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Happy New Year from Return to Roots!

This month, Return to Roots brings you news about regional job fair information, events we think you might be interested in, and exciting updates, business tips and opportunities throughout Virginia's Great Southwest and the Return to Roots program. We are also continuing to update and optimize our website, making it more user-friendly for both businesses and Job Seekers.

As of this past month, we have 2,173 registrants! These Return to Roots registrants are from 45 states, including most predominantly Virginia, Tennessee, North Carolina, New York and California.  We also have registrants from Australia, Belgium and Canada. 

We have 535 registered employers, and 29 posted openings, including Physical Therapist Assistant, Field Service Technician and Social Worker. We are contacting Job Seekers each month to see how their search is going, and how we can improve the website to serve them better. 

Please remember to update your resume information and post current contact information! Employers are waiting to contact registrants about job opportunities.  This is not possible without current contact information and an up to date resume! Please ensure that you have your updated and correct information posted to the website.

Blue Ridge PBS JobQuest

Join Blue Ridge PBS in a community service partnership addressing the employment challenges facing our citizens. JobQuest—a monthly one-hour program broadcast live from the Blue Ridge PBS studio–will make job seekers aware of job openings in our region.

The program is a partnership with Virginia Economic Bridge, Inc, the Return to Roots program. and other organizations and area business resources. Employment experts and local leaders are on hand to share their insights on the local job market. Human resource experts from the area will are in the studio to take viewer calls and offer tips on the hiring process. JobQuest is a high-definition production of Blue Ridge PBS.

To learn more click here.

The next hour-long program will be aired on Tuesday, Febuary 3rd at 7:00 PM.

Northrop Grumman Looking for Skilled Team Members

Northrop Grumman in Lebanon, Virginia is currently looking for multiple individuals to fill positions such as Help Desk Technical Support 1, 2 and 3. Northrop Grumman is looking for people to join their team of dedicated, qualified and diverse individuals in defining the future.

In repsonse to their need, Northrop will be holding a career fair Friday and Saturday, February 6th & 7th from10 AM – 3 PM at 141 Highland Drive, Lebanon, VA (Behind Wendy’s Restaurant) and have posted the jobs on the Return to Roots website.

Logon today to www.ReturntoRoots.org for more information, more detailed job descriptions and to apply directly for these positions.

Send Us Your Sucess Stories!

We are continuously looking for success stories to feature on our website.  We would love to hear from you if you have been interviewed or been hired by a company found through the Return to Roots  program since registering with us. If you have a success story, please email Carl Mitchell, Program Manager, cmitchell@vebinc.org.

Virginia’s Great Southwest

Are you or someone you know interested in returning to or living inVirginia’s Great Southwest? Be sure to visit www.swvaonline.org. This website provides information for locals, tourists, visitors and for newcomers relocating to Southwest Virginia.

Local Events in SWVA

Appalachian Awareness Day: Mountaintop Removal

February 13, 2009
10:00 am - 4:00 pm
Hurlburt "Bonnie" Student Center Auditorium Radford University

10:00 Music by Bud Bennett, Fritz and Tom
11:00 Elaine Purkey: Community Organizer, Activist and Songwriter
12:00 Larry Gibson: Mountaintop Removal Activist. 
1:00 Kathy Selvage: Southern Appalachian Mountain Stewards Community Organizer
2:00 Deborah McLaughlin: Eating Appalachia: Selling Out to the Hungry Ghost.
3:00 Dr. Theresa Burriss Mountaintop Removal Multimedia Project

For more information call 540-831-5366 or email Aysha Bodenhamer at abodenham3@radford.edu.

 

Barter Theatre Presents: Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat

2/05/2009-2/12/2009 

A colorful, musical retelling of the Biblical story about dreamboat Joseph, his uncanny abilities and his designer coat, this family classic sings out to young and old alike with a fun score of wall-to-wall hit songs.

To buy tickets, visit www.bartertheatre.com or call 276-628-3991 for Reservations

 

Virginia Tech Basketball

Men's Basketball
Virginia Tech vs. NC State
Febuary 9, 2009 1:30pm
Blacksburg, Va.

Women's Basketball
Virginia Tech vs. Miami
Feburary 12, 2009 7:00pm
Blacksburg, Va

For more on Hokie sports click here.




Rose Hill Karaoke Club
Rt. 1, 243 Old Rt. 58 Downtown Rose Hill, VA 24281 Every Saturday Through Friday, December 31, 2010

Direct Job Seeker Outreach

New to the Return to Roots website is our Job Seeker Notification Program.  The program was put into place on 11/25/08 and notifies Job Seekers of job postings that fit the categories they selected when they registered. We have sent out over 2,200 emails to alert potential employees of new job postings!  Only 5 people have chosen to unsubscribe to the notifications signifying the helpfulness of these alerts.  In 2009, we plan to add an employer notification to notify you of potential employees.

