2013 Honoree: Achievement in Photojournalism -- 2013 Lucie Awards

Courtesy: Lucie Foundation Press Release:

John H. White was born March 18, 1945, in Lexington, North Carolina, the son of Rev. Reid Ross White Sr., an African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church minister, and his wife, Mrs. Ruby Mae Leverett White. He bought his first camera at age 13 for 50 cents and 10 Bazooka bubble gum wrappers. John received his first photo assignment from his father. He recalls, "Our church burned down in Kannapolis, N.C., and my father asked me to take pictures of the ruins and the whole reconstruction. Maybe that's why I do picture stories now; because I started that way."
John received an Associate of Applied Science degree in Commercial Art and Advertising Design from Central Piedmont Community College in Charlotte, North Carolina, in 1966. One week after graduation, he began active duty with the U.S. Marine Corps and quickly rose to the rank of Sergeant, serving as a photographer. As a Marine photographer, he received numerous awards and honors and his work was featured regularly in military publications. For more about John H White and his accomplishments ...

Snyder's-Lance, CPCC Partner to Retrain 158 Workers for Company's Charlotte Plant

Ken Elkins

Senior Staff Writer- Charlotte Business Journal

Snyder's-Lance Inc. (NASDAQ:LNCE) is working with Central Piedmont Community College to retrain about 160 workers as it adds a big dose of advance manufacturing to its South Boulevard plant in Charlotte.

The Charlotte-based snack company is spending $73.3 million over three years to automate production lines at its chip and snack cracker plant, one of the company's largest.

To support its training partnership with Snyder's-Lance, CPCC is receiving $201,124 from the N.C. Department of Commerce from a fund designed to close the skills gap between the jobs available in the current market and the capabilities of N.C. workers.

With the additional training, company employees will be equipped to install and maintain machines at the local plant, says Carl Lee Jr., Snyder's-Lance chief executive.

"The way we've run our plant traditionally and the way we're running it today are very different," he says.

The program was unveiled during a session with the media this morning at the community college.

The automated plant will require workers trained in mechanical drive systems, electrical control circuits and a half dozen other disciplines, says Tony Zeiss, CPCC president.

"It's all very customized," he says. "It's all very technological."

Bob Morgan, Charlotte Chamber president, says it makes sense for Snyder's-Lance to team up with CPCC for the training.

"There is no partner in economic development more attuned to the needs of the employers than CPCC," he says.

Dalton Sansom, an electrician at the South Boulevard plant with seven years experience at Snyder's-Lance, says it's good that the company chose to retrain employees instead of replacing them.

"I'm glad that we're getting the opportunity to train instead of the company saying that we're all old-school and hiring someone else," he says.

Lee says the program may allow hiring a "few new associates" over time.

In 2008, Snyder's-Lance began a huge project to add lean manufacturing and sustainability ideas to the 1.2 million-square-foot plant, which opened in the 1960s.

Today, the plant has 900 employees and makes crackers for the company's sandwich snacks, Cape Cod chips and other products.

Lance Inc. and Snyder's of Hanover Inc., a Pennsylvania pretzel-snack maker, merged in December 2010. The merged company is the No. 2 national maker of salty snacks, behind PepsiCo Inc.'s Frito-Lay unit.

For the Snyder's-Lance project, CPCC is using its integrated systems technology lab in the community college's Advanced Technology Center. The idea is to train maintenance mechanics, electricians, electrical control technicians and production-line mechanics to keep the lines running, says Michelle Miller, executive director of the college's corporate learning center.

Morgan says Snyder's-Lance has proved that Charlotte can keep its manufacturing base strong.

"Manufacturing is alive and well in Charlotte," he says.

Posted in Alumni, Announcements, Campus, Community.

National Association for Community College Entrepreneurship Honors Entrepreneurship Educators & Alumni Entrepreneurs at 11th Annual Conference

CPCC Alumna Fabi Preslar Honored at the National Association for Community College Entrepreneurship Honors Entrepreneurship Educators & Alumni Entrepreneurs at 11th Annual Conference

Fabi Preslar, CPCC Alumna, owner, SPARK Publications

Fabi Preslar, owner of SPARK Publications, Charlotte, NC A graduate of Central Piedmont Community College in Charlotte, NC. Preslar owns and manages SPARK Publications, a 15-year-old graphic design and creative publications firm, whose staff of six full-time employees serves over 150 entrepreneurial (local and national) companies, universities and associations. Preslar has received numerous recognitions, including the Richard H. Hagemeyer Educational Advancement Award from Central Piedmont Community College in 2009. SPARK Publications has received more than 80 industry awards for their creative and effective client projects. Preslar shares her time and energy as a mentor and advisor and serves as an award selection judge for several national entrepreneurial competitions. Since 2009, she has served on the Central Piedmont Community College Advisory Board for Advertising + Graphic Design and among other positions serves as a mentor in the Pride Entrepreneurial Education Program.

Posted in Alumni, Announcements, Community.

CPCC Receives Grant to Train Low-Income Individuals

CPCC receives grant to train low-income individuals

Jennifer Thomas Staff Writer- Charlotte Business Journal
Central Piedmont Community College Central Campus in uptown Charlotte will receive up to $233,333 to retrain low-income workers and help improve their skill sets.

