The
summit agenda included twenty workshops and several keynote addresses
from business leaders, economists, and workforce and economic development
professionals. Dr. Helen Parker, Regional Administrator
for the U.S. Department of Labor and USDOL Assistant Secretary for
Employment & Training Jane Oates were among
those speaking during the event. 
Presenters
from the Centralina WDB region included a workshop on We Don’t
Have Integrated Funding, So Why Do I Have to Know About Business
Engagement? presented by David Hollars, Executive Director
for the Centralina Workforce Development Board and Vail Carter,
Centralina WDB Business Services Coordinator. Dr.
Yi Deng, Dean of Computing and Informatics at UNC-Charlotte
also held a workshop on the Skills Mismatch in the Modern Economy.
Ronnie Bryant, President and CEO of the Charlotte
Regional Partnership wrapped up the summit with an inspiring closing
session titled Meeting the Needs of Today’s Expanding
Industries to Maintain a Competitive Position. 
On
Tuesday November 8, 2011, the BB&T participated in the Rowan County JobLink Career Center Job Fair. |
Cross Country Truck Driving School was just one of many attendees at the Rowan County Job Fair. |
Photo above article: The Rowan JobLink Career Center participated in Wear Pink day to raise awareness for breast cancer. |
Economic Outlook Summit is a Success!
Stanly County Chamber of Commerce Hosts 3rd Annual Economic Outlook Summit
The
Stanly County Chamber
of Commerce hosted its third annual Economic
Outlook Summit on Friday November 18, 2011 at the Stanly
County Agri-Civic Center in Albemarle.
North Carolina Secretary of Commerce Keith Crisco, a Stanly County native, delivered the keynote address. Crisco began his speech by sharing stories about friends and family from Stanly County. “I do cherish and treasure my heritage with Stanly County,” he said.
According to Crisco, the North Carolina economy is doing fairly well, but fairly well is not acceptable. “That's okay, but it's not good enough. Unemployment is too high,” he said.
The secret to improved economic development, Crisco said, is collaboration.
“If economic development was an Olympic sport, it would be a team sport. It's all about relationships,” he said.
North Carolina businesses should learn to innovate, create and adapt, Crisco said.
He
named green energy and aerospace technology as industries that could
take root in North Carolina and reminded the gathering of professionals,
elected leaders and nonprofit leaders that North Carolina is still
the sixth leading state in the nation in manufacturing.
Crisco also touched on the issue of ALCOA and water rights. “No issues are more complicated than this issue in front of Stanly County about ALCOA and relicensing,” Crisco said. He shared two pieces of advice with the audience. First, he encouraged leaders to look to the future. “When these decisions are made, look at your grandchildren. These are the types of long-term decisions that will affect them,” Crisco said. He also said that this issue should prevent unity in the county.
“We can't let one issue divide us. Unity and certainty must be our operating procedure,” Crisco said. “There will be many opportunities. We can't let one issue take our eyes off all of them.”
Crisco also encouraged leaders to be involved and to take advantage of opportunities.
“People who show up and are involved know about the projects. There's no substitute for showing up and being involved,” he said.
According to Crisco, the key to economic success is a well-trained, well-educated workforce. “Our workforce is our brand. We can't afford to be average. We must be better,” he said.
Summit Moderator Dr. Russ Sharples, Vice-President of Student development at Pfeiffer University, invited audience members to ask Crisco questions after his address.
Barbara Whitley, of the Stanly County Partnership for Children, asked Crisco his opinion on the importance of early childhood education.
According to Crisco, much of his academic success was due to his aunt, who helped instruct him before he entered school. “There is no substitute for early childhood education,” Crisco said.
Another audience member asked about the ALCOA issue and how people could use the Summit to reduce divisiveness concerning the issue. “Everyone needs to look inside themselves and say, 'This is one issue,'” Crisco said. “You've got to get it in perspective. It's a significant issue, but it's just one issue.”
The next question concerned the role of small businesses in the economy. According to Crisco, North Carolina could improve early stage financing for small businesses.
“We're doing more than we've ever done in North Carolina, and we've got to do more,” he said.
Stanly
County Economic Development Commission Director Paul
Stratos spoke next, sharing facts and statistics about
the economy nationwide, statewide and in Stanly County. According
to Stratos, a location close to Charlotte and local railroad systems
are assets Stanly County can use to attract businesses and industry.
Energy production could also be a future asset to the county, Stratos said. “We have opportunities in the energy sector,” he said. “There's been tremendous growth in this sector.”
After Stratos' speech, Sharples again invited questions from the audience.
Roger Dick, of Uwharrie Capital Corp, addressed Stratos' comments about energy, stating that one of Stanly County's best resources for producing cheap energy is the river. “We need to have civil discussion about the river and who owns the water,” Dick said. “Businesses come and go, but if you've got energy, you can guarantee jobs. In a friendly way, in a civil way, let's work together to get our water back.”
Next, N.C. Cooperative Extension Service County Extension Director Lori Ivey talked about Stanly County's agricultural resources. “A business that is doing well in this economy is agriculture and agri-business,” Ivey said. “There are around 700 farms in Stanly County.” Cotton, corn, wheat, soy beans and livestock are some of the county's assets, she said. “Stanly County has the largest feeder calf sales in the United States,” Ivey said.
She spoke about various agricultural projects going on in the area, including a food hub, incubator farms and the 10 Percent Campaign, in which consumers or businesses pledge to spend 10 percent of their food dollars on local foods.
After
Ivey's presentation, Wells
Fargo Economist Tim Quinlan gave a
presentation and Centralina
Workforce Development Board Executive Director David
Hollars, Stanly
Community College President Dr. Brenda Kays,
and Pfeiffer University
President Mike Miller served as a panel discussing
Stanly County's workforce.
According to Chamber President and Centralina Workforce Development Board member Tom Ramseur, the event was a success.
