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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.

Growing Registered Apprenticeships – Sovah Health Grooms Sonography Apprentices

Growing Registered Apprenticeships – Sovah Health Grooms Sonography Apprentices

Two apprentices started the sonography apprenticeship with Sovah Health in January 2021. Macy McBride and Kelsey Moore were both previously registered X-ray technicians, employed through Sovah Health for the past 5-6 years. They began the program in hopes of learning and growing in their professional career.

“We were grateful for the experience and the opportunity to learn and grow as individuals as we continued our education,” said McBride and Moore. “The apprenticeship made it possible for us to achieve our goals of becoming sonographers. We would advocate future apprenticeships for any student wanting to further their education while completing on-the-job training as well as formal classroom training. To us and to all future students, the benefits of an apprenticeship are well worth it.”

Both have now completed all the apprenticeship requirements, including the instructional program, on-the-job training and board exams. They remain employed with Sovah Health but now also as registered sonographers. Their plans moving forward are to continue to grow as sonographers by studying and taking their vascular as well as their OB/GYN board exams.

In October 2020, Sovah Health-Danville and IALR launched a sonography training program, the first of its kind in Southern Virginia, to fill a regional workforce shortage for registered sonographers. The accelerated 12-month certificate program will help develop and retain regional talent and meet local health care employers’ recruitment needs for this critical occupation.

Sovah Sonography Program Director Elaine Nichols demonstrates ultrasound techniques to Emily Van Pelt, Tobacco Region Revitalization Commission (TRRC) Grants Specialist. The start-up training for the program was funded by TRRC.

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.  

Growing Registered Apprenticeships – Daniel Builders Signs New Apprentice

Growing Registered Apprenticeships – Daniel Builders Signs New Apprentice

In partnership with IALR, Daniel Builders, LLC, a commercial and industrial construction services company, has signed its first carpentry apprentice, Ulises Jimenez. The carpentry apprenticeship is a four-year program, or 8,000 hours. The technical instruction occurs during the first two years, which is what Jimenez is currently obtaining for two nights a week at the Virginia Technical Institute in Altavista. The last two years of the apprenticeship will consist of on-the-job training and mentoring by professionals.

After successful completion of his carpentry apprenticeship, Jimenez will receive a Journeyworker’s Credential which includes a Completion Certificate and a Journeyworker’s card. The Journeyworker’s credential is a portable national credential that demonstrates that a worker has mastered the skills and competencies required for an occupation. Journeyworkers are also qualified to train and mentor apprentices.

Jimenez graduated from George Washington High School in 2013. After graduation, he was working in his family’s restaurant business but was not completely satisfied. When the COVID-19 pandemic took place, he decided it was time to try something new, which is what led him to the program.

IALR’s apprenticeship program is a facet of the ExperienceWorks framework which facilitates employer outreach and development of registered apprenticeship positions in partnership with regional employers and the Virginia Department of Labor and Industry.

(L-R) First row: John Daniel (Daniel Builders, LLC), Ulises Jimenez, David Sage (Virginia Technical Institute); second row: Natori Neal (IALR), Kara Joyce (Virginia Department of Labor and Industry), and Dr. Julie Brown (IALR) participate in a signing ceremony.

IALR Team Wins Gold in PRSA Summit Awards

IALR Team Wins Gold in PRSA Summit Awards

L-R: Allison Moore and Daniel Dalton of IALR’s PR and Communications team accepted three gold Summit Awards and one special COVID Response Award from the PRSA Blue Ridge Chapter.

IALR’s Public Relations and Communications team won several awards at the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) Blue Ridge Chapter Summit Awards. The 2021 Industrial Hemp Summit won Gold for Special Events, two days or shorter. The 2020 Annual Report received a Gold award for best Annual Report, and the Monthly Newsletter received Gold for best Newsletter for External Audiences. The Monthly Newsletter also won the COVID Response Award, a new category added to recognize the “tremendous work done by communications professionals during the response to the pandemic.”

“Telling the story of IALR’s work and regional impact has always been an honor, especially considering the high-quality and innovative programs, research, services and facilities that are championed day in and day out by such tireless and exceptional staff,” said Allison Moore, manager of public relations and communications for IALR. “Thank you to the PRSA Blue Ridge Chapter for the incredible honor of winning three Gold Summit Awards, including the seventh consecutive one for our monthly newsletter, which also received the special COVID Response Award this year.”

