AUGUST 2020
Chamber News THE VOICE OF BUSINESS & INDUSTRY
Education + Workforce
in the Top of Virginia INSIDE: 04 | New Members 06 | Adapting Education 08 | CTE Students Service Communities 12 | LFCC Launches Alumni Website
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Chair Tracy Vosika George Mason Mortgage, LLC Chair-Elect John Fox Greenwood Grocery & Deli Vice Chair Scott Harvard First Bank Treasurer Adrian Taylor YHB
Front Cover courtesy of the Discovery Museum. Above photo courtesy of Shenandoah University.
Immediate Past Chair John Lamanna Timber Ridge School
DEPARTMENTS
FEATURES
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
04 | Letter from CEO
06 | Adapting Education
04 | New Members
08 | CTE Students Serve Communities
Susan Brooks Navy Federal Credit Union
05 | TVRC News and Events
11 | FastForward Grad Thriving in Career 12 | LFCC Launches Alumni Website 13 | COVID-Impacted Learning 14 | HVAC Great Career for 22 year old
Emily Burner Shenandoah University Charles Daniels Integrus Holdings, Inc. Jenny Grooms WMC Foundation Jim Guisewhite Sperry Van Ness
Top of Virginia Regional Chamber Sponsors Chamber Elite
Kevin McKannan Walsh, Colucci, Lubeley & Walsh, P.C. Katrina Meade City National Bank
Chairman’s Club
Nadine Pottinga United Way NSV President’s Club
Media Sponsors
Patti Solenberger Solenberger’s True Value Hardware James Stewart Grafton Integrated Health Gregory Vossler Green Bay Packaging
Letter From CEO
CHAMBER STAFF
The Power and Strength of Education EDUCATION is the most powerful resource we have for forming a healthy society. It is the foundation for knowledge to be transferred, skills to be developed, and habits to be ingrained. Beginning in the home where parents begin training up children in basic life skills, then accentuated by professional teachers and trainers, education gives each individual the opportunity to become their most productive self and make the most impact they can in the world. In the Top of Virginia region, it is very evident that education is highly valued. We have the finest of opportunities at every level, from nurtur-
Cynthia Schneider, CEO
cschneider@regionalchamber.biz
Billy Whirley Director, Membership Development
bwhirley@regionalchamber.biz
Dan Hitchcock Membership Development Specialist
turing day care centers, to outstanding public and private K-12 options, innovative Career dhitchcock@regionalchamber.biz and Technical Training Centers, and superior higher education institutes. These in addiAshley Miller tion to master craftsmen, artists, musicians, and more who contribute to the many and Director, Marketing & vibrant learning adventures from which we can glean and grow. Communications The focus of this issue of the Chamber News is Education. Now more than ever our amiller@regionalchamber.biz educators deserve a tremendous round of recognition! Amidst the societal changes required by COVID-19 restrictions, administrators have been working diligently, developing Danita Roble new methods of convening and teaching. Teachers, students, and parents alike are in the Director, Event Management droble@regionalchamber.biz steepest learning curve of their lives as well, but amidst much trepidation, there is one thing of which I am very confident. Having raised four children in our community, I am fully Jody Wall confident that our educators will, as always, pour their hearts and souls into their students Director, Program and that learning and enrichment will continue because of our wonderful educators! Development jwall@regionalchamber.biz Cynthia Schenider | CEO Top of Virginia Regional Chamber
UPCOMING EVENTS The full TVRC calendar can be viewed at regionalchamber.biz
YOUNG PROFESSIONALS GROUP Wed. Aug. 19 Meet the Candidates
Welcome
New Members
MARKETING MIND SHARE
Wed. Aug. 26 Crisis Communications
BUSINESS & BREWS Thurs. Aug. 27 Solving a problatunity
Thanks to our new members who joined the Chamber between July 1 and July 31. To learn more about membership benefits, call 540-662-4118.
