(August 14, 2007) A group of public agencies, private businesses, and industry have joined together to create the Career Readiness Task Force, looking at ways to enhance the Stanly County workforce. The task force was created in the wake of the Stanly County Economic Summit which was held in the spring, according to Stanly Community College President,
Dr. Michael Taylor.
Leaders from Stanly Community College, Stanly County Schools, Stanly County Chamber of Commerce, and the Stanly County Economic Development Commission began meeting to discuss ways the four could work together to promote work force development in the county. “We all thought one message that came out loud and clear from the summit was the need for a well trained work force if we are going to attract business and industry and enhance the local economy,” Dr. Taylor explained.
School Superintendent Dr. Sam DePaul, EDC Director Robert Van Geons, Chamber President/CEO Tom Ramseur and Dr. Taylor held the groups first meeting at the college in April, followed by a May meeting at Stanly Regional Medical Center which included representatives from private business and industry, SRMC, Pfeiffer University, NC Employment Security Commission and David Hollars, Executive Director of the Metrolina Workforce Development Board.
“The Stanly County Chamber of Commerce is pleased to partner with the other agencies in taking career readiness and workforce development to a new level in Stanly County. Students, parents, teachers, and guidance counselors need to be informed of available careers in our area, pursue proper training, and make realistic decisions about their future,” said Tom Ramseur, Chamber President.
The group held its third meeting recently at Stanly Community College and decided to work on career readiness issues with the county schools as a way to begin the process of enhancing workforce development. The group will sponsor several different events including: a series of summer camps that SCC and Pfeiffer will sponsor next summer to introduce middle school students to various career opportunities in the county, work with public schools on a program for school counselors to visit local business and industry to see first-hand the career opportunities that exist in the county, and provide programs at school PTO/PTA meetings to let parents know about Stanly County career opportunities for their children.
Superintendent Dr. Sam DePaul added, “the career development initiative is just another example of how the community positively values education and is supportive of educating the youth, young adults, and others in Stanly County. Collaboration and partnership are very apparent here, and they validate the genuine concern and interest by everyone involved with this career development initiative.”
At the recent meeting, Curtis Parker, Dean of Students for Stanly Early College High School (SEC), located on the SCC campus, reviewed SEC’s first year of operations and how the high school will develop in the future. Dr. Terri Griffin, Assistant Superintendent for Instruction in the county schools, also reviewed with the group the development of a new middle college program at South Stanly that will focus on business technologies.
The Career Readiness task force, created by Stanly Community College, Stanly County Schools, Stanly County Chamber of Commerce and the Stanly County Economic Development Commission, met recently at SCC. Those present included: From the left: Dr. Sam DePaul, Marion Kinley, Grover Stewart, Deborah Smith, Steve Cumming and Tom Ramsuer. On the right: Dr. Mike Taylor, David Hollars, Ron Swanner, Danny Storm, Curtis Parker (Dean of Stanly Early College and speaker at the meeting) Dr. Terry Griffin and Nathan Sanges. Not present: County Commissioner Sherill Smith and EDC Director Robert Van Geons.
(August 14, 2007) A group of public agencies, private businesses, and industry have joined together to create the Career Readiness Task Force, looking at ways to enhance the Stanly County workforce. The task force was created in the wake of the Stanly County Economic Summit which was held in the spring, according to Stanly Community College President,
Dr. Michael Taylor.
Leaders from Stanly Community College, Stanly County Schools, Stanly County Chamber of Commerce, and the Stanly County Economic Development Commission began meeting to discuss ways the four could work together to promote work force development in the county. “We all thought one message that came out loud and clear from the summit was the need for a well trained work force if we are going to attract business and industry and enhance the local economy,” Dr. Taylor explained.
School Superintendent Dr. Sam DePaul, EDC Director Robert Van Geons, Chamber President/CEO Tom Ramseur and Dr. Taylor held the groups first meeting at the college in April, followed by a May meeting at Stanly Regional Medical Center which included representatives from private business and industry, SRMC, Pfeiffer University, NC Employment Security Commission and David Hollars, Executive Director of the Metrolina Workforce Development Board.
“The Stanly County Chamber of Commerce is pleased to partner with the other agencies in taking career readiness and workforce development to a new level in Stanly County. Students, parents, teachers, and guidance counselors need to be informed of available careers in our area, pursue proper training, and make realistic decisions about their future,” said Tom Ramseur, Chamber President.
The group held its third meeting recently at Stanly Community College and decided to work on career readiness issues with the county schools as a way to begin the process of enhancing workforce development. The group will sponsor several different events including: a series of summer camps that SCC and Pfeiffer will sponsor next summer to introduce middle school students to various career opportunities in the county, work with public schools on a program for school counselors to visit local business and industry to see first-hand the career opportunities that exist in the county, and provide programs at school PTO/PTA meetings to let parents know about Stanly County career opportunities for their children.
Superintendent Dr. Sam DePaul added, “the career development initiative is just another example of how the community positively values education and is supportive of educating the youth, young adults, and others in Stanly County. Collaboration and partnership are very apparent here, and they validate the genuine concern and interest by everyone involved with this career development initiative.”
At the recent meeting, Curtis Parker, Dean of Students for Stanly Early College High School (SEC), located on the SCC campus, reviewed SEC’s first year of operations and how the high school will develop in the future. Dr. Terri Griffin, Assistant Superintendent for Instruction in the county schools, also reviewed with the group the development of a new middle college program at South Stanly that will focus on business technologies.
The Career Readiness task force, created by Stanly Community College, Stanly County Schools, Stanly County Chamber of Commerce and the Stanly County Economic Development Commission, met recently at SCC. Those present included: From the left: Dr. Sam DePaul, Marion Kinley, Grover Stewart, Deborah Smith, Steve Cumming and Tom Ramsuer. On the right: Dr. Mike Taylor, David Hollars, Ron Swanner, Danny Storm, Curtis Parker (Dean of Stanly Early College and speaker at the meeting) Dr. Terry Griffin and Nathan Sanges. Not present: County Commissioner Sherill Smith and EDC Director Robert Van Geons.