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A Collaborative, Impactful Approach to Public Health: The REACH Partnership

A Collaborative, Impactful Approach to Public Health: The REACH Partnership

A resident of the Dan River Region called 911 for lift assist and bed repair 14 times in one year.

The person needed support and resources, but in those moments of need, the only option the individual felt they had was to call 911.

Such situations strain the entire public health system, ranging from EMS transport agencies to hospitals and emergency rooms.

The Regional Engagement to Advance Community Health (REACH) Partnership connected that patient to food resources, home health care, wound care, medication assistance, telehealth appointments with specialists and in-home physical therapy and ultimately helped with placement in a bariatric nursing home. And that positive outcome is one of many success stories since the Partnership’s launch in 2021.

A systems approach to improve community health, the REACH Partnership brings disparate and siloed health providers together, deploying coordinated care teams to reduce avoidable emergency department and hospital use and address chronic disease and health factors. This work is executed by numerous partners and done in concert with public health education campaigns from the REACH AmeriCorps program.

“IALR is a convener and a connector. The REACH Partnership is a showcase of our goal to bring together seemingly separate or disparate organizations to drive economic transformation through healthy and vibrant communities.” – Dr. Julie Brown, Vice President of Advanced Learning, IALR

A continuation of the former Community Health Worker initiative, the REACH Partnership is supported by The Health Collaborative of the Dan River Region and funded through a $6.3 million grant from the Danville Regional Foundation. The Institute for Advanced Learning and Research (IALR) is the program administrator and lead fiscal agent.

A Systems Approach to Public Health

The goal of the REACH Partnership is to connect all the organizations focused on public health and implementing teams on the ground that know and understand the communities where they work. These organizations work together to strategically address systemic barriers to physical and mental health services for at-risk populations.

The service area for The Health Collaborative and REACH Partnership includes Caswell County, N.C., and the City of Danville and Pittsylvania County, Va. This rural micropolitan region ranks low in health factors like economic stability, housing, transportation, education and access to healthcare, healthy foods and parks. As a result, poor health outcomes include diabetes, high blood pressure, obesity, respiratory problems and low life expectancy. The data below is from countyhealthrankings.org.  

Health Factors 
  • Danville ranks 124 out of 133 Virginia localities.
  • Pittsylvania ranks 103 out of 133 Virginia localities.
  • Caswell ranks 81 out of 100 North Carolina localities.
Health Outcomes 
  • Danville ranks 128 out of 133 Virginia localities.
  • Pittsylvania ranks 95 out of 133 Virginia localities.
  • Caswell ranks 78 out of 100 North Carolina localities.

Factors that impact health are typically generational and socioeconomic in nature, calling for more robust solutions to improve health in a community. Organizations focused on improving community health usually operate independently of each other, duplicating resources and diluting potential impact.

To address both issues simultaneously, the goal for REACH Partners is to take a long-term, strategic approach to improving health by working together to address systemic, socioeconomic and generational health factors.

“Strategic collaboration among the organizations involved is what drives the success and impact of the REACH Partnership. Our teams make a tangible impact in the lives of our clients and will continue to drive positive health outcomes in the region.” – Dr. Cassandra Shelton-Bowman, REACH Program Manager

Dr. Cassandra Shelton-Bowman, Program Manager for the REACH Partnership, speaks with Francina Jones, REACH Program Assistant

Coordinated Care Teams

“You can only serve a community when you know what they need.”

That’s what Cindi Poteat, a Care Coordinator for the REACH Partnership says when describing the role of the coordinated care teams.

Intentionally designed to link healthcare, social services and community members, coordinated care teams include cross-agency community health workers, care coordinators and community paramedics. Community health workers and community paramedics are trusted members of the community who serve in these credentialed roles.

Currently, 20 community health workers and paramedics are in strategic locations across the service area. They are focused on increasing clients’ access to services and improving their health management through education, informal counseling, social support, outreach and advocacy. Each of these workers usually has a caseload of around 20 clients. REACH teams serve as liaisons between the community and available resources, increasing utilization to address social determinants.

The office of the REACH Partnership and REACH AmeriCorps program is located in the middle of downtown Danville at 772 Main Street.

For instance, Martina Tatum, a Certified Community Health Worker and Team Lead with Gateway Health, works with clients on crucial tasks like finding housing, applying for benefits, and navigating end-of-life care.

“When you are struggling to get food, to pay your rent and utility bills, going to the doctor is the last thing on a person’s mind. It’s all connected to health. If your basic needs are not met, you’re not going to take care of yourself.” – Martina Tatum, Community Health Worker

As a Care Coordinator and Certified Community Health Worker, Poteat has spent the last seven years serving communities in Danville, Pittsylvania County and Caswell County, working to identify the various social determinants of health for people in the region.

“We are a liaison and advocate for our clients in the community. We are their voice.” – Cindi Poteat, Care Coordinator and Certified Community Health Worker

REACH Partners

The Institute for Advanced Learning and Research Piedmont Access to Health Services, Inc. (PATHS)  Gateway Health 
Sovah Health Danville Compassion Health Care, Inc.  Danville Life Saving Crew
Caswell County EMS  Danville Pittsylvania County Community Services Danville Redevelopment and Housing Authority 

 

AmeriCorps Education 

IALR’s Advanced Learning division also administers the REACH AmeriCorps program, which works with the REACH Partnership. Focused on expanding public health capacity, community health educators conduct public health workshops and provide individualized support, addressing the region’s most pressing physical and mental health challenges.

This REACH AmeriCorps program was launched in 2022, and AmeriCorps awarded a $230,000 grant in spring 2023 to continue the program.

REACH AmeriCorps members provide an educational workshop about public health.

In short, this collaboration means that REACH has “two sides of the house.” While the REACH Partnership focuses on connecting providers and providing a system of care, the REACH AmeriCorps program deploys community health educators to provide resources and education to community members struggling with accessing healthcare resources.

REACH AmeriCorps members lead educational workshops in churches, retirement homes, independent living facilities and even within neighborhoods. These workshops are on several different topics specific to the community’s needs, such as mental health, exercise, cancer, diabetes and Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV).

REACH AmeriCorps in fiscal year 2023

20 Members 4,722 Service Hours 480 Clients Served

Serving approximately 25 hours a week, REACH AmeriCorps members receive a living allowance stipend, professional development, and a Segal Education Award.

If there is an identified need for immediate help, REACH AmeriCorps members will refer individuals to the REACH Partnership. From there, the Community Health Workers can refer people in need to Primary Care Physicians and provide a personalized approach to addressing the social determinants of health.