ProLawn Service Corp
Stephens Main LLC
LinkedIn Profiles and Resume Writing Services
Republic Services
Friends of Danielle Bostick
De Rouge Salon & Skincare
Vanem Enterprises, Inc DBA/ Caring
407 S. Loudoun Street Winchester, VA 22601 540-662-4118 regionalchamber.biz OUR VISION Be the voice of business for Frederick & Clarke Counties and the City of Winchester, Virginia. OUR MISSION Provide programs and services to meet the business and professional needs of our members. OUR PURPOSE Connect business and community resources for mutual success.
TVRC NEWS & EVENTS Nominations for the 8th annual Valor Awards Now Open
Save the Date: Hob Nob in the Valley
Nominations are being accepted for the 8th Annual Valor Awards,presented by City National Bank! Do you know an individual that has gone above and beyond to ensure the safety of others? Nominations for the 2020 Valor Awards have begun. The Valor Awards recognize members of the various public safety departments, as well as every day citizens who have gone above and beyond to ensure the safety of others. Awards for the 2020 Valor Awards are for specific acts that occurred from July 1, 2019 - July 31, 2020.Nominations are being accepted until August 31, 2020. Register + learn more: www.regionalchamber.biz/events
Mark your calendar for this premiere public policy event and political rally in the northern Shenandoah Valley on Thursday, Sept. 24 at 6:00 p.m. Tickets are $10. Hob Nob in the Valley is celebrating 21 years of honoring the American electoral process and educating the public about political parties and candidates. Join us virtually on Zoom, where we’ll start the evening off with the formal program and candidate speeches, go into breakout rooms, where you’ll have an opportunity to ask candidate questions and then vote. Voting results will be instant. Register: www.regionalchamber.biz/events
Save the Date: Reference USA Workshop
Save the Date: Young Professionals Group
Join us for Lunch Bunch and hear from guest speaker Bill Carlson, Reference USA on Tuesday, Aug. 25 at 12:30 p.m. Learn how to Use B2B and B2C Data from Reference USA to Reach Your Sales Goals. No cost. Register: www.regionalchamber.biz/events
It’s election year! Gear up for TOV November elections by joining the TVRC Young Professionals Group for a Meet the Candidate Forum on Wednesday, Aug 19 at 5:30 p.m. Hear on topics that matter most to young professional voters. No cost. Register: www.regionalchamber.biz/events
The COVID-19 Online Pivot: Adapting Education By: Ashley Miller
Photos Courtesy: Shenandoah University & Randolph Macon Academy
A quick pivot from brick-and-mortar schooling to online learning was seen across the Top of Virginia as COVID-19 spread across the country and globe in k-12 as well as higher educational institutions. In the first half of March, Shenandoah University was one of the first Virginia universities to announce it was moving to university-wide online instruction due to COVID-19. “The transition was successful due to the preparation of the university’s Incident Command System Committee (ICS), which began meeting in late January to monitor the developing situation and to review the school’s pandemic outbreak plan,” said Becky Layne, Media Relations Coordinator via email. “The dedication of the faculty (most of whom were already trained prior to this year to teach classes
online); and the university’s iMLearning Program, which provides a MacBook, iPad and Apple pencil to every full-time student and all faculty.” By the time the university went to online learning, everyone was as prepared as they could be for this uncertain situation. The same was said for Randolph Macon Academy, when back in March R-MA also transitioned to synchronous, global online learning in less than 72 hours. “Our foundation with technology and nimbleness for adaptation enabled our amazing teachers to provide continuous instruction for the Spring 2020 semester,” Sung Chu, Director of Enrollment Management said via email. “R-MA finished on time; our graduation was on time; our grades were on time, and we will most definitely start on time for the upcoming Fall 2020 Semester.”
