2nd Quarter 2021

News from the Northeast MESSAGE FROM THE DIRECTOR

Dear Colleagues, I hope you, your friends, family and loved ones are all doing well. This second quarter sure has flown by and just like that, we are halfway through 2021 and at the beginning of a new Program Year. We have accomplished a lot during this second quarter and I am proud to share with you a few of the highlights through this newsletter. There have been some developments with our Board that I would like to share with you as well. Sean Lavin has been elected to serve as Chairman of the Board for PY 2021 (July 1, 2021 – June 30, 2022). Chairman Lavin filled the remainder of the PY 2020 Chairman term, as our prior Chairman moved out of our region. In addition, Janet Russ has been elected to serve another term as Vice-Chair of the Board. We are very excited as we move forward un- der the leadership of Chairman Lavin and Vice-Chair Russ. We also have four new Board members that I would like to introduce – three members who were actually appointed at the very end of the first quarter and one who was appointed this second quarter. They are: INSIDE THIS ISSUE

• Alvan Overton: Business Representative, Bout Thyme Kitchen New Youth Services Manager ..2 • Lisa Brown: Business Representative, Inner Banks Real Estate Group Business Services Video ...... 2 • Carson Rich: Higher Education Representative, Beating the brain Drain ...... 3 Elizabeth City State University #worklocal Tyrrell County ...... 4 • Charlie Long: Labor Organization Representative, International Asso- Made in Hyde ...... 4 ciation of Machinist and Aerospace Workers Youth Initiative ...... 5 NWDB ...... 6 We are thankful for these community leaders who were willing to volunteer to help support NWDB’s work to develop a highly skilled workforce in north- SPECIAL POINTS OF eastern North Carolina. INTEREST • Facebook Best Wishes, • Festivals • Numbers at a Glance

• Library Workshops Dave Whitmer, Director Northeastern Workforce Development Board • Graduates

YOUTH SERVICES PROGRAM MANAGER Facebook Page The NWDB welcomed Rachel of Northeastern NC are em- On June 9th the Clipston to our Team as the powered to reach their educa- NWDB Facebook page Youth Services Program Man- tional and career goals. reached over 1,000 ager in April. Rachel is a native likes! Go like our page of Currituck County. She grad- @NWDBworks. We uated from Old Dominion Uni- are excited to share the versity with a Bachelor's in events of the NCWorks Human Services and from Career Centers, NWDB Western Carolina University and NextGen on our with a Master's in Human Re- page. sources. Rachel previously worked with the NWDB team as a Youth and Adult/DW Ca- reer Advisor in Dare County. She is returning to the NWDB from a 4-year stint in the pri- vate sector. In her new role, Rachel will oversee the NCWorks NextGen Program ensuring that the youth (16-24)

“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence then, is not an act, but a habit.” - Aristotle

Festivals BUSINESS SERVICES VIDEO

NCWorks staff participated The Northeastern Workforce De- NextGen, Job Seeker Services, in the Black Bear Festival on velopment Board is proud to have and Employer Services. The next Saturday, June 5th, in Plym- released the second video in a video is anticipated to be released outh. As restrictions are lift- series of videos about our services. in September or October of 2021 ed staff are excited to get the The NCWorks Business Services and will focus on how the NWDB opportunity to talk about video explains how the Business manages job seeker services in our our services out in the com- Services team proudly serves the rural region. https:// munity! NWDB 10-county region. www.youtube.com/watch? v=SnNvaE-jwaU The Northeastern Workforce De- velopment Board (NWDB) pub- lished a Request for Pro- posals for Video Production Services in February of 2020. The RFP requested proposals to produce five short videos, 5-10 minutes in length, to describe and highlight the services of the NWDB. The five videos in- clude: Northeastern Work- 2 force Development Board, NCWorks Career Centers,