A Tangible Impact

“As we make our community healthier, we will have a stronger, more robust workforce. A high-quality, career-ready and healthy workforce is a direct contribution to economic development, the economic transformation of Southern Virginia, and the creation of a region where all can live and thrive.” – Telly Tucker, IALR President

A few years after the program’s launch, the REACH Partnership is already driving impact in the Dan River Region.

2023 Outcomes and Impact

Made 9,841 Connections to Resources for 674 Clients Reduced Emergency Room Visits for 63% of High Use Clients Graduated 134 Clients

To recognize that impact, the REACH Partnership was recently named a 2023 Health Quality Innovator of the Year by the Health Quality Innovators. The Community Health Worker Initiative – which became the REACH Partnership – was one of the programs that helped the City of Danville win the 2020 All-America City Award,

The REACH Partnership is tangibly improving health outcomes for individuals, but the long-term goal is that these results will compound and enhance the region’s rankings for both health factors and health outcomes. Each organization involved operates under two simple premises: no one organization can solve these problems alone, and improving health outcomes is a long-term strategy.

“Not only are they changing the lives of the individuals they serve, but together, their collective impact is moving the needle on our region’s population health outcomes.” – Maggie Richardson, Regional Coordinator, The Health Collaborative of the Dan River Region

IALR Welcomes Tracy Fink as Vice President of Institute Conference Center and Operations

IALR Welcomes Tracy Fink as Vice President of Institute Conference Center and Operations

The Institute for Advanced Learning and Research (IALR) is pleased to announce the appointment of Tracy Fink as the Vice President of the Institute Conference Center (ICC) and Operations, effective March 1. With over 20 years of experience in strategic event management, Fink brings a wealth of expertise to her new role.

“We are thrilled to welcome Tracy Fink as the new Vice President of the Institute Conference Center and Operations. Her proven and diverse event management experience, strategic vision and commitment to delivering exceptional events and experiences will undoubtedly drive the continued success of the ICC and further our mission of economic transformation in our region.” – Telly Tucker, IALR President

Fink is an experienced marketing, sales and event leader known for her strategic leadership and dynamic approach to event management. Her track record includes planning corporate and social events with guest counts exceeding 1,000. Her time working in numerous event-oriented roles has left her with a deep knowledge of the planning and logistics that go into creating successful experiences and events.

“I am thrilled to have the opportunity to lead the Institute Conference Center – one of the premier venues in all of Virginia,” said Fink. “I look forward to leveraging my experience and passion for event management and commitment to excellence to deliver unparalleled service to our clients and guests.”

Fink most recently served as Director of Events and Marketing for Mayfair Hospitality, which oversees several hotels and venues in Winston Salem, N.C. Fink has also worked as a public affairs officer for the U.S. Air Force auxiliary and as an on-air morning show host and sales manager for a Baltimore radio station. Fink has experience in sales, events and marketing across several industries and in different roles. Fink holds a Bachelor of Science in Public Relations and Mass Communications from Towson University and a Master of Business Administration from Columbus University. Her commitment to the community includes board positions and membership with such groups as the Forsyth County Hospitality Alliance, the Downtown Winston-Salem Partnership and Junior League.

“Tracy Fink’s extensive experience, community engagement and proven leadership will be invaluable as we continue to elevate the ICC as a leading destination for conferences, meetings and events. We look forward to working together to continue providing exceptional experiences for our clients and guests.” – Dr. John Hughes, Executive Vice President, Operations, IALR

Fink is filling this role after the recent retirement of Leslie Dobbins, who worked with the ICC for more than 20 years.

Located in Southern Virginia, the Institute Conference Center (ICC) is a preeminent destination for conferences, meetings and events. Boasting state-of-the-art facilities and unrivaled services and amenities like catering, technology support and event planning, the ICC offers a versatile and customizable space to accommodate gatherings of all sizes. From intimate board meetings to large-scale conferences, the ICC provides a dynamic environment designed to inspire collaboration, innovation and success. The ICC also oversees IALR’s on-site cafe, Megabytes.

About IALR

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

IALR Recognized with Prestigious Award for Apprenticeship Intermediary Role

IALR Recognized with Prestigious Award for Apprenticeship Intermediary Role

The Institute for Advanced Learning and Research (IALR) received the silver Outstanding Apprenticeship Intermediary Award from the Virginia Department of Workforce Development and Advancement (Virginia Works). This award recognizes impactful and growing contributions to workforce development through IALR’s Expanding Talent through Registered Apprenticeship (ExTRA) program.

“We are honored to be recognized for our contributions as an apprenticeship intermediary. This award is a testament to IALR’s commitment to increasing access to registered apprenticeship programs and the invaluable partnerships we’ve forged with workforce stakeholders. We will continue to promote Registered Apprenticeship as the gold standard of work-based learning in Southern Virginia.” — Natori Neal, Apprenticeship Coordinator, IALR

Natori Neal, Apprenticeship Coordinator, IALR and Carrie Roth, Director of Virginia Works

At the 6th Annual Outstanding Apprenticeship Awards held on Feb. 15, 2024, at Reynolds Community College in Henrico, Va., Natori Neal, Apprenticeship Coordinator at IALR, accepted the award on behalf of the organization. The event, hosted by the State Apprenticeship Agency, Virginia Works, marks the first year awards were presented to acknowledge intermediaries, highlighting their pivotal role in shaping the future of apprenticeship programs. As an apprenticeship intermediary, IALR can provide employers with technical assistance to develop a state-registered apprenticeship program as well as stakeholder education, grant funding to support related technical instruction (RTI) costs and connections to employers and talent.

“IALR is proud to serve as a connector, a convener, and a partner in impactful initiatives across different industries, all with the overarching mission of driving economic transformation. By connecting employers with resources and providing education and technical expertise, the ExTRA program exemplifies our commitment to win-win work-based-learning opportunities and a dynamic economy where every person can find opportunity and every business can thrive.” – IALR President Telly Tucker

IALR was one of only two recipients statewide of the Intermediary Award, with the gold award going to Hamilton-Ryker Talent Gro, a staffing and workforce solutions company serving multiple states. In addition to IALR’s accolade, Comfort Systems USA Mid-Atlantic – an ExTRA employer partner that sponsors plumbing and welding apprenticeship programs for youth and adults – was also honored with a Regional Outstanding Apprenticeship award.