Over the past four months, Shenandoah has provided college credits at discounted rates to high school students, donated several ventilators and thousands of hospital masks to local health care providers, and maintained full employment with no COVID-19 related furloughs or reduction in benefited staff or faculty positions. Moving forward, Shenandoah plans to fully reopen for in-person instruction in the 2020-21 academic year beginning Aug. 24, 2020. The university will implement a new ShenFlex learning format. Classes will be structured with both a face-toface core and online elements, but students and faculty will be able to participate fully online if needed. Chu said he is pleased that R-MA
R-MA will be offering on-campus instruction for the Fall 2020 Semester. “R-MA has seen an immense amount of support from our current families as well as an extremely heightened interest level in prospective families who do not wish for their children to experience a hybrid or completely virtual learning environment for the start of the Fall 2020 Semester. R-MA is closely monitoring various governmental sources to ensure a safe and productive return for on-campus teaching and operations for the school.” R-MA created a special video depicting their immense preparation, https://youtu. be/koIfE37iTc8. Required actions to keep the Shenandoah community safe, such as social distancing and wearing face coverings, are outlined in a pledge that will appear on the university’s website and app. Faculty, students and staff must sign the pledge to do their part to keep themselves and others safe while on campus. In addition, there will be video requirements and training opportunities for faculty, students and staff regarding COVID-19 and the actions/ behaviors necessary to help reduce the spread of the disease. The university will also increase available rooms for residential students to allow for any student who wants a single, especially for those who have health conditions — to get one. For more information on Shenandoah University, please contact admit@su.edu or call 540-665-4581. For more information on R-MA, please contact admission@RMA.edu for additional information and to schedule an in-peron or virtual tour with our admissions counselors.
CTE students serve their community By: The Clarke, Frederick, and Winchester Career and Technical Education Departments
When Covid 19 hit, schools closed, but students in the midst of their cooperative education experience got a firsthand look at what it meant to be working in the healthcare profession during a crisis. Clarke, Frederick, and Winchester schools had 14 students who completed the nurse aide program and their Certified Nurse Aide credential as juniors in high school and were working at Winchester Medical Center as CNAs during their senior year in the spring of 2020. As divisions sought to provide guidance through unprecedented times, students were offered the option to stop the experience with no academic penalty. All were placed in what was deemed low risk units and had extensive training in personal protective equipment and procedures. The majority of the students along with their parents elected to continue the experience during the shutdown providing necessary care to hospitalized patients. Winchester Public Schools and John Handley High School were proud to learn that Bich Ngoe Vo was awarded the Carnation Care Award for Extraordinary Nursing Assistants from Valley Health during that time. The honor of this recognition is open for all Nursing Assistants and other healthcare technicians employed at Valley Health, and is made by a patient who has received exceptional care at Winchester Medical Center. The patient stated: “I am impressed with this young lady’s care and dedication to her job. I am amazed at the meticulous care she took…to do so with such concern for my comfort… she went above and beyond to help me. It’s rewarding to see someone that young show so much care for someone under her care.” Bich said, “I was genuinely shocked to receive
the carnation award and I’m extremely grateful for it. Receiving the award felt like a reassurance to me and the best thing ever as my time with the co-op program is coming to an end.” Another Nurse Aide co-op student from Frederick County Public Schools, Daniela Joya Escalante, was offered a full-time position as a CNA at Winchester Medical Center before she completed the co-op program in the spring of 2020. As a bilingual CNA with a strong technical skill set and work ethic, she is a shining star according to her Nurse Aide instructor Mary Mc-
Namara. A nurse colleague at Winchester Medical Center recognized Daniela internally with an excellence award, stating, “Daniela always does things without us even thinking of asking her... Today, when I was busy, she took it upon herself to grab a patient’s vitals. She noticed I was busy and it was such a huge help. We love Daniela!” The Work-based Learning (WBL) programs in Clarke, Frederick, and Winchester Public Schools facilitate connections between students and employers. These students, and additional cooperative education students in a variety of
industries continue to work to keep our community moving forward during uncertain times. Contact the Chamber’s Workforce Development committee if you would like to partner with area school divisions to build your workforce through WBL. High School CTE Nursing Programs are thankful to our community partners Local nurse aide students from Clarke and Winchester Public Schools found themselves in need of 7-14 hours of clinical time to be able to sit for the CNA exam after COVID 19 regulations would not allow them access to long-term care facilities they normally acquire the hours with. Through a partnership with Valley Health, approval was granted for these students to complete hours on the medical telemetry floor. The students worked for 14 hours during their summer break in order to fulfill their clinical requirement, enabling them to sit for their CNA exam. The hospital staff was impressed with their eagerness to learn and they performed with a high level of proficiency combined with compassion. The students were exposed to new experiences and their learning was robust. This collaboration means more local students are able to sit for their Board of Nursing exam, and serve the needs of our community. Thank you to Valley Health, and all community partners. To learn more about CTE, please contact your child’s school division.
