Institute for Advanced Learning and Research

Driving Economic Transformation

IALR May 2021 Newsletter

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IALR Wins Four Gold Blue Ridge PRSA Summit Awards

IALR Wins Four Gold Blue Ridge PRSA Summit Awards

The Institute for Advanced Learning and Research’s (IALR) Public Relations and Communications team won four Gold Summit Awards from the Blue Ridge Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA). The 2020 Blue Ridge Chapter Summit Awards event was held virtually and winners were announced via video. Out of the 12 tactic categories awarded, Communications Manager Allison Moore and Graphic and Multimedia Specialist Daniel Dalton earned the highest award of gold in the four categories of Annual Report, Newsletter, Website and Video.

The IALR newsletter, which is produced monthly in print and electronic format to summarize the activities and accomplishments of the organization’s five divisions, won gold for the sixth consecutive year. The newsletters can be viewed at www.ialr.org/newsletters.The goal of IALR’s 2019 Annual Report was to create a compelling and engaging product with emphasis placed on a more effective and efficient distribution. The main focus was on reducing cost and time spent on distribution while still effectively reaching the target audience through expanded electronic formats. The award-winning annual report can be viewed here: www.ialr.org/annual-reports.

The new Great Opportunities in Technology and Engineering Careers (GO TEC) website, developed and launched with oversight by IALR, who serves as the fiscal agent, provides a hub for communications efforts with links from promotional merchandise, literature and social media for the GO TEC program. The website can be viewed at www.gotecva.org.

IALR’s analytical chemistry lab has become a leader in Virginia’s growing hemp industry, but the department recognized there was confusion about why discrepancies existed in test results from different labs. IALR led crafting of a video series, including an introductory video summarizing the six main causes for lab-to-lab testing discrepancies as well as follow-up videos that focused on each of the six causes to help alleviate the concerns.

The Summit awards are open to all professional public relations practitioners and students and the material must be produced by or for an organization based in the Blue Ridge Chapter area. The entries are reviewed and decided by a panel of judges from the Agricultural Relations Council Chapter of PRSA.

The Public Relations Society of America Blue Ridge Chapter is a professional association serving Central and Southwest Virginia public relations practitioners. Founded in 1992, the chapter strives to bring together professionals to enhance the practice, provide an exchange of experiences and ideals, and promote professional development.

IALR Breaks Ground on $25.5M Center for Manufacturing Advancement

IALR Breaks Ground on $25.5M Center for Manufacturing Advancement

51,250-square-foot Center to enhance Southern Virginia’s advanced manufacturing sector

The Institute for Advanced Learning and Research (IALR) has broken ground to build a 51,250-square-foot Center for Manufacturing Advancement (CMA) on the IALR campus. The innovative CMA will offer a platform for leading-edge business success specifically targeted at manufacturing companies establishing or expanding their presence in Southern Virginia. The $25.5 million project, funded by the Commonwealth and the Danville Regional Foundation, is being built in cooperation with Virginia’s Division of Engineering and Buildings.

“Southern Virginia is a top location for advanced manufacturers from across the globe, and the Center for Manufacturing Advancement will undoubtedly help attract more of them to the region,” said Governor Ralph Northam. “This state-of-the-art facility will play an important role in driving economic development and innovation in Virginia, while also helping the existing Danville-Pittsylvania business community grow and thrive.”

“Southern Virginia has a rich legacy workforce development program in place to support the hiring needs of top advanced manufacturers across the region and state,” said Mark Gignac, Executive Director of IALR. “The new Center for Manufacturing Advancement is a natural next step in positioning our area as a leader in this sector, and as an expert resource for those companies wishing to establish a location here locally.”

“As technology exponentially advances, it is critical we stay at the forefront of integrating these innovations into training and manufacturing processes,” said Troy Simpson, Director of Advanced Manufacturing at IALR. “Our new Center for Manufacturing Advancement will do just that – allow companies to interface with one another, technology providers and students to leverage space, collaboration and equipment opportunities for their own growth and advancement.”

The CMA, projected to open in 2022, will be built adjacent to the recently completed Kyocera SGS Tech Hub facility. It will feature two floors, offices, meeting rooms, areas to house support services and the following amenities for manufacturer tenants:

  • rapid-launch facilities that will enable new businesses to begin limited operations off site during what is traditionally the initial down time as new businesses wait for their factory to be constructed and equipped to support full operations;
  • an ISO-certified inspection lab that will provide integrated inspection capabilities required to validate product quality. This service will reduce the start-up phase for a new company by 4 to 6 months, the time required to certify an inspection lab;
  • process improvement labs that will enable new and existing businesses to improve their processes in a more expeditious manner, thereby ensuring global competitiveness;
  • an industry 4.0 integration and training lab that will support next-generation manufacturing requirements
  • a platform for collaborative innovation that allows manufacturing companies, technology companies and engineering students to work together to discover, integrate and showcase emerging technology; and
  • concierge service that provides the wrap-around support needed by companies new to the U.S. during their critical start-up phase.