“I was very pleased with everything about the summit today. We had excellent presenters and speakers,” Ramseur said. “Our goal is to give some hope, if possible, or at least some predictions to our chamber members and community about what lies ahead.”
The Chamber is a good vehicle for fair discussion of economic issues, Ramseur said.
“Because we are viewed as a business organization, non-partisan and not political, we can bring people together,” he said. “The Chamber can bring people together to at least have dialogue for the good of Stanly County. Everyone in that room wants what's best for Stanly County.”
The Centralina Workforce Development Board is a strong partner with the Stanly County Chamber of Commerce and congratulates them on another successful year for the economic outlook summit! For more information on the Summit or on the Centralina Workforce Development Board, please contact David Hollars at (704) 348-2717 or by email at dhollars@centralina.org.
Workforce Investment Works Wins!
National Association of Workforce Boards and Full Capacity Marketing Initiative Wins 2011 Davey Award
The Workforce Investment Works (WIW) campaign was selected for the 2011 Davey Awards, judged annually by the International Academy of the Visual Arts (IAVA).
The project was a collaborative initiative between Full Capacity Marketing, Inc. (FCM) and the National Association of Workforce Boards (NAWB) – a nonprofit membership-based organization representing business-led Workforce Investment Boards (WIB) that plan and oversee workforce development and job training programs through Workforce Investment Act (WIA) funding.
With nearly 4,000 entries from across the US and around the world, the Davey Awards honors the finest creative work from the best small firms, agencies and companies worldwide.
“We were truly amazed and excited at the overall caliber and quality of this year’s pool of entries,” said Linda Day, executive director of the IAVA. Day added, “The Davey Awards serves as the benchmark for recognizing creative excellence and continues to raise the bar in honoring the best work from small agencies and firms worldwide.”
The WIW campaign was developed in the fall of 2010 and launched in January 2011 to target policy makers across the county.
FCM President/CEO Celina Shands Gradijan said, “The concept of the campaign was to create a storytelling website to help America understand the value proposition of WIA funded programs and services; to generate support of WIA funding through social media; and to build the capacity of the workforce investment system stakeholders to utilize consistent messages with their local elected officials and the news media to bring awareness around the repercussions of cutting WIA funding.”
The WIW campaign was awarded the Davey in the integrated campaign category. “We couldn’t be more thrilled,” said NAWB President/CEO Ron Painter. “It was critical for our system to have an effective communication medium that mobilized the 550+ Workforce Investment Boards from across the country to showcase their impressive success stories and innovations.”
The Centralina Workforce Development Board would like to congratulate everyone involved in receiving this wonderful award. The Centralina Workforce Development Board is longtime partner and collaborator with Full Capacity Marketing and is one of the many Boards who are members of the National Association of Workforce Boards. For more information about the campaign, go to www.workforceinvestmentworks.com; for more information on the Centralina Workforce Development Board, please contact David Hollars at (704) 348-2717 or by email at dhollars@centralina.org.
Innovation Recognized in the Region
City of Kannapolis and NC Research Campus Receive 2011 Innovative Small Business Community Award
The City of Kannapolis and the North Carolina Research Campus have received the 2011 Innovative Small Business Community Award from NC Governor Bev Perdue.
Kannapolis is one of nine North Carolina communities being recognized in the award’s inaugural year. The Governor’s Award recognizes projects, strategies and initiatives that reflect excellence in community economic development, small business and entrepreneurship, and sustainability in North Carolina.
Communities were selected based on their creative solutions to improve quality of life and well-being through job creation and job sustaining activities. City of Kannapolis mayor Robert Misenheimer said the partnership between the city and the North Carolina Research Campus is essential to future growth.
The City of Kannapolis was specifically recognized for the redevelopment of the former Fieldcrest Cannon and Pillowtex industrial complex into a bioscience research campus and for the public-private partnerships formed to support development of the North Carolina Research Campus.
Communities selected to receive the Governor’s Award were recognized at an awards ceremony at the Executive Mansion in Raleigh on Monday November 14, 2011.
The Centralina Workforce Development Board is a proud partner with
both the City of Kannapolis and the North Carolina Research Campus.
The Board congratulates them on this well deserved award and recognition.
For more information on this award or on the Centralina Workforce
Development Board, please contact Emily Clamp at (704) 348-2732
or by e-mail at eclamp@centralina.org.
Cabarrus County's new manager, Mike Downs, and Kannapolis City Manager Mike Legg, led the contingent of local officials to the executive mansion in Raleigh. |
Future Workforce = Greenforce
Stanly Community College Receives Innovation Grant
Stanly
Community College (SCC) has been recognized as a recipient
of a Greenforce
Initiative Innovation mini-grant. These grant funds
will go to support SCC’s Project Reach Up –Green Up,
which will allow students enrolled in the high school completion
program to also study and prepare for a national Building Analyst
certification from the Building Performance Institute (BPI). Thanks
to the mini-grant, students will be provided with the resources,
training and testing opportunities free of charge.
SCC is one of only five community colleges in North Carolina to receive a Greenforce Innovation Grant.
The National Wildlife Federation (NWF) and Jobs for the Future (JFF) have joined forces on a two-year project, started in 2010, to spur innovation in the role of community colleges in the coming green-jobs revolution.
With support from the Bank of America Charitable Foundation and CS Mott Foundation, The Greenforce Initiative is strengthening green career pathways leading to postsecondary credentials and family sustaining careers; increasing access and success for lower-skilled adults; and using campus greening or sustainability efforts as learning laboratories for education and training.
Building on the combined experience of NWF and JFF in environmental sustainability and workforce development, respectively, this commitment provides assistance to community colleges in six regions: Metro Chicago, Michigan, North Carolina, Northern Virginia, Seattle, and South Texas. The initiative has hosted seven summits in five states across the country, engaging more than 700 community college faculty, staff and administrators.