Winchester FastForward Grad Thriving in New Career Since earning the 10,000th workforce credential from the Virginia Community College System’s (VCCS) FastForward job training program, life just keeps getting better and better for Winchester resident Ed Breeden. He had spent more than 20 years working at Zuckerman Co. when he learned the metal recycling company would soon be shutting down. His stepson Rodney urged him to return to school and get his GED. “Rodney is really the one who influenced me to go to Lord Fairfax in the first place,” says Breeden, who left James Wood High School in 10th grade to go to work. “I didn’t have a GED or the means to get a decent job.” Turning to LFCC’s Adult Education program was life-changing for Breeden. “I was about halfway done with my GED instruction when [adult education instructor] Katie Branson told me about this PluggedIn program,” Breeden said. PluggedInVA (PIVA) is an education and career training program of the Adult Education program offered at LFCC. It helps students attain the skills they need to move forward with their careers, and offers a variety of training, including in digital literacy, workplace readiness, interview skills, industrial trades, and allied health. Breeden registered for the digital literacy and career readiness certificate programs, as well as the Manufacturing Training (MT1) trade program. “I got my GED, I got my digital literacy, got the career readiness , got the manufacturing technician
credential, got everything,” he says. “I’m all certified in everything now.” He quickly secured employment with Ashworth. “The hiring manager looked at my portfolio and my resume, and wanted to hire me right on the spot,” Breeden, a crimp operator, says. “My wife works in manufacturing, too. I thought it would be a good career for me. It’s something a little different and it’s something I can learn a little more about. I enjoy working with my hands and doing mechanical work, so I figured being a technician would be a great new career for me.” Not only does he now have benefits, but his
salary at his new job is significantly higher than what he had been paid at his old one. Breeden was recognized by Virginia’s Community Colleges as receiving the 10,000th workforce credential from the VCCS’s FastForward job-training program. “FastForward is doing exactly what we intended: improving the lives of Virginians by helping them start, or re-start their careers to meet the challenges of the ever-changing economy,” says Glenn DuBois, chancellor of Virginia’s Community Colleges. Breeden and his wife enjoy antiquing and visiting flea markets on weekends. He is enjoying it even more now that he has more disposable income.
“I’ve got a little more income now and can afford to splurge a little bit,” he says. “I’m doing more work to my house, and bought my wife a brand-new car and myself a pickup.” Before earning his GED, Breeden didn’t own a computer. Now, he uses one for email and other applications. “Going back to school has changed my life,” he says. “It really has. I was stuck before and thought I would be at my old job until I retired. Now I can talk about moving up a little bit, I can request a better position here if I want. Everyone here is so helpful, and I’m learning more every day.” And, Breeden might not be done with his formal education. He is considering taking business classes at LFCC. “Ed is the very definition of a PIVA success story, and has received more than 10 months of instruction and training from our program,” says LFCC Adult Education Director Amy Judd. “We’re so proud of him!” As he was taking his GED classes, his adult education instructors encouraged him to take advantage of PIVA because not only would it help him in finishing his GED, but it would also help him attain professional certification in a high-demand profession. “It prepares students like Ed for the academic rigor of college credit or workforce credentialing classes, helps them achieve numerous certifications, coaches them on workplace readiness skills, and assists them with their coursework once Continued on Page 15
LFCC Launches Alumni Owned Business Directory By: Kelli Williams Photos Courtesy: Lord Fairfax Community College Lord Fairfax Community College is happy to announce that our online alumni-owned business directory has recently gone live. The directory was created to celebrate the accomplishments of our alumni, and their contributions to our community as business owners. . It was also created to support our alumni, especially during these chal
lenging times. Currently the directory lists 27 businesses offering a variety of goods and services, including restaurants, as well as health, home, creative, financial and legal services. Area chambers of commerce, such as the Top of Virginia Regional Chamber, have been instrumental in promoting the directory, and will continue to
serve as valued partners as we seek to host events and share resources that will benefit our alumni business owners. We encourage any alumni who would like to have their business listed on the directory to share their information with us at lfcc.edu/alumni, or to contact Tami O’Brien at tobrien@lfcc.edu.
