Eastern Shore Community College held the 2016 Advisory Dinner on Thursday, November 17, in the Great Hall of the Workforce Development Services Building.  Advisory committees are appointed by the leadership of ESCC to help improve programs that prepare students to enter and succeed in the workforce. Committee members represent business, labor and professional organizations, and are experts in their field.  Their role in shaping program content is taken seriously by faculty and administrators, as they review programs, provide recommendations, and assist students and faculty.
The keynote speaker for the event was Martha Walker who is the Area Specialist, Community Viability, with the Virginia Cooperative Extension.  Her topic was “Advisory Committees: Moving Regional Economic and Workforce Priorities”.

The evening also provided the opportunity to recognize four individuals who have all contributed greatly to the workforce development efforts of ESCC, with the presentation of the WDS Chancellor’s Awards.  These acknowledgements are designed to recognize support of the college’s mission in serving Virginia’s workforce and communities, especially towards the VCCS six-year strategic plan, Complete 2021, which has just one goal: to triple the number of credentials in the Commonwealth by 2021.

In the category of career paths, the Chancellor’s Award went to Curtis Taylor. Curtis has been a career and technical education (CTE) teacher at the Badger Technical Center with Accomack County Public Schools (ACPS) for 28 years. He has taught Building Trades for 21 years and, also, taught automotive, small engine/outdoor power equipment, and industrial technology explorations. Currently, he is an adjunct professor in ESCC’s Industrial Technology program.

Honored for his efforts towards the Advancement of Workforce Credentials Grant was Steve Mallette, the Chairman of the Eastern Shore of Virginia Chamber of Commerce. In response to employer identified need, Eastern Shore Community College and the Chamber joined forces to ensure that CDL training was available for interested individuals here on the Shore.  Mr. Mallette’s involvement was critical in the local logistics involved in the training, utilizing Shore business resources and locations.  This partnership has led to four classes being held on the Shore this year.

Jean Hungiville, Executive Director of the Eastern Shore of Virginia Chamber of Commerce, was presented the Chancellor’s Community Services Award.  The three Eastern Shore chambers of commerce and ESCC have co-sponsored a regional job fair for the past three years. This year, Hungiville co-coordinated the event which attracted more businesses than in the regional fair’s history.  She spearheaded the campaign to get businesses onboard and to ensure that the businesses which attended had jobs to fill.

The Chancellor’s Award for Occupation-Specific Instruction and Services was presented to Dale Cook of Tyson Food where he was the Complex Human Resources Manager until June of 2014. Through his initiative Tyson Foods and ESCC came together to partner on the creation of a new apprenticeship program that would put ESCC students to work while still completing their education and training in the Industrial Technology Program at ESCC. This apprenticeship program that Dale envisioned and pursued has been of great value to students as well as Tyson’s workforce. To date, 12 students have served as apprentices and 5 have been hired full-time.

After the awards were presented by Dr. Linda Thomas-Glover, the academic committees convened for Business Management, Early Childhood Development, Electronics and Industrial Technology, Allied Health, transfer programs, adult education, One Stop, Career Pathways, and economic development.

Eastern Shore Community College thanks all who have served on committees for the efforts that help students acquire the knowledge, skills and outlook they need to enter and succeed in their professions.

(l-r) Dale Cook, Jean Hungiville, Steve Mallette, and Curtis Taylor.