— Henderson-Vance Chamber of Commerce Press Release
The Board of Directors of the Henderson-Vance County Chamber of Commerce voted in December 2020 to adopt a 2021 Program of Work which includes the formation of a new Human Resources Council. This new program is a goal under the Chamber’s Business and Growth and Development Division, a division co-chaired by Chamber board members Brian Williams, Account Manager of Temperature Control Solutions and Stephanie Hoyle, Broker Associate with Century 21 Country Knolls Realty.
The first meeting of the Human Resources Council will take place by Zoom video conference on Thursday, March 25 at 1:00 pm. The purpose of establishing the new program, as explained by Michele Burgess, President of the Henderson-Vance County Chamber of Commerce, is to bring together human resource professionals working in local industry, manufacturing, business, education, and governmental entities to share ideas, network, and get answers to human resource issues affecting their businesses. Burgess noted that each monthly meeting will include a guest speaker giving a presentation on a relevant human resource topic. Burgess said, “I had been having conversations all last year with our members who were calling to ask for the Chamber’s assistance looking to answers to their questions on where to find workers to fill their vacancies, asking about available professional development programs for their human resource department staff, and questions about employee time-off for quarantine during the pandemic. The Chamber doesn’t have all the answers, but we will work to find the available resources to help solve our members’ problems. It soon became evident that a Human Resource Council would help them tremendously.” The Chamber’s Human Resource Council will provide local member firms with training, networking opportunities, time to give an update on their business and a time for questions and answers. Later in the year, once the pandemic restrictions are lifted, the Human Resource Council will meet in person for a working lunch meeting.
Jessica Carroll Voss
The Human Resource Council will be led by Chamber business volunteer, Jessica Carroll Voss, Human Resource Manager with Hollander Sleep Products. Voss grew up in Vance County, and graduated from Northern Vance High School in 2006. She attended UNC-Wilmington and graduated in 2011 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration and Human Resource Management. Voss has 10 years of human resource experience, previously working for Snider Fleet Solutions in Greensboro, Express Employment Professionals in Oxford, and GKN Driveline in Roxboro and Sanford. She joined the Hollander company in October of 2020. Burgess said, “I was so excited to hear of Jessica returning to Vance County to work here last fall. Hollander Sleep Products is a very supportive Chamber of Commerce member, and Jessica is a great asset to them not only because of her degree and experience, but she knows the community, has many local contacts, and understands the local workforce needs. Having her step up and take on this leadership with our Chamber and this new initiative makes me proud.”
Cherrelle Lawrence
The featured presentation for the premier meeting of the Human Resource Council on March 25 will be Cherrelle Lawrence, Dean of Corporate Learning and Professional Development with Vance-Granville Community College. She also serves as Dean of the VGCC Franklin County campus. Her topic will be “Investing In Talent.” “I have heard Cherrelle Lawrence speak and our Council is in for a real treat” Said Michele Burgess. “She has a wealth of information about training programs that our local employers will be interested in hearing, such as fast tracked certificate training programs, as well as, programs that involve apprenticeships and internships that will benefit both the employer and the employees.
Chamber member firms who would like to sign up to receive the Zoom link for the March Human Resource Council meeting are asked to email Michele Burgess at michele@hendersonvance.org or call the Chamber office. Anyone interested in being a part of the Human Resource Council who is currently not a member of the Chamber, is encouraged to call Michele Burgess to discuss membership at 252-438-8414.