Nancy Pierce

Central Piedmont Community College Central Campus in uptown Charlotte will receive up to $233,333 to retrain low-income workers and help improve their skill sets.
Central Piedmont Community College will receive up to $233,333 to provide training and services for low-income individuals.

The Charlotte community college is among 12 nationwide selected to participate in the Walmart Brighter Futures 2.0 Project. That list includes schools from from Maryland, Ohio, Michigan, Texas, Iowa, Arizona, Florida, Illinois and Washington.

The money is part of a $3.5 million grant from the Walmart Foundation to the League for Innovation in the Community College.

"The Walmart Foundation supports programs that provide people with ways to improve their lives through skills training, job readiness, job placement and support services," says Julie Gehrki, senior director.

She notes that roughly 9,000 workers will gain training through the initiative.

The colleges will develop programs and services to help low-income and low-skill individuals move into middle-skill jobs and become financially self-sufficient.

CPCC is working to align its training to fit the job needs locally.

That includes a focus on STEM -- science, technology, engineering and math -- education.

Individuals will receive a national certification to help with their IT careers. They also will receive career counseling and job acquisition skills such as job search, résumé writing and interviewing techniques.

"This effort underscores part of our mission to improve the condition of working families in our communities through the power of education and training," says Tony Zeiss, CPCC president.

Best practices from the project will be disseminated to community colleges throughout the country.

This is the second round of funding CPCC has received from the Walmart Foundation. In 2009, it received $336,500 to provide training and services for displaced workers.

CPCC is hosting sessions in October to help residents learn more about the project and eligibility requirements. For more information, visit https://www.cpcc.edu/changingcareers/scholarships/brighterfutures/infosessions.

Posted in Alumni, Announcements, Campus, Community.

CPCC receives grant to train future Convergys employees

Nancy Pierce

Central Piedmont Community College has received a $207,000 grant to train prospective Convergys Corp. (NYSE:CVG) employees.
Jennifer Thomas

    Staff Writer- Charlotte Business Journal

Central Piedmont Community College has received a $207,000 state grant to provide customized leadership and pre-employment training to prospective Convergys Corp. (NYSE:CVG) employees.

The N.C. Customized Training Program provides funding to companies that are expanding their workforce or making an appreciable capital investment.

Cincinnati-based Convergys has announced plans to add 1,600 jobs at two Charlotte-area call centers. It is investing $1.8 million in renovations.

It alsoplans to add 100 jobs in Hickory.

Working with CPCC will ensure that Convergys has a pipeline of qualified potential employees, says Shawn Conley, site leader for the Convergys call center in Charlotte.

The customer-management company plans to add 150 jobs to its workforce in the next six months.

"It's helping our organization gain the advantage it needs to grow and be successful in today's economy, which is critical given the competitiveness of the marketplace," Conley says.

Prospective Convergys employees have been meeting at CPCC's Harris Campus in Matthews to participate in pre-employment and work-skills training classes. The sessions focus on teamwork, change management, computer keyboarding and customer service.

At the same time, 100 Convergys supervisors are receiving leadership training tied to issues such as providing constructive feedback, conflict mitigation and performance reviews.

"Today's businesses are placing a greater emphasis on employee training and enhanced work skills that lead to greater productivity," says Allison Bowers, director of economic recruitment for CPCC.

The customized training plan will help meet Convergys' needs, while engaging its employees. That will help the organization meet its goals, while addressing potential challenges, she adds.

Posted in Alumni, Announcements, Campus, Community.

James R. Worrell Sr. Building and James R. Worrell Sr. Financial Institute Formally Dedicated

On Thursday, October 3, 2013, Central Piedmont Community College formally dedicated the Worrell Building, located on Central Campus, and the James R. Worrell Sr. Financial Services Institute.

A Charlotte civic leader and philanthropist, Worrell is a long-time supporter of CPCC, serving on the CPCC Foundation Board of Directors and the foundation's "Legacy and Promise" campaign steering committee. Worrell has been a member of the CPCC Foundation for more than 20 years.

The Worrell Building, a newly renovated 70,417 square-foot facility, is used by more than 2,000 CPCC students a day. The facility houses a gymnasium, fitness center, 17 classrooms and seven faculty/staff offices.

The Financial Services Institute offers courses in pre-licensing, continuing education, professional development and consumer education to prepare students for careers in this highly regulated industry.

Exhibition of Works from the Gorelick Collections Opens at Levine Campus Atrium

    ExGlass Vase #12 2004 Sydney Hutter

Through the generosity of Patty & Bill Gorelick and Carol & Shelton Gorelick, Levine Campus is hosting an exhibition of works from the combined collections of the Gorelick Family. The exhibition, located in the Atrium of Levine II,  is open to the public during normal campus hours from October through January. The Gorelick family were thrilled to provide "art without borders" for students, faculty, staff and the public to enjoy and experience.

Don't miss out on this wonderful chance to experience this art experience.

Posted in Alumni, Announcements, Campus, Community, Events.