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January 4, 2007

Assistant Labor Secretary to Address
Regional Workforce Summit at Calhoun

The North Alabama/South Central Tennessee WIRED (Workforce Innovation in Regional Economic Development) Second Generation Region will host a regional workforce summit on the Decatur campus of Calhoun Community College on Thursday, January 18, 2007, to introduce a new collaborative initiative focusing on regional Workforce Development needs.  Close to 300 economic development leaders representing area chambers, elected officials, business and industry, workforce investment, and education are expected to attend.

Keynote speaker for the summit is the Honorable Emily Stover DeRocco, Assistant Secretary, U.S. Department of Labor, who will address the national perspective on workforce development and how the North Alabama/South Central Tennessee WIRED region fits into this national initiative. 

Dr. Tim Alford, Director of the Alabama Office of Workforce Development, and Ms. Susan Cowden, Administrator of the Tennessee Employment and Workforce Development Division, will address state workforce development issues that require collaborative solutions in order to provide the regional workforce that will be needed over the next ten years.  Mr. Jim Hudson, President and CEO of the Hudson Alpha Institute for Biotechnology (HAIB), will speak to the biotechnology field as it relates to the region’s workforce needs, and Dr. Neil Lamb, HAIB Director of Education and Outreach, will share practical ways that biotechnology enhances quality of life.

Sponsors of the Summit include the Alabama Workforce Development Office, The Alabama College System (WIRED partner colleges include Calhoun Community College, Drake State Technical College, Northeast Alabama Community College, Northwest Shoals Community College, and Snead State Community College), Alabama Industrial Development & Training, Alabama Technology Network, BizTech, Economic Development Partnership of Alabama, Huntsville/Madison County Chamber of Commerce, Limestone County Economic Development Association, Morgan County Economic Development Association, North Alabama International Trade Association, The North Alabama Region: A Globally Competitive Community (GC2), the Port of Huntsville, South Central Tennessee Development District, South Central Tennessee Workforce Alliance, The University of Alabama in Huntsville, USDA Rural Development, Vanderbilt University, and Workforce Solutions.

Seating for the event is limited, but registration is free.
To reserve your seat, register by January 12, 2007, at
http://resadmin.uah.edu/workforcesummit/

For additional information, contact
Dr. Mary M. Yarbrough
Dean for Technologies and Workforce Education at
Calhoun Community College
email (mmy@calhoun.edu) or phone (256.306.2976)

Summit Agenda | Road Map | Directions to the Decatur Campus | Campus Map
Also see news release "Calhoun Receives $5 million from DOL..."

Coverage of this release:

• Region must innovate to stay ahead, The Huntsville Times, Friday, January 19, 2007 issue, p. D8
• Regional leaders focus on enhancing work force, The Huntsville Times, Thursday, January 11, 2007 issue, p. B6
• Assistant Labor Secretary, Emily Stover DeRocco, will be the Keynote speaker at Calhoun, The Huntsville Times, Sunday, January 7, 2007 issue, p. B1
• The Alabama College System Update, January 10 , 2007, Vol. 3, No. 1
• Regional work force summit at Calhoun , The Decatur Daily, Sunday, January 7, 2007 issue, p. B5
• Huntsville/Madison County Chamber of Commerce website, Chamber Member News, www.hsvchamber.org.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:

Janet Kincherlow-Martin
Director of Public Relations
(256) 306-2561

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