“We face a major challenge to retool and rebuild our workforce and meet the challenges of the future clean energy economy," said Lisa Madry, Campus Field Director for the National Wildlife Federation. "The Greenforce Initiative will help accelerate America's ability to tackle the climate crisis while creating economic opportunities and pathways out of poverty."
Community colleges are increasingly called upon to both prepare graduates with the 21st century skills needed in a greener economy while also protecting community health and sustainability. "Post-secondary credentials are increasingly required for careers that pay family-sustaining wages," said Gloria Mwase, Program Director with Jobs for the Future. "While the labor demand in key "green" sectors offer job growth opportunities in many communities, it is critical that we ensure that under-prepared adults can access and succeed in these careers."
“We are using the grants funds to provide needed resources to make our Energy Auditor program stronger. Our students will have the opportunity to enter the workforce with a national credential making them highly employable in the competitive energy market,” noted Kathy Gardner, Dean of Continuing Education at SCC.
The
NC Sustainable Energy Association
(NCSEA) estimates that within North Carolina, there are 12,500 full-time
equivalent jobs in over 1,000 firms in industries related to renewable
energy and energy efficiency, representing a 22 percent increase
from the previous year. According to NCSEA's 2011 Clean Energy Databook,
the Charlotte region ranks first in North Carolina for residential
energy efficiency potential, with more than 250,000 homes in the
region built prior to 1970.
Since its formation in 1936, National Wildlife Federation has worked with affiliates across the country to inspire Americans to protect wildlife for future generations. NWF seeks to engage and educate its 4 million members, partners and supporters with a focus on restoring habitat, confronting global warming and connecting people with nature. To learn more about NWF’s environmental higher education programs, visit the Campus Ecology www.campusecology.org and Greenforce Initiative www.greenforceinitiative.org pages.
Jobs for the Future develops, implements, and promotes new education and workforce strategies that help communities, states, and the nation compete in a global economy. In more than 200 communities across 43 states, JFF improves the pathways leading from high school to college to family-sustaining careers.
The Centralina Workforce Development Board is a proud partner with Stanly Community College and congratulates them on receiving this wonderful grant! The Board looks forward to seeing all the great outcomes that will follow! For more information on this grant, please feel free to contact Carly Queen at the National Wildlife Federation at (678) 436-5083 or Kathy Gardner at Stanly Community College at (704) 982-0278. For more information on the Centralina Workforce Development Board, please contact David Hollars at (704) 348-2717 or by e-mail at dhollars@centralina.org.
Resource Alert!
NC State Industrial Extension Service Move Business Services to Kannapolis
On
Friday October 21, 2011 the NC
State University Industrial Extension Service (IES)
held an open house at their new location in Kannapolis. The new
IES regional office will serve the greater Charlotte area. The offices
are located at 105 West Avenue Kannapolis in the Cannon Village
section of downtown, adjacent to the North Carolina Research Campus.
The open house was well attended by partners from around the region, including David Hollars, Executive Director of the Centralina Workforce Development Board and John Cox, President and CEO of the Cabarrus Chamber of Commerce.
The event was held from 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM and featured some refreshments from local Kannapolis vendors. Attendees were also treated to a presentation on how the NC State Industrial Extension Services plan to strengthen the economy and continue to support manufacturers and businesses in the region.
The Centralina Workforce Development Board has always been a strong
partner with NC State’s Industrial Extension Service and welcomes
this new regional facility. For more information on the IES open
house, their businesses services available, or on the Centralina
Workforce Development Board, please contact David Hollars at (704)
348-2717 or by e-mail at dhollars@centralina.org.
NC State University Industrial Extension Service held an open house for their new location in Kannapolis. |
|
|
Attention
Local Businesses this is Your Last Chance to Make Your
Voice Heard!
Pregel
America,
“This
is a very exciting time for us,” Marco Casol,
CEO of Pregel, said in a statement. 
Lincoln
Economic Development Association
The
survey asked, “Based upon your experience, what are
the top 10 state business climates, taking into consideration
such factors as lack of red tape, financial assistance and
government officials’ cooperation?”
According
to the ordinance, $54,810 will be set aside for professional
services and $70,190 will be used for equipment. The contract
with ILS Technical Services, Inc. of Pink Hill, for the installation
of the AWOS and ILS systems, was then approved by the county
commissioners. The contracted amount to be paid by the county
to ILS Technical Services is not to exceed $26,340.
The
When
the story in Lincolnton aired on Rock Center, it also featured
local businessman Bo King. His family has
owned 
Lincolnton
Furniture is still hiring for open positions through the 
| October
2011 (Source: NC Employment Security Commission) |
||
| County | Unemployment
Rate |
Persons
Employed |
| Anson | 12.2% |
8,551 |
| Cabarrus | 9.5% |
75,097 |
| Iredell | 10.1% |
71,917 |
| Lincoln | 10.6% |
33,678 |
| Rowan | 10.7% |
61,257 |
| Stanly | 10.4% |
26,781 |
| Union | 9.0% |
85,336 |
| Centralina WDB Region | 10.0% |
362,617 |
| State of NC | 9.7% |
4,070,801 |
For more information on employment, click here
We Appreciate Our Employers!
Centralina WDB, JobLink Career Centers, and Vocational Rehabilitation Services Hold Employer Appreciation Days
The month of October was one of celebration and recognition. The Centralina Workforce Development Board (WDB), in partnership the Vocational Rehabilitation Services offices in Stanly and Union counties, and the Stanly and Union JobLink Career Centers held Employer Appreciation events in the month of October to recognize all businesses and to honor local employers that hire workers with disabilities.
On Wednesday October 26, 2011 the Centralina WDB, Stanly County JobLink Career Center and Vocational Rehabilitation Services showed their appreciation for local employees with a special event. The Employers Appreciation Day event took place in the Groves Building on North Second Street in Albemarle and kicked off with a welcome from David Hollars, Executive Director of the Centralina Workforce Development Board.
“We are proud to be partners with all of the great businesses you will hear from today,” Hollars said.