Museum Continues to Makes COVID-Impacted Learning Playful By: Diane Schnoor Photos Courtesy: Shenandoah Valley Discovery Museum When the Shenandoah Valley Discovery Museum closed on March 13 due to COVID-19, museum staff knew that it was important to continue to promote learning through play and to offer access to quality educational activities for all families. From March-June, with some financial sponsorship by Bank of Clarke County, museum educators produced more than 60 days of creative fun for families. Topics included pirates, engineering, pollinators, messy masterpieces, cloud watching, chain reactions, astronauts, baseball, and so much more. “We depend so heavily on what all of you have created for our daily home schooling,” one parent emailed the museum about the daily themed activities published during the spring. “I report into his teacher each day and I send reports of what we have done from the Discovery Museum…We are also saving many of the activities for this summer when we can be outside and do more of the messier activities.” “Wow, this is awesome!!” said Brad Herring, Director of National STEM Networks and a museum partner with NISENetwork. “And I’m glad to see that you’re still able to connect with your community at least digitally.” Local school systems distributed the links to the Shenandoah Valley Discovery Museum’s curriculum to teachers and families alike to use. “Thank you, Discovery Museum, for your continued activities for our WPS, FCPS families and others! These are excellent and fun for all!” said Jake Boula, Director of Elementary and Intermediate Instruction for Winchester Public Schools. “Thank you all for the work you are doing to send the daily activities out...they are wonderful!” said Frederick County fourth grade teacher Trish Roy. “I’m sure there are parents all over Winchester and the surrounding areas who are blessed because of them! I know teachers are!” Since the COVID-abbreviated school year ended, the Shenandoah Discovery Museum has shifted gears to make summer fun for largely homebound families as well. While continuing to publish free virtual activities, the museum offered a variety of interactive virtual camps in June, ranging from preschool dinosaur and music/movement camps to Spy Kids and Kitchen Science camps offered for elementary school-aged children. As Virginia eased into stages two and three of re-opening, the Shenandoah Valley Discovery Museum began offering in-person camps at the museum (limited capacity, with campers and counselors wearing masks and socially distancing). With assistance from the United Way Impact grant, these camps also allowed scholarship assistance for children whose families were struggling to make ends meet in a COVID economy. “My children are delighted and so are we!” said the parent of a family of summer campers. As the community moves towards the fall, the Shenandoah Valley Discovery Museum continues to explore ways to make COIVD-impacted learning playful and fun for children and families. Visit www.discoverymuseum.net to learn more about fall offerings.
