FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CHERYL TERRY NAMED DIRECTOR OF

BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY SERVICES

DANVILLE, VA, March 13, 2007 - As companies become more competitive and new businesses and industries locate in the region, Danville Community College assists these companies by meeting the training needs of their employees. Cheryl Terry, a native and resident of Halifax, will now take charge of determining those necessities in her new position as Director of Business and Industry Services.

“We have companies that need employees, and we have a massive number of people who need employment. I will spend my time helping to build a bridge between the two. I view this as an opportunity for DCC to create new training programs and curriculums to help our community,” says Terry, who formerly served as DCC’s Director of the Middle College.

In addition to working with company leaders to provide training, Terry will be responsible for establishing an assessment center and serving as the certified administrator for multiple assessment instruments. She will develop and offer courses and implement a distance education program.  

Terry says she will teach relevant workforce skills, coordinate seminars and conduct tours of the Regional Center for Advanced Technology and Training (RCATT) for groups, such as business and industry personnel, high school students, and the community.

Dr. Max Glass, Vice President of Workforce Services, says that DCC recognizes the need to expand its services to other parts of the College’s service region of Danville, Halifax County and Pittsylvania County. He adds that with the increase of new companies locating in the region and others expanding, it is extremely important that the college continue to partner with economic development offices.

“DCC works closely with economic developers who are busy bringing companies to the region,” says Glass. “We partner with them in providing what’s called ‘start-up training. It is designed to help companies train their employees so they start higher on the training curve and, thereby, can become productive more quickly. Often-time, this enables companies to begin operations on a profitable basis.”

Glass is delighted that Terry has accepted this new challenge and believes she will be an asset to the College’s efforts. Since 2004, Glass says she has directed the Middle College program, which provides an avenue for young adults (18 – 24) to earn their certificate of General Educational Development (GED). The program has been so successful that DCC is implementing Middle College II to assist adults 25 and older.

According to Glass, prior to coming to DCC, Terry worked in Texas as a trainer and manager and her background included assisting business and industry.

“We (screening committee) felt she was uniquely qualified for this new workforce services position,” Glass says. “I know she will do an excellent job.”

In addition to her workforce experience, Terry worked in project management, systems support, and programming for web-based applications for 14 years. She also taught algebra at Halifax County High School and currently is an adjunct accounting instructor for Southside Virginia Community College. Terry earned her Bachelor of Science Degree in Computer Information Systems from DeVry Institute of Technology and her Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Electronic Commerce from the University of Dallas. Terry is a certified Internet Webmaster. She is currently involved in DCC’s Leadership Academy.

She is very active in the community. She is a participant in Leadership-Halifax County, and is a board member for the Southside Outreach Group; mentor with the Mentor Role Model Program; and member of New Vernon Baptist Church where she is a Sunday School teacher and chair of the Scholarship Committee.

Terry says that she is excited to be in Southern Virginia and she enjoys working at Danville Community College.

“The faculty and staff provide a supportive, caring environment for each other, our students and our community at large,” says Terry. “Everyone at DCC has a positive spirit, and I enjoy working here. I particularly enjoy the opportunities I have to help my community.”