Two of the winning entries may be viewed at www.ialr.org/newsletters and www.ialr.org/annual-reports.

The Summit Awards are open to all professional public relations practitioners and students in the Blue Ridge Chapter area, which includes Central, Southern and Southwest Virginia. The competition was decided by a panel of judges from the Agricultural Relations Council chapter of PRSA.

ODU Launches Virginia’s First Four-Year Manufacturing Engineering Technology Major

ODU Launches Virginia’s First Four-Year Manufacturing Engineering Technology Major

The new program will be offered on Old Dominion University’s Norfolk campus and at a satellite campus based at the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research in Danville

Old Dominion University (ODU) will launch Virginia’s first four-year major in manufacturing engineering technology (MfgET) at its Norfolk campus, as well as a satellite campus based at the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research (IALR), in Danville.

The new program will be housed in Old Dominion’s Batten College of Engineering and Technology’s Engineering and Technology Department.

IALR will host third- and fourth-year undergraduate level classes for the MfgET bachelor’s major of ODU on its Danville campus. The classes will be offered with on-site, virtual and hybrid options, leveraging the advanced manufacturing lab space of IALR.

Students in Southern Virginia can enter the program from multiple paths, including community colleges; the Academy for Engineering and Technology resourced by IALR; career and technical dual-enrollment programs; and incumbent workers.

The bachelor’s and associate degrees are part of the Virginia Maritime Industrial Base Consortium’s (VMIBC) “Talent Pipeline Initiative,” which aims to develop job-ready talent for defense and industrial base employers through an enhanced K-12-to-university training pipeline. The degree program has the support of industry partners, who will offer guidance and experiential work opportunities to ensure students graduate well-prepared for the work.

“This partnership reinforces Old Dominion University’s commitment to workforce development and leadership in the maritime industry,” said ODU President Brian O. Hemphill, Ph.D. “Students across Virginia will be able to gain the necessary skills to fill essential defense jobs, aligning talent with opportunity.”

“Combining IALR, ODU, and our community college system to produce undergraduate education across Hampton Roads and Southern Virginia creates a force multiplier that strengthens our Maritime Defense Industrial Base and will help ensure America’s competitive advantage,” said Craig Crenshaw, Virginia Secretary of Veterans and Defense Affairs.

The training pipeline will increase manufacturing capacity, capability, resiliency and diversity in the maritime defense industrial base.

“With the advent of industry 4.0 and exponentially advancing technology, the manufacturing sector has grown into an extremely high-tech field with specialized talent needs, especially in the critical skill shortage areas of manufacturing engineering,” said IALR Interim President Betty Jo Foster, Ed.D. “We are delighted to partner with Old Dominion University, Patrick & Henry Community College and the Virginia Community College System to address the need voiced so strongly by the defense industrial base, our regional employers and industry leaders — and we look forward to expanding the program to Danville Community College and other valued partners.”

Patrick & Henry Community College (P&HCC), based in Martinsville, will launch a corresponding associate degree in manufacturing engineering technology that will serve as a pipeline to both the workforce and pathway to ODU’s four-year degree. P&HCC currently offers a general engineering technologies and industrial electronics technologies associate degree, as well as several manufacturing certificates.

“Patrick & Henry Community College is proud to be part of this critical initiative which will allow us to help fill local, state, and federal workforce manufacturing engineering pipelines,” said J. Gregory Hodges, Ph.D., president of Patrick & Henry Community College. “In particular, this initiative will help our nation remain competitive on the global stage as we prepare talent who possess the skills, knowledge and competencies that are essential for 21st-century manufacturers.”

A $5 million grant, announced in October, was awarded by the Department of Defense to the Virginia Office of Veterans and Defense Affairs-led VMIBC, which earned the federal designation of Defense Manufacturing Community. VMIBC includes ODU, IALR, as well as 30 other organizations, as key partners.

“The Engineering Technology department is excited to be a part of such an exciting initiative and to continue our ongoing partnership with our community college partners so that we can ramp up this much needed workforce pipeline,” said Vukica Jovanovic, Ph.D., interim chair of Department of Engineering Technology at ODU.