In addition to the Commonwealth, partners for the building project include architect Dewberry; builder Blair Construction; engineers Master Engineers & Designers and Dunlap & Partners Engineers; and landscape architect Site Collaborative. Many stakeholders also supported the effort.

“The new Center for Manufacturing Advancement (CMA) will provide opportunities for business and industry to have the latest technologies available, as they work to keep pace with the industry advancements that steadily come forward,” said Delegate Danny Marshall. “This will be a solid resource to help our region attract and retain companies that hire our workers.”

“Once again, IALR leads the way in providing a firm foundation for bringing high-tech manufacturing companies to our region with the Center for Manufacturing Advancement (CMA),” said Sen. Bill Stanley (R-20). “The key element for our long-term economic vitality is the creation of a solid workforce pipeline that will not only attract advanced manufacturing companies here, but will also train our citizens for careers in the cutting edge and high paying jobs that these companies will bring with them. The CMA will do just that.”

“The vision for this center is bold, and it will have an enormous impact on our region’s future by providing the resources and environment for innovators and manufacturers to come together and create new products,” said City of Danville Mayor Alonzo Jones. “I look forward to seeing what products and innovations come out of this center in the years to come and the new opportunities that will be available for our citizens.”

“The Pittsylvania County Board of Supervisors has targeted advanced manufacturing as a crucial component of all our economic development efforts,” said Bob Warren, Chairman of the Pittsylvania County Board of Supervisors. “We know that this new facility will improve manufacturing processes and capabilities in our region and create an easier startup process for companies locating here, strengthening Pittsylvania County’s status as a great place to do business.”

“We are excited to announce Phillips’ commitment to locate our next manufacturing solutions innovation center at IALR’s new CMA building in 2022,” said Alan Phillips, President/CEO of Phillips Corporation. “This commitment is a natural and continuing extension of our long-standing training and manufacturing technology collaborations with ILAR. We believe there are substantial and immediate needs to develop additive and subtractive manufacturing technologies to support expansion of the USA’s manufacturing competitiveness as well as to strengthen the capacity and capabilities of our Defense Industrial Base. We are very pleased to continue our partnerships with IALR, the Danville community, and the Southern Virginia academic and business community, with a common mission to develop outstanding training and manufacturing technology resources.”

With few other regions currently offering a similar complement of services, the CMA is expected to serve as an important economic development tool and provide Virginia with a competitive edge in 21st century manufacturing. Its location on the campus of IALR will allow it to leverage resources by drawing its governance, leadership and administrative support from IALR.

IALR’s Virtual Holiday Tree Program Names Winner

IALR’s Virtual Holiday Tree Program Names Winner

Online votes result in $2,000 donation check to charity

The Institute for Advanced Learning and Research (IALR) is pleased to announce that God’s Pit Crew is the winner of the 11th annual Decorating the Trees for a Cause program, which was held virtually this year. God’s Pit Crew’s tree received 632 “likes” or votes on IALR’s Facebook voting competition. Thanks to the sponsorship of an anonymous donor and Sodexo, the organization will be presented a $2,000 donation check.

Businesses and organizations were invited to submit one photo of a decorated tree along with a charity of choice. All photos were posted online for a virtual viewing and voting experience, benefiting the charity of the tree with the most votes. Thirty-seven trees were submitted, and a total of 5,413 “likes” were collected. All trees can be viewed at http://bit.ly/IALRtrees2020.

“We have such a spirited community that really rallied behind our modified Decorating the Trees for a Cause event,” said Ellen Bass, Sales & Marketing Manager for IALR. “I want to thank all those businesses and organizations who took the time to submit a photo of their decorated tree. IALR was honored to keep the tradition alive in a new, virtual format to continue to engage the community, celebrate the holidays and support our local charities.”

Last year’s Decorating the Trees for a Cause program featured 44 trees. Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company’s tree received the most votes, benefiting the United Way of Danville-Pittsylvania County. Foster Insurance’s tree received the second most votes, benefiting God’s Pit Crew. Since the program’s beginning in 2010, more than $119,000 has been raised for charitable causes.