Speakers included Stanly Community College President Dr. Brenda Kays, Pfeiffer University Vice President of Student Affairs Dr. Russ Sharples, Stanly County Manager Andy Lucas, Stanly County Economic Development Commission Director Paul Stratos, Patrick McKemie of the Division of Employment Security, Employment Security Regional Tax Manager P.D. Atkins, and Stanly County Chamber of Commerce President and Centralina Workforce Development Board member Tom Ramseur.
Green Pieces Recycling was presented with the Employer of the Year award at this successful event!
Employers in Union County were also honored by the Centralina WDB, Vocational Rehabilitation, and the Union County JobLink Career Center. On Thursday October 27, 2011, the 4th annual Union County Employer Appreciation event was held at Bibi Restaurant in downtown Monroe. Local businesses from Union County participated in the event, and Defender Services received the Employer of the Year award.
Over 50 employers were in attendance at the meeting. The guest speakers included City of Monroe Mayor Bobby Kilgore, Dr. Lori Cauthen, Exceptional Children Director with Union County Schools, and Joseph Dismuke with the Union County JobLink Career Center and Employment Security.
The Centralina Workforce Board is a strong partner with the Stanly County JobLink Career Center, the Union County JobLink Career Center and Vocational Rehabilitation Services. The Board congratulates them for another successful year with their Employer Appreciation events! For more information on these two events or on the Centralina Workforce Development Board, please contact Emily Clamp at (704) 348-2732 or by e-mail at eclamp@centralina.org.
Lynn Crenshaw, left, and Mary Walls of Vocational Rehabilitation present Steve Megson of Green Pieces Recycling with the Employer of the Year award. |
The Centralina Workforce Development Board is in YOUR Community!
During the month of November 2011, 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 Stanly County Economic Outlook Summit, the Cabarrus Chamber YES conference, and the USDOL Business Services Summit detailed in this e-newsletter, here are some the activities of the Board members and WDB staff for November.
Charlotte Regional Workforce Development Partnership meeting – held on Wednesday November 16 at South Piedmont Community College in Monroe. Vail Carter, Centralina WDB Business Services Coordinator participated in this meeting where over 30 community college and workforce professionals from throughout the region attended. On behalf of the Competitive Workforce Alliance, Vail presented an update on the 2010 Skills Survey of North Carolina employers.
North Carolina Association of Workforce Boards – Communications Committee meeting – held on Tuesday November 15 in Raleigh. Centralina WDB Executive Director David Hollars participated in this meeting with Winnow Communications on refinement of NCAWDB website and marketing products.
Re-Employment Bridge Institute – Community Based training sessions – held on Wednesday November 16 in Rocky Mount. Centralina WDB Executive Director David Hollars along with RBI and Rowan-Cabarrus CC staff participated in this all day session to help workforce leaders in the Turning Point Workforce Development Board area learn new techniques in serving the dislocated worker. Over 50 individuals participated in this session.
Charlotte Regional Partnership Existing Industry Directors quarterly meeting – held on Friday November 18 at CRP offices in Charlotte. Vail Carter, Centralina WDB Business Services Coordinator participated in this meeting with existing industry staff from area economic development agencies. The meeting focus was on apprenticeships. Vail discussed training needs of business and opportunities for apprenticeship programs for North and South Carolina. He updated the group on the Siemens Job Portal, the 2012 Skills Survey for NC employers, and participation in the E3 project
Grant Planning meeting with Gaston College – Lincoln campus officials – held on Tuesday November 22 at Gaston College-Lincoln campus in Lincolnton. Centralina WDB Executive Director David Hollars met with Dr. John McHugh, Lincoln Campus dean and Peter Szanton, Gaston College Director of Grants and Special Projects regarding entrepreneurial courses for Lincoln County.
NC Workforce Development Leadership Academy – Learning Network Exchange – held November 29-30 in Charlotte. Centralina WDB Executive Director David Hollars and Youth Program Specialist Natasha Pender participated in this professional development session
Talent & Skills Needed for the Current & Future Workforce: A Knowledge Workforce Conversation – held on Tuesday November 29 at Wells Fargo Auditorium at Knight Theater in Charlotte. Centralina WDB Executive Director David Hollars participated in this event sponsored by Business Innovation & Growth Council (BIG) and the NC Technology Association (NCTA).
Workforce Investment Act (WIA) contract monitoring – Centralina WDB Operations Manager Patricia White and WDB Accountability Specialist Michelle McNulty conducted programmatic monitoring of the Centralina WDB service providers for WIA activities in the following counties:
- Tuesday November 1 – I Care, Inc. - Iredell County (Youth)
- Wednesday November 2 – I Care, Inc. - Lincoln County (Youth)
- Tuesday November 8 – Union County Community Action – Anson County (Youth)
- Wednesday November 9 – Union County Community Action - Union County (Youth)
- Monday November 14 – Resource Development Center – Stanly County (Youth)
- Monday November 28 – Union County Community Action – Union County (Adult)
- Tuesday November 29 - Employment Security – Cabarrus County (Adult & Dislocated Worker)
- Wednesday November 30 – Employment Security – Iredell County (Adult & Dislocated Worker)
WorkforcePlus Training sessions – held on Thursday November 17 at Mitchell Community College in Statesville. Centralina WDB Operations Manager Patricia White and WDB Accountability Specialist Michelle McNulty conducted the training for the state MIS system for data entry for WIA programs.
Workforce Business Development and Assistance – provided by Vail Carter, Centralina WDB Business Services Representative for the following area companies and organizations:
- Conducted final monitoring of the Incumbent Workforce Development
Program training contract with QEMS in Monroe (Union County).
Met with company management and employees to gain insight on training
completed and tour their expanded facility – November 3.
- Business development session with Rodney Smith, VP of Technical
Services at Computer IT Solutions in Indian Trail (Union County)
to discuss services offered and training needs – November
16.