The two-year manufacturing engineering technology degree will eventually be available to all colleges within the Virginia Community College System (VCCS).

On March 17, IALR, along with its partners, met on the Danville campus to celebrate the launch of the two new manufacturing engineering technology programs, creating a strengthened manufacturing workforce pipeline.

Manufacturing industry partners celebrated the new program, saying:

  • “BWX Technologies, Inc. is proud to join with the other partners in supporting this important effort not just for our local community, but also for the Commonwealth of Virginia and our nation,” said BWXT Nuclear Operations Group Chief Operating Officer Gary Camper. “Our long-term forecast for naval nuclear propulsion work shows a strong demand for decades and having a consistent pipeline of skilled shop workers and manufacturing engineers is critical to our long-term growth. We place a high priority on recruiting a diverse and talented workforce and are excited for the opportunity to provide input into the curriculum development and subsequent hiring of ready-to-work employees.”
  • “We are pleased that IALR is partnering with ODU and P&HCC to provide our region with a Manufacturing Engineering Technology curriculum,” said David Bennett, vice president of Operations at the Intertape Polymer Group. “Intertape Polymer Group’s manufacturing operations continue to invest in cutting-edge technologies that have created a need for technical positions at our facilities. It’s exciting for us to support the development of this program, to provide internships and to benefit from creating high demand Engineering candidates who can have a technical career at Intertape Polymer Group and local industries.”
  • “As PRESS GLASS continues to grow in the region, we appreciate this partnership between Patrick & Henry Community College, Old Dominion University, and the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research to prepare and credential manufacturing engineers locally to meet our emerging workforce needs,” said Karolina Styk, talent acquisition and development manager at PRESS GLASS.

The educational partners are developing the curriculum for the 2- and 4-year programs, which will launch in the second year of the grant cycle. Individuals interested in learning more about or enrolling in the associate degree or four-year major in Manufacturing Engineering Technology should click here to complete an interest form. 

View photos from the announcement: https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjzG6yK

Mock Interviewers & Summer Internship Hosts Needed

Mock Interviewers & Summer Internship Hosts Needed

IALR is facilitating summer internships as well as springtime mock interview events for high school students. Participating employers are being actively recruited for these opportunities with funding available to support intern stipends. The events are part of IALR’s new system framework, known as ExperienceWorks and supported by GO Virginia.

Mock interviewers, committing just 1.5 hours of time or more, are needed for three AspHIRE Mock Interview Day events on April 27-28 in Danville and South Boston, and May 4-5 in Martinsville. Graduating seniors and select juniors are provided an opportunity to hone their interview skills and take part in a formal business lunch and six work-readiness sessions. Interested businesses should contact jessie.vernon@ialr.org by April 13.

IALR is also seeking businesses to host paid internships starting in June 2022. Highly successful last summer, the programs in Danville and Pittsylvania County are expanding, along with internship opportunities throughout GO Virginia Region 3.

The City of Danville and Pittsylvania County are seeking businesses to host summer youth interns like Blake Bowen and Emma Mayhew who earned skills and a stipend last year.

“It helps you learn people skills and what you want to do in the future,” said Nevea Russell, a Galileo Magnet High School student, of her internship last summer with Danville’s Parks and Recreation department. Other employers last year included other local government offices, the Animal Medical Center of Danville and the Danville Science Center among others.

Interns will work for six to eight weeks at 32-40 hours per week. Businesses have the ability to customize the internship to fit their needs. Interested companies and organizations should contact dana.wilson@ialr.org as soon as possible.

First ATDM Additive Manufacturing Cohort Graduates

First ATDM Additive Manufacturing Cohort Graduates

Ten students and their instructors celebrated successfully completing the first cohort of the ATDM Additive Manufacturing track during a completion ceremony held at IALR.

The first Additive Manufacturing cohort has graduated from the Accelerated Training in Defense Manufacturing (ATDM) program. This new track was added in November 2021 and is an important addition given the growing significance of the new technology in advanced manufacturing.

Students in the Additive Manufacturing track earned several credentials including OSHA 10 and a Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt. They are waiting on certification results for Certified Additive Manufacturing Fundamentals, which is issued by the Society of Manufacturing Engineers, and Autodesk Certified Associate in CAD for Mechanical Design, which certifies skilled use of Fusion 360 CAD software.

