Testimonials

The IALR Conference Center offers a turnkey experience and state-of-the-art technology to deliver a high level of professionalism and engagement. Their staff are accommodating, easy to work with and attentive to the details.

The Virginia Economic Developers Association (VEDA) has utilized the IALR meeting facilities on several occasions in the past 15 years, most recently in June 2024. As VEDA’s Executive Director, I schedule meetings across the Commonwealth in a variety of locations. I love going back to Danville and IALR when the opportunity arises.

The staff are great to work with and make my job easier. The meeting facilities are beautiful, have been well maintained, and work well for different types of functions. The food and beverage service receives high marks, too! A great place for VEDA to do a meeting. 

The facility itself is both modern and elegant, providing a comfortable environment for our board members. The meeting rooms were well-equipped with state-of-the-art technology, ensuring that all our presentations and discussions went smoothly.
 
The attentive and professional staff went above and beyond to support us throughout the event. Their proactive assistance and commitment to excellence contributed significantly to the success of our event. Whether it was arranging the layout, coordinating catering services, or addressing any last-minute needs, their dedication was evident and greatly appreciated.
 
We are grateful for the outstanding service and facilities provided by IALR and highly recommend it for any future events. Thank you for making our event a memorable and successful occasion.

IALR has provided Canon the environment and expertise to grow plants under various stress conditions, in an effort to understand how these stresses present themselves in the plants. IALR is unique in this capability, which is definitely something that we could not do at our commercial partner’s production facilities.

This experience allowed me to make a real-world impact in my community and provided a basis for the problem-solving process I will have to go through as an engineer in my future career.

We got to solve a real-world business problem, and it felt cool because we were doing something that meant something in school. And we found the root of the problem like we were supposed to. We contributed a lot of new knowledge and ideas.

When they made their presentation, my biggest regret was that I didn’t bring my management team with me. It was a great professional presentation with some strong data.

They did a good job thinking outside of the box. That’s what impressed me the most, was the fresh eyes and fresh perspective from which they looked at the problem. I would do this program again in a heartbeat.

“I want to be able to go to the next level and provide more care, and I wouldn’t have been able to get my paramedic without this program.”

[caption id="attachment_6353" align="alignnone" width="768"] With experience in law enforcement and EMS, Pendleton has held his EMT for about fifteen years in total. He was thrilled to hear about the paramedic apprenticeship program that would allow him to continue earning as he went.[/caption]

“This paid on-the-job training is a great way for me to absorb this information and get more hands-on instruction. I’m glad to be able to come in all day and focus on this, get a better experience and more ride time. All while getting a paycheck.”

[caption id="attachment_6350" align="alignnone" width="898"] Lily Hensley started as an EMT Apprentice with the Danville Life Saving Crew in the spring of 2024. Working as an apprentice allows her to learn and earn on the job.[/caption]

We’re willing to work closely with our clients to develop methodologies and targeted analysis specific to their needs.

The IALR Analytical Chemistry Lab provides testing services that give clients the data that they need to move forward. What sets our lab apart is that we provide those services at a high level and a low cost.

In terms of quality control, we are making sure that our products are in good shape for the customer. Jack and the team are helping us to achieve that goal.

We have two interns, and we would absolutely hire them. They have been fantastic overall—polite, motivated and hard workers.

Overall, this internship has been a great experience for the Chamber and for our intern. We look forward to hosting interns again in the future.

The EmPOWER framework has been instrumental in connecting Sovah Health with our local students to showcase the breadth of healthcare career opportunities available right here in our community.

 

Being able to participate in the Career ChoICE, AspHIRE Mock Interview Day, and Summer Internships through the IALR has been an invaluable addition to the work of PATHS and the South Central AHEC. These programs keep us coming back, as they have allowed us to connect with, inspire, and support students throughout Southern Virginia as they explore their journey in healthcare.

This EMT apprenticeship program will benefit the participants by providing mandatory training for an EMT position. Adding a cohort of new EMTs like this enables the Danville Life Saving Crew to grow its team and provide qualified emergency medical personnel for our community. Working with Tori and the Institute has been easy and successful, and we are very pleased that our program is the first registered EMT apprenticeship program in Virginia.

[caption id="attachment_5642" align="alignnone" width="1024"] In partnership with IALR, the Danville Life Saving Crew – the primary Emergency Medical Services provider for the City of Danville – signed 13 individuals as Virginia’s first Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) registered apprentices during an October ceremony.[/caption]

We believe that apprenticeship programs like this are essential to our future success. We understand that by investing in the next generation of talent, we are not only shaping our own success but fostering a culture of learning and development. Our apprenticeship programs are not just a part of our company; they are a living embodiment of our Core Values.

[caption id="attachment_5654" align="alignnone" width="1024"] IALR hosted a ceremonial signing event for Litehouse Foods' first industrial maintenance technician on Oct. 6.
From left to right: Natori Neal, IALR Apprenticeship Coordinator; Kara Joyce, DOLI Apprenticeship Consultant; Neville Moe, Litehouse Foods Plant Manager; Joseph Echols, Litehouse Apprentice; Craig Mauldin, Maintenance Engineering Manager; Michelle Shorter, Human Resources Generalist II.[/caption]

I can’t speak highly enough of all the help we have received from IALR in getting our apprenticeship program started. It’s been wonderful. When you as an employer invest back into your workforce, you see huge returns.