BEATING THE BRAIN DRAIN... In northeast North Carolina, a key The job suits him as well. part of the population is declining, “It’s a good, steady job,” he said. causing a ripple effect on the local “You get to see pretty sunrises and economy. sunsets and you work with a lot of According to data from NCWorks, good people.” the working-age population is de- Nicholson could have featured her- clining across the region, includ- self in the initiative; born and raised ing in Camden, Chowan, Currituck, in Chowan County, she’s now raising Dare, Gates, Pasquotank and Per- three daughters there. quimans counties. Nicholson did leave for college, Emily Nicholson has studied the but found it to be problem as part of her work with an unnecessary expense. the Northeastern Workforce Devel- opment Board. Part of her #WorkLocal message is that people don’t need to load on Businesses and economies can’t student debt to be successful. thrive without a robust labor force, so Nicholson has made it her mis- “Looking back, I could have saved a sion to show young people they can lot of money going to a technical stay in the region and find success. school,” she said. “You don’t have to go away and get a 4-year degree to “I think northeast North Carolina find a sustainable position here.” has a lot to offer and I just want to make sure our kids understand they Nuckles, for example, had to get don’t have to go away in order to some transportation certifications find that fulfillment,” Nicholson and completes ongoing job training. said. NCDOT provides him insurance and A new initiative from Nicholson and benefits, a schedule that suits him the NWDB and a retirement plan he looks for- called #WorkLocal aims to prove ward to decades from now. that. “I’m very happy right here doing this Posters of county residents who with all my coworkers and my little stayed in the area and found good island, I love it.” he said. jobs have gone up in local high NCDOT is hiring ferry workers. For schools. more information, visit the agency’s In Dare County, NCDOT ferry oiler website. Matt Nuckles is featured. https://www.ncdot.gov/about-us/ Nuckles grew up in Frisco and never our-people/careers/Pages/ felt the urge to leave. default.aspx

“It’s a nice little place to grow up, it’s Source: WAVY .com nice and quiet, right on the water,” WAVY News 10, he said. May 4, 2021

3 #WORKLOCAL TYRRELL COUNTY 2nd Quarter 2021 The NWDB presented Numbers at a Glance three posters to Tyrrell County Schools on Mon- Total in Training day, April 26, 2021, as Adult: 89 part of its #worklocal ini- DW: 19 tiative. The posters, fea- Youth: 100 turing local graduates, are hung in the high schools Total: 208 of the NWDB 10 county region to create awareness Total Job Seekers Served: of career pathways availa- ble to students in their 3,808 local area that will provide Total Services Provided to them a stable and sustain- able income. Job Seekers: 20,118 The graduates featured Businesses Served: 220 that represent Tyrrell County are: Johndre Bow- Total Services Provided to ser, Columbia Middle School/STEM teacher, Businesses: 2,370 Shamari Spencer, Child Protection Specialist/ Tyrrell County DSS and Daniel Garza Salazar, Tyr- NCWorks rell Lawn Service/Chief Operations for Job Seekers Officer. Pictures (left to right): Bill Ziegler, Columbia High School Prin- NCWorks for Job Seekers library cipal; Oliver A. Holley, Superinten- workshop sessions resumed in dent Tyrrell County Schools; June, assisting job seekers in Johndre Bowser, and David Gates, Hyde, and Tyrrell County Whitmer, NWDB Director. 2nd Pic- ture: Shamari Spencer and David libraries. The workshops are a Clegg, Tyrrell County Manager. regional partnership between the 3rd Picture: Daniel Garza Salazar NWDB and regional libraries to #worklocal poster. help job seekers access employ- ment resources, develop re- MADE IN HYDE COUNTY sumes, prepare for interviews, Have you heard of the “Made in” ini- close proximity to Hyde County and learn career ready skills, and em- tiative? The “Made in…” initiative is a the economic development connec- bark on the path to a successful marketing package developed to tions, Hyde was included in a grant career. highlight the “Live, Work & Play” op- through Golden Leaf Foundation to portunities within selected northeast- grant teacher externships and devel- ern counties in NC with a focus on op their own “Made in” initiative. manufacturing. This initiative show- Teachers from Hyde County Schools cases companies who make products along with staff from Beaufort Coun- in the county, the careers in high- ty Community College will be invited demand by those companies and the to participate in the connected Rivers associated training and education East Academy focused on teacher required for those careers. Working training in advanced manufacturing with local school systems, community for the region. NWDB Career Advisor colleges, economic developers, cham- Phillip Holloway is participating in bers of commerce, NCWorks Career the Made in Hyde initiative by serv- Centers and the Rivers East Work- ing on the Made in Hyde Committee, force Development Board, each coun- along with Sara Watson from BCCC ty has the opportunity to attract visi- and NENC Career Pathways Facilita-

