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IALR Announces New President

IALR Announces New President

Telly Tucker

The Institute for Advanced Learning and Research (IALR) announced today that Telly Tucker will lead the organization as its new President, effective May 31, 2022. Tucker will provide high-level, strategic leadership as IALR continues its mission to catalyze regional economic transformation.

“On behalf of the search committee and the board of trustees, I want to share our excitement with the selection of Telly Tucker as the first President of IALR,” said Roy Ford Jr., D. Min., chair of the IALR board of trustees. “We have full confidence in Telly’s ability to successfully steer IALR to help realize Southern Virginia as home to a dynamic economy where all can live and thrive. His collaborative approach and strategic insight, combined with his significant experience and deep knowledge of our region, positions him as a perfect champion of our vision for the next chapter of IALR.”

Tucker formerly served as the Director of Economic Development for the City of Danville before his most recent post as the Director of Arlington Economic Development for Arlington County, Va. There he led an economic development team of more than 50 employees as the staff built on the momentum of Amazon HQ2 to attract more businesses, grow existing business, and support the tourism sector and the arts community.

“I am honored to have been selected as the first President of IALR,” said Tucker. “The opportunity to lead a premier institution engaged in meaningful and impactful economic development, applied research, advanced learning, conference services and advanced manufacturing is truly a privilege. I’m very much looking forward to this challenge and opportunity to work collaboratively in support of the larger mission of economic transformation within Southern Virginia.”

Tucker’s career in economic development, education and leadership spans 18 years in Virginia at both the state and local levels. In addition to his leadership in the City of Danville and Arlington County, his experience includes serving as Assistant Director of Economic Development for James City County, Program Administrator for the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development, Economic Development Specialist for the City of Lynchburg, and Secondary Education Teacher for Lynchburg City Schools. 

An avid supporter of community engagement, Tucker has held board appointments with the Leadership Center for Excellence Board of Regents, George Mason University President’s Innovation Advisory Council, Northern Virginia Economic Development Alliance (Immediate Past Chair), Northern Virginia Chamber of Commerce, and Path Forward Advisory Council, and has served as an Honorary Board Member of the Northern Virginia Technology Council.

Tucker has received the prestigious Certified Economic Development (CEcD) designation granted by the International Economic Development Council (IEDC) in Washington, D.C., and has served on IEDC’s Racism and Economic Development Committee. He is a Lynchburg native and obtained his Bachelor of Business Administration in international business and Spanish from James Madison University.

IALR’s seven-member search committee worked with Korn Ferry in Washington, D.C., to conduct a national search to fill the new President position. The team narrowed the highly qualified pool of applicants to five candidates for a round of interviews before selecting Tucker.

The new President position was created after a seven-month strategic planning process indicated the need for expanded executive leadership due to extensive growth in IALR’s activity level, as well as strategic succession planning.

The Institute for Advanced Learning and Research serves Virginia as a regional catalyst for economic transformation with applied research, advanced learning, economic development, advanced manufacturing and conference services. IALR’s major footprint focuses within Southern Virginia, including the counties of Patrick, Henry, Franklin, Pittsylvania, Halifax and Mecklenburg along with the cities of Martinsville and Danville. For more information, visit www.ialr.org.

KYOCERA ‘Signs’ Integrated Machining Interns as New Employees

KYOCERA ‘Signs’ Integrated Machining Interns as New Employees

Manufacturer of high-performance cutting tools leverages Danville-Pittsylvania advanced manufacturing pipeline for high-quality workforce needs

DANVILLE, Virginia – (April 7, 2022) – KYOCERA SGS Tech Hub has hired three student interns who recently graduated from the Integrated Machining Technology (IMT) third-year capstone program, instructed by Danville Community College (DCC) and housed and financed by the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research (IALR).

Students Jonathan Gauldin, Bobby Moran and Joel Oakes celebrated the occasion with KYOCERA by participating in a signing ceremony at the Gene Haas Center for Integrated Machining where they received their training. Gauldin, Moran and Oakes will start on April 11 as Setup A technicians, one of KYOCERA’s highest-level grinding positions. They will join Josh Owen, another IMT graduate, who started at KYOCERA as a Setup C technician on April 4.

