(December 19, 2023) — The annual HIRE Ed Conference, a signature event organized by the Virginia Community College System (VCCS), was held December 6 – 8 in Roanoke celebrating remarkable accomplishments in workforce development initiatives. The conference, which showcases excellence, innovation, and collaboration among colleges and their business partners, reaffirmed the pivotal role that Virginia's Community Colleges play in advancing workforce training across the state.
The event saw robust participation from Central Virginia Community College (CVCC) administration, staff, faculty, local businesses, and economic development community members, all representing the Greater Lynchburg area. Dr. Jason Ferguson, CVCC’s Associate Vice President of Professional and Career Studies/Workforce Solutions, delivered impactful insight into CVCC’s achievements as a facilitator and participant across three sessions, notably contributing to the panel discussion that served as the cornerstone of the conference. Dr. Ferguson presented with Christine Kennedy of the Lynchburg Regional Business Alliance to showcase the collaborative approach taken to serve businesses by both organizations. Other CVCC partners in attendance at the conference included Nat Marshall from BWX Technologies, Heather Ramsey from Framatome, C.J. Caudill from Aerofin, Kristin King from Centra, Paul Denham from Southern Air and Dr. Justin Hensley from Cloudfit Software, who also serves on the CVCC Local Advisory Board. Paul Denham joined Jason Ferguson on stage for the closing session which involved a panel discussion that highlighted partnerships between four community colleges and their local businesses.
CVCC was recognized with several awards across a variety of categories. Accolades were extended to Debra Short, CVCC’s FastForward Program Manager, honored with the award for Outstanding Achievement by a College Faculty or Staff Member, and William Jefferson, Head of the CVCC HVAC Program, received the esteemed award for Outstanding Achievement from a Rising Star. Furthermore, in a competitive arena encompassing all twenty-three colleges, CVCC claimed the prestigious Showcase Award for its innovative Monopoly-styled exhibit, showcasing CVCC's one-door approach to credit and noncredit programming in a singular, accessible format. The college's exhibit also featured a set of HoloLens; a form of immersive, augmented reality goggles used to enhance medical training and learning by simulating real-world scenarios.
"This recognition underscores the dedication and excellence of our team," remarked Jason Ferguson acknowledging the outstanding efforts of Debra, William, and the entire Workforce Solutions team. "Their outstanding achievements exemplify the commitment to advancing workforce development and fostering impactful collaborations within our community. As evidenced by the support shown from local business partners participating in presentations to share their insights regarding how community colleges and industry must work together to meet workforce demands.”
The success of CVCC at the HIRE Ed Conference highlights the institution's unwavering commitment to driving innovation, collaboration, and excellence in workforce development initiatives.