4 tors, residents and industries through tor Brandi Bragg. a common campaign. Because of the YOUTH INITIATIVE GRANT AWARDED 2021 NWDB The region’s workforce agency has opportunities, or “career pathways,” Training Participant received a $100,000 grant to attract include jobs in the agriscience, health Graduates and retain youth for careers in north- science and manufacturing fields. eastern North Carolina. The board also hopes to increase en- • Malika Fenner: Associates The Northeastern Workforce Devel- rollment in the NCWorks NextGen Degree/Human Services opment Board will use the grant program through a digital outreach Technology/COA awarded by the N.C. Department of campaign and its partnership with • Shea Barbe: Associates Commerce to support its “E3 Initia- College of The Albemarle, Clipston Degree/Early Childhood tive: Enroll More Youth, Expose said. Education/COA Youth to Local Careers and Ensure Whitmer said other aspects of the E3 • Nazir Briley-Elliott: Stronger Completion Rates.” The initiative will include a mentoring Associates Degree/Arts/ board is based in Hertford and serves program, which will pair profession- COA 10 counties, including Camden, als in the specific career pathways • Samantha Gerber: Chowan, Currituck, Dare, Gates, with students, and a student cohort Associates Degree/ Hyde, Pasquotank, Perquimans, Tyr- program. Whitmer said he believes Medical Lab Technology/ rell and Washington. students benefit from working togeth- COA The $100,000 was awarded from a er with other students in groups. total of $288,000 the N.C. Depart- In a press release Friday from the • Tonnette Glasper: Medical ment of Commerce awarded to three N.C. Department of Commerce, Gov. Assisting Diploma/COA workforce development boards. The Roy Cooper praised the grants. • Elijah Brown: Associates Capital Workforce Development “Business leaders tell me their num- Degree/Information Board, which serves Johnston and ber one need is skilled talent, espe- Technology/COA Wake counties, received $100,000. cially as we emerge from the pandem- • Heather Burdick: The remaining $88,000 was granted ic,” Cooper said. “These Youth Initia- Associates Degree/ to the Centralina Workforce Develop- tive Grants will help those businesses Nursing/COA ment Board, which serves Anson, by preparing young people with the • Alison Rowe: Associates Cabarrus, Iredell, Lincoln, Rowan, experience and training they need to Degree/Nursing/COA Stanly and Union counties. get the good paying jobs they pro- • Tasha Stamey: Associates NWDB Director Dave Whitmer and vide.” Degree/Nursing/COA Rachel Clipston, the board’s NextGen For more information about the • Gary Whitley: CDL/ Youth Program manager, said the E3 Northeastern Workforce Develop- Carolina Trucking Initiative is part of the board’s ongo- ment Board, visit online Academy ing effort to recruit youth and young at nwdbworks.com. By telephone, • Ariel Jones: High School adults ages 16 to 24 for jobs that serve contact Rachel Clipston at 252-404- Diploma/Perquimans specific career opportunities in north- 7079. County High School eastern North Carolina. Those specific Source: Daily Advance July 12, 2021 • Shyanne Burgess: High School Diploma/ 2021 GRADUATES Pasquotank County High School • Kathryn Lamas: Associates Degree/ Nursing/COA • Brittany Vance: Associates Degree/ Nursing/COA • Tammie Gibbs: Associates Degree/General Business Administration/COA • Martrell Heatly: GED/ COA • Michael Whitton: CDL/ COA • Charles Kemp: CDL/ COA 5

