jobs have not yet been posted. The JobLink/ESC and Rowan-Cabarrus Community College will be working with Magna to help with job searching and training.
For more information about Magna, including job opportunities, visit www.magna.com.
Looking for a Strong Business Partner?
Follow These Helpful Tips to Help Your Business Grow
Establishing a business partnership that is mutually beneficial to a corporation or business and a school or school district can take more ingenuity and creativity than ever before.
Following are a few tips to get school personnel started on establishing the right business partnership:
• Get involved. Relationships go a long way toward mutual understanding. Get involved with business groups in your community. Take the opportunity to open their eyes about what’s going on in your school and to learn about their concerns.
• Brag. Don’t be afraid to blow your own horn. Work to share the good things. Brag about the accomplishments of students and teachers. Show your excitement. For example, students in many schools are involved in community service projects, sometimes school-sponsored, sometimes as an activity of a group such as the National Honor Society. Total the hours and let the businesses know the extent to which your school is involved in the community.
• Be creative. Think outside the box when it comes to identifying potential partners. Find the unusual.
• Dos and Don’ts: Once you identify a partner, their needs and potential resources, create a Win-Win relationship. DO: Be specific about when, where, what and how. DON’T: take on more than you have time to manage. DO: Put expectations in writing. DON’T: let a partnership languish during a busy time. DO: Say “Thank You.” DO: Evaluate your plan and results.
For more information about these tips and other ones for making strong business connections in your community, please contact Emily Clamp at (704) 348-2732 or by e-mail at eclamp@centralina.org.
Let Your Voice Be Heard!
Take the Centralina WDB Employer Survey to Let Us Know How We Can Help Your Business Grow
Each month, the Centralina Workforce Development Board holds a drawing from Business Surveys that area businesses have completed and posted on our website. The Centralina WDB uses this as a tool to reach out to businesses throughout the region, much like your own to find out how we can assist them in this economy.
We encourage all businesses, large and small to participate in this wonderful survey and to give us some feedback on what is going on for your business and our community! By completing the survey not only do you have a chance to voice your opinion but you will also be entered into a monthly drawing for free goodies from the Centralina Workforce Development Board!
If you haven’t completed the survey, you can do so now by logging onto 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 e-mail at vcarter@centralina.org.
Employment Statistics
Updated
Monthly on this E-Newsletter
| May
2010 (Source: NC Employment Security Commission) |
||
| County | Unemployment
Rate |
Persons
Employed |
| Anson | 13.6% |
8,829 |
| Cabarrus | 10.8% |
75,643 |
| Iredell | 11.7% |
69,744 |
| Lincoln | 12.1% |
33,199 |
| Rowan | 11.8% |
63,103 |
| Stanly | 11.4% |
27,111 |
| Union | 9.4% |
85,351 |
| Centralina WDB Region | 11.0% |
362,980 |
| State of NC | 9.9% |
4,096,669 |
For more information on employment, click here
It’s Our Honor to Serve!
Centralina Workforce Development Board Elects Officers
The Centralina Workforce Development Board has elected new officers for the upcoming year (July 1, 2010 to June 30, 2011). At its June 8, 2010 meeting, the Board was presented a slate of nominations and they unanimously approved Bob VanGorden as the Centralina Workforce Development Board Chair and Janet Hudson as the Vice-Chair.
Bob VanGorden owns BVG Consulting in Concord and has been an active Board member for seven years. He has been the Centralina Workforce Development Board Chair for the past six years. Bob is also the Chair of the Board’s Executive Planning Committee and serves on the Community Relations Committee.
Janet Hudson, Human Resources Manager for Brooks Food Group in Monroe, has been on the Board for four years. Janet is a very active member of the Board’s Workforce Readiness Committee and is also be a member of the Executive Planning Committee.
Bob VanGorden can be contacted by email at bvgconsult@vnet.net. Janet Hudson can be contacted by email at janethudson@brooksfoodgroup.com. For more information about the Centralina Workforce Development Board and how you can serve on the Board, please visit our website.
Congratulations to Bob and Janet for their leadership. And thank you to all our Board members for their continued support and guidance for making the Centralina Workforce Development Board - The Competitive Force in Our Global Economy.
Janet Hudson and Bob VanGorden pose for a quick picture after the Centralina WDB meeting on June 8, 2010. |
Setting the Standard for Workforce Professionals
NCAWP Region III Meeting Held
On
Thursday June 3, 2010, the North
Carolina Association of Workforce Professionals (NCAWP)
held their Region III Annual meeting at the JobLink Career Center
– Main in Charlotte. NCAWP Region III provides professional
development, networking, and information for its members who are
primarily employees of local Employment Security Commission offices
in the area. NCAWP is also an affiliate of the International Association
of Workforce Professionals (IWAP).