Photos from IALR’s Decorating the Trees for a Cause Goes Virtual program can be viewed at http://bit.ly/IALRtrees2020. God’s Pit Crew won the most votes with 632 Facebook “likes” and will receive a $2,000 donation check sponsored by an anonymous donor and Sodexo.

IALR First in Virginia to Partner with District C on Innovative Work-Based Learning Model

IALR First in Virginia to Partner with District C on Innovative Work-Based Learning Model

Program preps students for modern workforce while solving real employer problems

Photo by District C

The Institute for Advanced Learning and Research (IALR) is the first in Virginia to enter a regional partnership with Raleigh-based nonprofit District C, bringing an innovative work-based learning model to Southern Virginia and surrounding localities. The unique program will help fill the skills gap experienced by employers and will help meet the work-based learning needs of Virginia high school students.

District C’s proven model, covered by Forbes and Education Week, coaches diverse teams of students to solve real, complex problems for local businesses or organizations. District C recently partnered with the new Boost by Kaplan program, joining other well-known program partners Google and Myers-Briggs.

“The leadership of District C have amassed phenomenal educational experience over their careers, including work with Harvard and Kaplan,” said Dr. Julie Brown, Director of Advanced Learning at IALR. “Their unique learning model addresses the true needs of employers of the new economy – a need for workers with complex problem-solving, leadership and collaboration skills with the ability to work in diverse teams.”

As Education Week mentions in its feature story on District C, “so-called ‘soft skills’ are in high demand, but employer surveys consistently show that students are entering the workforce without them.” As technology exponentially improves and automates routine and manual tasks, employers place a deeper emphasis on hiring individuals with higher level thinking and decision-making skills.

“We are so excited to be joining the great work that is already going on at IALR and in Southern Virginia,” said Anne Jones, District C Co-Founder. “We can’t wait to see the value the District C Coaches and their students will bring to the community.”

IALR’s Next generation Of Work (NOW) program addresses the soft skills gap by using the District C model to create genuine, collaborative, problem-solving experiences for high school students. The program starts with coaching student teams on District C mindsets and tools before introducing them to a business partner with a real problem. For about three weeks, students research, brainstorm and develop their solution. Coaches guide them through the process, but the solutions and final pitches are 100 percent student-driven. The plans are shared with business partners before a virtual audience.

“Virginia has recently emphasized the importance of work-based learning, or WBL, and is endeavoring to increase the number of students participating in these experiences,” said Jessie Vernon, Program Coordinator at IALR, who leads the NOW program. “The District C model helps address many of the challenges of providing meaningful WBL on a large scale, and increasingly important, in a virtual setting. For a minimal time investment, the partnering business positively impacts anywhere from four to 12 students. The District C model is an amazing tool to add to our ‘WBL tool kit’ in Southern Virginia.”

To date, IALR has held two NOW cohorts virtually – one in the spring of 2020 for students of the Academy for Engineering and Technology (AET) and one over the summer open to any interested high school juniors, seniors or recent high school graduates. Four organizations have participated: Dan River Year AmeriCorps, Dewberry, Kyocera SGS Tech Hub and Tyton BioSciences; 33 students have completed the program; and three educators and IALR staff members have trained and become certified as District C Coaches. According to NOW survey results from business participants, all four partners indicate they have implemented or plan to implement at least part of the solutions students provided.

“The pleasure and honor of this project was all mine. It is inspiring to see young people critically think like that,” said Jason Wells, President of Kyocera SGS Tech Hub. “I found the time invested very worthwhile.”

IALR will continue to offer the NOW program to students throughout Southern Virginia and beyond with all activities online for the time-being. Additionally, IALR and District C hope to offer a Coaches Institute for educators in early 2021. Participating educators would receive training and become District C certified coaches so they can implement the model directly at their schools. Educators and administrators interested in the Coaches Institute should contact Jessie Vernon at jessie.vernon@ialr.org. IALR and District C will host a virtual information session at 3:30 p.m. on Nov. 5 for business and community members to learn more about how they can become involved. To register, visit bit.ly/NOWinfosession. For more information about NOW, visit ialr.org/now.

Sovah Health – Danville, IALR Launch Region’s First Sonography Training Program

Sovah Health – Danville, IALR Launch Region’s First Sonography Training Program

Tobacco Commission grant to assist with start-up, help fill sonographer shortage

Sovah Health – Danville and the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research (IALR) are launching a new 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. 