Daniel Hyler, a Pittsylvania County native, who graduated from Chatham High School in 2021, completed the first CNC Machining track last summer and just completed the first Additive Manufacturing track this month. “It has been very helpful, and a lot more than I thought,” said Hyler. “The more I learned, the more I wanted to learn. I would recommend it. The environment is the best. The teachers work well with you.”

After completing the CNC Machining ATDM track, Hyler started working for FasTech as a CNC Machinist in October. Now, he will use his skills learned in the Additive Manufacturing track to help him in his job where he runs CNC mills and additive manufacturing machines.

“The entire group was really driven,” said James Hubbard, who served as the instructor through Danville Community College, an ATDM instructional partner. “We didn’t know what to expect – several didn’t even know what modeling was – but now they’re modeling assemblies and intricate things of that nature. Their skill sets will allow them to get a job in any modern manufacturing environment.”

Another student Rashida Grear, from Norfolk, Va., who works at Mid-Atlantic Regional Maintenance Center (MARMC) and is an active-duty sailor in the U.S. Navy also praised the program. “MARMC is trying to learn more mass production methods of operation,” said Grear. “We do things very manually, but we are getting newer equipment to train sailors on.” Grear stated that her ATDM training will prepare her for her role on a team that will be dedicated to 3D printing which will be extremely beneficial.

In addition to the Additive Manufacturing track graduates, the second cohort from the ATDM Welding, Metrology/Quality Assurance and CNC Machining tracks also graduated in March.

The ATDM program is specifically designed to help adult learners with varying educational and workplace experiences earn the skills necessary to make an immediate impact in the defense industrial base. The four-month curriculum is designed to offer the skills and nationally recognized credentials directly requested by the industry.

New Strategic Plan Builds Dynamic Regional Economy

New Strategic Plan Builds Dynamic Regional Economy

When the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research (IALR) was formed in 2002 as a political subdivision of the Commonwealth of Virginia, its number-one priority, still in place today, was and is to catalyze a regional economy where all can live and thrive. Thanks to committed board members, dedicated leadership and staff, and phenomenal partnerships, much has been accomplished over the years. A new, five-year strategic plan will extend that momentum with six strategic themes designed to continue meeting the needs of the region by capitalizing on the unique strengths of IALR.

“Our FY 2022-2027 strategic plan is a product of collaboration, commitment and creativity – all centered on how IALR can best impact the Southern Virginia region,” said Dr. Betty Jo Foster, Interim President for IALR. “I have complete confidence in the exceptional caliber of staff, leaders and board members to execute this plan to the fullest and realize our mission of economic transformation.”

IALR staff and board members collaborate in a strategic planning session to prioritize FY 2022-2027 strategic initiatives and identify and group action steps.

IALR worked with Deaton Group Consulting to develop the plan. The endeavor engaged the entire IALR board and all employees as well as outside individuals and organizations such as civic leaders, peer organizations, business leaders, economic development, K-12 and higher education centers. Through a methodical process, stakeholders revisited the vision, mission and values. A comprehensive situation analysis was formed and strategic goals were developed. Then, initiatives with specific metrics were crafted. Six strategic themes, outlined above, emerged to guide the organization. Visit ialr.org/ialr_strategy_report_2022-2027 for the full report.

New Wonder Community of Lifelong Learning Launches

New Wonder Community of Lifelong Learning Launches

Wonder Community of Lifelong Learning

Southern Virginia and surrounding areas now have a new self-development program at their fingertips—the Wonder Community of Lifelong Learning, supported by IALR. This online community learning platform offers in-person and virtual learning and teaching opportunities; networking; and charitable giving options.

“We at IALR have been exploring for years the path forward for an inclusive lifelong learning program that is truly owned by the community, and I’m extremely pleased with the result,” said IALR’s Jessica Beebe who has spearheaded the Wonder Community. “We appreciate the support of the Danville Regional Foundation to help launch this exciting new platform.”

To participate, people can join as a member, known as a supporter, or submit a proposal to become a presenter. Annual membership can be paid either monetarily, starting at $10, or by presenting a workshop, starting with one presentation. Benefits increase with each membership tier, with more invested supporters receiving professional development coaching and more. Sixty percent of each supporter’s payment goes toward a charity of choice or toward another individual’s membership. Membership scholarships are available for those in need.