- Participated in meeting of the Centralina WDB Youth Council
held at the Boys and Girls Club in Concord. Discussed ideas for
serving businesses who hire ex-offenders – November 17.
- Business development session held with management and proposed training providers at the headquarters of Piedmont Healthcare in Statesville (Iredell County) to discuss employee training needs and services provided by the Centralina Workforce Development Board - November 22.
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.
READ SIMILAR NEWS
Celebrating 20 Years of Education in Cabarrus County
Rowan-Cabarrus Community College Celebrates its First Two Decades of Cabarrus Facilities
It
was “raining buckets” the day Cabarrus County residents
headed to the polls to cast their vote for the bond referendum to
fund Rowan-Cabarrus Community
College’s (RCCC) South Campus in Concord more
than two decades ago.
“There was some anxiety that day because we felt our presence at the polls was going to help us, but fortunately for us the people in support of the college got out and voted that day,” Jeanie Moore, the college’s vice president of advancement and corporate education, said.
Moore said then-president Dr. Dick Brownell was a “valiant” champion for the college’s expansion into Cabarrus County. “He was determined that we were going to be a pivotal part of Cabarrus County as the first multi-campus institution in the state,” she said.
Moore was part of a team that moved into two former school buildings in the county and began offering classes before the bond referendum even made it on the ballot.
“We really wanted to see if there was enough interest from the community for the center to be successful,” she said. “Those classes filled up quickly so that gave us the data we needed to support the bond.”
While campaigning for the bond, Moore said she got to know the residents and leaders in Cabarrus County.
Moore said the college anticipated it would take about five years to fill the South Campus’ first building to capacity, but that actually happened within two years.
“Cabarrus County has been a very integral part of our growth and a very important partner in our success,” she said.
20th Anniversary Celebration
The college hosted a 20th anniversary celebration at the South Campus
in Concord on Friday October 21, 2011. Centralina WDB Executive
Director David Hollars participated in the festivities.
Members of the advisory board that helped shape project were hand to share their memories of the process. And college officials shared their vision of the future.
“Any
kind of anniversary is a time to both look to the past and look
to the future,” RCCC President Dr. Carol Spalding
said. “We are marking the 20th anniversary of the South Campus
with a celebrating of the people who helped start the campus and
updating them on how much the college has invested in the county.”
Spalding said with much of the focus throughout the past year being on the bond and the opening of Building 400 in Salisbury, she wants to shift some focus back to Concord.
“We want the people of Cabarrus County to know that our commitment is strong,” she said. “So we are celebrating what we have done and we making commitments for what we are doing in the future.”
The college is currently in the process of creating a master plan for the South Campus.
“We are thinking about building a fourth and fifth building on the 24 acres we have, but we don’t know when that will happen,” Spalding said. “We’ve got some space needs that we are trying to address.”
Spalding said part of dealing with those space needs led the college to move its nursing programs to the biotechnology building on the North Carolina Research Campus. Basic law enforcement training classes will be housed on the seventh floor of the Cabarrus County Sheriff’s Administration Building next year.
Paula Dibley, the college’s public information officer, said about 10,000 students a year use the South Campus. When the campus opened in 1991, it had about 700 students.
“We’ve been splitting at the seams for a long time,” she said.
Rowan-Cabarrus CC - Leading the Way
Scott Ralls, president of the North
Carolina Community College System, said the opening
of the South Campus’ building 1000 in 1991 made Rowan-Cabarrus
a model for the multi-campus system which has grown to 19 other
community colleges.
“Most college students today are nontraditional in the sense that they are more likely to take break after high school, more likely to have families,” he said. “It’s particularly important as a community college for us to be able to reach people where they are, that has always been a philosophy of the system.
“I think the multi-campus model is part of how you make that philosophy a reality.”
Ralls said the people of Cabarrus County should be proud its leaders had the foresight to endorse a multi-campus system.
“We didn’t know we were pioneers, we know that now,” Moore said. “We read the tea leaves right.”
The Centralina Workforce Development Board is a proud partner with Rowan-Cabarrus Community College. We congratulate them on their anniversary! For more information on the Centralina Workforce Development Board or on Rowan-Cabarrus Community College, please contact Emily Clamp at (704) 348-2732 or by e-mail at eclamp@centralina.org.
NC Community College System President Scott Ralls speaks at South Campus 20th Anniversary. |
President Spalding and Board Chair Short plant a sugar maple on South Campus to launch an edible landscaping initiative with Cabarrus County at the 20th anniversary of South Campus. |
A Rear Window into Reality for a New Career
South Piedmont Community College Opens their Ambulance Simulator
“How’d you get that in here?”
That
is the reaction of many people when they see what looks like an
ambulance parked in the middle of a classroom on South
Piedmont Community College’s (SPCC) Old Charlotte
Highway Campus, said Dennis Baucom, SPCC’s
director of Vocational Trades.
No detail was spared in creating an ambulance simulator for SPCC’S EMS students. The inside is actually an ambulance that was stripped apart and rebuilt inside the classroom.
“We’ve put everything in here an ambulance would have – oxygen, a vacuum pump system,” Baucom said.
“It actually gives them the look of a real ambulance to practice in prior to going to clinical,” said SPCC Emergency Medical Services Coordinator Robby Smith. “Another benefit is they’re learning to work within their space restraints. Paramedic students are used to working with large tables to put in IVs. There are actually documented studies that show when you put students in the environment, with pictures and noises, it will increase their adrenaline and cause stress.”
The simulator has that, with a 23-minute looping video, complete with siren blaring, on a screen where the cab would be that gives the impression the ambulance is traveling down the road.
There is also a camera mounted in the ambulance that allows students in an adjacent classroom to watch, on a monitor, what’s going on. Jackson, SPCC’s high-fidelity training mannequin, is on a stretcher in the ambulance. A computer connected to Jackson allows Smith to create scenarios and have the students respond accordingly, or a two-way radio allows Smith to pretend he is at the hospital, giving instructions to the paramedic students as they are en route.
