|
From October 14-16, the Class of 2010 experienced much
of what Hampton Roads, Virginia has to offer. After a presentation on
the Economic Challenges, Conquests, and Vision of Hampton Roads
by Dana Dickens, President and CEO of Hampton Roads Partnership, the
class boarded the Carrie B for a reception & dinner along
with a river/port cruise, hosted by the Virginia Port Authority. Following
this amazing view of Norfolk, the class then participated in a
private tour of the Chrysler Museum, given by chief curator, Jeff
Harrison.
Friday,
October 15 was a full day, beginning with two presentations at the
Virginia Port Authority by Jeff Keever, Deputy Executive Director of
the Virginia Port Authority, and LEAD VIRGINIA Class of
2005/Board of Directors, and Randy Bayles, Norfolk Southern Market
Manager National Accounts, Norfolk Southern. The class then boarded a
charter and made their way to the Norfolk Naval Station, picking up
Captain (Ret.) Casey Collins, LEAD VIRGINIA Class of 2005,
along the way. The class was broken into two groups for an extensive
tour of the USS NASSAU (LHA 4), an amphibious ship, due to be
decommissioned in 2011. Following this insightful tour, the class was
served lunch by the Commanding Officer, and ate in the mess with the
sailors of the USS NASSAU (LHA 4). The class later acknowledged that
this was one of the most meaningful experiences they had shared with LEAD
VIRGINIA.
After lunch,
the class headed to Newport News for a windshield tour of Northrop
Grumman Shipbuilding, where the class was able to view the beginning
stages of construction on an aircraft carrier, another aircraft
carrier in the middle of being serviced, and a glance at pieces of a
submarine. Following this tour, the class was then provided a brief
tour and overview of the Virginia Advanced Shipbuilding and Carrier
Integration Center, including a stop in their modular simulation
area. The class then made their way back into Hampton, where they
ended their day at Fort Monroe with a tour of the Casemate Museum,
and a reception/dinner at the Bay Breeze Community Center. John
Quarstein, historian, enlightened the class with humorous stories
surrounding the founding of Hampton Roads.
On Saturday,
October 16, the class traveled to Tidewater Community College's
Advanced Technology Center in Virginia Beach. While there, the class
heard several speakers on how Education and Healthcare Join Forces
for Career Development. Dr. Vahagn Nazaryan, Medical
Physicist/Research Assistant Professor with Hampton University's
Proton Thearapy Institute Center for Advanced Medical Instrumentation
spoke on Proton Therapy; Warren Harris, Director of Economic
Development with the City of Virginia Beach spoke on the Princess
Anne Health Care Corridor; and Gary Cross, Assistant Professor of
Respiratory Therapy at Tidewater Community College's Virginia Beach
Campus spoke on Simulator Training for Health Care Career
Development. Following these presentations, The Honorable Thelma
Drake, Director of the Virginia Department of Rail and Public
Transportation, spoke on The Role of Rail and Public
Transportation in Hampton Roads.
Jim Oliver,
Betsy McBride, and Ken Wheeler from the Hampton Roads Center for
Civic Engagement then led the class in a case study on "Keeping
the Region Dry", which looked at the issue of rising tides and
sinking lands in the Hampton Roads region. The class concluded with a
frank discussion on their Hampton Roads Experience, including their
perceptions of the region and thoughts on overcoming the challenges
the region is facing.
The Hampton
Roads co-chairs were Dana Dickens,
President & CEO, Hampton Roads Partnership, Jeff Keever,
Deputy Executive Director, Virginia Port Authority, LEAD VIRGINIA
Class of 2005 and LEAD VIRGINIA Board of Directors, and Dr.
Linda Rice, Provost, Chesapeake Campus, Tidewater Community College, LEAD
VIRGINIA Class of 2009. Special thanks to Greg Edwards, Director
of External Affairs with the Virginia Port Authority, and LEAD
VIRGINIA Class of 2009, Captain (Ret.) Casey Collins, Chief of
Staff, Joint Task Force - Civil Support at Fort Monroe and LEAD
VIRGINIA Class of 2005.
Crystal Twitty, Dr. Paul Conco, Tracey White, Tim
Sargeant and Tanya Hudson on board the Carrie B for a harbor tour of
Norfolk
Some class members getting a
breifing on the USS NASSAU stationed at the
Norfolk Naval Station
Carl Mitchell, Harrell Peterson, '05 and Michael
Latsko
|
