RELEASE: Immediate CONTACT: Public Affairs
DATE: October 24, 2007 PHONE: (919) 807-6963, 807-6962
First months on the job "popping" for new VP for Economic and Workforce Development
RALEIGH - "Things are popping all over."
Those are the first words from Willa Dickens when she is asked to describe her first three months on the job as Vice President for Economic and Workforce Development for the North Carolina Community College System.
System President H. Martin Lancaster tapped Dickens to be Vice President on August 1 after she had served as Associate Vice President. In the past quarter, she says, "We've set a record for approval of New and Expanding and Customized Industry Training Projects, among most important tools for supporting economic development in our state. We've committed more than $4 million to efforts that have the potential to add hundreds of jobs all over North Carolina."
The New and Expanding Industry Program, which provides free customized training to qualified companies adding at least 12 jobs, is just one part of the comprehensive economic and workforce development program that Dickens now leads.
The Economic and Workforce Development Division also includes Focused Industrial Training, which works with existing industries; Customized Industry training, a relatively new program that fills in gaps that other programs don't address; the Small Business Center Network; NC BioNetwork; occupational extension and other continuing education; human resource development; workforce initiatives and a number of other programs.
Dickens came to the System Office in January of 2005 to lead the Small Business Center Network after more than 19 years at Halifax Community College in Weldon, NC. Her tenure there included experience in all the areas that Economic and Workforce Development encompasses, and her years of service on the Roanoke Valley Chamber of Commerce Board prepared her for statewide duties. Her last positions at Halifax were Director of the college’s Small Business Center and Director of Business and Industry Services.
“My time at Halifax definitely prepared me for a statewide assignment,” said Dickens. “That area is tremendously dependent on the services and mission of the community college. On the state level, the need is just as critical. Recruiting new businesses, retaining existing businesses, assisting start-ups, and preparing new and incumbent workers for effective employment are all exciting and rewarding challenges.”
Dickens was promoted to Associate Vice President of Economic and Workforce Development in November of 2005. She said she developed a great admiration for the way things are done at the System Office and benefited tremendously from working closely with then Vice President, Dr. Larry Keen.
When Keen was tapped as president of Fayetteville Technical Community College, Dickens moved up. Dickens says the professionalism and tremendous work ethic of the various department heads in her division gave her a strong sense of security about the transition.
“Each member of the professional Economic and Workforce Development team excels in respective areas,” said Dickens. “Also, Dr. Keen made me believe I could do it. He set a fantastic example at the System Office.”
Dickens holds an associate's degree from Saint Mary's College (now Saint Mary's School) in Raleigh, an undergraduate degree in business from North Carolina Wesleyan College in Rocky Mount and a Master's in Adult Education from East Carolina University in Greenville. She and her husband have three children and two grandchildren.
The North Carolina Community College System serves citizens, businesses, and industries effectively by making readily available an excellent variety of both business training and lifelong learning opportunities. The outstanding customized training provided for business and industry has consistently earned national recognition. The System enrolls more than 800,000 students in 58 comprehensive community colleges. Internationally recognized for the scope and quality of its programs, the System is North Carolina's primary provider of workforce preparation and adult education. For details, visit www.nccommunitycolleges.edu.
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