The simulator also allows for better training in what might seem like simple tasks – like lifting a stretcher into the ambulance with a body on it.
The ambulance came from First Class Emergency Vehicles in Charlotte that had been sitting around for 5 years. Over a period of seven to eight weeks they stripped the ambulance down and rebuilt it in the classroom.
Future plans include taking three offices around the corner from the simulator and converting them into a simulated living room, bedroom and bathroom. Once those renovations are complete, EMS students will have to pick up “patients” in the type of environment where they might find them, put them on the stretcher, wheel them to the ambulance and load them up.
The Centralina Workforce Development Board is a longtime partner with South Piedmont Community College and congratulates them on this wonderful edition to their educational tools! The Board is happy to see its partners helping to keep the workforce in the Centralina WDB region the best in the state. For more information on this ambulance simulator or on the Centralina Workforce Development Board, please contact Emily Clamp at (704) 348-2732 or by e-mail at eclamp@centralina.org.
Dennis Baucom stands outside the ambulance simulator. |
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Robby Smith sits inside with Jackson, the high-fidelity training mannequin. |
NC Research Campus Update
Find Out What’s the Latest with this World Renowned Biotech Development
NC Research Campus Expert Lands Grant for Fetal Alcohol
Syndrome
Dr. Philip May, an expert in fetal alcohol syndrome disorders, has
earned the largest grant ever awarded to a UNC Nutrition Research
Institute scientist at the N.C. Research Campus.
May won an $8.9 million grant to examine the prevalence and characteristics of fetal alcohol syndrome disorders in the United States.
The grant was awarded from the National Institute of Health’s National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. The funds will support May’s research on individual nutrient risk factors related to alcoholism during pregnancy.
May’s grant and research project shows how science at the Research Campus in Kannapolis can serve as an economic engine for the state, according to a press release.
Professors and their research efforts attract external funding, which results in jobs. Landing a large grant means hiring everyone from lab technicians to housekeepers.
Grant administration means spending money locally on supplies, lab equipment and research materials, further stimulating the local economy, the Nutrition Research Institute said.
“In this tight economic environment, Dr. May’s grant is very important, because it creates jobs, enhancing the campus’ ability to be an economic driver for North Carolina,” said Dr. Steven Zeisel, director for the Nutrition Research Institute.
“But the impact is not just monetary,” Zeisel said. “Dr. May’s reputation and work add prestige and credibility to the North Carolina Research Campus.”
NC Research Campus Operation Wins Gates Grant
N.C. State University’s Plants for Human Health Institute
in Kannapolis has been awarded $100,000 from Grand Challenges Explorations,
an initiative created by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
Mary Ann Lila, director of plant institute, will conduct a global-health research project focused on improving nutrition through functional-food ingredients, which can be incorporated into products.
The plant institute is part of the N.C. Research Campus, a 350-acre life-sciences hub focused on health, nutrition and agriculture.
Lila’s project is one of 110 Grand Challenges Explorations grants announced this month. Projects that receive funding show promise in tackling high-priority global health issues where solutions do not yet exist.
“We believe in the power of innovation — that a single bold idea can pioneer solutions to our greatest health and development challenges,” says Chris Wilson, director of global health discovery for Gates Foundation.
Please stay tuned to the Centralina Workforce Development Board’s monthly E-Newsletter for more developments on this exciting story. 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.
How Can I Help You?Centralina WDB Youth Council Meeting Focuses on LeadershipThe Centralina Youth Council met on Thursday November 17, 2011 at the Boys and Girls Club in Concord. The featured speaker was Mr. Aaron Sandifer a senior at Hickory Ridge High School in Harrisburg (Cabarrus County). Aaron is also the President of the FBLA (Future Business Leaders of America) chapter at his high school. His topic was Leadership. Aaron spoke about the importance of being a good leader; learning from mistakes; and taking advantage of learning and development opportunities. Aside from the regular business of the day, Youth Council members and guests were grouped into three teams. Youth Council members and select guests formed one group in which they set goals for the Youth Council for 2012 and looked at the role that the Youth Council needs to take moving forward. Young adults were grouped together and they discussed setting personal goals and what they expected to get from the programs that they are involved in. The final group was made up of Workforce Investment Act service providers and select guests based on survey results that identified serving offenders as particularly challenging. This group received a presentation from Employment Security Re-Entry Specialist Wendi Bowen. She offered helpful tips on serving youthful offenders. Each team met for a short period of time and then they provided reports to the entire group. Natasha Pender, Youth Program Specialist for the Centralina Workforce Development Board asked that as each group reported out, that members and guests keep one thing in mind: How can I help you? Youth Council members identified several goals for 2012: • Entrepreneurship Education • Focus on Career Readiness/Certifications and Employability Skills (how to get a job and KEEP it!) • Improved Marketing of Youth Council and Workforce Investment Act programs through “Strategic Networking” • Continued support of the North Carolina Youth Summit and Centralina WDB Youth Summit Collaboration and strong partnerships are important to the Centralina Youth Council. The mission of the Youth Council is to provide youth, jointly with their family/caretakers, opportunities for future success. Each meeting is open to the public although pre-registration is required. The next meeting will take place on Thursday, February 16 2012 at the Boys & Girls Club and will feature the NC Rural Center and the agenda will pertain to Entrepreneurship Education. If you are interested in collaborating with the Youth Council and/or learning more about who we are and what we do, please contact Natasha Pender at 704-348-2725 or npender@centralina.org. Remember, Teamwork Makes the Dream Work!
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The
National Association of Workforce Development Professionals,
Inc. (NAWDP) is a professional association for individuals
working in employment and training and related workforce development
programs. It is dedicated to enhancing the professionalism
of the field and developing the professional skills of practitioners.
