HCC RECOGNIZES AREA BUSINESS PARTNERS WITH AWARD

Allen Smart	Jean Lovejoy	Pamela Whitaker

Halifax Community College (HCC) recognized three business partners during commencement exercises, May 10. This marked the second annual presentation of the Presidential Partnership Award. HCC President, Dr. Ervin V. Griffin, Sr. made the award presentations. The Kate B. Reynolds Charitable Trust, Turning Point Workforce Development Board and the U.S. Postal Service received the award for commitment and partnership in developing workforce education programs and supporting economic development in the Roanoke Valley.

Allen J. Smart, who currently serves as a senior program officer in the Health Care Division of the Kate B. Reynolds Charitable Trust, was presented the award. The trust was established in 1947, to improve the quality of life and quality of health for the financially needy of North Carolina. The Health Care Division responds to health care and wellness needs by investing in solutions that improve the quality of health for North Carolina's financially need residents.

Smart has been with the Trust for more than two years and has vast experience in the world of community health programs. Smart previously worked with the Rapides Foundation, a hospital conversion foundation in Alexandria, La., where he served as Vice President of Programs. Last year, the Trust awarded HCC grant funding that created a pilot program through the Dental Hygiene department called the HCC Healthy Smiles Dental Care Program. It provides free, basic dental care for a portion of the area's elementary (K-5) school children. The Trust and HCC are currently working with outside providers to make seamless care more available.

Jean Lovejoy, manager for the Post Office Operations, Area 1, Greensboro District, was presented the second partnership award. In February 2007, HCC partnered with the US Postal Service to dedicate a new stamp just issued as part of the Black Heritage Series. The dedication was held in honor of Black History Month. It was the first in a month-long series of programs that highlighted key developments, contributions, and events within African-American culture both past and present. On Feb. 5, 2008, the second annual stamp dedication was held. This year's stamp featured the noted African-American author Charles Chesnutt.

Lovejoy started her postal career in December 1987 as a city carrier in Tampa, Fla., and carried mail for seven years. In 1994, she moved back to Sarasota, Fla., and was promoted to supervisor of Customer Service. In June 2000, she moved to the Sparks/Reno, Nevada area and was promoted to manager of Customer Service. Lovejoy relocated to Dayton, Ohio, and in January 2004, was appointed postmaster of Englewood, Ohio. She has served as the postmaster of Brownsville, Texas, for the past two years.

The US Postal Service has just been named the most trusted federal agency in the country for the fourth year in a row by the Poneyman Institute. It delivers 213 billion pieces of mail every year to 146 million homes and businesses and delivers nearly half the world's mail. The Greensboro District, which covers Halifax County and half of North Carolina, had the best delivery service in the nation for the fiscal year 2007.

Pamela S. Whitaker, executive director of the Turning Point Workforce Development Board has served for 22 years and was presented the third award. In the past 10 years, Whitaker has successfully administered $55 million, with HCC's JobLink receiving in excess of $11.5 million for workforce and economic development training and development programs.

The Turning Point Workforce Development Board is one of 24 boards in North Carolina administering the nation's principle workforce development legislation, the Workforce Investment Act of 1998. The Turning Point Workforce Development Board is a group of business and community leaders charged with planning, policy development, implementation, and oversight responsibilities for workforce development programs and services in Edgecombe, Halifax, Nash, Northampton and Wilson counties.

The board's role is to ensure that the local workforce development system is market-driven and responsive in meeting the needs of employers and job seekers within the region. The board currently sponsors tuition, fees, case management services and job placement for eligible adult and dislocated workers who become students at each of the four community colleges within the region. Eligible youth also receive a comprehensive package of traditional employment and training activities sponsored by the board.

Currently, the 25-member board manages more than $6 million. It is chaired by John Allen, Human Resources Manager of Kaba Ilco, Rocky Mount, N.C. The administrative office is also located in Rocky Mount.