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July 2019

CHAMBER MEMBER NEWS

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GRANT AWARDED FOR EXPANSION OF IT ACADEMY

The Virginia Tobacco Region Revitalization Commission (TRRC) recently awarded the Southern Virginia Higher Education Center (SVHEC) a grant of $505,929 for an expansion of the IT Academy.

The TRRC grant, along with support from Microsoft Corp, will allow SVHEC to expand the IT Academy’s training spaces by renovating an adjacent unfinished space to add a new repair center and instructional space.

With additional space and instructional staff, SVHEC will expand the credential-based programming available in the IT Academy to include IT Fundamentals+, IT Linux+, PenTest+ and Cloud+.

TRRC grant funds have been allocated for three years, and will support the majority of new personnel costs for two new instructors, a lab technician, marketing and materials.

Since beginning in August 2015, the IT Academy has trained 225 individuals in 14 cohorts, with 85% of program completers securing employment within 12 months of finishing the program.

HALEY NAMED CHAIRMAN OF VIRGINIA BANKERS ASSOCIATION

During the 126th Annual Convention of the Virginia Bankers Association, Jeffrey V. Haley, president and CEO of Danville-based American National Bank & Trust, was named chairman of the Virginia Bankers Association. He succeeds Scott C. Harvard, CEO and director of First Bank, to become VBA’s 127th chairman.

Haley has served as president of American National Bank and Trust Co. since 2010 and as chief executive officer of the bank since 2012. He has served as president of its holding company, American National Bankshares Inc., since 2012 and as chief executive officer of the holding company since 2013.

Haley is an alumnus of James Madison University and the North Carolina School of Executive Bank Management. Active in many professional and civic organizations, he currently serves as a chairman of Bankers Insurance, LLC, and a board member of the Virginia Chamber of Commerce. Additionally, he serves as treasurer of the Future of the Piedmont Foundation.

ADMINISTRATIVE APPOINTMENTS ANNOUNCED FOR THE

2019-2020 ACADEMIC YEAR

DANVILLE, VA – Danville Public Schools (DPS) is pleased to announce the following administrative appointments, effective July 1, 2019.

• Kevin Bowman, Assistant Principal, Westwood Middle School

• Sharon Barksdale, Assistant Director of Finance

• Sharon Hicks, Principal, Park Avenue Elementary School

• Larry Marks, Principal, O.T. Bonner Middle School

• Anu Upadhyaya, Director II, Services for Exceptional Children

APPLICATIONS ARE OPEN FOR THE BIG LAUNCH CHALLENGE!

NEW! This year the Big Launch Challenge is being held at the end of the Angel Capital Association’s (ACA) Southeast Regional meeting. The ACA, the world's largest professional organization for accredited investors, Southeast meeting will focus on angel investing through workshops and keynotes covering regional entrepreneurial ecosystem building, different models and structures of angel investing, the changing face of angels and investor networks, syndication across state lines and more.

The Launch Place, with offices in Danville, VA and Research Triangle Park, NC, will host its 6 ^th annual pitch competition immediately following the ACA Southeast meeting. The goal of the Big Launch Challenge is to provide early-stage startups the opportunity to pitch their ideas to investors, and for The Launch Place Pre-Seed and Seed Fund to generate deal flow.

The top 10 finalists will have 10 minutes to pitch their business plans to a panel of investor judges followed by a short question and answer block.

Competition winners will also receive access to several resources provided by The Launch Place including training, networking, mentorship and early-stage prototyping.

PLANNING IS CURRENTLY UNDERWAY FOR THE 2019 SOVAH CAREER CHOICE YOUTH EXPO!

This year’s Career Expo is September 24-26 at the Olde Dominion Agricultural Center in Chatham, VA. September 24 is for set-up and Expo in the Evening.

The Expo is an exciting opportunity for you to showcase your business to future employees and help our young people experience the many career opportunities available to them in southern Virginia.

There are three ways to get involved:

Participate as an Activity Provider: Activity Providers offer a hands-on demonstration that provides a glimpse into careers with your company/organization and your career field. Organizations wishing to participate should complete the Activity Form by August 2.
Volunteer: Volunteers are crucial to the event’s success and help us welcome students, direct students to various activities, etc. Volunteering is a great way to participate for those individuals or organizations that don’t have the capacity to offer a hands-on demonstration. The Volunteer registration deadline is August 30; Volunteers can Register HERE.
Sponsor: sponsorships pay for crew member, crew chief, and volunteer meals, the venue, the student booklet, program evaluation, and other supplies. Sponsorship of this event is a great way to support our students and market your business to over 4,000 households across southern VA. You can view sponsorship levels and benefits HERE. The priority deadline for sponsorship to ensure you receive all benefits is August 2^nd.

For more information, contact:

Jessie Vernon | Jessie.vernon@ialr.org

GO TEC PROGRAM MANAGER ANNOUNCED

The Institute for Advanced Learning and Research (IALR) and the Great Opportunities in Technology and Engineering Careers (GO TEC) Selection Committee are pleased to announce the hire of Dr. Tammy Hurt as the GO TEC Program Manager effective July 1.

She will lead this GO Virginia-funded initiative to expand talent development efforts for critical career paths across GO Virginia Regions 1, 3 and 4. This area encompasses many of Virginia’s rural counties stretching from Wythe County to Greensville County.

Hurt most recently served as the STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) Coordinator for Prince Edward County Public Schools (PECPS).

In March, GO TEC received the largest grant to date from the GO Virginia competitive funding pool. The GO Virginia State Board approved an investment of up to $4.9 million, which will be matched 1-to-1 by support from more than 15 local partners. The project will deliver workforce training and development through a “hub and spoke” model and will target in-demand occupations identified across Southern and Southwest Virginia. Such career paths include IT/cyber security; robotics, automation and mechatronics; precision machining; welding; and advanced materials.

For more information, visit www.ialr.org .

DR. JACKIE GILL POWELL APPOINTED TO IALR BOARD OF TRUSTEES

The Institute for Advanced Learning and Research (IALR) is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Jackie Gill Powell to IALR’s board of trustees for a three-year term. As the president of Danville Community College (DCC), Powell will serve ex officio with voting privileges and will lend educational and workforce development expertise to economic transformation efforts.

Before joining DCC, Powell served as the president of Metropolitan Community College in Kansas City, Missouri. She has worked in higher education for more than 20 years in such roles as the vice president of Academic Affairs & Community & Industry Education, as well as the director of continuing education for the Northeast Campus of Tarrant County College in Hurst, Texas.