Batten Institute “Developing Future Leaders” conference March 26-28

The Darden School of Business at the University of Virginia and the Batten Institute for entrepreneurship and innovation will present an interactive learning experience March 26-28, 2008 that will answer key questions about learning and leadership, among them - “Can leadership be taught in college?” and “What are effective and innovative ways to teach leadership?”

Designed for faculty from graduate and undergraduate business schools in the United States, the “Developing Future Leaders” conference will include presentations and workshops that address new developments in business simulations, multimedia cases, the humanities, distance learning, self- assessments, and case method teaching. Faculty who want to expand the leadership dimensions of their management courses, teach or plan to teach leadership courses, or who want to design their own leadership programs will all benefit from the conference’s insights.

The conference keynote address will be delivered Thursday, March 27 by Jim Collins, author of Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap … and Others Don’t and coauthor of Built to Last. Mr. Collins will also facilitate a panel discussion focused on integrating Good to Great principles into the classroom. Limited admission to the keynote address will also be available to the local community.

To register for “Developing Future Leaders,” visit: http://forms.darden.virginia.edu/batten/tl/register.htm

CIO Insight: Best books of 2007

Still looking to fill the stocking of your boss, co-worker, or staff member?

CIO Insight has listed their editors’ picks for the 10 Best Books of 2007.

CATEC recipient of $2,500 Timberland Grant through SkillsUSA

As part of SkillsUSA’s $2,500 Timberland grant opportunity, the Culinary Arts class at the Charlottesville-Albemarle Technical Education Center (CATEC) submitted a community service project entitled One year of Blessing, Caring, and Thanksgiving to people in need, a commitment that never ends. With 950 projected community service hours dedicated to this year long project, the Culinary Arts program is the recipient of the $2,500 grant under the Highest Impact/Involvement category.

The class project, which began in November 2007, will be completed in December 2008. The first objective is to fully engage 28 CATEC Culinary Arts I and II students in Community Based Service Learning by providing quality food, quality service, and exposing students to real life situations involving people in need. This provides opportunities that involve various competencies, hands on learning, student creativity and class teamwork. The second objective is to expose the community to the talents and gifts of the students.

Virginia Workforce Center grand opening Dec. 10: Governor Kaine to speak

The Grand Opening of the Virginia Workforce Center - Charlottesville will be held at 1:30 p.m. on December 10 at the Center’s location, 2211 Hydraulic Rd., Charlottesville, VA (the former Embarq building). The schedule of events will include: 1 p.m. - 4 p.m. open house with tours; 1:30 p.m. press conference with Governor Timothy M. Kaine and Daniel G. LeBlanc, Senior Advisor to the Governor for Workforce.

A long time coming, the Virginia Workforce Center – Charlottesville is actually a prototype for Virginia of the “one-stop center” concept envisioned in the Federal Workforce Investment Act (WIA) of 1998. The WIA requires that a number of employment-related services be provided through a one-stop system, designed to make accessing employment and training services easier for job seeker customers.

The opening of the Virginia Workforce Center – Charlottesville is a result of a coordinated effort among the Special Advisor to the Governor for Workforce Development’s office, the Piedmont Workforce Network, and local Workforce Investment Act (WIA) partners.

Tenants in the new one-stop center include:

Virginia Employment Commission
Virginia Department of Rehabilitative Services
Veterans Affairs office
Piedmont Virginia Community College
Virginia Department of Education
George Mason University Virginia Procurement Technical Assistance Program
WorkSource Enterprises
Jefferson Area Board for Aging
Charlottesville Department of Social Services
Choice Group
Career Support Systems
Goodwill Industries
Workforce Investment Act program

Some of the above listed organizations have or will be moving all of their operations to the new center, while others will have representatives there. The Charlottesville field office of the Virginia Employment Commission moved about half of its employees into the center, leaving the other half at its Preston Avenue building.

To attend the opening, you can RSVP to Kristen Wilson at pwn@tjpdc.org or 434-979-7310 ext. 310, or visit www.workforce.virginia.gov.

Here Comes Another Bubble

Is this where we’re headed?