Their website is Natasha Pender, youth program specialist with the Centralina Workforce Development Board presented a workshop at the National Association of Workforce Development Professionals about Making Connections: Success in Innovative Partnerships. |
Cabarrus Chamber of Commerce and Partners Hold Annual Youth Employability Skills Conference
The
Cabarrus
Regional Chamber of Commerce presented the Y.E.S.
(Youth Employability Skills) Conference on Friday, November
18, 2011 at Cabarrus
Family Medicine in Concord, NC.
Nearly 100 junior and senior students from the Cabarrus County and Kannapolis City School systems accompanied by their Career Technical Education counselors were in attendance for the morning of presentations by Chamber member business owners and supervisors. The conference focused on identifying the soft skills that anyone looking for a job in this economy needs to utilize to get those jobs.
Cornelia Kerr with the Cabarrus Regional Chamber of Commerce talked about the importance of having a good attitude. Jason Huddle, editor and publisher of Cabarrus Business magazine, reiterated the importance of maintaining a good attitude just as Cornelia Kerr had done. Both presenters emphasized the importance of being aware of who might be paying attention to their behavior.
Kristi Parlier, Career Tech Education Counselor at A.L. Brown High School, presented a video prepared by the Cabarrus County JobLink Career Center and Kannapolis City Schools entitled, “Dress for Success”. The video was produced as part of an effort to help students experience an actual interview and reactions that interviewers may have to the way a person presents themselves to a potential employer.
Sandra Benfield, with Carolinas Medical Center-NorthEast, spoke with the audience about attitude in the workplace; how to not only get the job, but how to keep the job! The final speaker of the day was Lenny Stallings of Capstone Climbing and Adventures. Mr. Stallings spoke about dealing with conflict.
The Y.E.S. Conference is a joint effort between the Chamber,
the business community and the school systems and was first
implemented over 10 years ago as a technique to allow the
business community to have input into the curriculum being
taught in schools. Through this effort, the business leaders
have tried to help explain and emphasize the “soft skills”
which they see as very important to the success of their future
employees.
The sponsors for this event were Centralina Workforce
Development Board, Cabarrus Family Medicine, Embassy Suites,
Duke Energy, Sun Drop, Rowan- Cabarrus Community College,
BJ’s Wholesale Club, ACN, and the Kannapolis
Intimidators.
The Centralina Workforce Development Board and the Centralina
WDB Youth Council are proud partners with all of the wonderful
organizations that participated in this great event. The Board
and the Council are proud to see partners coming up with innovative
ways to stay on the cutting edge for our youth, our future
workforce. For more information on the Y.E.S. Conference or
on the Centralina Youth Council, please contact Natasha Pender
at (704) 348-2725 or by e-mail at npender@centralina.org.
Cornelia Kerr, Cabarrus Regional Chamber of Commerce and Sandra Benfield, CMC-NorthEast take a quick picture together at the Y.E.S. Conference. |
Now THAT’S A Bright Idea!
Union County Public School Teacher Awarded Grant for Family Literacy
Thanks to a $2,000 Bright Ideas grant from Union Power Cooperative, some Stallings Elementary School (Union County) families will benefit from “Family Literacy Night.”
Brooke Kramb, Stallings Elementary School’s literacy facilitator, and her students were surprised Tuesday November 15, 2011 when representatives from Union Power Cooperative (which sponsors the Bright Ideas education grant program), Carolina Panthers players Thomas Williams and Thomas Keiser, and Carolina Panthers’ mascot Sir Purr walked into her classroom with a very large check for $2,000.
“I’m
very surprised and overwhelmed,” Kramb said. “I’m
very passionate about family literacy because the love of
reading begins in the home with the family. You need positive
family support to get children excited about reading. The
Family Literacy Night celebrates how powerful and exciting
reading can be.”
In her grant proposal, Kramb said she wanted to immerse children and their families in literature experiences that promote the love of reading at home, as well as provide books and informational materials the families can add to their home libraries.
“Literacy
programs such as this foster a love of reading that hopefully
will remain with these children throughout their lives,”
said Union Power Cooperative Manager of Communications Carrie
Cameron. “Involving students’ families
and providing reading materials has a significant impact on
helping them succeed as they move through school and into
college.”
After Kramb’s students had time for a visit and autographs from the Panthers players, all grades were treated to the surprise in a school assembly. At that time, Kramb was again presented a check in front of the entire school.
Panthers Williams and Keiser both spoke to students about the importance of reading and how it will impact their future. Sir Purr, mascot of the Carolina Panthers, entertained students with his dancing and lighthearted fun.
“We are honored to have this group here today,” said school principal Bill Breckenridge. “There were more than 100 applicants for these grants and our school was one of 14 in Union County chosen. We appreciate that and we appreciate the Carolina Panthers being part of this.”
The Bright Ideas grant program, sponsored by North Carolina’s Touchstone Energy cooperatives, strives to improve education in North Carolina classrooms by awarding grants to K-12 teachers for innovative, classroom-based projects that would not otherwise be funded.
Since its beginning in 1994, the Bright Ideas program has awarded more than $7.3 million in grant money to N.C. teachers to fund more than 7,000 projects, touching the lives of more than 1.3 million students.
Kramb was one of the first UCPS teachers to be awarded the Bright Ideas Grant in Union County. Other names will be announced in the near future.
The Centralina Workforce Development Board and the Centralina WDB Youth Council is a partner with Union County Public Schools and believes deeply in family literacy. The Board and Youth Council congratulate Ms. Kramb on this wonderful grant! We can’t wait to see how lives will be changed for the better. For more information on the Centralina WDB Youth Council or on this grant, please contact Natasha Pender at (704) 348-2725 or by e-mail at npender@centralina.org.