Visit www.wondercommunity.org to learn more, join, or submit a proposal to present. Beebe welcomes invitations to speak to groups and organizations about the program; contact her at jessica.beebe@ialr.org or 434.766.6745.

IALR & Partners Impact No. 1 Workforce Ranking

IALR & Partners Impact No. 1 Workforce Ranking

Certified Work Ready Communities in Virginia

Certified Work Ready Communities in Virginia

Site Selection Magazine recently published the 2022 Regional Workforce Development Rankings, and Virginia ranked No. 1 for the South Atlantic Region. Part of the criteria for the ranking included the number of ACT National Career Readiness Certificates (NCRC) earned in 2021. Thanks to the diligent work of IALR’s Lee Ann Mahan on the Certified Work Ready Communities (CWRC) initiative, Southern Virginia is leading the state in the number of NCRCs earned.

As CWRC Program Coordinator, Mahan works with the Dan River Region Collaborative, employers, workforce development boards, K-12, higher education and localities to expand adoption of the NCRC and to grow CWRCs. Forty-one percent of the total NCRCs awarded in Virginia have been earned in Southern Virginia. 

NCRCs are earned by completing the three WorkKeys Assessments in Applied Math, Workplace Documents, and Graphic Literacy. They demonstrate career readiness and have been adopted by many employers.

SOVA Region Sees Six Years of Unprecedented Growth

SOVA Region Sees Six Years of Unprecedented Growth

Economic development announcements in the Southern Virginia (SOVA) Region have surpassed previous trends. Over the past six years the regional and local economic development team, including the City of Danville and Patrick, Pittsylvania and Halifax Counties, has attracted 3,216 jobs and over $700 million in capital investment, recruiting 23 industries and 18 existing industry expansions. A key factor, four metropolitan areas border the SOVA region — Roanoke, Lynchburg, Greensboro and Raleigh/Durham — and the SOVA overlapping labor sheds provide 541,388 employees in a 60-mile radius. Coupled with a strong workforce program from middle school to higher education, SOVA’s talent pool provides unique recruitment opportunities.

Tyson Foods leaders participate in the October 2021 groundbreaking on a new, fully-cooked processing plant in Danville-Pittsylvania County. Tyson’s $300M capital investment will add 376 new jobs.

The Environmental and Life Sciences Sector in food, beverage and wood products has attracted 10 new companies and seven expansions (1,187 jobs and $437M in capital investment). AeroFarms, Prolam, Golden Piedmont Labs and Tyson Foods have joined existing employers JTI, Ennis and Ten Oaks. Virginia is the second largest Southeastern food and beverage processor with vertical integration from farms and manufacturing to packaging, bottling, warehousing and distribution. Virginia Tech is the #2 college in the nation for Food Sciences and Nutrition, and the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research (IALR) participates in research and industry support. Virginia is also located within the Southeastern “wood basket” which supplies over 60% of the total volume of timber harvested in the U.S., vertically integrated from forestry to primary wood processing.

The High-performance Manufacturing Sector, including automotive, aerospace, energy and electronics, has added eight new companies and three industry expansions (1,079 new jobs and $100M in capital investment). Automotive wins have included Morgan Olson’s start-up and expansions by Amthor and TMI AutoTech, the location of aerospace manufacturers Kyocera SGS Tech Hub and Fastech, and the relocation of Netherlands-based Walraven’s North American headquarters. The Great Opportunities in Technology and Engineering Careers (GO TEC) pipeline development program (exposing middle school students to trade skills) and the Gene Haas Center for Integrated Machining have illustrated hub-and-spoke models to develop workforce pipeline capacity.

Leading step van manufacturer Morgan Olson opened their 925,000-square-foot renovated facility in Danville-Pittsylvania County’s Cane Creek Centre in August 2020, investing $57.8M in capital investment and adding 703 new jobs to the region.