“To thrive in a highly competitive global market, there needs to be a system in place that creates a workforce for our future,” said Jason Wells, president of KYOCERA SGS Tech Hub. “The unparalleled training and education that Danville Community College and the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research have established, allow companies such as KYOCERA to focus on our core business and growth with less focus on skill development. Our elected officials, community leaders, educators and local citizens have put in the hard work to address skilled workforce development needs.”

Kyocera signs interns as employees

L-R, front row: Joel Oakes, Bobby Moran and Jonathan Gauldin; back row: David Gauldin and Jason Wells (KYOCERA SGS Tech Hub), Troy Simpson (IALR), Josh McDowell and Joe Distad (Danville Community College), and Dylan Hardy (IALR)

The IMT program serves as an optional third year of advanced training for completers of two-year precision machining programs or for those with equivalent work experience. The hands-on instruction by DCC takes seven months and is set in a flow cell environment to build true-to-life advanced manufacturing experience and leadership skills. A 90-hour internship fulfills requirements for an associate degree.

“DCC, in partnership with the IALR, is proud to be a leader in the creation of talent for Pittsylvania County and the surrounding region,” said Dr. Muriel Mickles, interim president at DCC. “The IMT capstone program is an excellent example of many ways DCC is supporting the growth of the manufacturing industry here in Danville while ensuring exciting, high-paying jobs for our students.”

The success of the IMT program has grown since its inception in 2015. Noted by Virginia and Arkansas governors and other localities as a benchmark model, the program also helped seal the win of the location bid for the 2018 Haas Technical Education Center Americas CNC Educators Conference. A team of students won last year’s Project MFG National Skilled Trade Championship, and others have won medals at the SkillsUSA Championships.

“The Integrated Machining Technology program is a key aspect of the progressive talent pipeline the Danville-Pittsylvania County region has championed to attract and retain high-performance jobs and industry like KYOCERA,” said Troy Simpson, director of advanced manufacturing for IALR. “We continue to work with KYOCERA and other companies to ensure the curriculum of DCC and the facilities housed and financed by IALR are state of the art and industry-driven.”

Gauldin, Moran and Oakes will bring the following industry-recognized credentials to their new positions at KYOCERA: MCOSMOS C1 and C2, a cutting technology certificate and the Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt. Other employers who have benefited from these credentialed IMT graduates in the past include FasTech, Piedmont Precision Machine, the Naval Surface Warfare Center, BWX Technologies and others.

“I am extremely proud of all our Integrated Machining Technology graduates and congratulate Jonathan, Bobby, Joel and Josh on their new journey with such an impactful industry as KYOCERA,” said Dr. Betty Jo Foster, interim president at IALR. “I hope their path to successful employment is an example and inspiration to other youth in our area who seek high-quality jobs and meaningful careers. The partnership between DCC, IALR and industry like KYOCERA offers hands-on instruction that leads to job opportunities for our community and workforce solutions for advanced manufacturers.”

KYOCERA has actively supported the region’s talent development efforts. Wells serves in multiple board positions, including the advisory boards for both Danville Community College’s workforce services programs and the Great Opportunities in Technology and Engineering Careers (GO TEC™) program, a GO Virginia-supported program administered by IALR that educates and trains middle schoolers to post-secondary students on relevant career pathways.

In September 2016, KYOCERA SGS Tech Hub announced it would invest $9.5 million and bring 35 new jobs paying an average annual salary of $65,000 to the Cyber Park, a technology park jointly owned by the City of Danville and Pittsylvania County through the Danville-Pittsylvania Regional Industrial Facility Authority (RIFA).

The company broke ground in the spring of 2017 on the 30,000-square-foot manufacturing and research hub, which was designed and constructed by Blair Construction and sits on 10 acres directly across from the campus of IALR. The grand opening was celebrated in September 2019.

For additional photos of the KYOCERA signing ceremony for the three interns/new recruits, visit: https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjzJLCB.  

