February, 2014 • ChamberLink
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Chairman’s Report Education, workforce training keys to ensuring regional, statewide prosperity By Mike Fidgeon For nearly a year, the Virginia Chamber of Commerce poured time, energy and resources into a plan to help our commonwealth maintain its economic edge in the 21st Century. The Virginia Chamber formally rolled out this map for prosperity at its annual economic summit held last November in Williamsburg. At that time, the VA Chamber presented a copy of Blueprint Virginia to then Gov.-elect Terry McAuliffe. One of the pillars of this plan is maintaining and strengthening the commonwealth’s workforce training programs. We are blessed with an abundance of natural resources, an excellent quality of life, and generally business-friendly governments that keep taxation and regulation at reasonable levels and work tirelessly to attract new Mike Fidgeon businesses to Virginia. But without a welleducated, highly skilled workforce, we cannot lure outside businesses to our commonwealth, let alone provide the labor pool needed to ensure the success of start-up enterprises. At your Chamber, we work with leaders of our public and private primary schools, as well as the teams at Germanna Community College and University of Mary Washington, to ensure that our members have opportunities to gain knowledge and expertise necessary to help their businesses move forward. We have multiple policies in support of early childhood education, public education, and post-secondary education initiatives and opportunities for our future workforce. You can read all of our policy statements at this link: www.fredericksburgchamber.org/Legislative-Priorities. Our Workforce NOW program’s mission is to develop and sustain partnerships to support and encourage workforce readiness and workforce development. Many local agencies provide career training, educational opportunities, and workforce services; however, the Workforce NOW web site provides one central, easily referenced location for businesses, prospective employees, and students to access education and workforce opportunities throughout the region (www.fredericksburgchamber.org/ Workforce-NOW-Home). While I applaud the Virginia Chamber for making workforce training an integral part of Blueprint Virginia and our Chamber for its efforts to assist here in our region, the real heroes are the folks in the trenches working with our kids, students, and employees. In partnership, Chambers are able to get the word out about the many resources that are available and to promote various initiatives that make all the difference for our future workforce. You too can get involved. You can be a mentor, sponsor, board member, coach, advocate…the possibilities are endless! I hope you will consider volunteering with us or one of the many important agencies that support workforce readiness and development. Your investment will be time well spent and could very well be the deciding factor that changes someone’s future. Join us…you won’t regret it! Michael Fidgeon is Chief Operating Officer of Providence Service Corporation.
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New Member Orientation
New members of the Chamber family gathered on Jan. 8 for an orientation session. Participants met with the Chamber staff and the Chamber’s Ambassadors, who gave an overview of upcoming programs and offered tips on how to get the full benefits of Chamber membership.
Students, educators, business leaders to gather for STEM Summit FredTech, the Chamber’s regional technology council, is gearing up for its third annual STEM 16 Summit. Hosted by FredTech, the Chamber and University of Mary Washington, the STEM 16 Summit will highlight the achievements and offerings of the Fredericksburg Region’s students, educators, and businesses in the areas of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM). This year’s event will spotlight student and educator STEM efforts from more than 40 local secondary schools, the University of Mary Washington, Germanna Community College and NSWCDD Dahlgren. The event will also feature a keynote address by Missy Cummings, director of the Humans and Automation Laboratory at Massachusetts Institute of Technology. She has conducted research into the interaction between humans and autonomous vehicle systems, as well as the ethical and social impact of technology. As a U.S. Navy officer from 1988-99, Dr. Cummings soared, becoming one of the Navy’s first female fighter pilots at the
STEM 16 Summit 10 a.m.-2 p.m., March 29 at UMW’s Anderson Center, Fredericksburg Campus
Schedule: 10 a.m. Conference & Booths Open 11:45 a.m. Welcome & Keynote Address 2 p.m. Conclusion
controls of the F/A-18 Hornet. She earned a B.S. in mathematics from the U.S. Naval Academy, a Master’s degree in Space Systems Engineering from the Naval Postgraduate School, and a Ph.D. in Systems Engineering from University of Virginia. The STEM 16 Summit will include a variety of exciting parts: • approximately 75 STEMrelated booths • technology demonstrations, including robotics, lasers and rail-gun models • STEM Career Fields Panel
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Eagle Dining by Sodexo concessions The Summit is open to the public and admission is free of charge, thanks to the program’s generous sponsors. To register for a booth or sponsor the 2013 STEM 16 Summit, call (540) 373-9563 Sponsorships are available. Contact Sheri Kroskie at sheri@ fredericksburgchamber.org or (540) 373-9400. To learn more about STEM, contact STEM 16 ChairmanGeorge Hughes at ghughes@simventions.com.
We’re offering not one, but two Business After Hours events for February! This is your chance to get to know your fellow Chamber members and make useful contacts for your business. Where Home Instead Senior Care 111 Old Greenwich Dr., Suite 101
Where Courtyard by Marriott Fredericksburg Historic District, 620 Caroline St.
When 5:30 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 6
When 5:30 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 20
Cost No charge to attend
Cost No charge to attend
RSVP Go to www.fredericksburgchamber.org or e-mail stacey@fredericksburgchamber.org
RSVP Go to www.fredericksburgchamber.org