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VDACS Approves IALR as Industrial Hemp Testing Lab
Already ISO 17025-certified and accredited by the Virginia Board of Pharmacy, IALR’s Analytical Chemistry Lab adds a new distinguishing recognition to its portfolio. The lab is now approved by the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS) to determine industrial hemp’s compliance with the Virginia Industrial Hemp Law.
This new VDACS requirement, now attained by IALR, allows approved labs to conduct analytical testing for purposes of detecting total delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) concentration of an industrial hemp sample. IALR’s lab also offers a whole range of additional testing viewable at https://bit.ly/hempform. Staff look forward to assisting regional farmers with these high-quality, yet affordable, testing capabilities during this summer’s growing season.
The VDACS qualification is effective through December 31, 2022. The lab and all others approved for this season will reapply with VDACS before conducting analytical testing in 2023 and each following year.
IALR’s Analytical Chemistry Lab has served clients of the hemp industry since 2018. The lab uses the highest quality Waters and Agilent equipment as well as the highest-grade consumables. It adheres to the strictest standards to ensure quality testing and service.
Yimeng “Jack” He stands in front of the Waters UPLC with TQXS Mass Spectrometer with the ISO 17025 certification plaque which the lab received in 2020.
SOVA Task Force Offers Workforce Solutions
The SOVA Task Force offered a Workforce Solutions weekly webinar series in May as an extension of the Bridge to Recovery Grant provided by GO Virginia Region 3. The series provided employers with resources and best practices regarding today’s workforce.
“Amid all the pressures facing our businesses in the wake of COVID, solutions for workforce-related issues are repeatedly sought,” said Linda Green, Executive Director of the Southern Virginia Regional Alliance (SVRA). “Therefore, we convened experts and resources to assist with these Human Resources needs.”
The Workforce Solutions webinar series addressed Childcare, Afterschool Care and Elder Care; Recruiting and Onboarding Employees; Trainings, Apprenticeships, Internships and Re-entry Programs; Higher Education, Skill Sets, Certifications and Recertifications; and Retention, Promotion and Advancement.
During one webinar, Steve Youll of the Virginia Economic Development Partnership Talent Attraction Program shared how talent attraction has evolved with increased expectations by candidates. He said “72% of job seekers report sharing negative candidate experiences online” and “55% of candidates will avoid certain companies after reading negative online reviews.”
Moderators included workforce experts Dr. Julie Brown of IALR and Robbie Knight of Virginia Career Works-West Piedmont. The series was originated, organized and marketed by the SOVA COVID-19 Task Force, which is managed by the Southern Virginia Regional Alliance.
Recordings are available at svra.org under COVID-19 Economic Resources. In the future, similar programs will be provided in the eastern part of the GO Virginia Region 3 service area.
The SOVA Task Force webinars are part of the GO Virginia Region 3 Bridge to Recovery Grant. Regional employers like Axxor have adapted to the impact of COVID while continuing safe operations.
ATDM Program Continues to Grow
The Accelerated Training in Defense Manufacturing (ATDM) program, led by IALR, continues to grow in its support of the National Imperative for Industrial Skills initiative of the U.S. Department of Defense. The program, created to build a highly skilled domestic defense manufacturing workforce, welcomes James Hubbard, Joyce Culley and Sherri Dickens to new roles.
As ATDM Technical Program Manager, Hubbard oversees day-to-day technical operations, training and ATDM activities. He also develops strategic partnerships and supports curriculum development. Hubbard previously served as the ATDM Additive Manufacturing Instructor and formerly as Curriculum Developer. He holds an A.A.S. in Integrated Machining Technology and a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Virginia Tech.
Culley serves as the ATDM Placement and Recruitment Coordinator. Prior to joining ATDM, she was the Director of Career, Technical, and Adult Education at Danville Public Schools and has over 30 years of experience in higher education and public K-12 education. She holds a B.A. and MBA from Averett University.
Dickens works as the ATDM Program Coordinator II in the Advanced Manufacturing division. She joined IALR in 2020 as the Multimedia Technician for the GO TEC program and recently transitioned to the new ATDM position. Dickens holds a certificate in IT Systems Management and is in the process of earning her Associate in Business Management.