David Hollars, Executive Director of the Centralina Workforce Development Board and Deborah Gibson, Executive Director of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Workforce Development Board were guest speakers at this event. Both David and Deborah discussed the local economy, the need for retraining the workforce, and services offered by their respective workforce boards. Each also thanked the workforce professionals in attendance for their hard work and dedication to serving the career seeker and business customers during these trying economic times.
The highlight of the meeting was a presentation by new Employment Security Commission chair Lynn Holmes. Ms. Holmes highlighted the work that she has done since she was appointed ESC Chair by NC Governor Beverly E. Perdue. She also discussed the future for ESC. Additionally, Ms. Holmes graciously answered many questions from the meeting attendees on a wide range of subjects.
ESC Region III manager Tim Beam closed the meeting with acknowledgements to all. Tim also thanked David Hollars and Deborah Gibson for the local workforce boards great support of the work of ESC and the JobLink Career Center system.
For more information on NCAWP, please visit their website at www.ncawponline.org or contact local NCAWP/IAWP Board member Verna Wade at verna.wade@ncesc.gov.
The Centralina Workforce Development Board is in YOUR Community!
During the month of June 2010, the Centralina Workforce Development Board has been actively involved with events, seminars, training sessions, and other meetings all designed to help build a better workforce for our region. Beyond our involvement with the NCAWP Region III meeting, Mitchell Community College ‘s Administrative Retreat, the 2010 Advanced Manufacturing Awards, and the BICEPS and CAFÉ events detailed in this e-newsletter, here are some the activities of the Board members and WDB staff for June.
Centralina Workforce Development Board meeting - held on Tuesday June 8 at the Cabarrus Regional Chamber of Commerce in Kannapolis. The Board approved the recommendations from the Youth Council for PY 2010 WIA Youth service providers and also approved PY 2010 WIA Adult and Dislocated Worker service providers. A detailed report was presented by staff on the competing bids for funding. The Board reviewed and discussed the report from the recently held Strategic Planning Retreat. The Board accepted the recommendations presented in the report and will form a taskforce of Board members and JobLink managers to tackle implementation of the strategies outlined. The Board received information on the three Incumbent Worker grant applications approved for funding by the NC Department of Commerce; discussed the Advanced Manufacturing Awards event to be held on June 24 in Concord; received information on the Centralina Youth Services Summit planned for September 24; and reviewed the latest labor market information for the region as well as the JobLink Quarterly Report. Information on regional initiatives and updates on other key workforce issues were also provided.
Bob VanGorden (BVG Consulting – Cabarrus County) was reelected Chair of the Centralina WDB for the next fiscal year (July 1, 2010 to June 30, 2011). Janet Hudson (Brooks Food Group – Union County – was reelected Vice-Chair.
Centralina WDB JobLink Career Center Managers meeting – held on Tuesday June 8 at the Cabarrus Regional Chamber of Commerce in Kannapolis. Managers and WDB staff discussed the report from the recently held WDB Strategic Planning retreat and next steps for improving JobLink operations. Managers reviewed and discussed items from the JobLink Coordinators Forum, including the chartering process and also discussed usage of JobLink enhancement funds.
Centralina WDB Youth Council meeting – held on Thursday June 3 at the Cabarrus Boys & Girls Club in Concord. The Youth Council reviewed request for proposals for the provision of WIA Youth Services for PY 2010. Recommendations were made. The Youth Council also approved a new member (Leon Gatewood – Anson County), selected a Vice-Chair (Gisella Busse – Lincoln County), and reviewed recent events involving youth (NC Youth Summit, visit to NC General Assembly, and Anson County Student/Business Forum).
Monroe Economic Development Commission meeting
- held on Thursday June 25 at Charlotte Pipe and Foundry in Monroe.
Centralina WDB Business Services Coordinator Vail Cater attended
this meeting and provided participants with valuable local labor
market information as well as updates on activities with the Union
County JobLink Career Center and its partners.
Union County JobReady Partnership meeting – held on Thursday
June 17 at Union County Chamber of Commerce in Monroe. David Hollars,
Centralina WDB Executive Director, attended this meeting.
NC Workforce Development Leadership Academy – Session 2 – held June 8-10 in Asheville. Centralina WDB Program Associate Natasha Pender is participating in this year long training session.