The Advanced Materials Sector, including polymer, plastics, rubber, fiber and chemicals, has also grown.  It has attracted 429 new jobs and over $152M in capital investment, including two new industries — Staunton River Plastics and BGF’s headquarters and R&D —as well as six expansions like Intertape and Essel Propack. There is also a strong support sector in Information Technology and Professional Services that includes IT, logistics, distribution, data centers and back office support. This sector has added 521 jobs and over $11.9M in capital investment, including activity by PRA Group and Kegerreis Digital Marketing.

In addition to economic development recruitment, the local and regional economic development team has supported the expansion of pipeline workforce development programs as well as quality-of-life assets, including downtown amenities, housing, parks, recreation and entrepreneurism. The momentum promises higher gross domestic products, higher wages for employees and stronger capital investment trends in the region. IALR’s Economic Development division, through the Southern Virginia Regional Alliance, works with the local team to support research, marketing and recruitment of the industries.

IALR & VT Receive GO VA Indoor Farming Grant

IALR & VT Receive GO VA Indoor Farming Grant

Hydroponic lettuce is one of the plants undergoing research at the CEA Center, which combines engineering, plant science and computer-managed greenhouse control technologies.

IALR and the Virginia Tech Center for Economic and Community Engagement received a grant to help grow the Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) sector in GO Virginia Region 3. The $77,053 grant will fund development of a strategy and roadmap for supporting industry growth and workforce development for CEA throughout the region. The effort will include an analysis of this emerging and dynamic agribusiness sector, including its industry and economic growth potential, while identifying needed facilities and infrastructure, workforce development issues, opportunities and applied research assets.

“A key outcome of the study will be to identify future needs and opportunities to support controlled agricultural production facilities and the underlying business investment for use by local and regional economic development and workforce development organizations and professionals,” said IALR Director of Applied Research Dr. Scott Lowman.

Controlled Environment Agriculture is an opportunity to attract and expand agribusiness investments. For instance, AeroFarms recently broke ground on a $53 million investment to build one of the largest aeroponic vertical farms in Danville. Nearby on IALR’s campus resides the focal point of the grant initiative, the Controlled Environment Agriculture Innovation Center, which is a partnership with Virginia Tech’s School of Plant and Environmental Sciences.

Green Named VEDA Treasurer

Green Named VEDA Treasurer

Linda Green, IALR’s Director of Economic Development and Executive Director of the Southern Virginia Regional Alliance, has been named Treasurer for the 2022 Executive Committee of the Board of Directors for the Virginia Economic Developers Association (VEDA), a committee on which she has served for several years. The new officers were elected at the two-day annual membership meeting in December.

The Virginia Economic Developers Association is a non-profit, non-partisan membership association for individuals with a professional interest in economic development across the Commonwealth of Virginia. VEDA serves as the voice of economic development in Virginia and was founded in 1982 to increase the effectiveness of individuals involved in the practice of economic development in Virginia by encouraging cooperation, exchange of information, and professional development activities.

Dr. South Joins CEA Innovation Center Team

Dr. South Joins CEA Innovation Center Team

Dr. Kaylee South has joined the research team at IALR as she fills the tenure-track faculty member position of Virginia Tech’s School of Plant and Environmental Sciences. She will serve as an Assistant Professor and conduct research at the Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) Innovation Center on IALR’s campus. She will bring with her funding for two graduate students and a post-doc to support CEA research efforts.

Dr. South holds a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture, Horticultural Science from the University of Georgia and a Ph.D. in Horticulture and Crop Science from The Ohio State University. She is passionate about controlled environment plant production and specializes in investigating the use of beneficial microbes to improve greenhouse floriculture crop production and plant quality, which is beneficial as similar research is ongoing at the Virginia Tech-IALR CEA Innovation Center.

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 New Additive Manufacturing Lab

IALR Launches New Additive Manufacturing Lab

IALR’s new additive manufacturing lab features 12 Markforged 3D printers (six metal and six carbon fiber), a wash station, a sintering oven, a 5-axis Haas CNC machine and an Instron® electromechanical testing system.

The Institute for Advanced Learning and Research (IALR) has established a new Additive Manufacturing Lab on IALR’s campus. Additive manufacturing is expected to play a critical role in the future of manufacturing as the industry is starting to regularly evaluate additive processes and their application to integrate into their existing manufacturing capabilities.