IALR SEEKS LEADER FOR NEW PRESIDENT POSITION, ANNOUNCES INTERIM PRESIDENT

IALR SEEKS LEADER FOR NEW PRESIDENT POSITION, ANNOUNCES INTERIM PRESIDENT

Growing activity and succession planning call for expanded executive leadership

The Institute for Advanced Learning and Research (IALR) has announced its search for a President, a new position created by the board of trustees. To aid in the transition process, Dr. Betty Jo Foster will serve as Interim President for the newly formed role. Current Executive Director Mark Gignac will continue with certain administrative and operational responsibilities under the new structure. The expansion of executive leadership is a result of extensive growth in the level of activity of IALR, as well as strategic succession planning.

“The Institute for Advanced Learning and Research has served as a regional catalyst for economic growth and transformation of Southern Virginia since 2002, and we are committed to ensuring this legacy continues for many more decades to come,” said Roy Ford Jr., D.Min., chair of the IALR board of trustees. “While the board recognizes and appreciates the accomplishments of IALR under the leadership of Mark Gignac, our recent completion of a seven-month strategic planning process uncovered the need for expanded top management resources to provide increased strategic leadership. The addition of a President will help better balance and focus responsibilities while fulfilling our strategy of intentional, well-executed succession planning.”

IALR has formed a seven-member search committee to identify, interview and recommend candidates for the position. It has also chosen Korn Ferry in Washington, D.C., to conduct a national search. The firm will work with community stakeholders to gather input regarding the preferred attributes and qualifications for the new President. The President will provide high-level, strategic leadership, and the goal is to fill the position in 2022.

Foster will serve as Interim President, effective Jan. 5, bringing significant leadership experience to the role which includes time as former Chair of the IALR board of trustees. She also has served as Interim President for both Danville Community College and Central Virginia Community College. In addition, she was the Interim President and CEO for the Danville Pittsylvania County Chamber of Commerce.

“We are delighted to welcome Dr. Betty Jo Foster as Interim President and look forward to the keen insight and strategic oversight she will provide,” said Ford. “Her valuable experience and deep knowledge of our area’s challenges and opportunities will aid our efforts to establish an expanded leadership structure and continue driving successful economic transformation throughout Southern Virginia.”

IALR recently completed a seven-month strategic planning process. The work involved input from various internal and external stakeholders, including the entire board and all employees as well as many others, and resulted in the following strategic themes, all requiring significant strategic oversight:  Virginia’s go-to partner for business and economic growth, center of excellence for education and workforce development, globally competitive business ecosystem, collaborative team success, excellence in board leadership and decision making, strategic expansion of applied research, and culture of learning.

IALR Launches Nation’s First Plant Endophyte Research Center to Enhance Agricultural Solutions

IALR Launches Nation’s First Plant Endophyte Research Center to Enhance Agricultural Solutions

Over 2,000 plant endophyte strains explored as natural biostimulants
Plant Endophyte Research Center

The Institute for Advanced Learning and Research’s Lab Associate, Robert Chretien (left), and Chief Scientist, Dr. Chuansheng Mei (right), research plant endophytes, or beneficial bacteria. These microorganisms naturally fight common crop diseases and enhance plant growth and health.

The Institute for Advanced Learning and Research (IALR) has launched the nation’s first Plant Endophyte Research Center to champion sustainable solutions for enhanced agricultural production around the globe. The Center leverages private and public partnerships and funding, an elite team of scientists dedicated to the field of biostimulant research, and exclusive equipment and testing services to further their work.

“I am excited to announce IALR’s Plant Endophyte Research Center, which accumulates years of research and expertise and positions IALR as a world leader in this critical research field,” said Mark Gignac, Executive Director of IALR. “Helping to protect the environment while satisfying the consumer demand for healthier food is a truly inspiring motivator.”  

By first isolating and characterizing endophytes, or beneficial bacteria, from regional plants, IALR scientists then use these endophytes as a toolbox to fight common crop diseases and to increase overall plant growth and health. Additionally, technology, such as next-generation DNA sequencing, robotic and drone imaging, and data analytics, is used to find precisely what formulations work best in a crop-specific and environmental situation.

