FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

  JEFF ARNOLD NAMED TO HEAD ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY ORGANIZATION

DANVILLE, VA, February 2, 2007 -- Jeff Arnold, Director of Business, Industry & Economic Assistance at Danville Community College, has been named to serve as President of the National Coalition of Advanced Technology Centers.

Headquartered in Waco, Texas, the NCATC is a network of higher education resources that advocates and promotes the use of technology applications to enhance economic and workforce development programs and services.

“Jeff has represented DCC for several years as a main contact for the college with the National Coalition of Advanced Technology Centers,” stated former NCATC Executive Director Dick Hinckley.  “Through his experience and expertise with DCC’s advanced technology center, he has assisted many other colleges to design both facilities and new programs for their own campuses.  Jeff is greatly respected across the country for his knowledge and his contributions to community colleges, advanced technology centers, and economic development activities.”

Over 160 organizations in the United States and Canada, ranging from colleges and universities to the corporate community, comprise the coalition’s membership.  DCC has been a member for several years, and Arnold has served on the NCATC’s board of directors since 2005.

Advanced technology centers combine the resources of higher education and industry to meet the economic development and technical workforce training needs of a region.  DCC’s advanced technology center is the Regional Center for Advanced Technology & Training (RCATT), which Arnold oversees in his position at the college.  Opening in October 2005, the 24,500-square-foot RCATT facility is located in the new cyber park just off the Route 29 bypass in Danville.

DCC President Dr. Carlyle Ramsey commended Arnold’s appointment, stating, “We are certainly pleased to see Jeff assume this leadership position with the NCATC.  In addition to being able to contribute greatly to the NCATC’s goals, the additional expertise Jeff gains in his new position will help DCC meet the needs of industry in our region even more effectively – particularly as they relate to new technologies.”

Arnold’s appointment is for a one-year term, ending in December 2007. 

Arnold holds a B.S. in Wood Science & Technology from North Carolina State University and an M.B.A. from Averett University.  He joined DCC’s Workforce Services organization in 1993 after serving in various production and quality positions in local industry.

Arnold lives in Halifax with his wife Kelly.  They have a nine-year-old son and an eight-year-old daughter. For more information about NCATC, visit their website: http://www.ncatc.org/. For more information about DCC, click here.