Iredell County Gang Symposium – held on Tuesday June 22 in Statesville. Centralina WDB Program Associate Natasha Pender participated in this meeting along with many local community and JobLink partner agencies.
Rowan-Cabarrus Community College Work-Based and Cooperative Learning Advisory Committee meeting – held on Tuesday June 22 at Rowan-Cabarrus CC in Salisbury. Centralina WDB Program Associate Natasha Pender participated in this meeting.
Charlotte USA – Energy Capital Initiative – Workforce Taskforce meetings – held on Thursday June 3 and Wednesday June 9 at CPCC Harris Campus. Centralina WDB Executive Director David Hollars participated in this meeting along with representatives from Duke Energy, Central Piedmont CC, and York Tech as planning continues for the Energy Summit on August 3.
Marketing Career & Technical Education taskforce meeting – held on Tuesday June 15 at the Piedmont Triad Partnership in Greensboro. Centralina WDB Executive Director David Hollars participated in this meeting devoted to finalizing the marketing plan and implementation for fall 2010.
NC Workforce Development Board Directors Council meeting – held on Thursday June 24 at the Deep River Event Center in Greensboro. Centralina WDB Executive Director David Hollars participated in this meeting involving NC Department of Commerce – Division of Workforce Development staff members.
NC Department of Commerce – Division of Workforce Development – JobLink Coordinators Forum – held on Wednesday June 2 at Blue Ridge Community College in Flat Rock. David Hollars, Centralina WDB Executive Director, attended this meeting along with Cabarrus County JobLink Career Center manager Carolyn Mays.
Charlotte Regional Economic & Workforce Recovery Initiative Team meetings – held on Wednesday June 2 at CPCC Harris Campus. This group is implementing plans and strategies to address the current and anticipated layoffs from the financial service sector businesses in the Charlotte region, as requested by Governor Beverly Perdue. Vail Carter, Centralina WDB Business Services Representative participated in this meeting.
PY 2009 Annual Workforce Investment Act (WIA) monitoring of Adult and Dislocated Worker services – conducted by Patricia White, Centralina WDB Operations Manager and Michelle McNulty, Centralina WDB Accountability Specialist with the Employment Security Commission in Anson County (June 9), Cabarrus County (June 10), Iredell County (Mooresville – June 14 and Statesville – June 21), Rowan County (June 16), Stanly County (June 17), Union County (June 18), ESC Finance Office in Raleigh (June 23), and Lincoln County (June 24).
Workforce Business Development and Assistance – provided by Vail Carter, Centralina WDB Business Services Representative for the following area companies:
- Attended the Reemployment Bridge Institute at the R3Center in
Kannapolis (Cabarrus County) – June 3-4.
- Attended meeting of the Iredell County Manufacturing Council
hosted by NGK Ceramics of Mooresville (Iredell County) –
June 8
- Made site visit to Accuma Corporation in Statesville (Iredell
County) to review I-9 files on Incumbent Workforce Development
Program trainees and pick up applications – June 8
- Performed final Incumbent Workforce Development Program monitoring
visit at Square D Company in Salisbury (Rowan County) –
June 22
- Met with Holly Gryder, Workforce Development Program Manager
for UNC-Charlotte - June 25
- Met with Jack Hastings of Goodridge Corporation in Mooresville (Iredell County) to discuss workforce training needs – June 30
These are only a few examples of how your Centralina Workforce Development Board is actively involved with our partners in our counties every month. To find out more about getting involved with the Centralina Workforce Development Board, please contact David Hollars at (704) 348-2717 or by e-mail at dhollars@centralina.org or visit our website at www.centralinaworks.com. The Centralina Workforce Development – The Competitive Force in Our Global Economy.
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Do you want to be part of one of the fastest-growing sectors in Charlotte? If you are in career transition with energyrelated experience or have skills suited to this field, don’t miss this chance to learn more.
Join representatives from local energy businesses, colleges and employment associations at “Energy Careers for a Bright Future,” a day-long information expo where you can learn about opportunities in energy-related career fields. This event is sponsored by the Charlotte Regional Partnership’s “Charlotte USA – The New Energy Capital” initiative and hosted by Central Piedmont Community College (CPCC) at the Harris Conference Center.
The Charlotte region is home to more than 200 energy-oriented
firms. As these companies build and maintain their energy infrastructures,
they will be looking for new employees. Many positions in the energy
sector do not require a college degree
but are skilled positions for those who enjoy working with their
hands and solving problems.