J.R. Griffin, President of Comfort Systems USA MidAtlantic , Jamie Lynn Anderson Lindley (Outreach, Recruiting, & Training Manager), Carrie Roth, Director of Virginia Works

“IALR’s support of Registered Apprenticeship through it’s role as an Intermediary is one prong of IALR’s multi-faceted work-based learning framework- EmPOWER. Through EmPOWER our team works to facilitate pathways that connect students to careers and employers to their future talent. Registered Apprenticeship and other work-based learning models, such as internships and mentorships, cultivate employees equipped with the skills essential to our regional employers.” – Jessie Vernon, Advanced Learning Program Manager, IALR

Jim Foti, US Dept. of Labor Employment and Training Administration Regional Director, Natori Neal, Apprenticeship Coordinator, IALR, State Secretary of Labor, Bryan Slater, and Kara Joyce, Virginia Works Regional Apprenticeship Consultant

Virginia Works Director Carrie Roth and Chief Deputy Director Angela Kelly Wiecek were on hand to present the awards, acknowledging the outstanding efforts of IALR and its partners in advancing apprenticeship initiatives across the state. By partnering with local businesses and educational institutions, IALR continues to pave the way for Virginia’s next generation of skilled workers.

About ExTRA

Growing Impact Showcased in 2023 Annual Report

Growing Impact Showcased in 2023 Annual Report

The Institute for Advanced Learning and Research (IALR) has published its 2023 annual report, which highlights the growing impact IALR and partners are making in Southern Virginia and beyond. In FY 23, IALR expanded its impact with the scaling of programs and the growth of the campus, technology and team.

“The last fiscal year was one of tremendous growth and expansion for our region. All the while, each of our five divisions upheld our mission of economic transformation in critical ways.” – Telly Tucker, IALR President

View the Full Report

Just some of the new initiatives and programs launched, announced or expanded during FY 2023:

  • The Accelerated Training in Defense Manufacturing (ATDM) program continued scaling up toward its target of 800-1,000 annual graduates by 2025.
  • The Great Opportunities in Technology and Engineering Careers (GO TEC®) program is expanding across the Commonwealth thanks to a $3.4 million grant from GO Virginia and public and private investments.
  • The inaugural Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) Summit East brought more than 220 participants from around the world to the IALR campus.
  • The Institute Conference Center hosted 27,600 guests at events and programs, ranging from multi-day conferences to executive business meetings to training seminars.
  • IALR opened and began operations in the Center for Manufacturing Advancement, which supports industry with a variety of services and houses the U.S. Navy’s Additive Manufacturing Center of Excellence.
  • Nearly 30 industrial sites across Southern Virginia received a higher certification from the Virginia Business Ready Sites Program, with 21 moving from Tier 2 to Tier 4 and an additional eight sites moving from Tier 2 to Tier 5, which denotes a shovel-ready graded pad site.
  • A new Public Health AmeriCorps program launched to expand public health capacity through education and outreach, including public health workshops.
  • IALR entered into 15 new non-disclosure agreements to partner with companies around the world by providing contract analytical and testing services.
  • Five new companies announced projects in Southern Virginia and four existing companies announced expansions. These projects total 545 new jobs and $335.7 million in capital investments.
  • In its ninth year, the Career ChoICE Youth Expo expanded to a second location at Hampden-Sydney College, allowing the event to reach additional students across more than a dozen Virginia localities.
  • IALR received a $497,890 grant from the Tobacco Region Revitalization Commission for the ExTRA (Expanding Talent through Registered Apprenticeship) program to grow state-registered apprenticeship in 15 Southern Virginia localities.
  • Megabytes café launched a new and improved menu.
Circ – How IALR Supports Industry

Circ – How IALR Supports Industry

The average piece of clothing is worn between seven and 10 times before it is discarded.

Most of those clothing articles end up in the landfill, the incinerator or dumped somewhere around the world.

Less than 1% of textile waste from clothing is recycled back into clothing.

Most of these clothing articles are made from polycotton, a mixture of polyester and cotton. A Danville–based business, Circ is a circular fashion company that implements a unique technology to separate the polyester and cotton, allowing both materials to be recycled and used to create additional clothes later. (Previous efforts to separate these two fibers would result in the destruction of one material or the other.)

“The building blocks of clothing are natural resources like petroleum, cotton or metals. You can take those building blocks from clothing and turn them back into clothing – that’s what we do. It’s closed-loop garment recycling. But you also can take the building blocks from clothing and turn them back into something else. In the end, the building blocks are commodities that can be recycled many, many times.” – Dr. Iulian Bobe, Circ Co-Founder

The Institute for Advanced Learning and Research (IALR) has rented lab space and provided various analytical chemistry and research services to Circ throughout the company’s life cycle, epitomizing the mission of regional economic transformation and industry-driven programs, services and support.

“It’s just incredible to see a company grow and be a part of that growth. It’s also very rewarding and at the core of our mission of economic transformation.” – Dr. Scott Lowman, Vice President, Applied Research, IALR

The Company Story

In the mid 2010s, Circ’s initial focus was a technology that would extract sugars and oils from tobacco to produce biofuels. Funding from the Virginia Tobacco Region Revitalization Commission helped the company – then known as Tyton BioSciences – locate in Danville. The hydrothermal technology they developed for the separation process worked, but they saw potential in a different application that also had deep ties to Southern Virginia: textiles.

“We learned a lot about biomass and how to extract those molecules from tobacco. That technology helped us with textile recycling, the application we do today.” – Dr. Iulian Bobe, Circ Co-Founder.

Under the new company name of Circ, they are working to create a circular fashion industry where commodities and products are recycled and reused instead of going straight to the landfill after one use. Circ is facing this issue from multiple fronts by creating new recycled yarn for other brands to use and establishing themselves as their own functional brand.

Today, the company operates out of the Dan River Business Development Center and is focused on scaling operations. Circ’s unique mission and technology recently received international attention as the company became a finalist for the Earthshot Prize – a program founded by Prince William that rewards companies focused on sustainable technology and solutions.

“The story of Circ is an amazing entrepreneurial success story. With an innovative technological advancement, the company has transformed from a startup in the tobacco repurposing sector to an internationally recognized circular textile/fashion company. The story of Circ is a great example of how IALR can play a role in supporting companies throughout their life cycle with a variety of services including office and research lab space.” – Telly Tucker, IALR President

IALR Support

The Applied Research team at IALR provides services and testing and collaborates with large and small companies in Southern Virginia, around the country, and even around the world. IALR has more than 60 active nondisclosure agreements with companies worldwide.

Since Circ arrived in Danville, IALR has provided a variety of services and support.

“We basically hired IALR for characterization of the starting materials,” Dr. Bobe said.

In addition to working with IALR’s advanced materials experts, over the years, Circ has contracted analytical chemistry services and even used office and lab space on the campus until 2023.

Since Circ arrived in Danville, IALR has provided a variety of support, including advanced materials and analytical chemistry testing and characterization services.

