FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SCOTT BARNES NAMED NEW                                  

RCATT DIRECTOR AT DCC

           DANVILLE, VA, August 19, 2002 -- Scott Barnes, who most recently worked as an operations manager at the ABB plant in South Boston, has been named Director of Danville Community College’s Regional Center for Applied Technology and Training (RCATT). 

           RCATT was established in the summer of 1999 through a General Assembly appropriation to support regional economic development by helping area businesses address their current and future hiring, employee training, and technology application challenges. Services provided by the Center include: employee assessment and job profiling; Internet-based training courses; industry improvement conferences; job certification training; technology-transfer workshops; customized company-specific training programs; and on-line and distance learning courses. RCATT also sponsors the Information Technology Institute and provides advanced manufacturing technology and polymer training.

Dr. Carlyle Ramsey, DCC President, said he is particularly pleased that Barnes has accepted the position because he brings a wealth of experience in management, training, economic development and leadership to the position. He was selected for the position following a nationwide search.

“Scott’s expertise in a number of fields, and extensive management and training background and commitment to economic development made him a perfect choice for the position,” Ramsey said. “With our new Advanced Manufacturing Technology degree program, polymer plastics program, Scott will be an invaluable leader in implementing these new programs.”

Ramsey explained that last fall RCATT received a $483,500 grant from the United States Community Adjustment and Investment Program (USCAIP) to purchase a Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) machine that will aid polymer manufacturers in product development and train students in the use of polymers testing equipment.

Barnes is a graduate of Halifax County High School, and received his Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering from Virginia Tech.  He has worked for ABB for 13 as an operations manager and design manager, and prior to that at Westinghouse for 11 years as a design engineer and senior design engineer.

He has a strong background in economic development and community service, including serving several years on the Halifax County Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, as well as a stint as chamber president in 1996-1997.  In addition he worked with the Danville and Pittsylvania County Chambers of Commerce to help facilitate the merger of the two organizations. He also chaired the Halifax Chamber’s first Leadership Program and legislative committees, and facilitated three of the organization’s planning conferences. Barnes has been involved in the Halifax County YMCA, United Way, School-to-Work Committee and served as a board member of the Historic Staunton River Foundation.

            Being a part of DCC is nothing new for Barnes, who has facilitated various DCC events, including an advanced manufacturing initiative for RCATT when the center was awarded the National Science Foundation grant to create an Advanced Manufacturing Technology degree program.  This experience is what prompted him to apply for the RCATT position when the position became available.

  “There are a lot of new and exciting things going on in DCC’s service area, such as the new Institute for Advanced Learning & Research, the e-Dan initiative, and the Future of the Piedmont.  RCATT itself is a relatively new concept,” Barnes said.  Rather than starting up new programs, Barnes wants to refine and reevaluate the many programs that have already been initiated.

 “Constantly refining goals is what makes them (goals) successful,” he said. 

Barnes also sees his new position as “a great opportunity to do something different and outside the mold,” especially since he has spent most of his career working in the engineering field.

 “I’m doing it (changing careers) because I believe we can make a big difference, not just at DCC, but throughout the community,” Barnes added.

            Dr. Max Glass, Dean of Workforce Services, echoed President Ramsey’s

assessment of having Barnes joins the DCC team.

“We’re very excited about Scott Barnes joining DCC as the RCATT Director,” Glass said. “Scott is going to bring enormous ideas to our programs and we are looking forward to having him on campus and working with him.”

Away from the office, Barnes enjoys “playing around” on the Internet.  He also enjoys the great outdoors where he spends time with his wife, Amy, who is a teacher with the Halifax County School System; daughter Colleen, 14; son Patrick, 11; and the two family dogs, Bingo and Dixie.