Seminars offered throughout the day will focus on these topics:
• Job growth projections in traditional and nontraditional
energy businesses.
• Career possibilities within the energy cluster.
• Exploration of skill sets required by energy-related industries.
When: Tuesday, August 3, 2010 8 a.m. –
4 p.m.
Where: Harris Conference Center, CPCC Harris Campus,
3210 CPCC Harris Campus Dr., Charlotte, NC 28208
Cost: $25 per person (lunch provided)
Registration: Call 704.330.2722
For more information, call 704.330.2722. Space is limited, so reserve your spot today.
Note: This is not a job fair opportunity. No résumés will be accepted during the event.
EVENT SPONSORS
Serving the South Iredell Community
Mooresville Public Library Ranked #2 in the State
Patrons said Mooresville Public Library’s recent number 2 ranking among similar-sized libraries in the state is well-deserved.
According to the 2010 Hennen’s American Public Library Ratings Index, the Library is rated second among North Carolina libraries with a population category of 25,000 for its effectiveness in serving the community. Failing only a few percentage points below the Chapel Hill Public Library, which scored an overall rating of 92.3 percent, the Mooresville Library’s rating was 89.4 percent based on a variety of factors, including budget appropriations, expenditures, staffing, materials, circulations and the library’s usage by community members.
“The town of Mooresville and the citizens of our community have a library of which they can be proud,” said MPL Director John Pritchard. “It is always good to see this verified by outside sources.”
Several
patrons utilizing the library this month agreed with the MPL’s
ranking, listing aesthetics, staff friendliness, wide book selection
and variety of services among potential reasons the Mooresville
facility found itself among the state’s best.
“It makes you want to learn,” said Mooresville resident Lynn Rowe. She said the MPL’s overall environment is quite inviting to the public.
For Karen Batista, it’s the variety of services for her entire family that brings them to the library nearly every other week.
“I have three kids so we come in on weekends,” she said, noting that her family has never had an issue finding the exact book they searched for among the library’s shelves.
The Iredell County Public Library was ranked sixth out of more than 20 libraries in its 100,000 population category.
The Centralina Workforce Development Board would like to congratulate the Mooresville Public Library in receiving this honor. Libraries are important partners in reaching out to our community and our current, as well as future workforce! For more information on the HAPLR ratings or on the Centralina Workforce Development Board, please contact Emily Clamp at (704) 348-2732 or by e-mail at eclamp@centralina.org.
Address Change! Please Update your Information!
Iredell JobLink Career Center Moves to New Location in Statesville
Please update your information for the Iredell
County JobLink Career Center in Statesville!
In June 2010, the Iredell County JobLink Career Center located in
Statesville moved to its new location. It is now located at 133
Island Ford Road in Statesville. The new location is a
beautiful, brand new facility specifically designed for being a
JobLink Career Center. And, there is plenty of free parking!
The JobLink Career Center will continue to offer all of its great services to the career seeker and to the business professional. The Center’s main telephone and fax number have not changed. The Center was previously located at Newton Drive in Statesville for more than 30 years!
If you have any questions or concerns about the new location please contact Ronne Grantham, manager of the JobLink Career Center at (704) 878-4241 or by e-mail at veronica.grantham@ncesc.gov. Also, be sure to visit the center’s website at www.iredelljoblink.com.
The new location for the Statesville JobLink Career Center. |
The Center’s new location will be able to comfortably serve the general public. |
More Visitors See a Future for the NCRC
Israeli Diplomats Tour the NC Research Campus in Kannapolis
A visit Monday May 24, 2010 by two Israeli diplomats could lead to more business investments and cooperation among researchers in the U.S. and abroad.
Deputy Consul General Sharon Kabalo and Bitia Puderbeutel, director of trade and investments for the Israeli embassy, visited the North Carolina Research Campus as guests of North Carolina 8th District Democratic Representative Larry Kissell.
Kissell invited the diplomats to take part in what's called a reverse trade mission. Kissell spokeswoman Haven Kerchner said these trips bring foreign officials to North Carolina to learn about the potential for future business and educational partnerships.
"I hope they'll see the opportunity that's here," Kissell said. "We have the equipment and the collaboration of all the universities here."
In the afternoon, the diplomats toured the Research Campus with Clyde Higgs, vice president for business development.
The
tour began in the campus' Core Laboratory complex, led by Dr.
Michael Luther, president of the David
H. Murdock Research Institute.
Luther showed visitors an array of microscopy facilities and the Avance II magnetic nuclear imager used by researchers from collaborating universities and businesses.