“IALR’s new additive manufacturing training capability is evident that this technology is transitioning from the R&D phase to commercialization,” said Executive Director of IALR, Mark Gignac. “As the technology is starting to become part of the everyday manufacturing world, this lab is taking the technology from being experimental to using it on the plant floor. One of the region’s latest start-up companies in the Rapid Launch Facility, FasTech, has recently integrated additive manufacturing into their capabilities. This localized adoption proves that unique and leading-edge activity is taking place in Danville-Pittsylvania County.”

The additive manufacturing lab’s print farm includes six Markforged Metal X™ (Gen 2) 3D printers and six Markforged X7™ carbon fiber 3D printers. The print farm also includes a wash station and a sintering oven. In the lab, a 5-axis Haas CNC machine is used for post-processing additive parts as well as machining test specimens that will be used for mechanical testing and evaluating material properties. To support that activity, an Instron® electromechanical testing system has also been installed to provide the testing required for additive parts.

The 3D printing is extremely beneficial because it allows manufacturers to go from design to complex metal parts faster, easier and at lower costs. Implementing metal 3D printing can greatly improve business efficiency and agility by getting products to market faster, reducing manufacturing costs and replacing inefficient manufacturing workflows, whether through eliminating the need for detail drawings and machine programming, or drastically shortening lead times that bog down product development processes.

Additionally, the new lab will open the door to new opportunities for collaboration with innovative companies such as Phillips Corporation, who has been instrumental in providing guidance and technical support while developing the additive manufacturing training capability. 3D printer manufacturer Markforged is also exploring further collaboration.

DCC instructor James Hubbard (left) and technician Eric Collie (center) help student Marion Jones incorporate hardware into his composite 3D-printed part to increase the life of wear surfaces. Jones is part of the ATDM program taught at the lab.

IALR’s New “Wreaths for a Cause” Program Raises over $16,000 for Local Charities

IALR’s New “Wreaths for a Cause” Program Raises over $16,000 for Local Charities

65 holiday wreaths were auctioned at open house event to support over 50 nonprofits

The Institute for Advanced Learning and Research (IALR) raised more than $16,000 for local charities through a new “Wreaths for a Cause” holiday program. More than 100 guests attended the Dec. 14 open house to celebrate the holidays, enjoy door prizes and participate in a live and silent auction of wreaths – all to benefit area nonprofit organizations.

Similar to IALR’s former “Decorating the Trees for a Cause” program, this year area businesses and organizations created and displayed 65 wreaths in IALR’s atrium in honor of their selected charities to raise funds in the form of votes, or donations. The public visited IALR’s atrium Nov. 29-Dec. 14 to vote for wreaths with a donation. Each of the more than 50 charities represented retained those funds, and the wreath that collected the most money (donated by Goodyear Tire and Rubber to support United Way of Danville-Pittsylvania County) received a bonus of $500 at the open house. Two random drawings of all wreaths awarded additional $500 bonus awards to participating charities Danville Pittsylvania County Cancer Association, supported by Computer Bookkeeping & Tax Service, and Caswell Pet Lifeline Rescue, supported by Linden Rose Boutique. All wreaths were then auctioned off, raising more funds for the supported charities.

“Not only was the open house event a festive and fun holiday gathering, but it was truly rewarding to see the generosity of the guests in attendance as they gave toward the many worthwhile causes represented,” said Ellen Bass of IALR. “It was the first year we introduced decorated wreaths as a fresh take on our previous holiday tree program, and it was fulfilling to see it so well received. We thank all of the businesses, organizations and open house attendees who gave their time and resources to help the nonprofits in our communities.”

At the open house, Austin Scher of the Danville Otterbots (and chair of the United Way of Danville-Pittsylvania County campaign) served as master of ceremonies, and Rita Smith of River City Auction served as wreath auctioneer. All guests had an opportunity to win door prizes donated from local businesses. The nearly $1,300 in proceeds from the event ticket sales went to the United Way of Danville-Pittsylvania County.

“Wreaths for a Cause” sponsors included URW Community Federal Credit Union, an anonymous donor, Commonwealth Home Health Care, Piedmont Infusion Services and Links Coffee House Café. Since IALR began a holiday fundraising program for nonprofits in 2010, more than $135,000 has been raised for charitable causes.

PHOTOS: https://flic.kr/s/aHsmXfPACN