“Sovah Health values education and with the success of our Radiologic Technology Program, we are excited to be able to provide the new Sonography School to our community with a wide variety of challenging and rewarding career options,” said Alan Larson, Market President, Sovah Health and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Sovah Health – Danville. “We are proud to be able to invest in a high-demand professional skill that will prepare these students for a career in a rapidly growing field in health care.”

Regional health care providers like Sovah Health have expressed limited access to registered sonographers, which has led to unfilled positions and dependence on outside resources like temporary/traveling talent services. In the past, the nearest training programs were located in Charlottesville and Winston Salem. A local program, located at Sovah Health – Danville, is anticipated to help resolve the workforce shortage, which could deepen if not addressed. According to Career Education Colleges and Universities, over the next decade, the demand for medical sonographers will grow by 23 percent, over three times the national average.

Elaine Nichols, Sonography Program Director, with students teaching ultrasound techniques.

The start-up of the training program will be supported by a $238,775 grant from the Virginia Tobacco Region Revitalization Commission and matched with support from Sovah Health and IALR. Sovah Health will lead, develop and execute the training program. IALR will serve as fiscal agent and, in conjunction with the Dan River Region Collaborative, will oversee exploration of opportunities for what would be the state’s second registered health care apprenticeship with the Virginia Department of Labor and Industry.

“We are thrilled to help meet the needs of our region’s health care providers while preparing our local talent for highly skilled, competitive-wage job opportunities,” said Dr. Julie Brown, Director of Advanced Learning at IALR and Project Director of the Dan River Region Collaborative. “I look forward to steering the exploration of a state-registered apprenticeship opportunity that leverages work-based learning best practices to produce career-ready graduates for our employers.”

Qualified candidates for the training program include students who have already earned a two-year associate’s health degree or a degree in another discipline such as radiologic technology, registered nursing or registered respiratory therapy. Additionally, students with a bachelor’s degree and course work in physics and anatomy are qualified to apply to the program. The Sonography Training Program would provide an opportunity to upgrade their skills with an additional year of training and be considered for high-wage, high-demand jobs.

Sovah Health – Danville’s School of Health Professions offers an associate degree in radiologic technology, which presents a pathway opportunity for the Sonography Training Program. Sovah’s accredited Radiologic

Technology program, in practice since 2004, boasts a 94-percent five-year pass rate and a 100-percent five-year job placement rate.

Graduates of the Sonography Training Program will be qualified to take two nationally recognized certification exams. The American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers (ARDMS) is the most highly regarded certifying body. Additionally, the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) offers certification in sonography.

Those interested in applying for the Sonography Training Program should complete the application located on Sovah Health’s website. For more information, call 434-799-2271 and ask for the School of Health Professions Program Director or Sonography Program Director. The deadline for applications is Dec. 15, 2021, and financial aid is available for those qualified.

Sovah Health – Danville is excited to welcome the new Diagnostic Medical Sonography Program Director, Elaine Nichols, MSSL, BS, RDMS, RDCS, RVT, R(T)R, ACUE. Elaine comes to Danville from Bedford, VA where she worked at Piedmont Virginia Community College as the Diagnostic Medical Sonography Program Director. She obtained her Bachelor of Radiologic Sciences from College of Health and Life Sciences in Roanoke, Master of Strategic Sciences from Mountain State University, and is currently pursuing a Doctor of Education in Leadership Studies from the University of Lynchburg. In her spare time, Elaine enjoys reading, embroidery, quilting, and serving on the Virginia Society of Ultrasound.

Elaine will have virtual meet and greet zoom sessions for potential students to ask questions and learn more about the program. The first session will be October 16th at 5pm. For more information on these sessions, contact elaine.nichols@lpnt.net.

About Sovah Health

Sovah Health is a regional healthcare delivery system, serving the south-central Virginia and north central North Carolina region. It is comprised of two hospital campuses, one in Danville and the other in Martinsville. The Danville campus is the leading medical center in the Dan River Region of Virginia and North Carolina employing approximately 1300 people and with 175 physicians are on the medical staff. The Martinsville campus has been at the heart of the Martinsville and Henry County community and the surrounding area providing exceptional healthcare and services to the region since 1970. Sovah Health – Martinsville has more than 120 physicians on the medical staff and employs more than 850 people.

DRRC, IALR Announce Tobacco Commission Award for Phase 2 Expansion of Work Ready Community Initiative

DRRC, IALR Announce Tobacco Commission Award for Phase 2 Expansion of Work Ready Community Initiative

17 localities – including Virginia’s original six launched – to benefit

The Dan River Region Collaborative (DRRC) and the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research (IALR), in partnership with regional economic development agencies, school divisions, workforce development boards and employers, are pleased to announce a workforce development grant award from the Virginia Tobacco Region Revitalization Commission (TRRC). The $260,674 grant, along with matching funds, will help maximize the impact and growth of the ACT Work Ready Community (WRC) Expansion Phase II effort, which will include all 15 GO Virginia Region 3 localities, as well as Greensville County and Emporia of the Crater Planning District.