Higgs said that although the campus has been open for less than two years, it has already begun to produce breakthroughs.
Luther talked about the economic development potential of the campus, and described some of the projects being undertaken there.
The group heard presentations from university researchers as well. Dr. Andrew Shanely of Appalachian State University detailed experiments on nutrition and physical stress being conducted at the campus. Dr. Leonard Williams of NC A&T State University talked about his school's efforts to eliminate pathogens and allergens in food.
This intrigued Puderbeutel, who said such allergies weren't as common in Israel.
Kabalo said she knew that the percentage of people with peanut allergies is much smaller in Israel than the United States and United Kingdom, even among people of Israeli descent.
Such questions are part of what N.C. A&T researchers are investigating, along with compounds in foods associated with traditional Chinese medicine, Williams said.
Earlier in the day, representatives from businesses in the 8th District traveled to meet Kabalo, Puderbeutel and Kissell. Among those businesses were Celgard and SBM Solar, Kerchner said.
Celgard,
manufacturer of lithium ion batteries, recently received an incentive
grant from Cabarrus County to build a plant there, with a projected
investment of $57.4 million.
Kabalo said the visit had shown her much that she would share with people in her country.
"I definitely think this is something we can present to the leaders of all the research universities," Kabalo said.
While she said that the Israeli government probably wouldn't take an active role in doing so, Kabalo said their job would be to "open the door" by letting businesses and industries know about the opportunities available in North Carolina.
Kerchner said the NCRC is likely to be a destination for future
groups of diplomatic visitors, including possibly a group from Singapore
slated to visit North Carolina later this summer.
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.
NC Research Campus Update
Find Out What’s the Latest with this World Renowned Biotech Development
Bio Samples Now Being Stored in Kannapolis
Duke University's medical research study based at the N.C.
Research Campus has moved its human biological samples
to a high-tech storage facility in Kannapolis.
Laboratory Corp. of America has opened the 40,000-square-foot biorepository at U.S. 29 and Chipola Road. Burlington-based LabCorp and Duke are collaborating on the facility, where Duke will house more than 1 million samples collected from 50,000 Cabarrus County and Kannapolis residents who enroll in the MURDOCK Study.
The study, named for campus founder and Dole Food Co. Chairman David Murdock, previously shipped blood and urine samples to New Jersey for storage. The new biorepository cuts transport time, said Dr. Ashley Dunham, community health project leader for the study.
"That's when the integrity of samples is most at risk to be compromised," she said. "We want to minimize that time."
The biorepository is a key component of a joint venture between Duke and LabCorp to commercialize new biomarkers, or molecules found in the body that signal disease. Biomarkers also can show how well the body responds to treatment.
Called the Biomarker Factory, the venture is designed to turn newly discovered biomarkers into clinical tools. Physicians would use the tools to personalize medicine by determining how individual patients will respond to certain drugs, how a disease will progress and to evaluate biological processes that cause disease.
New Immune System Center Coming to NCRC
A California-based institute dedicated to helping people with diseases
related to their immune system has joined the N.C. Research Campus.
The Immune Tolerance Institute has partnered with the David H. Murdock Research Institute at the Research Campus to establish the Center for Critical Path Research in Immunology in Kannapolis.
The center will focus on personalized medicine, or finding targeted treatments for millions of people with diseases related to the human immune system, including autoimmune diseases, allergy, asthma, cancer and cardiovascular and infectious diseases.
By joining forces in Kannapolis, the two institutes say they can accelerate the transition of basic scientific discoveries into medical practice. Leaders for the institutes say the new center will become a "major resource" for industry and academic partners.
By better understanding disease, researchers can develop new therapies that are safer, targeted to the right patients and more effective in prevention and treatment of disease, Dr. Louis Matis, president and CEO of the Immune Tolerance Institute said in a release.
In Kannapolis, the new center will pursue the identification of biomarkers, which can help diagnose disease and develop drug therapies. Biomarkers also can aid in predicting the course of a disease and how a patient's will respond to a medicine.
Thirteen employees of the Immune Tolerance Institute will work in the Core Laboratory Building. Three employees have been in place since January.
Scientist Plans Study on Organic Produce Nutrition
A recently formed collaboration at the N.C. Research Campus could
help determine whether organically grown food is more nutritious
than food grown by conventional methods.
Dole Food's director at the Research Campus wants to test vegetables grown at the Cabarrus County training farm to learn more about the nutrition content of local, organic food.
