Chamber Wins National Workforce Award

   The Danville Pittsylvania County Chamber of Commerce was recognized as the National Association of Workforce Boards’ (NAWB) 2009 W.O. Lawton Business Leadership Award winner at NAWB’s 2009 Forum in Washington, D.C. on March 9.  The Chamber was nominated by the West Piedmont Workforce Investment Board (WPWIB).
   This award is given in memory of Dr. W. O. Lawton of Hampton Roads for his commitment toward improving the local and national workforce delivery system. Local workforce investment boards, which have developed strong relationships with the business community, were encouraged to submit nominations. 
   According to WPWIB Chairman Tim Clark, the Chamber was nominated and chosen for its “steadfast commitment to elevate the WPWIB’s relevancy with the business community and among economic developers, educators and federal and private funders.”
   “This leadership culminated into two recent high profile national successes – securing a regional innovation grant of $250,000 to address the region’s significant manufacturing layoffs and helping to bring to this rural region a new source of revenue, the National Fund for Workforce Solutions,” said Clark.
   In addition, Clark reported the Chamber has helped the WPWIB to address the community’s immediate workforce issues for new and existing businesses.
   “When area industries required a higher level of skills for its machine operators, an aggressive reemployment strategy needed to be developed quickly to help the many dislocated workers secure these jobs,” he said.
   “The Chamber engaged the community college to create a manufacturing technician certification, geared to fast track individuals into mechanist occupations. Fifteen companies now support this program and help potential hires with skill upgrades,” he added.
   Clark said the Chamber’s leadership has shaped how the WPWIB creates policy and administers funds. Chamber President Laurie Moran is a founding WPWIB member, a former board chair and still serves on the organization’s executive committee.
   NAWB’s awards coordinator Pat Cassidy said this nomination was one of the best he has reviewed in a long time.  “Your WIB’s partnership prevailed in a field of strong candidates,” Cassidy commented.
   Chamber Board Chair Marilyn Hanover thanked the WPWIB for their nomination during a recent WPWIB board of directors’ meeting. “We are honored and humbled by this award. Workforce development remains one of our top priorities. We value the significance of having a workforce development system that ensures our workforce has the skills needed to ensure our employers remain competitive in a global economy,” she said.
   The Chamber and WPWIB were formally recognized at the NAWB Forum in Washington, D.C., on March 9, where approximately 1,500 people, representing nearly 650 business-led workforce investment boards and other associated organizations in the workforce industry, were in attendance.
   Accepting the award on behalf of the Chamber were President Laurie S. Moran and Hanover.  From the WPWIB were Adkins, Clark, Vice Chair James A.L. Daniel, and Danville Mayor Sherman M. Saunders.  Clark Casteel from the Danville Regional Foundation was also in attendance.
   The Danville Pittsylvania County Chamber’s mission is to serve its 720 members and improve the business environment by providing leadership, products, programs and services which promote the success of its members.
   Serving the cities of Danville and Martinsville and the counties of Henry, Patrick and Pittsylvania, the WPWIB funds and monitors the region’s five Workforce Career Centers and numerous employment services and training programs for employers, jobseekers and the youth.
   The NAWB’s mission is to support members through a comprehensive program of advocacy, training and technical assistance, communication, and the promotion of strategic partnerships for the advancement of our nation’s workforce.