This marks the 200th post in about 18 months of the Connecting People blog. It has been wonderful connecting to so many people who have similar interest in attracting and retaining young adults in the Roanoke and New River Valleys. I appreciate all who have contributed and have read the content. I would enjoy hearing your comments on what we can do to make it better. Thanks again for reading.

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Fast Company magazine printed a letter to the editor written in support of Richard Florida in response to an unfair attack on him and his research entitled "Roanoke on the Edge". Mr. Florida has been at the center of this blog’s topic at the national level. We have taken a lot of his ideas and research and tried to implement them practically in the Roanoke and New River Valleys. Thanks for Fast Company for printing this letter of support.

For those who are interested in workforce issues related to young professionals and the differences between generation relating to ethics, will want to come to this event at Hollins this evening.

Dr. Joanne Sulla, one of the founding faculty members of the University of Richmond’s Pepsin School of Leadership Studies and author of The Working Life: The Promise and Betrayal of Modern Work, will discuss "Ethical Challenges of Leadership" on Thursday, April 19 at 7:30 p.m. in Hollins University’s Wetherill Visual Arts Center Auditorium. Admission is free.

Working with a lot of college students at Virginia Tech on our programs to retain and attract young adults, a lot of acquaintances and relationships have formed through the duration of this blog and with the position at the City of Roanoke.

Unfortunately, we came across a familiar name – originally on Facebook on Monday night and was later confirmed by traditional media – that Maxine Turner had died in Norris Hall on Monday at Virginia Tech.

Maxine was responsible for organizing a group of 20+ female engineers from Virginia Tech’s Alpha Omega Epsilon sorority to participate in our RoanokeWantsU program, which is designed to bus students to Roanoke, visit with employers, tour downtown Roanoke, and sense and feel what it had to offer both professionally and socially to students.

It was ironic that I saw her again at Squires this past Friday when we were meeting with another student group, Delta Sigma Pi, who was helping us with the Roanoke/NRV Career and Lifestyle Fair at Virginia Tech, which was canceled and scheduled for today.

In my limited dealings with Maxine, she was the type of person the region would hope to try and retain, however, she had already accepted a position upon graduation. Her concern for her fellow friends by organizing this event for them was selfless and demonstrated servanthood.

Our hearts and prayers go to the sorority, friends, and family who knew Maxine more than we did. We will think of her fondly.   

Due to the tragic events at Virginia Tech this morning, Wednesday’s Roanoke and NRV Career and Lifestyle Fair has been canceled. More information to follow in the near future.