“In economic development, our job is to compile and market all the ways that a company would benefit from doing business in our area. When recruiting new companies to Southern Virginia, IALR’s ability to provide a variety of support, ranging from testing and analytical services to temporary space to collaboration opportunities, is a major selling point.” – Linda Green, Southern Virginia Regional Alliance Executive Director, IALR Vice President of Economic Development

Inside IALR Podcast: DCC & IALR: A Strategic Partnership

Inside IALR Podcast: DCC & IALR: A Strategic Partnership

“These are really thought-out partnerships, collaborations. We try to maximize all of our resources…DCC is a friend of the Institute along with the other high ed centers…” – Dr. Jerry Wallace, President of Danville Community College

The “Inside IALR” team is joined by two energetic leaders, Danville Community College President Dr. Jerry Wallace and IALR President Telly Tucker. In their conversation, they discuss the strategic, diverse partnership between DCC and IALR, how each organization enhances each other’s work and the critical roles that we play in economic development initiatives, workforce training and more in Southern Virginia.

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U.S. Navy breaks ground on new Regional Training Center (RTC) at IALR Campus

U.S. Navy breaks ground on new Regional Training Center (RTC) at IALR Campus

The new center will accommodate full-scale growth of the defense manufacturing training program, providing a pipeline of 800-1,000 skilled workers per year for high-demand jobs.  

The United States Navy broke ground on a new regional training center for the Accelerated Training in Defense Manufacturing (ATDM) program in Danville today. The new 100,000-square-foot training facility, located on the campus of the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research (IALR), will allow more students to enroll in accelerated four-month training programs to help them reskill or upskill for high-paying jobs. Estimated to open by 2025, the Regional Training Center expects to graduate 800-1,000 students per year to fill critical vacancies across the defense industrial base.

The groundbreaking ceremony was held during the annual ATDM & U.S. Navy Additive Manufacturing Center of Excellence (AM CoE) Summit, which gathered the Navy, Office of the Secretary of Defense, state and local officials, and industry partners to increase awareness of these important initiatives and promote participation and contributions by industry and other stakeholders. This year, ATDM instructors and students were joined by Secretary of the U.S. Navy Carlos Del Toro and Rear Admiral Scott W. Pappano to celebrate the success of the past year and discuss goals going forward.

“The incredible progress made over the past year here in Danville, both in building the next generation of submarine builders at ATDM and in advancing the manufacturing technology we need to succeed at AM CoE, proved that we are on the right path. This past year established the foundation for the critical leaps forward we need in the coming years to scale both programs to ensure we have the skilled workforce with the technology and capabilities needed to build the Navy’s next generation of submarines.” — Rear Adm. Pappano, program executive officer, Strategic Submarines, U.S. Navy

“The groundbreaking of the Regional Training Center is a key milestone in scaling ATDM by providing a dedicated training facility with the infrastructure and equipment necessary to reach our full capacity of training potential,” said Dr. Debra Holley, director of the ATDM program.

Darrell Dalton, Chair of the Pittsylvania County Board of Supervisors, remarked that the construction of the Regional Training Center is a “win for our local economy, as it will bring up to 1,000 students a year to Danville and Pittsylvania County, and all of whom will live, work, and play here. By building its training facility in Danville, the Navy has provided a capital investment that further shows the growing prominence of this region in manufacturing and related industry sectors.”

ATDM Summit 2023

“We are especially fortunate that the Navy has recognized the forethought of our local leaders who have worked over the years to create educational programs that emphasize the type of knowledge and skills needed for this program,” Dalton continued.

In partnership with the Industrial Base Analysis and Sustainment Program Office (IBAS) in the Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD) and the Navy’s Program Executive Office (PEO) Strategic Submarines, ATDM trains workers in critical manufacturing skills to establish a steady and sustainable flow of workers into the SIB/DIB to fill critical skills gaps and labor shortages. The AM CoE directly supports the growth of our nation’s industrial base by using additive manufacturing for the production of submarine components to bolster naval shipbuilding and repair supply chains.

America’s defense industrial base (DIB) is still greatly in need of workers who can build and repair naval ships. The lack of workforce and manufacturing shortfalls in this area impact the material readiness of the current naval fleet; major maintenance and overhaul availability; and new construction. The construction of the “1 COLUMBIA + 2 VIRGINIA” naval ships beginning in FY26 will further stress the Submarine Industrial Base (SIB) and increase the need for qualified talent in the workforce. The AM CoE, which formally opened at last year’s summit, directly supports growth of our nation’s industrial base by scaling and maturing additive manufacturing technologies in the SIB. The technologies enable innovative production of submarine components to bolster naval shipbuilding and repair supply chains. As a result, the AM CoE will increase overall manufacturing capacity and close the supply-demand gap in critical marketspaces like castings, forgings, fittings, and fasteners.

Secretary of the U.S. Navy Carlos Del Toro (right) and Rear Admiral Scott W. Pappano (left) sign a steel beam that will be part of the new ATDM Regional Training Center.

The Institute for Advanced Learning and Research (IALR) has also been selected by the U.S. Navy Program Executive Office, Strategic Submarines (PEO SSBN) as the designated memorial location for the Ex-USS Buffalo (SSN 715) sail and the Ex-USS Providence (SSN 719) rudder to preserve and commemorate the history of these submarines and honor the service of their crews. This memorial demonstrates the strong partnership between the Navy and Accelerated Training in Defense Manufacturing (ATDM).

“Today marks a new chapter in the exciting growth of the ATDM program and further exemplifies the educational, workforce, and technological innovation that is taking place in Virginia. The investments made here are vital to the economic progress of the entire commonwealth,” said Telly Tucker, president of the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research, which leads the multi-year ATDM pilot project. IALR’s Center for Manufacturing Advancement is also home to the Navy’s AM CoE.

“The ATDM program marks a bold step forward,” said Danville City Councilman Lee Vogler. “This initiative stands at the forefront of addressing the challenges facing our defense industrial base and, by extension, our nation’s security.”

The sail was part of the Ex-USS Buffalo (SSN 715), a decommissioned United States Navy LOS ANGELES Class nuclear-powered attack submarine. USS Buffalo (SSN 715) was commissioned in November 1983, and decommissioned in January 2019. During that time, she saw most of her service in the Pacific area of operation.

The rudder hails from Ex-USS Providence (SSN 719), also a decommissioned United States Navy LOS ANGELES Class nuclear-powered attack submarine. Ex-USS Providence (SSN 719) was commissioned in July 1985. In August 2021, USS Providence was transferred from Naval Submarine Base New London in Groton, Conn., to Kitsap Naval Base in Bremerton, Wash., for decommissioning after 37 years of service.

To learn more about the new regional training center, or ATDM program classes and cohorts, please visit www.atdm.org.