"The implication of that is far-reaching," said Debbie Bost, Cabarrus County Cooperative Extension director.
While farmers suspect that locally grown, organic fruits and vegetables pack a bigger nutritional punch, they have little scientific evidence, Bost said.
Analyzing their produce using state-of-the-art instruments at the Research Campus will provide empirical data, she said.
Farmers then could tell consumers that their food is more nutritious.
"They can use those claims, and it will create a different niche for our farmers than anyplace else and help them to obtain top price for their product," Bost said.
Dr. Nick Gillitt, director for the new Dole Nutrition Research Laboratory in Kannapolis, said he plans to measure nutrients in organic produce grown at the Elma C. Lomax Incubator Farm, a county-owned project that trains 16 people to become farmers.
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.
READ SIMILAR NEWS
CAFÉ Opens New Horizons for Stanly County EducatorsConnecting the Classroom to Business and Industry
Tuesday June 22 was the first day of the 2010 event. Presentations by Stanly Community College President Dr. Mike Taylor, Chamber of Commerce President (and Centralina WDB member) Tom Ramseur, Stanly County Economic Development Commission Director Kevin Gullette, and Centralina WDB Executive Director David Hollars provided information on the importance of demystifying the relevance between school work and the actual expectations and requirements of employees in the workplace in Stanly County. Educators were given in depth tours, complete with question and answer opportunities, to several businesses/employers in the county. The remaining days were spent touring, learning, and exchanging information. Natasha Pender, Centralina WDB Program Associate, spoke to the group about the efforts of the Centralina WDB Youth Council in giving educators another option for engaging youth through workforce development. Eric Leazer, Southwest Regional Coordinator for the NC Department of Public Instruction, gave an eye-opening and passionate presentation on Career and Technical Education which drew from the State Superintendent Career Ready Commission’s report entitled A Crisis of Relevance. Participants toured eight county businesses in all. Employers unable to schedule facility tours were on hand for a “Speed Networking” session that allowed company representatives to share expectations and requirements of young workers hoping to gain employment at their places of business. Attendees were also given plenty of opportunity for discussion and networking before concluding on June 24 with a luncheon and presentation by the Stanly Economic Development Commission Executive Director Kevin Gullette. The Career Readiness Taskforce of Stanly County (Dr. Mike Taylor, Marion Kinley & Kathy Gardner of Stanly Community College; Tom Ramseur of the Chamber of Commerce; Dr. Samuel DePaul and Shannon Batchelor of Stanly County Schools; and David Hollars, Centralina WDB) was responsible for the planning and implementation of the event. Participating businesses providing plant tours were Power Stream Industries and United Protective Technologies (Locust); Avdel Acument and Eudy’s Cabinet Shop (Stanfield); New Finish Inc and Uwharrie Knits (Norwood); International Automotive Components and Stanly Regional Medical Center (Albemarle); Participating in the Speed Networking session were Stanly County Public Library, Storm Technologies, Michelin Tire, Stanly Community College, and First Bank. Funding for the CAFÉ program this summer was provided by the Centralina Workforce Development Board. For more information on the CAFÉ program or to find out how you can get involved, please contact Natasha Pender at (704) 348-2725 or by e-mail at npender@centralina.org.
|
On
June 22-24, 2010, approximately 20 educators from the 
The BICEPS Program informs teachers of the skills and knowledge that employers require when looking for employees. |
Centralina WDB and Partners Reaching Out to Youth
I-CARE, Inc. Honors 30 Individuals Who Achieved Success
I-CARE Inc. honored 30 individuals who have achieved success through the help of I-CARE's services.
The
organization's 45th annual meeting this month at the Statesville
Civic Center included recognition of individuals who earned
their GED, associate or bachelor's degrees or have children
in the Head Start program.
Others were recognized for tutoring, participating in the Workforce Investment Act (WIA), which offers low-income youth GED services, earning full-time employment or becoming self-sufficient. I Care, Inc. is the WIA Youth Services provider for the Centralina Workforce Development Board in Iredell and Lincoln counties.
Ronda Jones, 27, spoke to a crowd of clients and supporters about what led her to seek out I-CARE (Iredell County Action Research and Evaluation, Inc.) services, which ultimately resulted in her attaining an associate degree in fashion design.
"I-CARE encouraged me and helped me move forward in my journey of being self sufficient," she said.
Jones moved from Atlanta back to Iredell County in 2006 after becoming pregnant. She dropped out of school and was unemployed by the time she came to I-CARE for help.