You couldn’t ask for better hands-on service. The Institute for Advanced Learning and Research Conference Center has great team dynamics, great follow-up, and outstanding, world-class service.

Year after year, IALR has been excellent to work with. They have always been helpful and friendly and made our annual events there a huge success.

Our team has been repeatedly blown away by the professionalism, helpfulness, and quality of the staff and facilities at the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research Conference Center.

“Something that was beneficial for me was learning to ask questions at the end of my interview.”

"The trip to Asphire was both informative and fun. It helped me widen my horizon about the working field and opened my eyes to new possibilities."

The AspHIRE mock interview day provides valuable experience to high school students across Southern Virginia, exposing them to important workplace skills and allowing them to experience an authentic interview process.

We have been working with IALR through the many growth stages of our company and could not have asked for better partners along the way. IALR's state of the art facilities and talented scientific team have helped us take our RNA technologies from lab to field.

Through this new programming and leveraging of expertise and infrastructure, we have the opportunity to drastically increase domestic seafood and produce production within the state, region, and country, enhancing food safety, security, sustainability, and most importantly, socioeconomically within our agriculture economies.

We are excited to house this facility on the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research’s campus and to benefit from both the technology developed and the associated economic development opportunities it provides for the region. Consumer demand for healthy, local and pesticide-free produce is high, and will continue to increase in the coming decades. We look forward to serving this need through controlled environment agriculture.

We are delighted that the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research and Virginia Tech’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences have combined their expertise to create a top program in controlled environment agriculture. This collaborative effort is creating tremendous energy and excitement because of its potential to provide innovative solutions to the agricultural community. Partnerships like this will help us realize the vision of the SmartFarm Innovation Network Initiative to support the agriculture industry.

Applied at the correct time, biostimulants can significantly improve plant health, which ultimately leads to higher harvestable yields and better quality for a more profitable crop.

Partnering with leading research institutions such as IALR is key to delivering on our commitments to farmer profitability and environmental sustainability.

Goodyear-Danville is so grateful for all United Way does for our community, and we're glad to be able to support them in a meaningful way. (Regarding IALR's Decorating the Trees for a Cause program, an annual fundraiser benefiting charitable organizations that is organized by the Institute Conference Center)

Thank you for hosting us at your incredible facility! Between the logistical and technical support that you provided before and during the event, to offering nutritious meals and refreshments for participants and volunteers, and especially your amazing hospitality -- we were so very fortunate to partner with your team and are so very impressed by what you're doing to support the workforce of today and of tomorrow.

I want to thank everyone who made our holiday luncheon a success. The food keeps getting better and better. I ate some of everything, and it was delicious. Compliments to the chef. Everyone has been telling me how great the food was and how much they enjoy having the luncheon at your facility. Thank you for all you do. Please thank everyone who worked so hard for CIT to have a wonderful lunch.

We hope to be back next year. 

I was thrilled with the beautiful room and decor! The food was delicious and the wait staff was amazing! We will be back very soon for our next meeting!

“The Institute for Advanced Learning and Research has proven to be invaluable to the Town of Altavista by helping to bring about a possible closure to the problem of PCB contamination in our communities’ waste water treatment pond. They are truly an asset to our region.”

“The word “opportunity” epitomizes the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research. IALR is a place where students, faculty, researchers, and entrepreneurs are actively working together to reach their full potential. IALR provides the ecosystem where discovery, innovation and commercialization is nurtured and celebrated. The leadership of IALR are invested in providing opportunities for community, K-16 and corporate engagement that will lead to the transformation of the region. Virginia Tech is proud to partner with the Institute in this bold endeavor.”

I love that scientists work together to solve problems

We are grateful for the continued investment of the Haas Foundation in our students and workforce.

The support and investment the elected officials have demonstrated complement the emphasis they have placed into developing a skilled workforce starting at the high school level, networking world class university level engineering programs, and supporting industry changing research at facilities such as CCAM and the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research. This provides us with complete confidence that our only option is success in Virginia.

The City of Danville is thrilled to have KYOCERA SGS Precision Tool locating in Danville’s Cyber Park and to provide employment opportunities for the highly skilled graduates of the Integrated Machining Technology program at the Institute for Advanced Learning & Research. This announcement demonstrates the impact of City and County elected officials, community leaders, and educational institutions all working together for the good of the region.

Working as a team, our staff works within our mission to be a regional catalyst for economic transformation in four key areas: advanced learning, applied research, workforce development and economic development.

IALR is the type of education facility that can transform a region.

Pittsylvania County Public Schools greatly appreciates the partnership established with the Advanced Learning Department of the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research. This department provides many STEM opportunities for teachers and students to extend learning and explore new areas.

I firmly believe that through our efforts, we have positioned the Institute as a prime force in the region and solidified it for the future.

It is great that House of Delegates Speaker, Bill Howell, appointed Connie Nyholm to the Board of the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research. As a very successful business person, she brings excellent judgment and insight to the table. Connie has a personal knowledge of our region, its strengths and its educational needs. Her entrepreneurial spirit will offer the enthusiasm that is characteristic of the IALR programs and she will hit the road running, as she always does at VIR.