About ATDM

Accelerated Training in Defense Manufacturing is a prototype training platform for rapidly training skilled workers in key trades such as CNC machining and welding for employment in the defense industry. ATDM was developed as a public-private consortium between the DoD, the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research (IALR), Danville Community College (DCC), Phillips Corporation, and The Spectrum Group in consultation with the defense industry. IALR is leading a multi-year pilot project to test and evaluate ATDM as a training platform for regional training centers supporting the defense industrial base. The pilot project is funded through the National Imperative for Industrial Skills initiative, which was launched in 2020 by the Industrial Base Analysis and Sustainment Program Office (IBAS) in the office of the Undersecretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment.

About IALR

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

“Automagic:” Robots and Automated Manufacturing

“Automagic:” Robots and Automated Manufacturing

Three robots and two large manufacturing machines communicating, collaborating and accomplishing tasks, all without human direction or involvement. Together, they take a piece of aluminum and, through several processes, convert it into a finished and packaged product.

It sounds like something out of a science fiction movie.

However, it will soon be a reality as part of the Industry 4.0 Lab in the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research’s (IALR) Center for Manufacturing Advancement (CMA). IALR staffers have designed and are building an autonomous manufacturing work cell where robots and manufacturing machines communicate via wireless signals. The work cell should be fully operational around December.

With the ability to tweak the process for different scenarios, this Industry 4.0 Lab will serve as a demonstration site, showing manufacturing companies what is possible. Enclosed in a glass room, the Industry 4.0 Lab will also be visible during tours of IALR.

“It’s a demonstration lab to show local industries what new technologies are out there and what might be able to benefit them,” said Butch Kendrick, Director of Digital Manufacturing IALR “We call it automagic.”

Robots and Machines Communicating, Working Together and Directing Each Other

Throughout the automated process, three robots and two different computer numerical controlled (CNC) machines will communicate with each other about the process and what each one needs from the others. All these communications – and the requests and information they share – have been pre-programmed and are managed by a software called a manufacturing execution system (MES).

With no name yet, this robot has one job: tend operations of the CNC machines using its compound gripper.

An autonomous mobile robot (AMR), Ralph consists of a mobile robotic cart and a universal robotic arm with seven joints.

Rosie completes the final inspection of finished products before packaging and preparing them for shipment.

“The actual machines are integrated with the robots,” Yeatts explained. “The machine calls when it needs to be tended by the mobile robot. The only human interaction was the programming. No one’s actually guiding the robot. The robots know the process and complete their jobs as needed.”

There will be alternative steps and workflows depending on the application, but the basic process will go something like this:

  • Under orders from the MES, the tending robot will pick up and load a piece of aluminum into the first CNC machine. With the material firmly in place, the machine will cut a shape. The robot will then take the part out of the machine and place it on a table.
  • Under a request from the tending robot, Ralph will retrieve the part and conduct pre-established inspections with engravers and scanners on the inspection island.
  • After the inspections, Ralph will drive to the CNC milling machine. Ralph will be responsible for tending the machine, putting the part inside and telling the machine to begin the operation before leaving to complete another task.
  • Once complete, Ralph will retrieve the part and take it to the coordinate measuring machine or back to the inspection table, depending on the predetermined workflow. Those that fail inspections or tests at either location would go onto a rejection conveyer belt – an event that would trigger a text or email notification to a human supervisor.
  • If it passes all relevant tests, Ralph will bring the module to Rosie – who received that name after a recent Facebook naming contest. Rosie will complete a final inspection, package the part and set it on a conveyor belt.
  • When Rosie says she has completed her task, Ralph will collect the packaged product and place it in the retrieval area.

The Challenge of an Autonomous Mobile Robot

Two primary challenges came with creating this type of integrated, automated manufacturing workflow.

How precise could the autonomous mobile robot be?

Disbelief and doubt. That is what Kendrick heard from organizations around the country while presenting the idea of an autonomous mobile robot as part of an automated manufacturing process. They said the robot would not be able to leave one post, go to another and then return to the exact same spot.

Butch Kendrick, Director of Digital Manufacturing, works with one of the robots in the Industry 4.0 Lab in the Center for Manufacturing Advancement.

Precision and repeatability are critical in these processes. The cart holding the automated robotic arm must pull up to the exact location every time. The robot arm must be able to reach the exact same spot in space repeatedly.

Kendrick and the Manufacturing Advancement team have developed a robot with extreme locational, three-dimensional precision. Prior to occupying the new CMA, they repeatedly demonstrated this concept in the Gene Haas Center for Integrated Machining, which houses the Integrated Machining Technology program. Once the AMR identifies a point in space and selects it as a reference point, it can return to almost that exact location even after traveling around the room to complete other tasks.

(The robot always came within 0.0015 inches of the point in space. That’s slightly larger than the diameter of a human hair.)

How could each of the robots and machines involved effectively communicate with each other?

What makes this workflow unique is how all the machines and robots communicate with each other through the MES in real time. Throughout the development of a single widget in this workflow, dozens of messages flow between the machines and robots. Some of the examples of messages the robots and machines share:

  • “I’m done with this process. Now you can collect this part.”
  • “The widget is positioned correctly. You can close the door and begin the operation now.”
  • “I am ready to complete another process.”

Traditionally, robots and machines that communicate with each other write files of information and put them in mutually accessible folders. This also requires extensive hardwiring and infrastructure.

“Working in the industry for 35+ years, one thing that disappointed me was working with automation. You had these two pieces of equipment that needed to exchange control information, but it was done in a very archaic way. It was done with technology used in the 1960s and 1970s. I knew there had to be a better way.” – Butch Kendrick, Director of Digital Manufacturing, IALR 

But what if that communication could happen in real time? Each machine and robot has its own language. The key to allowing real-time communication, Kendrick said, has been creating proper protocols, which function as a sort of universal language between the technology and the MES. One of the focus areas of Industry 4.0 is creating the ability for different machines to communicate wirelessly without delay, which creates flexibility and reliability.

The Impact on Southern Virginia and Beyond

The Industry 4.0 Lab fits into the overarching mission of the CMA: to serve as the destination of choice for innovative manufacturers ready to optimize their operations and scale and facilitate the expansion of the advanced manufacturing sector. But the interplay between robots, machines and manufacturing processes is just one of the appeals of the CMA. Other features include:

  • Rapid-launch high bays can provide a temporary home for companies developing their own facility, expediting operational start-up time.
  • A CNC machining innovation lab enables new and existing businesses to evaluate their processes, build out improvements and incorporate efficiencies.
  • An ISO-certified metrology lab provides the integrated inspection capabilities required to validate product quality and includes one of the largest coordinate measuring machines on the East Coast.

