Annual Sussex County Conference to Focus on “People: Your Most Valuable Asset”
By Dr. Ileana Smith, Vice President & Campus Director
Delaware Technical Community College, Owens Campus
For the past 18 years we have brought together businesspeople, educators, community and government leaders, and residents from across our county at our annual Sussex County Today & Tomorrow Conference. The annual conference, which we host at Delaware Tech in Georgetown in the fall, is a unique opportunity to discuss collaborative efforts that can benefit our community. I’m pleased to report that our 19th annual conference, which will take place on Wednesday, Oct. 31, will focus on “People: Your Most Valuable Asset.”
The goals for the conference are to promote understanding, showcase initiatives, identify needs, and stimulate action. Our planning committee, made up of dedicated and talented individuals from throughout Sussex County, always identifies a current theme for the conference, and I am extremely pleased with this year’s topic. Any employer knows that if we want a workforce that’s engaged and productive, we need to hire the right people and create an environment that will allow them to flourish.
The conference will include an update from Workforce Analyst Ed Simon of the Delaware Economic Development Office and a keynote speech by Laura McCann, director of team member relations for Burris Logistics. We will also host two panel discussions with professionals from a variety of organizations, including Emeca, Dogfish Head, and Wawa to name a few.
The first panel discussion, entitled “World of Hiring and Development,” will provide participants with valuable insights regarding the challenging process of finding the right people for your organization and then helping them to succeed and grow. President John F. Kennedy once said, “The human mind is our fundamental resource.” If we succeed in engaging and inspiring our employees, everyone in the organization benefits.
“World of Job Seeker Preparation” is the title of the second panel discussion and will include perspectives on what organizations are looking for in employees today, as well as information regarding effective on-the-job training. At Delaware Tech, we strive every day to provide relevant academic and training programs to meet the needs of local businesses. Our advisory committees, comprised of over 1,000 business and industry experts in related fields, meet regularly with us to review curricula, arrange internships, and ensure that our graduates have the knowledge and skills necessary for immediate entry into their chosen careers. This conference is another opportunity for us, as well as for all of you in the community, to identify and discuss current and future needs we must address in order for our county to thrive.
Of course we couldn’t do this every year without our wonderful volunteers and local sponsors. I am very grateful that we have such a vibrant community full of informed and enthusiastic people who realize the importance of communication and collaboration. If you share our interest in the economic vitality of Sussex County, I hope you will join us on October 31.
Tickets are $30 with a $5 discount for members of a local chamber of commerce. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit the Web site at www.sussexcountyconference.com or contact Jackie McQuaide at (302) 855-1659.
- The Delaware Business Weekly Round Up – September 28, 2012
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