With a library of 2,000 endophyte strains already identified, IALR is well on its way to demonstrating the potential rewards of these natural microorganisms. Such benefits could include the reduction of chemical fertilizer use, the improvement of soil quality, the preservation of the environment and sustainable agricultural solutions—all while helping increase crop yields and plant health. IALR is already working with well-known industry players on licensing agreements and continues to actively seek other collaborators and research partners.

Although great effort has recently been directed toward endophytes, the field of study is relatively new and much is to be learned. To take advantage of this untapped reservoir of beneficial organisms and byproducts, IALR scientists are currently focused on isolating bacteria from plants in the Blue Ridge Mountain Region. This region, one of the world’s oldest mountain ranges, is characterized by immense ecological diversity. Once isolated and purified, the most promising endophyte candidates are screened for growth promotion, drought resistance and disease inhibiting characteristics.

“Considering agriculture and forestry are Virginia’s largest industries, our team of researchers at IALR are focused on improving agricultural production naturally through biology and technology,” said Dr. Scott Lowman, Director of Applied Research at IALR. “We are spotlighting biotechnology in the form of beneficial plant bacteria endophytes, the products they produce and mechanisms they possess to engineer faster growing and healthier plants.”

IALR operates between the realms of academia and industry, allowing its scientists a unique environment for sustained endeavors. They can venture into new areas without the constraints of highly competitive grant funding and can partner with industry in an IP-friendly manner. IALR researchers capitalize on their knowledge of fundamental research and heed industry principles of robust IP, ownership, scale-up and shelf life.

For more information about the Plant Endophyte Research Center, visit www.ialr.org/plant-endophyte-research-center or contact Lowman at scott.lowman@ialr.org or 434.766.6628.  

The Institute for Advanced Learning and Research serves Virginia as a regional catalyst for economic transformation with advanced learning, applied research, advanced manufacturing, conference center services and economic development efforts. IALR’s major footprint focuses within Southern Virginia, including the counties of Patrick, Henry, Franklin, Pittsylvania, Halifax and Mecklenburg along with the cities of Martinsville and Danville.

 

IALR SEEKS SUMMER AMERICORPS APPLICANTS

IALR SEEKS SUMMER AMERICORPS APPLICANTS

IALR seeks summer AmeriCorps applicants for 12 positions in Danville and South Boston. The service members will complete 300 hours, or about 30 hours per week for 10 weeks, May-August and will be eligible for multiple benefits, including a $3,000 stipend and an estimated $1,200 education award. Online applications may be completed at http://bit.ly/IALRamericorps and are due by May 10.

“We are excited to continue the AmeriCorps program and the tangible benefits provided to our members as well as the communities they serve,” said Dr. Julie Brown, Director of Advanced Learning at IALR. “Not only do service members enjoy mentoring and tutoring students on STEM activities, but they also develop themselves for the next step in their professional career, gain high-quality training, and receive a stipend and an educational award.”

The positions are part of IALR’s Dan River Year AmeriCorps  program, a regional initiative designed to build the area’s STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) capacity through community engagement, student mentorship and other activities. Currently, IALR is seeking one Summer STEM/Literacy Program Coach to lead STEM-related summer camps for students at the Southern Virginia Higher Education Center in South Boston. IALR is also seeking seven Summer Bridge Program Educators to develop and lead a camp preparing Danville elementary students for middle school. These seven positions will be housed at IALR. Lastly, four Summer STEM/Literacy Camp Educators will be sought to assist with summer STEM camps at IALR.

For more information, those interested may visit ialr.org/americorps or contact Dana Silicki at (434) 766-6729 or Dana.Silicki@ialr.org.

AmeriCorps is administered by the Corporation for National and Community Service, a federal agency that engages millions of Americans in service through AmeriCorps and Senior Corps, and leads the nation’s volunteering and service efforts. For more information, visit www.NationalService.gov.

The Institute for Advanced Learning and Research serves Virginia as a regional catalyst for economic transformation with advanced learning, applied research, advanced manufacturing, conference center services and economic development efforts. IALR’s major footprint focuses within Southern Virginia, including the counties of Patrick, Henry, Franklin, Pittsylvania, Halifax and Mecklenburg along with the cities of Martinsville and Danville.