Brooke Kramb, Stallings Elementary School’s literacy facilitator, is all smiles after receiving a $2,000 check from Union Power Cooperative and a visit by some Carolina Panthers. Pictured, from left, are Kramb, Sir Purr (the Panthers’ mascot) and Union Power Cooperative Manager of Communications Carrie Cameron. |
Sir Purr (the Carolina Panthers’ mascot) has some reading fun with students. |
Turing Your Dreams into Reality
2012 NC Youth Summit Coming Soon!
If you were unable to attend the Extreme Entrepreneurship Tour events in the Centralina region last year, don’t fret – the Tour will be back in North Carolina for the 2012 NC Youth Summit on Friday March 30 – Saturday March 31, 2012 in Greensboro.
This annual event convenes over 200 young adults from across North Carolina. The Summit is an opportunity for youth from different backgrounds to come together to engage, listen, learn and share youth issues and develop solutions as “One Voice”.
The benefits of the Summit are strengthened collaboration among local areas, youth empowerment, relationship building, advocacy and leadership development.
The
Extreme Entrepreneurship
Tour (EET) is the first and only nationwide entrepreneurship
tour.
Many small business development centers, economic development organizations, and schools have used the tour to bring together varied departments such as admissions, career planning, the business school and entrepreneurial centers on campus and in the local chamber of commerce. The combined effort helped to reach students, inspiring them to write down their goals and the steps to achieve them.
Centralina WDB Youth Program Specialist Natasha Pender is Co-Chair of this 6th Annual event. The North Carolina Youth Summit is open to youth between the ages of 16-21. Registration is open and available at www.ncyouthsummit.wordpress.com. For more information, please contact Natasha Pender at (704) 348-2725 or by e-mail at npender@centralina.org.
Core Standards Can Become Core Dreams
Iredell-Statesville Schools Adopt Common Core State Standards
Curriculum is changing in Iredell-Statesville Schools (I-SS). In the summer of 2010, North Carolina became one of 48 states to adopt the Common Core State Standards, new standards that define the knowledge and skills that K-12 students need to have in order to succeed post-high school.
The new standards officially go into effect in the 2012-13 school year, but I-SS has been phasing in the curriculum since its inception. Kindergarteners through second-graders were the first to be fully immersed in the Common Core math program.
The
change in the standards is a huge shift in content and focus
that will narrow the curriculum, allowing for more in-depth
study rather than a glossing over of a broad field, said Dr.
Melanie Taylor, I-SS associate superintendent of
curriculum and instruction.
This new strategy changes how material is taught more than it changes what material is taught. More time will be spent on concepts and less on memorization, especially when it comes to math formulas.
“[Common core] really gets into the conceptual basis of why you do it that way,” Taylor said. “By understanding the concept, you don’t really have to memorize the formula. If you understand the concept behind the formula, it gives you that context.”
Taylor said the new standards are in line with the learning needs of 21st century students and what is taught will be more applicable to real life. She says the three main points the standards focus on are communication, collaboration and problem solving.
End-of-grade tests will change when the standards become mandatory and reflect the new material.
Teachers must receive extra training in order to teach the new standards. Taylor said that will come in the form of at least 30 extra hours this year.
The Common Core standards were developed by the National Governors Association Center for Best Practices and the Council of Chief State School Officers in collaboration with teachers, school administrators and experts.
The
standards fulfill six criteria: alignment with college and
work expectations; are clear, understandable and consistent;
include rigorous content and application of knowledge through
high-order skills; build upon strengths and lessons of current
state standards; are informed by other top performing countries;
and are evidence-based.
Textbooks across the nation will change with the new standards as well. Previously, most textbook makers tailored their content to the standards of the largest state markets, meaning that sometimes N.C. students couldn’t learn with textbooks made strictly for N.C. standards. Now, with nearly all states agreeing to the same standards, textbooks can be uniform in the way they teach material.
The English standards cover four areas: reading, writing, speaking and listening and language. One focus is on discussion in the classroom in one-on-one, small group and whole-class settings. The math component aims to prepare every student for algebra by eighth grade and teach in a way that gives a lasting impression.
The Centralina Workforce Development Board and the Centralina
WDB Youth Council are strong partners with Iredell-Statesville
Schools and are excited to see them working hard for our future
workforce. For more information on the Centralina Youth Council
or on the Common Core State Standards, please contact Natasha
Pender at (704) 348-2725 or by e-mail at npender@centralina.org.
What's Happening in the Region?
Comings, Goings, Kudos…
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The
North Carolina Research Campus announced
Clyde A. Higgs, Vice President of Business
Development for the North Carolina Research Campus (NCRC),
has been appointed to the Board of Directors for the North
Carolina Community College system. Higgs has
served on the Rowan Cabarrus Community College Board of
Trustees and the RCCC Foundation Directors since 2008.
Congratulations Clyde! 
Stanly
County Schools (SCS) Personnel Director Todd
Thorpe has accepted a position with Alamance-Burlington
Schools. He will become assistant superintendent of
the school system. Thorpe will remain with SCS through
the end of November.
Lynn
Holmes is the new assistant secretary for the
Employment Security Division of the Department
of Commerce. Holmes brings more than 25 years
of experience in corporate, legislative and governmental
relations to the job. Congratulations Lynn! 
Andy
Davis, Davis Regional Medical Center’s
chief executive officer left his position to pursue other
opportunities on Wednesday November 9, 2011. Health Management
Associates Vice President Steve Midkiff is
now serving as interim CEO.
• Centralina Workforce Development
Board meeting • Centralina JobLink Managers Meeting • Do You Have the Leadership Skills
of Santa • Mooresville-South Iredell Chamber
of Commerce 2012 Celebrate Business Luncheon & Community Excellence
Awards • Identifying Your Career Options • Resume Clinic • It’s Not Who You Know, It’s
Who You Meet • Interview Techniques • Looking for Work with a Criminal
Record • Stand Out from the Competition • Online Job Hunting • Resume Clinic • Looking for Work at 50+ • Identifying Your Career Options • Letter Writing for the Job Seeker • Resume Clinic
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. • Career Development Facilitator Programs |
| 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. |