A diverse crowd of employers and administrators gathered at the Vinton War Memorial last week for the inaugural presentation of the Workforce Development Awards. Presented by the Western Virginia Workforce Development Board (WVWDB), the awards ceremony honored individuals, government officials and organizations that have made an impact in developing workforce skills and continuing education in southwest Virginia. The event featured Carilion CEO Ed Murphy as the keynote speaker.
City of Salem Communications Director and the event’s emcee, Mike Stevens, said the basic theme of the night came down to relationships in business: “you don’t get anywhere in business by yourself.” WVWDB Chair Carroll Gentry, (the organization oversees workforce centers that provide training and connects individuals with potential employers), echoed this sentiment: “We’ve got to stop saying so much ‘I’ in our community. We need more ‘us’ and we need to help each other.”
Stevens pointed out that the rough economic times of the past two years has led to adults being “forced to reinvent themselves at an age where they don’t usually have to do so.” He lauded the efforts of the board, saying it creates a workforce that is work-ready, with the skills needed to take on complex jobs. The awards are “good news … a feel-good story” within the context of the country’s arduous economic recovery.
WVWDB President Doloris Vest presented Sherry Hammerstrom with the Program Participant of the Year Award. Hammerstrom, a resident of Franklin County, was laid off from a local company last year and took advantage of the Workforce Investment Act Dislocated Worker Program to train in computer technology at Virginia Western Community College.
Honing her computer skills in a work experience at the the WVWDB’s Franklin Center for Advanced Learning & Enterprise led her to a position with the Franklin County Information Technology Department.
Franklin County businesses and individuals dominated the awards throughout the evening. Among these were Franklin County Administrator Rick Huff who led the charge in establishing the Franklin Center, along with the Piedmont Business Development Center. McAiraids, Inc., an absorbent manafacturer in Rocky Mount, won the Business of the Year Award for their utilization of local workforce centers, to screen and educate citizens in need of jobs.
Franklin County Schools adult education instructor Jo Anne Lempeck was recognized for customizing lessons as needed to help her clientele, while “Kitty” Lambeth of the Franklin Center received one of the two Professional of the Year awards for her Virginia Employment Commission services at the Franklin Center -where she often meets with up to 80 people a day. Lambeth acknowledged the predominance of Franklin County recipients with a cheer of “Franklin County rocks!”
Outside of Franklin County, Debbie Melvin of the Virginia Department of Business Assistance was awarded Professional of the Year for her involvement in workforce training initiatives, with over 159 projects at 70 different companies. Alleghany County resident Jennifer Unroe of the Workforce Board Youth Council was honored as Workforce Community Advocate of the Year for her efforts in developing youth workforce activities. Vest singled out in particular Unroe’s bringing together of Covington and Alleghany schools to offer career development programs.
Carilion Clinic CEO Ed Murphy began his keynote address following the awards by acknowledging that his working-class background imbued him with a sense of “the importance of people having ways to support their families.” After updating the crowd on the latest developments at Carilion’s new medical school and research institute, a partnership with Virginia Tech, Murphy mused on healthcare jobs and the importance of education.
He praised lesser-known healthcare professions such as personal care assistants, whom he said “are not valued enough,” but he also stressed the need for further workforce development by local communities. The dream of being able to graduate from high school and find a family-supporting job at a manufacturing plant said Murphy, is one that is “gone and not coming back.” He argued that in terms of boosting employment the region must focus on the right job skills.
However, Murphy did not only recommend college degrees and graduate programs, he noted the importance of trade schools, even in a global marketplace, saying that one cannot “offshore” the work of an electrician. Even in those jobs thought to be “lower-skilled,” he said there is a need for basic computer skills, calling them “fundamental to all jobs.” Murphy also stressed that a ‘vigilant effort’ is needed to combat unemployment: “It isn’t enough to take someone displaced and get them a job for a few weeks. We have to make a real commitment to get them some skills.”
By Aaron Layman [email protected]