Board of Directors The Northeastern Workforce Development Board (NWDB) is a group of community leaders appointed by local elected officials. The NWDB serves North Sean Lavin, NWDB CHAIR Carolina’s 10 most northeastern counties: Camden, Chowan, Currituck, Dare, Gates, TCOM, L.P. Hyde, Pasquotank, Perquimans, Tyrrell, and Washington Counties. The purpose of the NWDB is to provide policy, planning and oversight for local workforce development

programs and to address workforce issues as identified by the communities that they Janet Russ, NWDB VICE CHAIR represent. NWDB’s mission is to foster employment of northeastern North Carolinians Coastal Electric Contracting by enriching the skills and suitability of candidate employees for the businesses of the Company region. Dave Carroll Labor Organization, AFL-CIO Our Vision Citizens and businesses of the Northeast region will rely on the board to promote the Larry Donley growth of well-paying jobs in new and existing businesses. Citizens in the region will be Wagner-Peyser Act able to find satisfying employment here, and will choose not to move away. NC Division of Workforce Solutions Our Mission Larry Lombardi The NWDB fosters employment of Northeastern North Carolinians by enriching the Economic Development skills and suitability of candidate employees for the businesses of the region. Currituck County Our Core Purpose Rex Anderson To resolve workforce issues and challenges to meet Northeastern North Carolina employ- Business Representative ment needs. Regulator Marine Our Values Dr. David Loope • One community, one team Community Based Organization • Forward looking and responsive to customer needs Hyde Partnership for Children • Embrace creativity • Nurturing hope for the future • Integrity first and excellence in all we do Tameka Gibbs • Data driven, fact focused, relevant results The Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Services Alvan Overton Business Representative NCWorks Career Centers and Outposts Bout Thyme Kitchen

Charlie Long Albemarle Commission College of the Albemarle Manteo Labor Organization 512 S. Church Street 132 Russell Twiford Rd. Int’l Asst. of Machinist and Aero Hertford, NC 27944 Manteo, NC 27954 Space Workers Phone: (252) 426-5753 Cell: (252) 312-6852

JD Williamson Elizabeth City NCWorks Career Center Hyde County DSS Business Representative 111 Jordan Plaza 35015 US Hwy 264 Williamson CPA, PLLC Elizabeth City, NC 27909 Engelhard, NC 27824 Lisa Brown Phone: (252) 621-6350 Cell: (252) 312-6859 Business Representative Inner Banks Real Estate Group, Dare NCWorks Career Center Hyde County Gvt. Bldg. Inc. 2522 South Croatan Hwy. P.O. Box 5, 30 Oyster Creek Road Nags Head, NC 27959 Swan Quarter, NC 27885 Sandi Brickhouse Smith Phone: (252) 480-3500 Cell: (252) 312-6859 Business Representative

Cherry Farms Seed Company, Inc. Edenton-Chowan NCWorks Career Center Beaufort County Community College Roper Dr. Kimberly Gregory 118 Blades Street, Building 3 P.O. Box 503, 100 Hwy 32 N. Adult Education Edenton, NC 27932 Roper, NC 27970 College of The Albemarle Phone: (252) 482-2195 Cell: (252) 312-6859

Richard Thorne, Jr. Currituck DSS Tyrrell County Finance Building Business Representative 2793 Caratoke Highway 108 Water Street HDM Associates Currituck, NC 27929 Columbia, NC 27925 Montique McClary Phone: (252) 232-3083 Cell: (252) 312-6859 Apprenticeship City of Elizabeth City College of the Albemarle Elizabeth City Gates DSS 1208 N. Road Street P.O. Box 185, 122 Main Street Carson D. Rich Elizabeth City, NC 27909 Gatesville, NC 27938 Higher Education Phone: (252) 335-0821 Cell: (252) 312-7357 Elizabeth City State University

Visit nwdbworks.com or ncworks.gov