HVAC Program Led to Great Career for 22-Year-Old
while out working during the course, he was able to get to the journeyman level in two years instead of four. The Culpeper County resident was homeschooled before enrolling in the Workforce Solutions course. “Both of my grandfathers influenced my decision in pursuing a career in HVAC,” Shortridge said. “My dad’s father, Frank Shortridge, retired from Fort Belvoir. He worked on chillers and boilers, and later at GTE as the ‘air conditioner man.’ He had numerous certifications. “My mother’s father, Bill Ensor, retired Josiah Shortridge is just 22-years-old, but from York International in Pennsylvania the facility operator HVAC technician is He was a plant machinist who made already thriving in his career. industrial air conditioning. I spent a lot of He recently completed the HVAC (heat- time with my Papaw Bill, walking in the ing, ventilation and air conditioning) woods and talking about how mechanical trades course offered through LFCC things work.” Workforce Solutions. Shortridge earned Knowing he could finish the accelerated his Level 4 certificate over the winter. program in two years, rather than four, he Because of the bonus hours he earned enrolled in the trades course at Workforce
Solutions. “I worked for two different HVAC companies installing units for the public while taking the course,” Shortridge said. “I really appreciated the Workforce Solutions HVAC program because I was at a time in my life where I lacked direction. The program moved me in a forward direction.” Thanks to FastForward funding, the course cost him one-third of the full price. “I want to continue my education, and I would recommend this program because it benefited me so much,” Shortridge said. “I liked that it was an accelerated class, and it’s pretty cheap.” Shortridge was hired by Micron Technology in October 2018. “I love my job,” he said. “They treat me well. It has good benefits and good hours. My goal is to stay with Micron and see where they want me, whether
it’s engineering or management.” Soon, Shortridge will apply to sit for his journeyman exam. The average salary for heating and air conditioning mechanics and installers, as well as for refrigeration mechanics and installers, is $54,780, according to data from EMSI. “The demand for HVAC technicians is so great that any of our students who want to be employed coming out of Level 1 of our course can be,” said Workforce Solutions Program Manager Tracey O’Leary. To learn more about FastForward training programs, visit LFCCWorkforce.com/FAST or call (540) 868-7021
Continued from Page 11 once they begin technical training, such as the MT1 course in his case,” Judd says. Breeden encourages others to follow his example and see how LFCC can help their careers, too. “If they want to better themselves, do all you can,” he says. “Never give up. It’s changed my whole outlook.” To learn more about the FastForward Credential Programs available at LFCC, visit LFCCWork force.com/FAST or call (540) 868-7021.
Member
Congratulations to our renewing members! We greatly appreciate your continued support and involvement.
Renewals • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
Barns of Rose Hill Belk Inc Boy Scouts of America ChildSafe Center-CAC City of Winchester Clarke County Economic Development & Tourism Clarke County Public Schools Contact Corporation County of Frederick Cove Campground Frederick County Public Schools Full Circle Marketing T Goode Financial Services Green Bay Packaging Inc. Greenfield and Behr Residential Honey Baked Ham Co. & Cafe Integrity Home Mortgage Corporation Integrus Holdings - Fortessa Tableware Solutions Kilmer & Associates, CPA, P.C. Kiwanis Club of Blue Ridge Malloy Toyota McClung Companies McElroy Metal, Inc.
• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
Northern Shenandoah Valley Civitan Club NW Works, Inc. Piccadilly Printing and Marketing Rappahannock Electric Cooperative Richard’s Fruit Market Schewels Home Selma Medical Associates Shenandoah Valley Battlefields Foundation Signet Marketing Solenberger’s True Value Hardware SpecialMade Goods & Services, Inc. Stuart Hill Apartments Super Splasher Aquatics The Laurel Center Intervention for Domestic & Sexual Violence The Management Group, LLC United Way of NSV Valley Car Wash - #1 Winchester Violino Ristorante Italiano Wilkins’ ShoeCenter, Inc. Winchester Casket Company Winchester Cold Storage / WCS Logisitics Winchester Host Lions Club, Inc. Winchester Metals, Inc. Winchester Regional Airport Authority
MEMBER NEWS & BUSINESS AGENDA UPDATES • Niki Wilson is the new Foundation Director at Shenandoah Valley Westminster-Canterbury. She is a graduate of Shenandoah University with a BA in business and marketing and a master’s in business admin. • Get the new Alzheimer’s Association face mask! Contact samartey@alz.org to find out how! • Congratulations to Navy Federal Credit Union on being ranked #4 U.S. brand for customer experience excellence. • Congratulations to YHB on being named as one of the 2020 Best Accounting Firms to Work for by Accounting Today. • Join the Northern Shenandoah Valley Covid-19 Economic Response Team and take the OpenAndSafeNSV pledge to show your commitment to keeping the Top of Virginia healthy. • Nominations for the 2020 Valor Awards, presented by City National Bank are being accepted now through August 31. Learn more. • We’re #StrongerTogether in the TOV. Shop our Stronger Together apparel collection. Choose from polo’s, hats or yard signs. Proceeds will benefit our first responders. • LFCC is happy to announce that our alumni owned business directory is LIVE! The directory was created to celebrate and support alumni who own their own businesses. Visit lfcc.edu/alumni for details.
