Leadership Virginia

How do we lead Virginia?

From Leesburg to Danville, from Chesapeake to Norton, Virginia spans 42,775 square miles, about the same footprint as the island of Cuba. 

Life in Richmond is as different from life in Winchester, as it is from life in Bristol, or Lynchburg, or Arlington. Yet we live within the same lines. So, the question becomes: How do we begin to understand and appreciate the challenges and strengths of our entire Commonwealth?

One Richmond-based nonprofit is literally “leading” the way. As its mission, Lead Virginia, is dedicated to bringing together leaders from Virginia’s far-flung regions to talk, explore, understand, exchange insights and perspectives on how to shepherd our rapidly growing and changing home. 

Lead Virginia organizes their program into “classes” that essentially run parallel to the academic year, from September to June. Each class has approximately 40 participants. During the session, meetings are held over a three day weekend in each of the five designated regions of the Commonwealth: Hampton Roads, New River Valley, Southern Virginia, Northern Virginia, and Southwest Virginia. 

On Friday, June 25 Reynold hosted a panel discussion, Education and Workforce in the Richmond Region, as part of the final graduation weekend for the Lead Virginia Class of 2020. Reynolds President Paula Pando (on right in photo), a graduate of Lead Virginia’s 2019 Class, served as the panel’s moderator. On the panel were (from right to left after Dr. Pando) Eva Colen, Manager, Office of Children and Families and Senior Policy Advisor, Office of Mayor Levar Stoney; Dr. Tyren Frazier, Chesterfield Education Foundation; and Tamekia LeGrand, VCU Vice President for Strategy, Enrollment Management, and Student Success. 

To learn more about Lead Virginia and their upcoming events, visit: leadvirginia.org. 

Advancement

 Reynolds Advancement Team Recognized Internationally

Reynolds Advancement Team has been awarded a 2021 Circle of Excellence Award by the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE). The team is being recognized in the category "Events on a Shoestring" for its event "A Sneak Peek of the Kitchens at Reynolds."

 

This award category was for offices with limited staff, resources, and time. Entrants were asked to demonstrate creative ways of executing an event designed for a special occasion or purpose, using minimal resources - particularly budget. 

In the entry submission, Reynolds Special Events Manager Ariel Cole described tackling the challenges that made the gathering especially unique. “A grand opening celebration was changed multiple times due to COVID-19.  A large community celebration continues to be delayed, but Reynolds had to find a way to thank key supporters in a timely and safe way.

Reynolds held a series of small in-person tours of the building in September 2020.  Key community leaders, donors, and local officials were invited to visit the building during two staggered event timeframes. After a self-guided tour and socially-distanced remarks in the courtyard from the college president, lead investor, city mayor, and other officials, attendees reported being impressed with the completed facility, excited to see their investment in action, and eager to discuss opportunities to stay involved.”

Congratulations to the Advancement Team for their hard work staging this community event and for receiving this prestigious recognition for Reynolds. Job well done, recognition much deserved.

The Kitchens

 DAVE QUISENBERRY

Culinary Arts Instructor

Reynolds Community College

The Kitchens at Reynolds

Interview by Zippia Career Site

Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on graduates?

Dave Quisenberry: Yes! I think the whole planet, as well as the hospitality industry, will have a lasting impact. As the industry struggles to cope and redefine itself, we are forced to embrace some fundamental principals. The reliance on building partnerships and networking is now more important than ever before. This will help those in the labor pool match skill sets with the need in industry.

COVID-19 has also been disruptive in the traditional foodservice model. No longer can we assume that viable business models are "dine-in" consumer-based primarily. As we practice more and more social distancing, we need to incorporate food outlets such as "to-go" and home meal replacement in existing models. These options will require specific operational guidelines and technical support to achieve success safely and efficiently. These trends have already started being addressed in educational content to better prepare graduates upon entry into the job market.

Are there any particularly good places in the United States for graduates to find work opportunities in this field after they graduate?

Dave Quisenberry: While COVID-19 has most of the industry being restricted, one way or another, some sectors have been less affected. Healthcare and Corporate entities have maintained consistent; however, diminished labor needs. Graduates will be forced to consider options such as relocation and redirection of career pathways in the post-pandemic environment. That said, we have seen an unfortunate acceleration of business failures due to the economic impact of COVID-19. The post-pandemic environment will undoubtedly provide opportunities to fill voids in local markets as well as emerging markets, such as home meal replacement, etc. The need for trained professionals will have a much greater demand for emphasis on an understanding of total operational knowledge.

How do you envision technology impacting this field in the next 5 years?

Dave Quisenberry: As we deal with the impact of COVID-19 in our industry, we are being forced to rely on technology to communicate with each other, as well as our potential customers. Business models that have seen some success in maintaining market share have relied on new and existing web platforms to bring products and services to the market. The demand for knowledge in web design and virtual marketing will increasingly be a strong asset in any candidate's skill set.