The Institute for Advanced Learning and Research (IALR) hosted its second annual Staff Development Day on March 3, bringing employees together for a full day dedicated to professional growth, team connection and organizational culture.
All staff participated in three core trainings designed to strengthen skills across roles and departments:
- Project Management for Every Day — Equipping staff to work smarter and motivate teams to see projects through using project management principles for every role
- Creative Collaboration — Strengthening conflict resolution, sparking creative thinking and experiencing the power of teamwork
- Change Management & Adaptability — Preparing staff to embrace change, remain flexible and contribute positively during transitions or new initiatives
“Staff Development Day is our chance to step back from the day-to-day activities and invest intentionally in the people who make IALR what it is. When our staff grow, our entire organization grows with them.” – LaShaun Graham, SHRM-SCP, Vice President, Human Resources, IALR
With approximately 180 employees to date and many open positions to fill, IALR continues to grow to better catalyze economic transformation and make an impact on the region, the Commonwealth of Virginia and the nation.
“As we scale our programs and broaden our reach, it’s more important than ever that we nurture a strong, connected culture. Opportunities like today help us sharpen our skills, support one another and stay aligned as one IALR.” – Telly Tucker, IALR President
In addition to training, the day included the presentation of staff superlatives, service awards recognizing milestone years and Catalyst Awards honoring recent high-performing employees.
Service Awards
The following staff were recognized for milestone service awards:
Five Years of Service
- Rhonda Reavis, Finance Specialist III
- Sherri Dickens, Manager, ATDM Student Services
- Karen Hardy, Director, Cross-Functional Initiatives
Ten Years of Service
- Yimeng “Jack” He, Senior Analytical Chemist
Fifteen Years of Service
- Dana Silicki, Director, STEM, Service and Lifelong Learning
- Tim Kruggel, Director, Information Technology
Twenty Years of Service
- Robin Barker, Director, Grants & Contracts
Staff Superlatives
One of the best parts of the day was presenting staff superlative awards.
- Cheli Clemente: The Email Extraordinaire. Most likely to respond to an Email in 0.2 seconds.
- Tim Kruggel: The Early Bird. First car in the parking lot, first to show up for meetings.
- Linda Green: The Last Car in the Parking Lot. It’s 6 p.m., and you thought you were the last one out, but this person’s car always seems to be the last out of the parking lot.
- Sherri Dickens: Most likely to wear company swag daily. This person is known to consistently represent IALR or their program on a daily basis.
- Skylar Glodeck: Funniest Socks. Sometimes fuzzy, sometimes colorful, from superheroes to cartoon characters, this person expresses themselves through the first layer of foot coverage regularly.
- Caleb Ayers: Coffeepot’s Best Friend. Whether it’s early morning, or late afternoon, this person runs on coffee and good vibes.
- Chad Roach: Swiss Army Award. Most indispensable, possessing diverse skills and abilities that make him a go-to person for various tasks and challenges.
- Audia Harris: The Office Duct Tape Award. Better than glue, this person promotes teambuilding and brings people together.
- Jake Taylor: Iron Chef Award. When he is not working, he is cooking or thinking about cooking. Whether it’s new dishes, comfort foods or large-scale culinary cuisine, this person talks about cooking nearly every chance they can.
- Telly Tucker: Catch Me If You Can Award. This award goes to the person who is most likely to be on the road, traveling for work rather than at his desk. Motorpool vehicles, hotels and airports are the norm for this staff member on the move.
- Pam Patterson: The Behind-the‑Scenes MVP. Keeps everything flowing even when nobody sees it.
- John Hughes: Positivity Powerhouse Award. This person brightens the room from the moment he walks in, spreading encouragement and good vibes.
- John Bridges: The Comedy Central Award. This person always has a good joke, witty pun and/or a meme on standby.
- Nancy Riddell: The Plant Parent Award. Keeps an entire jungle alive in their workspace.
- Tracy Fink: Hallway Speed Walker Award. Moves with purpose everywhere they go.
Catalyst Awards
These awards recognize exceptional dedication, innovation, teamwork and positive contributions.
The Great Opportunities in Technology and Engineering Careers (GO TEC®) Team
- Jacob Taylor, GO TEC Technical and Training Manager
- Abby Karavanic, GO TEC Program Assistant
The Facilities Team
- Stewart East, Senior Facilities Manager
- John Bridges, Facilities Maintenance II
- Anthony Amos, Facilities Maintenance II
- Spencer Hren, Facilities Maintenance III
- Justin Lackey, Facilities Maintenance III