She said she felt like nothing in her life was going right, but that all changed.
"I-CARE has done so much for me," she said. "Using the skills I learned through I-CARE, all my goals are reachable."
Marissa Jones, 20, also told of her successes due to the I-CARE program. She is a second grade mentor and works for the Success Helps All Kids Excel (SHAKE) program.
"I don't think I would have gotten this far if it wasn't for I-CARE," she said.
According to I-CARE Executive Director Bryan Duncan, the agency has served 185 families in the past year with Head Start child care services, employed 120 youths, and assisted 40 adults find employment through its JobsNOW program. Duncan said 14 families have been taken out of poverty situations.
"I stand here very proud," he said. "Words can't express the proudness I feel."
The Centralina Workforce Development Board and the Centralina Youth Council are proud to see one of their partners reaching out to students and connecting them with their dreams. Inspiring the future workforce to reach their goals will only lead to success for the region. For more information on this program or on the Centralina Youth Council, please contact Natasha Pender at (704) 348-2725 or by e-mail at npender@centralina.org.
New Logo, Same Great Mission
Communities in Schools Reveals New Logo
Communities
In Schools (CIS) has introduced a new logo to
better promote its work as a leader in dropout prevention.
"We are fortunate to be part of an organization with a strong staff at the national office, our state office, and our local 39 affiliates operating in 58 North Carolina counties," said Linda Harrill, president and CEO of Communities In Schools of North Carolina.
"Our new logo advances a message that is consistent with our work: it takes the collaborative efforts of the entire community to ensure that we provide all of our youth with the support they need to succeed in school."
The former logo featured "champ," a red stick figure, jumping up in the air, casting a shadow of a blue mortarboard.
The new logo still has champ, but he is outlined within a multi-colored schoolhouse, better capturing Communities In Schools and its mission to surround students with a community of support, empowering them to stay in school and achieve in life.
Communities In Schools of North Carolina is part of the national CIS group, the nation's leading dropout prevention organization.
Last school year, the CIS network in North Carolina worked with more than 100,000 youth and their families. For more information, please visit www.cisnc.org or call 1-800-849-8881.
In the Centralina WDB region, Cabarrus County, Lincoln County, and Rowan County have established Communities in Schools programs providing needing services.
For more information about the CIS programs or to volunteer – for Cabarrus County, contact Catherine Campbell, Executive Director at 704-788-1007 or ciscabco@vnet.net; for Rowan County, contact Vicky Slusser, Executive Director at 704-797-0210 or cisrowan@gmail.com or visit www.CISRowan.org; For Lincoln County, contact Billy Marsh, Executive Director at 704-736-0303 or cislinc@bellsouth.net.
School is IN for the Summer!
Student Scholars Join the NC Research Campus in Kannapolis
Six students from universities across the state arrived at the N.C. Research Campus over Memorial Day weekend.
The students are the first crop of Kannapolis Scholars at the campus; a life sciences complex in downtown Kannapolis founded by billionaire Dole Food Company chairman David Murdock.
The scholars will spend 10 weeks this summer working with renowned researchers in state-of-the-art labs. Each student is paired with mentors from at least two of the eight universities at the NC Research Campus.
Christine Bradish, an N.C. State University graduate student in horticultural science, will research phytochemical variation in North Carolina-grown raspberries. Ultimately, she hopes her research will boost the state's economy by developing a raspberry industry.
The
scholars program is a first-of-its-kind transdisciplinary
training program that brings postgraduate students to the
Research Campus to study food science, nutrition and human
health.
The campus is a perfect fit because of the diverse faculty and disciplines that come together at one site, according to Dr. Jack Odle, director of the Kannapolis Scholars program.
"We have the goal of training the scholars to become interactive scientists so they will not only study deeply in their chosen discipline, but they also will be expected to interact significantly with colleagues in allied disciplines," Odle, a professor of nutritional biochemistry at N.C. State University, said in a statement.
N.C. State directs the program, which is supported by a $1 million grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. At least 20 student scholars will come to the Research Campus in the next four years.
Other Kannapolis Scholars are Daniel Cooper, UNC-Chapel Hill, from La Jolla, Calif.; Krista Kennerly, Appalachian State University, from Asheville; Kyle Suttlemyre, UNC Charlotte, from Winston-Salem; Christa Watson, N.C. A&T State University, from Greensboro; and Kelly Will, UNC-Chapel Hill, from Arlington, Va.
"We want a good mix of students from various universities and disciplines," Odle said. "It's important that the diversity of the students match the diversity of the research programs present in Kannapolis."
