Continuing education/all education/ workforce development
By Jared Council
jared.council@insidebiz.com
William R. Harvey is Hampton University's longest-serving president, holding office at the historically black college and university since 1978. During his tenure, the school has more than doubled enrollment; increased endowment nine-fold; added 76 new academic programs; erected 18 new buildings; secured a grant to operate a major NASA mission; and, among other things, opened in August 2010 a proton therapy center for cancer patients - the largest such cancer treatment center in the world.
By Jared Council
jared.council@insidebiz.com
Shawn Ricks of the U.S. Commerce Department twice reminded her audience about the world's consumers in a speech at Hampton University last week.
"Let me repeat for entrepreneurs in the audience: 95 percent of consumers live outside of the United States," said Ricks, who is the special adviser for minority outreach at the department's International Trade Administration. "So if you're not thinking globally, in terms of your business plan, you're already selling yourself short."
By Jared Council
jared.council@insidebiz.com
Speaking to about 250 Hampton Roads business professionals, Disney facilitator Jim Mundy showed a clip from the 2008 Disney film "Wall-E" to illustrate a point about details.
He suggested that people put effort into the details of their businesses, as Disney producers did when they used 154 crushed cans, 798 Christmas lights and specific quantities for other items that "Wall-E" was organizing in the scene.
By Jared Council
jared.council@insidebiz.com
Krystol Greene still has dreams of graduating from a four-year college, despite the odds she's faced since becoming pregnant as a 15-year-old high school freshman.
The 26-year-old Tidewater Community College student had planned to enter the workforce and then pursue her bachelor's degree. Those plans have recently changed: Greene was selected for a national initiative designed to channel community college students to historically black colleges and universities - or HBCUs - and provide resources along the way.
By Megan Stamper
Correspondent
Gary McCollum urges members of the business community to get involved in early childhood education.
"Every business leader should realize that their future depends on a quality workforce and early childhood education is a long-term fix for that," said McCollum, senior vice president and general manager of Cox Communications Virginia.
Jared Council
jared.council@insidebiz.com
Hampton University is ready.
At least that's what Brett Pulley, dean of the Scripps Howard School of Journalism and Communications there, thinks now that his school has a studio capable of streaming live video to major television networks at a moment's notice.
"We can do it fast because anyone here on campus can be in that seat within seven or eight minutes and can be on the air within another five minutes," Pulley said, speaking about today's fast-paced 24/7 news environment.
By Jared Council
jared.council@insidebiz.com
Regent University President Carlos Campo had no problem telling an audience recently what he would say to mediocre teachers at the nation's public schools.
"I love you, sister; I love you, brother. You cannot teach my children," he said.
"I'm going to find something else for you to do. If you're not great, you cannot be in front of my child."
By Megan Stamper
Correspondent
Theresa Fredrickson loves her triplet sisters, making bracelets and her job at the Goodwill on Lynnhaven Road in Virginia Beach.
A Goodwill employee of six years. she came to the job through her caseworker. She previously worked at Kmart and the Dam Neck Naval Base, but Goodwill is her favorite job.
"Most other jobs I was working five days a week including the weekends and I was stressed out," Fredrickson said. "Goodwill is more flexible."
By Teresa Talerico
Correspondent
After seven years as a champion of pre-K programs and their economic benefits, a local nonprofit is passing the torch to its four partner organizations in Chesapeake, Norfolk, Suffolk and Virginia Beach.
Founded in 2005, Smart Beginnings South Hampton Roads works to support and improve early-childhood education, based on studies that say a child's brain experiences the biggest growth spurt in the first few years of life.
sBy Susan Smigielski Acker
Correspondent
Learning from others' mistakes is a great way to hone professional skills. Members of the Hampton Roads Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America learned by example from the recent public relations fiasco that happened with the forced and then rescinded resignation of University of Virginia President Teresa A. Sullivan.
The event drew nearly 50 area professionals to hear from a panel about how mistakes were made in early June, namely in the form of lack of communication.