“This support from the Virginia Tobacco Region Revitalization Commission builds on a strong and collaborative regional partnership that has demonstrated measurable growth to better position thousands of job candidates across most of Southern Virginia with an employer-recognized and valued credential,” said Dr. Julie Brown, Project Director for the Dan River Region Collaborative and Director of Advanced Learning for the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research. “The Work Ready Community designation will continue to greatly assist these localities in marketing the competencies of their workforce to existing and prospective employers.”

TRRC funding, along with matched funding, will support 12 certified localities as they maintain their WRC status (progressing through maintenance Periods 1, 2 and 3) and will assist five localities in achieving their initial WRC goals. Efforts will include initial ACT WorkKeys National Career Readiness Certificate (NCRC) testing and NCRC retakes to improve certification level along with job profiles for participating employers and dedicated personnel to work with employers and partner agencies. Funding partners on the matching side include IALR, Danville Regional Foundation, local school divisions, workforce development boards and regional employers.

The ACT WorkKeys NCRC is a competency- and evidence-based, industry-recognized, third-party validated, portable and stackable certification that validates work readiness skills in applied math, graphic literacy and workplace documents. As sufficient numbers of tests are passed in a locality, it is then certified as a Work Ready Community. Once initial certification is attained, communities must reach further goals to maintain certification.

Companies such as Owens-Illinois (Pittsylvania), Eastman Chemical (Martinsville), Ten Oaks (Patrick), Nucor Buildings Group (Mecklenburg) and Genesis Décor (Amelia) have supported the NCRC, and some have adopted it as part of their job applicant pre-screening process. Outcomes are truly significant, including 10,622 NCRCs earned as of June 30, 2020, and more than 5,500 additional certificates expected in the two-year period of the WRC Expansion Phase II project, which covers the majority of the Southern TRRC region.

“The implementation of this process has improved the efficiency of our interviewing. We are talking to applicants with a real motivation to work at O-I who have proven skill levels,” said Stephanie McGuire, HR Manager for Owens-Illinois. “The job profiling and WorkKeys program provides us a valid and well-documented screening tool.”

Localities participating in the CWRC initiative include:

Work Ready Communities maintaining designation:

  1. Halifax County – Maintaining Period 3
  2. Henry County – Maintaining Period 2
  3. Pittsylvania County – Maintaining Period 2
  4. City of Martinsville – Maintaining Period 2
  5. City of Danville – Maintaining Period 1
  6. Patrick County – Maintaining Period 1
  7. Lunenburg County – Maintaining Period 1
  8. Mecklenburg County – Maintaining Period 1
  9. Amelia County – Maintaining Period 1
  10. Brunswick County – Maintaining Period 1
  11. Charlotte County – Maintaining Period 1
  12. Nottoway County – Maintaining Period 1

GO Virginia Region 3 Expansion – localities targeted to achieve initial CWRC status:

  1. Buckingham County – 99%
  2. Cumberland County – 93%
  3. Prince Edward County – 95%

Crater Planning District – localities targeted to achieve initial CWRC status:

  1. Greensville County – 98%
  2. Emporia City – 85%

In July 2013, Southern Virginia was the first region in Virginia to commit to earning the ACT Certified Work Ready Community designation. The launch of the original six localities included the cities of Danville and Martinsville and the counties of Halifax, Henry, Patrick and Pittsylvania.

IALR Seeking 10 AmeriCorps Members to Mentor Students in STEM, Reading

IALR Seeking 10 AmeriCorps Members to Mentor Students in STEM, Reading

Opportunities include stipend, educational award, professional development

The Institute for Advanced Learning and Research (IALR) is seeking to fill 10 remaining member slots for its Dan River Year AmeriCorps program, which fosters a year of community service consisting of mentoring students in STEM-related areas and coaching literacy skills. Service sites include two positions at Danville Public Schools, three at the Danville Science Center, two at Gretna Middle School, two at Halifax Middle School and one at Martinsville Middle School.

“Our AmeriCorps program is a unique opportunity for individuals looking to enhance their resume, build relationships and add new skills while giving back to the community,” said Dr. Julie Brown, Director of Advanced Learning at IALR. “Not only do service members enjoy helping students, but they also receive professional development, a stipend and an educational award.”

