Business Rocks Tours
Engaging Business in Our Schools

Belvac Production Machinery, RR Donnelley and Laslie's Auto Body hosted ten students from the Lynchburg City School's Pride Plus Program on Tuesday, December 11. Thanks to Jim Warner, Mark Epperson, and Dan Laslie respectively, the junior and senior high school students had opportunity to see first hand the types of jobs that are available in the community.

On Wednesday, December 12, Liberty University, AMTI, Laslie's Auto Body and Bank of The James greeted twenty three sixth graders from Dunbar Middle School. While the organizations engage in diverse types of business, students reported hearing the same messages from all of them: Math is extremely important and good grades are paramount to future success. Thank you to Liberty's Visitors Center; Larry Hatch, President, and staff at AMTI; Dan Laslie, President, Laslie's Auto Body; and Bob Chapman, President and Chief Executive Officer, and Vickie Spencer, Vice President and Marketing Officer, and their staff at Bank of The James.

Randolph College was the first stop for a group of twenty two sixth graders from Linkhorne Middle School as their Business Rocks Tour kicked off on Thursday, December 13. The Admissions Office provided a comprehensive campus tour and talked about the different types of jobs available on campus. The group then traveled to Lynchburg Regional Airport where Airport Manager Mark Courtney provided insight into airport operations. A short bus ride to Tyco Electronics resulted in an interesting presentation and facility tour under the direction of Donna Stuart, Project Manager, Wireless Systems Business Unit. The last stop of the day was a tour of WSET-TV with host Jeff Taylor who forfeited a vacation day to spend time with the group.

Dennis Deane, who leads the human resources department at Westminster Canterbury coordinated an extensive tour of the residential home for Sandusky Middle School students on December 14. The twenty-four sixth graders found their next stop, Diebold, Inc. , to be quite different in terms of environment and employment opportunities. A big thanks to Ann Girten and David Newman for arranging our educational visit. Students are now aware of how metal is cut and shaped to make an ATM. Following lunch, the group traveled down the road to NovaTech where Joy and Hawk Rochow provided staff to help the kids understand how an idea becomes a manufactured product. Stamping copper coins was a huge success. The students heard one overriding message throughout the day: Math is critical, whether you plan on being an engineer or a nurse.

Hats off to each of these businesses for educating today's students on tomorrow's workforce needs!

You too can be very effective as 1. Please call Shirley T. Deen at 434-455-4493 or email her at shirley.deen@lynchburgva.gov for more information about being part of Lynchburg's Award-Winning One Programs.