ATDM also held its second Workforce Connections event to engage students with hiring employers. Six companies and one organization representing multiple industries participated, offering connections and resources for job opportunities. Visit atdm.org for more details.
AspHIRE Mock Interview Day a Success
Adah Haley with American National Bank interviews a student at the AspHIRE Mock Interview event at IALR.
IALR, New College Institute (NCI) and the Southern Virginia Higher Education Center (SVHEC) collaborated to offer AspHIRE Mock Interview Day 2022 to 200 high school students. Tenth through 12th graders from six school systems, ranging from Henry County to Charlotte County, participated in this event to hone their interview and employability skills with local professionals.
“I truly enjoyed the opportunity to learn about real-life interactions and situations I will encounter in the future,” said Layton Wilson, Pittsylvania Career and Technical Center Precision Machining Senior at Gretna High School. “Being there was a great experience, because I now feel a lot more confident going into the workforce.”
IALR, NCI and SVHEC each hosted the event at their respective locations. IALR welcomed students of Danville and Pittsylvania County on April 27-28; SVHEC served Halifax and Charlotte County students on April 27; and NCI hosted Martinsville and Henry County students on May 5. Local employers led work-readiness sessions and served as mock interviewers, and some even held real interviews to fill open positions within their company.
In addition to a 20-minute mock interview, students participated in a professional networking luncheon as well as work-readiness sessions. The latter included topics on Benefits and HR Basics, LinkedIn, Personal Brand and Presentation, Professionalism and Communication, Teamwork and Problem Solving, and Time Management and Work-Life Balance.
The first event was held at IALR in 2019 for students in Danville and Pittsylvania County and was expanded this year to include SVHEC and NCI.
Megabytes Reopens with Healthy Menu & Online Ordering
The Institute for Advanced Learning and Research’s (IALR) on-site café, Megabytes, has reopened featuring a new menu and online ordering. The café offers unique and healthy options Monday-Friday, including a well-stocked fresh salad bar, pizza and sandwiches. Interesting twists on old favorites include a turkey wrap with avocado and red pepper hummus, or a ham and cheddar croissant with sweet pineapple Dijon. Snacks, including freshly baked cookies, are also available.
In addition to daily items, the café features a hot buffet Tuesday-Thursday offering a rotating menu. Some themes include Taste of Italy, featuring dishes like beef lasagna and chicken carbonara, Taco Tuesday with selections like Chile Verde pork and fajita steak, and a Burger Bar, where diners can design their own burger creation using a variety of toppings and sauces.
The Megabytes hot bar will be open on Tuesdays – Thursdays and will be offering a rotating menu including themed menu items such as Taco Tuesday.
For pick-up orders, new online ordering options are available at www.toasttab.com/megabytes or via the free Toast Takeout mobile application downloaded from the App Store or Google Play.
Megabytes’ new friendly and highly trained staff are eager to welcome and serve their guests. Executive Chef John Clark has been bringing culinary excellence to country clubs and conference centers since he was 27 years old. He recently located with his son to Danville from Taylor Hospitality’s Virginia International Raceway (VIR) property and has been responsible for the food and beverage program at IALR since August 2021. Although he established himself as a creative force on the west coast, he is a native of Virginia, originally hailing from Alexandria. When not in the kitchen, he is a gifted musician who likes to travel, play golf and garden.
Front House Manager Alex Hattwick is a 2014 graduate of Averett University. He has a long history in food service, primarily as a bartender and banquet captain. Hattwick is excited to be back in the Danville area and looks forward to enhancing options and growing the café. He is an avid motorcyclist, gardener, tinkerer and surfer.
Donna Conner, Server/Banquet Server, is a 30-year veteran of the customer service and transportation industries. She takes special pride in getting to know her customers and keeping the restaurant organized and operating smoothly. Like Clark, she comes to Megabytes from Taylor Hospitality’s VIR property.
Megabytes café summer hours (June 1-Sept. 2) are 11 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. Monday-Friday with the hot bar serving patrons Tuesday-Thursday. For more information and to view menus, visit ialr.org/megabytes.
Megabytes Executive Chef John Clark, Server Donna Conner and Front House Manager Alex Hattwick are thrilled with the opportunity to serve guests now that Megabytes has reopened.
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