Supported by the federal Corporation for National and Community Service, IALR and the Danville Regional Foundation, the regional Dan River Year AmeriCorps program is designed to build the area’s capacity for science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) by addressing literacy challenges. The available STEM/Literacy Tutor and Coach positions work with students to enhance their STEM and literacy skills, as well as to help with related service projects. For their service, AmeriCorps members receive a stipend as well as a Segal Education Award to pay for college or to repay student loans.

Twenty positions were recently filled across the Southern Virginia footprint spanning Pittsylvania County, Halifax County and the cities of Danville and Martinsville. There are 10 open slots. To view the list of current openings and to apply for member positions, candidates should visit bit.ly/DRYpositions. For more information, those interested may contact Dana Silicki at Dana.Silicki@ialr.org or (434) 766-6729.

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. The Virginia Department of Social Services, through the Office on Volunteerism and Community Services, oversees the Dan River Year program and provides support. For more information, visit www.NationalService.gov.

Dan River Year AmeriCorps member Trina Holiness-Morris writes thoughtful notes to be inserted in stimulus care packages for seniors in residential care to help stimulate their brain activity and provide them cheer during a time of quarantine. She and other AmeriCorps members filled the packages with playing cards or a game, a stamped greeting card to send to a relative or friend, a large-pieced puzzle, an adult coloring book with colored pencils, a marigold plant kit, a large-print word search or Sudoku, and a canvas with paint and a brush.

IALR Awarded $1.78 Million Department of Defense Contract for New, Innovative Skilled Worker Training Program for Defense Industrial Base

IALR Awarded $1.78 Million Department of Defense Contract for New, Innovative Skilled Worker Training Program for Defense Industrial Base

The U.S. Army Contracting Command-Rock Island (ACC-RI) has awarded a $1.78 million contract to the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research (IALR) and Danville Community College (DCC) for a pilot project to develop the prototype training program, Accelerated Training in Defense Manufacturing (ATDM). The base year of the contract includes instructional staff and curriculum development to address workforce gaps for Defense Industrial Base (DIB) companies.

“Thanks to this transformative opportunity from the DoD, the ATDM program will allow us to fill critical workforce gaps while building the capacity of our nation’s Defense Industrial Base,” said Mark Gignac, Executive Director for IALR, the fiscal agent and ATDM program lead. “We are fortunate to be joined by exemplary partners—DCC, a leader in workforce development programs; Phillips Corporation, a champion of next-generation manufacturing solutions; and The SPECTRUM Group, a consulting firm experienced in the defense industry. I look forward to seeing the program grow under the leadership of IALR’s Troy Simpson, and I thank Sen. Mark Warner and other legislators for supporting these efforts.”

“Danville Community College’s excellence and experience in technical training aligned to industry needs makes our institution the perfect partner for the ATDM pilot program,” said Dr. Jacqueline Gill Powell, president of Danville Community College. “This program will provide another unique opportunity for our students while training needed workforce for the defense industry. By leveraging our existing advanced manufacturing infrastructure and industry expert knowledge, we are positioned to support the ATDM program now and into the future.”

The initial ATDM pilot will focus on the naval shipbuilding sector and will train skilled workers in the DIB skill gaps of CNC machining, welding, metrology/quality assurance and additive manufacturing. A fast-track, intensive and targeted program, ATDM offers universal application across the DIB and the inherent flexibility to be customized for specific manufacturing sectors. It also addresses one of the top workforce development priorities of the Department of Defense’s (DoD) Industrial Base Analysis and Sustainment (IBAS) program – the need to train skilled workers at scale and velocity to address skill gaps and manpower shortages in the DIB. The ATDM contract was issued under the CORNERSTONE OTA, an integrated contract vehicle that supports the DoD’s IBAS program.

ATDM will support the recently launched IBAS National Imperative in Industrial Skills (NIIS) for the creation of an industrial skills workforce development ecosystem. NIIS aims to close existing industrial workforce skill gaps and improve America’s capacity to recruit, train and deliver sufficient numbers of workers with industrial skills to meet defense supply chain requirements. A major objective of the pilot project will be to evaluate ATDM’s contributions to NIIS as a model training platform in a national network of regionally-based training centers serving the various industrial sectors of the DIB.