Business Outreach Phone Calls

Each week we contact Employers who have had Job Seekers apply for positions.  Since September 30, 2008, we have had 132 Job Seekers apply for 42 different positions through 40 different registered companies.  We have had two hired and 10-12 calls for interviews.  We have had 99 jobs posted and reposted and 29 jobs extended on the site.

Return to Roots Job Opportunities

Each month, we will be featuring a short selection of the job postings that are available on www.returntoroots.org. If you are interested in the positions, know someone who is or are interested in other job opportunities, please be sure to visit the site.

Take a glance at the list below to see this month's featured opportunities!

Position:Controller

Employer: Darco Southern, Inc. Independence, VA

Description:

  • Update and implement accounting policies and procedures
  • Complete month end closing procedures
  • Establishes reasonable internal controls
  • Review, maintain, update Employee manual
  • Oversee all facets of Revenue and Purchasing cycles
  • Assist with the annual budgeting process
  • Prepare documents for OHSA reporting
  • Prepare monthly financial statements
  • Oversee inventory tracking and cost accounting
  • Assist and mentor office personnel
  • Responsible for Day to Day operations when President is not available
  • Assist President with Scheduling of production
  • Support President with requested monthly reports and interface with Board of directors

Candidates should hold a Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Economics or other business related field. 2-5 years of g/l, month end accounting experience is a plus. A MBA or CPA is a plus, but not required. Experience in a manufacturing environment is required and good interpersonal skills is preferred.


Position: Various (see below)

Employer: CGI Federal, Lebanon, VA

Description:

CGI Federal is ramping up to staff a number of openings including Business Analysts, Technical Analysts, Technical Developers (Java and/or C ) and Mainframe Developers. 

Candidates should hold a 2 or 4 yr degree, prior experience is a plus but not necessary.  Technical candidates should hold a degree in an IT related field, or have completed a technical CGI Fast Track program with a local community college.


Position: Internal Auditor

Employer: First Sentiel Bank, Richlands, VA

Description:

Internal auditor needed for a community bank. Experience in internal auditing required.The successful candidate will oversee the direction and completion of the audit process. This position entails developing a risk based audit plan which will capture all business units and reflect the entire audit scope. Included will be scheduling, frequency, scope, and resource allocation of financial, operational, compliance and IT audits. Periodic reporting to the Audit Committee, and ensuring timely and adequate preparation of internal audit reports.

The ideal candidate will have extensive audit knowledge and experience, knowledge of banking activities, credit, financial markets, risk controls, accounting and support functions.

Upcoming Career Fairs

Southwest Virginia Career Connection                    
Date: Wed., March 25, 2009, 9AM-1PM
Location: Southwest Virginia Community College, King Community Center Gymnasium
Route 19 (6 miles south of Claypool Hill intersection of Rte. 19 &460) Cedar Bluff, VA
Sponsored by: Southwest Virginia Community College, Southwest Small Business Development Center, Mountain Empire Community College and Virginia Highlands Community College

Bluefield State Job Fair
Date: April 8, 2009
Location: BSC, Rt. 52, Bluefield, WV 24701
Co-Sponsored by: Bluefield State College, Bluefield College, Concord  College, New River Community and Technical College, Southwest Virginia Community College and Wytheville Community College   

Interstate Career Fair
Date: April 16, 2009
Location: Holiday Inn, Exit 7/Interstate 81, Bristol, VA

Click here to see a complete list of participating companies, email sharon.peery@sw.edu or call 276.964.7544

Each week our website features 3 blogs on Southwest Virginia Topics. To read more blogs by student intern writers, go to Return to Roots.

Are you in Southwest Virginia?  Do you look for things to do, or are you one of those who want to come to the area and are afraid of the lack of things to do?  Well, fret not. It really depends on where you are in the area and where your interests lie, but regardless of that, there are many things to do! 
 
For example, if you’re in Floyd County, a good Friday night can mean going to the Blue Ridge Diner (I highly recommend their black bottom pie) and then going to the Floyd Country Store for live music and dancing.  Often there is not only music going on inside the store, but outside on the porch and around the corner as well.  If you’re looking for other music venues, try The Rex Theatre in Galax, the Bristol Country Music Alliance’s Pickin’ Porch in Bristol or the Bristol Rhythm and Roots Reunion in Bristol in the Fall which is a phenomenally huge traditional music festival! 

Music abounds in the mountains and can be found anywhere from a square dance in Grayson County to a fire department Friday night jam in Smyth County to anywhere along The Crooked Road.

In the area, we are blessed to have a plethora of natural wonders just waiting to be explored.  From Tazewell County’s Burkes Garden, which is known as “God’s Thumbprint,” to the Creeper Trail, Appalachian Trail or Mount Rogers, Virginia’s highest point, there are many things to do and see.  The Blue Ridge Parkway and many hiking and biking opportunities offer you the best views for miles around.  It has been rumored that on a clear day, one can see Detroit, Michigan from the summit at Mount Rogers, but you’ll have to look and see for yourself!

To continue reading click here.