Dr. Chris Neck a professor of management at Virginia Tech was recently featured in Business Week for his outstanding teaching methods in preparing students for the next stage of a life. He also ends each class with a YouTube video rap. How creative! 

More professors across the nation must do more to prepare and connect to these students so they can better understand the unwritten and unspoken rules of business. Many young people miss out on key "common sense" issues that hold them back from promotion within a company or simply getting on at a company.

It is refreshing that more creativity and realistic expectation of what to come can appear in the classroom.

Congrats to Dr. Neck.

The following are links to more information about good jobs in the Roanoke and New River Valley. If you would like to be notified of these and others, and have employers be more connected to you, then submit a profile at the Roanoke Connect database.

Cox Communications has a technical trainer position open.

Download cox_technical_trainer.pdf

Last night hundreds of people converged on the Special Events Center in Roanoke to listen to panel discussions, participate in roundtable discussions, and learn about a variety of groups in a social atmosphere as Valley Forward produced this unique program to better connect young adults to each other and to the community.

It wasn’t perfect, but it was a success. It’s the first year of doing it and it should definitely be an annual event.

Specifically, I led a discussion on young professionals and had about 12-15 stop by and chat briefly. I was asked to moderate a panel discussion on retail development in which the experts said customer involvement would "absolutely" help them recruit the retailers you want in Roanoke. I mixed and mingled and connected folks to each other. It was a buffet of intellectual discussion and civic engagement.

Finally, Tiki Barber gave a great closing speech on his interest in the region and encourage others to listen to and try some of the ideas suggested by YP groups such as Valley Forward.

Congratulations and thanks to Valley Forward for all of their hard work in making it happen. 

Trio restaurant in downtown Roanoke hosts Cocktails for a Cause every Wednesday night. Proceeds at the restaurant for the evening are given to the charitable organization. It’s a great time and a great marketing strategy by the owner.

This week on September 12, Roanoke Opera will be the featured charity. The full cast from Hansel and Gretel will be in attendance. The evening starts at 5 pm and concludes at 8 pm.