The CMA is positioned next to the future Regional Training Center for the Accelerated Training in Defense Manufacturing program and other manufacturing training programs from IALR and Danville Community College. With the potential to host some classes and have students learn robotics and automation in the Industry 4.0 Lab, the CMA will also help prepare the workforce for advanced manufacturing jobs.

“Even with the rapid development of automation and technology, manufacturing jobs are not going anywhere. They are simply evolving to require more skills in areas like coding, engineering and math. Much of our focus at IALR is preparing the workforce for the future by teaching those needed skills in programs across all age and experience levels.” – Todd Yeatts, Executive Vice President, Manufacturing Advancement, IALR

The Center for Manufacturing Advancement provides state-of-the-art facility space, technology and equipment as well as leading expertise to position Southern Virginia as the destination of choice for advanced manufacturers.

Both existing manufacturers in the region looking to expand and manufacturers looking to enter Southern Virginia with a new site location are already benefiting. The United States Navy also established its Additive Manufacturing Center of Excellence (AM CoE) within the facility. The AM CoE will develop manufacturing “recipes” (technical data packages) that other organizations around the country can utilize to create parts and components. Several industrial manufacturing partners located in Southern Virginia for the first time due to the AM CoE.

“Today’s manufacturing and workforce challenges require comprehensive and innovative approaches to the way industry collaborates, along with significant investments in infrastructure, equipment and people. The CMA fosters each of these obligations in a way that will benefit the region, the Commonwealth and the country.” – IALR President Telly Tucker

These goals will remain the same in the Industry 4.0 Lab and the entire CMA, even as the equipment and processes evolve.

“I’m hoping everybody will be using this technology, this equipment and these processes five years from now,” Kendrick said. “Integrated automation and robotics will be commonplace, and our team will be looking at newer technologies and processes.”

Linda Green of IALR Wins Women in Leadership Award

Linda Green of IALR Wins Women in Leadership Award

Linda Green, Vice President of Economic Development at the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research (IALR), joins 36 other executives as one of the winners of this year’s Virginia Business Women in Leadership Awards.  

Green has served in her current role as well as the Executive Director of the Southern Virginia Regional Alliance (SVRA) since 2016. As Virginia Business states, since that time, she has “worked in collaboration with economic developers to recruit 28 new companies to Southern Virginia and assist the expansion of 31 existing companies.” Virginia Business goes on to share that “Green says these efforts have created more than 5,300 jobs and spurred about $1.5 billion in capital investment across the region.”

“We are extremely fortunate to benefit from the keen economic development expertise of one of the state’s leading professionals in this area,” said Telly Tucker, President, IALR. “Linda’s love for Southern Virginia and her tireless efforts to contribute toward the growth and transformation of the region are evident and well respected by local, regional and state stakeholders across multiple industries and span both the public and private sectors.” 

Prior to her role at IALR and SVRA, Green worked as District Director for U.S. Congressman Robert Hurt and as Director for Federal Funding and Entrepreneurship for the Center for Innovative Technology, where she also served terms as Director of Manufacturing and Regional Technology Transfer. She also served as the President and CEO of the Dan River Business Development Center and worked as a Quality Engineer for Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company. A Certified Quality Engineer, Linda holds a Master of Business Administration from Duke University and is a graduate of Averett University and Danville Community College. 

“I am thrilled to be recognized for this esteemed award and appreciate Virginia Business’ commitment to honor and support the leading role that women play in the many businesses and industries across our Commonwealth,” said Green. “I also acknowledge the importance of working with a collaborative team of professionals who welcome and support female employees and cohorts — helping one another succeed is a blessing.”  

Virginia Business editors selected awardees from more than 320 nominations submitted by readers. According to the media outlet, “editorial staff considered factors such as overall professional accomplishments, civic engagement, mentoring and breaking glass ceilings.”   

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

IALR Announces New EVP of Operations

IALR Announces New EVP of Operations

The Institute for Advanced Learning and Research (IALR) is pleased to announce Dr. John H. Hughes IV as Executive Vice President, Operations, effective June 1. Most recently serving as the Assistant City Manager for Lynchburg, Va., Hughes brings nearly two decades of experience in government operations, administration and service. He will serve as the chief business and operations officer and will report directly to IALR President Telly D. Tucker.  

“I am thrilled to welcome Dr. Hughes to the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research team,” said Tucker. “As we continue to position Southern Virginia as a destination where all can live and thrive, I am confident Dr. Hughes’ leadership background, operations experience and creative approach to community building will help us ensure the exceptional quality and operational excellence our communities and employees deserve.” 

Dr. John H. Hughes IV is IALR’s Executive Vice President, Operations, effective June 1

Having previous experience with workforce training, continuing education, human services and more, Hughes is fascinated by IALR’s mission to catalyze regional economic transformation. 

“I am humbled and inspired to join a progressive and innovative organization focused on revolutionizing the economic landscape of Southern Virginia,” Hughes said. “With its state-of-the-art facilities, innovative programs and dynamic people, IALR positively influences Southern Virginia and beyond. I look forward to contributing to that mission of continued, tangible impact.” 

Hughes will serve as the chief business and contractual liaison for IALR operational matters with IALR partners. One of his primary responsibilities will be leading the functions organized within IALR’s business and operations departments, including Communications, Technology, Facilities and the Institute Conference Center as well as Applied Research. Hughes will focus on aligning IALR’s administrative systems, policies, structure and procedures to the organization’s five-year strategic plan. He will also focus on developing leadership in a rapidly growing organization to ensure continuity and sustainability into the future. 

While serving as the Assistant City Manager for Lynchburg, Hughes spearheaded a collaborative, impactful poverty-reduction effort through public-private partnerships, grants, workforce development and soft-skill development, continuing education and job placement programs – all focuses of IALR. Hughes also supervised several departments, including Human Services, the Lynchburg Public Library and Department of Parks and Recreation. Hughes previously worked as a Foster Care Social Worker and Senior Family Services Specialist before spending nearly a decade as the Children’s Services Act Coordinator for the City of Lynchburg.  

A native of Lynchburg, Hughes supported the local community via several volunteer and appointed boards including the Greater Lynchburg Transit Company, Lynchburg Community Policing Advisory Committee, Martin Luther King Jr. Lynchburg Community Council, Hill City Youth Football & Cheerleading, Mary Bethune Academy, Southern Memorial Association (Old City Cemetery), Juvenile Justice Advisory Board, Community Criminal Justice Board, Action for Change Committee, Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities and the Central Virginia Continuum of Care.  

Hughes has been active with professional and civic organizations including the Virginia Local Government Management Association, the National Forum for Black Public Administrators and the International City/County Management Association. He is a member of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc. 