“Congratulations to the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research and Danville Community College consortium for securing a $1.78 million award from the Department of Defense (DoD) for their workforce training pilot program, as part of DoD’s National Imperative for Industrial Skills (NIIS) Initiative, which aims to scale up workforce training for our nation’s defense industrial base. The Accelerated Training in Defense Manufacturing pilot program ramps up key skills such as welding, additive manufacturing and metrology, and serves as a model for our nation,” said U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-VA). “Given significant gaps that exist in our nation’s defense industrial base, we must pursue innovative models of workforce training such as this one in order to meet our essential national security needs. I’m proud to have been part of today’s announcement, and commend all of the hard work that has gone into developing this program. I look forward to seeing the impact of this training in developing indispensable talent for naval shipbuilding. I’m also optimistic about the jobs that this pilot program will create during this difficult time, and the effect that those jobs will have on the regional economy.”

IALR and DCC have partnered with Phillips Corporation, one of the nation’s largest suppliers of state-of-the-art manufacturing equipment, and The SPECTRUM Group, a leading defense consulting firm. The public-private consortium consulted with the defense industry to develop the ATDM program.

Alan Phillips, President/CEO of Phillips Corporation states, “We are proud to be joining IALR, Danville Community College and The Spectrum Group to team on implementing ATDM in the important mission to bridge the skills gap in the USA’s Defense Industrial Base. We believe IALR has the ideal combination of strong leadership, excellent infrastructure, resourceful strategic partners and a highly innovative training formula that will enable success in executing the objectives of ATDM. We look forward to contributing our advanced manufacturing industry knowledge in the areas of subtractive and additive metalworking technologies as we partner with IALR to offer compelling and deployable training programs.”

“ATDM will take the extraordinary manufacturing and workforce development infrastructure that exists in the Danville region to the national level with the potential to make a significant contribution to our nation’s security. SPECTRUM is delighted to be on the Danville team,” said Charlie Dale, Partner of The SPECTRUM Group.

Photos Courtesy of DCC and the City of Danville

Danville Community College (DCC) students train on the latest precision machining technology as part of Danville-Pittsylvania County’s workforce development model, which has been lauded by Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam, U.S. Sen. Mark Warner and others as a benchmark program. DCC will work with the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research, program lead of a newly awarded contract from the Department of Defense, to develop an innovative Accelerated Training in Defense Manufacturing program and address Defense Industrial Base skill gaps in CNC machining and other areas.

 

 

AET Students Participate in New NOW Program

AET Students Participate in New NOW Program

IALR and the Academy for Engineering and Technology (AET) held the first ever virtual Next generation Of Work (NOW) program in April. Modeled after the District C program in North Carolina, NOW pairs student teams with area companies who pose a problem for the students to solve. Twenty-five local AET juniors participated, and three local companies, including Dewberry, Kyocera and Tyton BioSciences, served as the business partners.

“It’s a really unique way to provide students with a real life, work-based learning experience to solve complex problems in diverse teams,” said Jessie Vernon, IALR Program Coordinator. In addition to student benefits, the program also assists local businesses. It is a minimal time investment of up to five hours, and they receive viable solutions to their problem. The N.C. District C program reports that 93 percent of their business partners have implemented or plan to implement at least part of the solutions the students provided.

Students were first coached on the mindsets and tools needed to work collaboratively to solve their business problem. Students then met with their business partner to learn about their problem. From there, they had roughly four weeks to research, brainstorm and develop their plan, and received feedback from their business partner at the halfway point. Vernon, John Hatchett, AET Coordinator, and Dana Silicki, IALR Program Coordinator, who each completed 60+ hours of training with District C, served as team coaches and provided more frequent support to students. The final event consisted of a 10-minute presentation to the business partner highlighting their solution to the problem, followed by 15 minutes of discussion. Business partners provided real feedback to the students, and the students were also graded on their participation.

Students are taught four principal mindsets: Analytical, Design, Collective and Self-Aware. They are also taught how to use 12 different tools within these mindsets. “This is a very student-driven process,” Vernon said. “After being coached at the program launch on the four mindsets and most of the tools, the students set their own agendas and ideate on their own.”

IALR plans to run various implementations of the program moving forward. This is the first District C-modeled, partner program to be run outside of North Carolina.

“The pleasure and honor of this project was all mine. It is inspiring to see young people critically think like that,” said Jason Wells of Kyocera. “I found the time invested very worthwhile.”

Squad 5, including Bailey Calhoun, Emma Littlefield and DaTaevion Robertson, present their business problem solution to Tyton BioSciences.

 

Squad 8 students Elliot Jones, Zakhyia Stamps, Joe Tramontano and Jaten Yates pitch their solutions to Dewberry.