This fall, the students will complete two academic semesters at their home campuses before returning for another 10-week summer stint at the Research Campus in 2011.
Scholars receive roughly $38,000 over the 15-month period for tuition, housing and other expenses.
"This is the best training a scientist of the future can possibly obtain," said Dr. Mary Ann Lila, director for the N.C. State Plants for Human Health Institute in Kannapolis and a scholar program mentor. "These scholars will be hot commodities in the world of industry and academia because they are able to take approaches to problem solving that are truly unprecedented."
For more information on the scholars program please contact Natasha Pender at (704) 348-2725 or by email at npender@centralina.org.
What's Happening in the Region?
Comings, Goings, Kudos…
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Kara
Brown has been hired as the Existing Business
Manager at the Lincoln Economic Development Association
(LEDA). She will devote her full attention to the retention
and expansion of existing industry in Lincoln County.
Dr.
John McKay, President of South Piedmont
Community College has announced that he will
retire from his position effective June 30, 2011. He’s
spent 45 years in academia and says he plans to spend
more time with his grandson, traveling and volunteering
during his retirement. 
Theresa
Reynolds has announced her resignation as the
Piedmont Triad Partnership’s senior
vice president and WIRED project manager.
She has just incorporated her own consulting firm called
SOAR, for Successful Options for Achieving Results, and
will be working for DCA of Boston to build and promote
literacy in North Carolina. 
David
J. McIlquham has been appointed as the interim
president at Pfeiffer University. He
is the former Sealy, Inc. CEO and has served as a trustee
for nearly two years. Also appointed was Bobby Stewart,
who will serve as the university’s interim chief
operating officer. 
The
Monroe Rotary Club has selected Jim Carpenter,
President of the Union County Chamber of Commerce
as its 2010 Distinguished Rotarian. The award is presented
each year to a Rotarian who has exemplified “Service
Above Self” in his/her daily life as a Rotarian
and a member of his/her community.
Cristina
Arlow, Executive Director of the Lincoln
County Literacy Council and President of
Translations Plus, died on Monday
June 21. Cristina, who also served on the Lincoln
County JobLink Management Team, was a tireless advocate
for lifelong learning for all citizens in Lincoln
County. She will be dearly missed by all.
• Centralina Workforce Development
Board meeting • Centralina WDB Youth Council Meeting • Centralina WDB JobLink Career Center
Managers Meeting • Rowan-Cabarrus Community College
– Biotechnology & Sustainability Summer Series • Energy Careers for a Bright Future • Centralina WDB Youth Services Summit • Identifying Your Career Options • Identifying Your Career Options • Stand Out from the Competition • Interview Techniques • It’s Not Who You Know It’s
Who You Meet! • Resume Clinic • Is It Time for More Training? • Healthcare Career Pathways • Resume Clinic • Identifying Your Career Options • Workforce Boot Camp • Looking for Work at 50+ • Letter Writing for the Jobseeker • Stand Out from the Competition • Identifying Your Career Options • Interview Techniques • Online Job Hunting • Resume Clinic • Is It Time for More Training? • It’s Not Who You Know It’s
Who You Meet! • Looking for Work with a Criminal
Record • Identifying Your Career Options • Healthcare Career Pathways • Resume Clinic
• In Survival Mode: Serving the “Hard
to Serve” • Leadership and Management Series
for NC Workforce Development • Serving Displaced Professionals
– The latest tools and techniques • Career Development Facilitator
Programs The North Carolina Workforce Development Training Center Training offers many great training sessions for every workforce development professional. The Center can even do online trainings for you and your colleagues. Some of the great training sessions include: Keeping Your Cool (When Others are HOT!), Assessment: The Foundation of Case Management, Delivering Excellent Customer Service, and Youth Services: A Variety of Topics. These are just some of the great training sessions they can put together for your team. So give them a call and see what they can do for you! Contact Robin Broome at (919) 306-1819 or visit their website for more information at www.ncwdtc.com. |
| Visit
our website at www.centralinaworks.com
to learn more about the Centralina WDB |
| To
learn more about the Centralina Council of Governments please visit
www.centralina.org |
| CentralinaWORKS is a publication of the Centralina Workforce Development Board. If you do not wish to receive this E-Newsletter in the future, please send a return e-mail and type "REMOVE" in the Subject Line and you will be removed from our distribution list. The CWDB does not share its distribution list with other organizations. Please feel free to share this E-Newsletter with co-workers and other business associates. |