Hughes earned a Master of Business Administration in 2009 and obtained his doctorate in education from the University of Lynchburg (formerly known as Lynchburg College) in 2023. Hughes also holds two bachelor’s degrees – one in social science, the other in business administration – from the University of Lynchburg.   

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

IALR Shares Partnerships, Progress and Transformation in Annual Report

IALR Shares Partnerships, Progress and Transformation in Annual Report

The Institute for Advanced Learning and Research (IALR) has published its 2021-2022 annual report, which highlights innovative and collaborative partnerships across departments that are transforming the economy of Southern Virginia.  

“Significant economic growth has resulted due to robust partnerships across the region. IALR stands ready to serve as Virginia’s go-to partner for education and workforce development, business and economic growth, and a globally competitive business ecosystem.” – IALR President Telly Tucker.

View the Full Report 

One of the pivotal moments of the report period is the creation and adoption of the new IALR Strategic Plan, which will guide IALR’s work and efforts for the next five years. With input from key stakeholders, the plan establishes strategic goals to outline how IALR can best capitalize on its unique strengths to impact the region. 

Just some of the new initiatives and programs launched, announced or expanded during FY 21 and FY 22:  

The Great Opportunities in Technology and Engineering Careers (GO TEC™) framework is spreading into schools across the Commonwealth. The GO TEC program is just one component of the newly developed and proven EmPOWER system – an employer-driven model to systematically connect students to careers through career awareness, exposure, and engagement and experience. Future and current members of the workforce, as well as businesses, find joint benefits in problem-solving teamships, apprenticeships, externships and internships, mock interview days and more.  

While striving to promote a diversified economy by serving a variety of industries, much of IALR’s impact in 2021-2022 was in the manufacturing sector. Expanding the existing middle-school-through-college workforce development pipelines, the new Accelerated Training in Defense Manufacturing (ATDM) program is a rapid adult-learner model that prepares talent for jobs in the defense industrial base. ATDM launched in 2020 and is already proving successful and showing what modern public-private partnerships should look like. In addition, IALR partnered with the Commonwealth of Virginia and Danville Regional Foundation to construct the Center for Manufacturing Advancement, a new destination for manufacturers ready to optimize and scale and home to the U.S. Navy’s Additive Manufacturing Center of Excellence.  

Through the Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) Innovation Center, a joint project with Virginia Tech, IALR has established itself as a global leader in the CEA industry. The presence of the innovative research and state-of-the-art equipment are already making an impact on Southern Virginia. Thanks to best-in-class resources, including lab spaces and staff, the Applied Research team provided 30 companies with applied research and testing services like analytical chemistry, polymer testing and more.  

In partnership with the Southern Virginia Regional Alliance (SVRA) and many other economic development organizations, IALR is proud to champion the area while working with local, regional and state partners. In FY 21 and 22, the Southern Virginia region saw $498 million in announced capital investment and 1,288 new jobs. IALR contributed to economic success by serving as a temporary home for growing businesses by providing critical testing services and lab space to innovative companies across industries. The Bridge to Recovery Program connected companies with suppliers and helped businesses become more resilient post-pandemic.  

The Institute Conference Center hosted a variety of events geared toward the growth of industry sectors and Southern Virginia, including trainings and economic development activities. Numerous companies, including anchor and growing employers held successful job fairs, connecting community members with quality employment. An extensive renovation of the main building and a relaunch of Megabytes, IALR’s on-site café, have allowed the Institute Conference Center to provide even better service for the 20,800 guests who visited.  

57 Students Graduate from Accelerated Training in Defense Manufacturing Program

57 Students Graduate from Accelerated Training in Defense Manufacturing Program

A group of 50+ ATDM graduates pose for a picture at the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research

The 5th cohort of students graduated from the Accelerated Training in Defense Manufacturing Program on May 2.

Local leaders and U.S. Navy representatives gathered to celebrate the 5th cohort of graduates entering the workforce pipeline for the Department of Defense.

The Accelerated Training in Defense Manufacturing (ATDM) program hosted a completion ceremony on Tuesday, May 2, at the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research (IALR) to celebrate the hard work and accomplishments of the 57 students in its January cohort, the 5th cohort in the program’s history.

This 16-week, hands-on curriculum rapidly develops skilled workers with industry-recognized credentials for employment in the defense industry. Such skills include welding, CNC machining, additive manufacturing, quality control inspection (metrology) and, for the first time with this graduating class, non-destructive testing. Graduates of the cohort represent 14 states and earned a collective 304 nationally recognized credentials.

“It is extremely gratifying to see another cohort of students graduating from ATDM with the skills needed to meet the high demand of our submarine industrial base,” said Rear Admiral Scott Pappano, Program Executive Officer, Strategic Submarines, United States Navy. “It is important to realize that we are rebuilding manufacturing and the industrial base, which is vital to our national security. The Navy thanks you for what you are doing.”

Event Photo Gallery

Since ATDM instruction first began in 2021, the 5th cohort is the first to complete all training on the campus of IALR, a space upfitted to provide a state-of-the-art bridge training solution. Partner Danville Community College (DCC), which previously co-hosted classes on its campus, will continue to provide premier ATDM training curriculum and instruction. The training partners will then locate the program within a planned new ATDM Regional Training Center, to be constructed on IALR’s campus by 2025. This building will house all training under one roof and accommodate America’s scaling needs for defense manufacturing talent. In addition to program lead IALR, as well as curriculum provider DCC, other partners of the Department of Defense program include technology provider Phillips Corporation and strategic consulting partner The SPECTRUM Group.

“We are thrilled to continue to lead this impactful training program that has improved the lives of so many across our nation thanks to these dedicated partnerships,” said Telly Tucker, President of IALR. “ATDM not only helps provide promising men and women with the skill sets for high-quality employment with leading companies, but it also helps ensure the success of our nation’s armed forces with the equipment they need to safely and effectively protect our nation and allies.”     

“The ATDM program is unique and unlike any training in the nation,” said Dr. Jerry Wallace, President of DCC. “The students are getting an exclusive learning experience and the faculty have the opportunity to be a part of a nationally recognized program helping to improve our country’s defense.”

Vice Admiral Norb Ryan, USN (Ret.) with The SPECTRUM Group expressed his sincere congratulations to all the ATDM graduates as they get ready to launch their careers helping to build our U.S. Navy’s newest submarines.

“To the entire Danville ATDM Team, a heartfelt Navy ‘Bravo Zulu’ for your awesome leadership and inspiring instructional skills in helping these superb graduates achieve their potential and contribute to our nation’s national defense,” said Vice Admiral Ryan.

A student wearing an ATDM shirt walks toward the stage at graduation.

Director of Phillips Corporation, Rick Morgan, said the company is extremely pleased with the progress of ATDM’s suite of advanced manufacturing training programs.