LiveGrow Bio and IALR’s Plant Endophyte Research Center Partner on Microbial Biological Solutions for Growers and Agribusiness

LiveGrow Bio and IALR’s Plant Endophyte Research Center Partner on Microbial Biological Solutions for Growers and Agribusiness

LiveGrow Bio’s manufacturing, formulation, and delivery system, IALR’s endophytes may present natural alternative to chemical treatments

The Institute for Advanced Learning and Research (IALR) and LiveGrow Bio are pleased to announce a partnership to develop microbial biostimulant and biocontrol solutions for growers and the agriculture industry. Pending successful testing, the potential new products could enter commercial production on an accelerated timeline, offering growers natural, healthy alternatives to chemical fertilizers and pesticides.

“The agricultural biologicals market is growing rapidly as farmers are seeking synthetic, chemical-free solutions,” said Mark Gignac, Executive Director of IALR. “This collaboration represents the next step in taking our endophytes to market. Our applied research experience and expertise in endophytes will be combined with LiveGrow Bio’s patented formulation and delivery system in a mutually beneficial partnership that will ultimately benefit farmers across the region and beyond.”

Dr. Chuansheng Mei, Chief Scientist of the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research (IALR), works with endophytes, or beneficial plant bacteria, which serve as biostimulants by naturally stimulating plant growth and health and contributing to natural pest control.

“Our partnership with IALR is an important piece of our product development pipeline over the next two years. By leveraging their extensive work with endophytes, our team can accelerate the identification of the most effective microbes for various crop segments that we are currently targeting. Combined with our patented microbial manufacturing and formulation technology this will allow us to quickly test commercial formulations of these microbes in the field, significantly reducing our timeline for launch of new products,” said Andrey Pinchuk, President and CEO of LiveGrow Bio.

As part of the agreement, IALR will provide LiveGrow Bio some of IALR’s most promising plant endophytes, or beneficial bacteria that were once living inside plants. These extracted microorganisms are from the library of more than 2,000 endophytes collected, characterized and researched by IALR’s Plant Endophyte Research Center, the first of its kind in the U.S. The plant endophytes serve as biostimulants by naturally stimulating plant growth and health, reducing the need for chemical fertilizer use and offering sustainable agricultural solutions. They also serve as biocontrol agents by contributing to natural pest control, providing a healthier alternative to chemical pesticides and improving the environment and soil quality. Collectively, biostimulants and biocontrol agents are known as biologicals.

“Establishing high-value and mutually beneficial partnerships such as this represents an important next step in bringing our natural biological solutions to the market,” said Dr. Scott Lowman, Director of Applied Research at IALR.

LiveGrow Bio will provide a unique, low-cost microbial manufacturing and formulation platform designed to maintain and administer the benefits of the endophytes while meeting the needs of the end user. Of particular advantage is the innovative platform’s ability to accommodate hard-to-formulate and -store biologicals based on Gram-negative bacteria. Most commonly, today’s biologicals integrate Gram-positive bacteria and fungi that produce spores, which allows them to be stored and have a shelf life. The often more efficient Gram-negative bacteria do not produce spores, making them poor candidates for the market in spite of their known high efficacy in the field. However, LiveGrow Bio’s platform provides an effective production, formulation, and delivery solution, which allows them to utilize any Gram-negative as a commercial product and expands opportunities for more diverse and highly effective product development options. In addition, LiveGrow™ Platform produces non-dormant products, which allows for a lower application rate while making their response in the field order of magnitude faster and more effective than the dormant spore-based products.

Soybean Field with Drying Plant in Background – Some of IALR’s most promising endophytes will be combined with LiveGrow Bio’s microbial production and formulation platform to develop microbial biostimulant and biocontrol solutions for growers and the agriculture industry. Major crops, including soybeans, will be targeted as well as others, such as strawberries, tobacco and turf grass.

As published authors and international experts on Gram-negative beneficial bacteria, IALR scientists will partner with LiveGrow Bio on the research and development of the microbial biological solutions. The two teams will combine IALR’s most promising endophytic bacteria with LiveGrow Bio’s platform and test the resulting pilot products on both the east and west coasts to ensure efficacy across diverse climates, environments and soil types. Once successful combinations are found, commercialization will be explored, leading to availability to growers.

LiveGrow Bio is a biotechnology company that has developed a platform allowing for cost-effective and field-effective manufacturing and formulation of any microbial organism. This LiveGrow™ Platform enables successful commercialization of a vast array of effective microbial organisms. LiveGrow Bio is focused on leading the next wave of agricultural innovation via highly concentrated metabolically active formulation of biopesticides and biostimulants to overcome growing pest resistance and ineffective, high-cost microbial products that currently exist in the marketplace. For more information, visit livegrowbio.com.