“Phillips is very proud of its collaboration overseeing the creation and delivery of additive manufacturing (AM) curriculums in partnership with our technology vendors,” said Morgan. “We believe that ATDM’s AM training program is, and will increasingly be, an essential resource for accelerating the delivery of skilled technicians to U.S. Navy and all other military service branches. Developing training programs focused on the most relevant applications of AM technology will also be a growing essential resource for a U.S. Defense Industrial Base increasingly charged with building robust, dependable, and innovative supply chain options for our military services.”  

Enroll in the ATDM Program

About IALR

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

About ATDM

Accelerated Training in Defense Manufacturing is a prototype training platform for rapidly training skilled workers in key trades such as CNC machining and welding for employment in the defense industry. ATDM was developed as a public-private consortium between the DoD, the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research (IALR), Danville Community College (DCC), Phillips Corporation, and The Spectrum Group in consultation with the defense industry. IALR is leading a multi-year pilot project to test and evaluate ATDM as a training platform for regional training centers supporting the defense industrial base. The pilot project is funded through the National Imperative for Industrial Skills initiative which was launched in 2020 by the Industrial Base Analysis and Sustainment Program Office (IBAS) in the office of the Undersecretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment.

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Allison H. Moore, Director, PR & Communications        Faith O’Neil, Director, PR & Marketing

Institute for Advanced Learning and Research                    Danville Community College                       

allison.moore@ialr.org  |  434.766.6766                              faith.oneil@danville.edu  |  434.797.8450

The U.S. Navy Opens Additive Manufacturing Center of Excellence in Danville

The U.S. Navy Opens Additive Manufacturing Center of Excellence in Danville

Joint Navy-OSD Accelerated Training in Defense Manufacturing Program to Benefit from new Multi-Million-Dollar Training Facility

The U.S. Navy is launching its Additive Manufacturing Center of Excellence (AM CoE) within the State of Virginia’s Center for Manufacturing Advancement (CMA) on the Danville Institute for Advanced Learning and Research (IALR) campus. The creation of the AM CoE marks the first project partnership for the CMA. It demonstrates the Navy’s commitment to investing in and delivering the skilled workforce necessary to strengthen and expand the Navy’s industrial base to achieve the Nation’s strategic defense objectives.

A first for the Navy, the AM CoE will provide a platform for training a skilled additive manufacturing workforce through partnership with the Accelerated Training in Defense Manufacturing (ATDM) program, a rigorous, focused 24/5 training schedule that graduates student cohorts every four months in multiple disciplines critical to the defense industrial base (DIB). Industrial manufacturing partners include major shipbuilders like General Dynamics Electric Boat, Huntington-Ingalls Newport News Shipbuilding, Austal USA as well as key industry experts like Phillips Corporation, Industrial Inspection and Analysis, FasTech, Mitutoyo, and Master Gage & Tool, to bring multiple processes utilized by the DIB under one roof to improve efficiencies and reduce barriers to entry for manufacturers hoping to enter additive manufacturing.

Utilizing three full bays dedicated to accelerating and scaling additive manufacturing parts and qualification processes, the AM CoE’s principal functions will be to:

  • Promote adoption of mature industrial qualification processes and data to earn technical warrant holder approval for additive manufacturing production;
  • Enable scale and speed to address material readiness challenges and critical fragilities in the castings/forgings market space;
  • Pave a path for sustainable and scalable additive manufacturing production capability in the submarine industrial base.

“Building and sustaining the Navy’s defense industrial base workforce has become a national security imperative, and the demonstration of partnership and collaboration that is represented here in Danville, Virginia today is part of the ‘Whole Government, Whole of Industry’ approach that must be in place to ensure the domestic manufacturing capacity that is required to maintain the Navy’s maritime edge, and surge to meet a dynamic threat environment,” said Matt Sermon, Executive Director, PEO Strategic Submarines.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony for the AM CoE was held during the second annual ATDM Summit where the U.S. Navy, Office of the Secretary of Defense, and additional federal, state and local government officials joined with partners from defense industry and academia to convene topics pertaining to closing skills and workforce gaps within the naval defense industrial base.

During the ceremony, the announcement was also made that the ATDM program, which aims to provide 800-1,000 qualified candidates to fill critical vacancies in the DIB annually by 2024, will expand with the creation of a regional training facility adjacent to the CMA. The multimillion-dollar investment into over 100,000 square feet of dedicated training capability, capacity, and infrastructure will enable ATDM to rapidly scale up to its full potential and add to the economic momentum in Southern Virginia. The Danville and Pittsylvania County Regional Industrial Facility Authority provided land for the initiative.

“The launch of the AM CoE and the announcement of scale-up potential for ATDM go hand-in-hand with IALR’s approach to support the technological and workforce development needs of Industry. We are excited to leverage our new Center for Manufacturing Advancement and work with the Navy and other partners,” said Telly Tucker, President, IALR. “ATDM is one of the strongest examples of what full integration of industry in the training process looks like, by bringing key partners together to be vested in the time-to-talent process and ensuring the unique requirements of shipbuilders and suppliers are achieved quickly to meet the demands of our nation’s defenses.”

“The events we celebrate today – centered on workforce, technology, and the space where those two priorities must meet – are game changing. The scale and urgency needed in these areas is a fundamental differentiator in our Navy’s ability to preserve peace, and when necessary, compete and win,” added RADM Scott Pappano, PEO Strategic Submarines.” 

Congressional Leaders Continue Support of ATDM

Congressional Leaders Continue Support of ATDM

With continuing support of congressional leaders, the Accelerated Training in Defense Manufacturing (ATDM) program remains in step with growth goals. ATDM members updated Congressman Bob Good and Senator Mark Warner on the 16-week program that trains adults in CNC machining, quality control inspection, welding and additive manufacturing.

Good and Warner have been instrumental in the ATDM program’s funding and have visited the training facilities. They learned of current successes, as well as the scale-up plan to train 800-1,000 students a year within five years.

The visit also introduced IALR’s new president, Telly Tucker. IALR has served as team lead with Advanced Manufacturing Director Troy Simpson. Norb Ryan Jr., of The SPECTRUM Group, joined the visit as well. SPECTRUM serves as government relations expert on the ATDM team. Other team members include Danville Community College, instructional provider, and Phillips Corporation, technology provider. Visit atdm.org to learn more.

Congressman Bob Good, IALR President Telly Tucker, IALR’s Troy Simpson and The SPECTRUM Group’s Norb Ryan discuss continued support for the Accelerated Training in Defense Manufacturing (ATDM) Program.

Tucker and Simpson thank Senator Mark Warner for his support of ATDM as it plans to scale up and train 800-1,000 students annually within five years.

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.