Digital Skills Archives - SOVA Innovation Hub

How Southern Virginia Organizations Are Using AI to Solve Real Business Challenges

SOVA Innovation Hub — Wed, 17 Jun 2026 14:08:00 +0000

Nine organizations completed the inaugural gener8tor Skills AI for Leaders cohort, exploring practical applications of artificial intelligence to improve operations, strengthen workforce development, and solve everyday business challenges.

Artificial intelligence, or “AI”, often dominates headlines, but for organizations across Southern Virginia, the most important question is not what AI might do someday. It is what AI can do today.

This spring, leaders from nine Southern Virginia companies participated in the inaugural gener8tor Skills AI for Leaders cohort, a six-week program designed to help employers identify practical opportunities to apply artificial intelligence within their operations. Supported by Microsoft and the SOVA Innovation Hub, the virtual cohort brought together participants from Southern Virginia alongside peers from Wisconsin and Minnesota to explore real-world applications of AI across manufacturing, logistics, operations, workforce development, and business services.

On June 2, Southern Virginia participants gathered at the SOVA Innovation Hub for an in-person networking event, certificate presentation, and showcase of projects developed during the cohort. Participants shared lessons learned, discussed implementation strategies, and celebrated the completion of the program.

Participating Companies

Participating Southern Virginia organizations included AJ Transport, Beyond Freight LLC, Dedon & Gloster Furniture, Dollar General, Genesis Products, Huber Engineered Woods, the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research (IALR), Morgan Lumber Co., and Reynolds Consumer Products (Presto Products Company). Four organizations presented AI use cases developed during the cohort, while all participants engaged in hands-on learning, peer collaboration, and exploration of practical AI applications within their operations.

The AI use case projects varied widely, but a common lesson emerged: Successful AI adoption is not about replacing people. It is about helping employees solve problems faster, make better decisions, preserve valuable knowledge, and work more effectively.

The goal of gener8tor Skills AI for Leaders is not simply to teach organizations about artificial intelligence. It is to help them identify practical opportunities to create value within their operations. What stood out about this cohort was the focus on solving real business challenges, from quality control and workforce training to logistics and knowledge management. These projects show that organizations do not need to start with large-scale transformation. They can begin with a specific challenge and build from there.

Danielle Remmick

Program Manager for gener8tor Skills

One of the most exciting outcomes of this cohort was seeing participants move beyond talking about AI and begin applying it to real business challenges. The projects presented were not theoretical. They focused on improving quality, preserving institutional knowledge, streamlining operations, and supporting employees in their day-to-day work. That is exactly the type of practical innovation we want to see happening across Southern Virginia.

Lauren Mathena

Director of Economic Development & Community Engagement for the SOVA Innovation Hub

AI Use Cases

Four participating organizations presented projects focused on quality control, workforce training, logistics, and knowledge management. Together, they demonstrated how organizations can begin using AI to address practical business challenges without large technology teams or significant technology investments.

Huber Engineered Woods: Predicting Quality Issues Before They Become Problems

The project presented by Huber Engineered Woods focused on a challenge familiar to many industrial operations: identifying quality issues before they lead to defects, waste, or production disruptions.

Using historical production data, the team developed a machine learning model designed to recognize patterns associated with successful and unsuccessful production outcomes. The project combines historical production data, supervised learning, and AI-assisted recommendations to help identify root causes of quality issues and flag when processes may be trending toward undesirable outcomes.

The team emphasized that data quality is just as important as model quality.

“Just because it’s data doesn’t mean it’s good data,” one presenter explained, noting the importance of filtering out downtime events, outages, and unusual operating conditions that could distort results.

The project also reinforced an important principle shared throughout the cohort. AI should support human expertise, not replace it. While the model provides recommendations and early warnings, operators remain responsible for evaluating the information and making final decisions.

For the organization, the biggest immediate benefit is speed. Analyses that once required days of manual effort can now be completed in near real time, allowing teams to respond faster and make more informed decisions.

The project has progressed beyond experimentation and is preparing for controlled production testing to evaluate prediction accuracy, operator adoption, and overall performance.

Reynolds Consumer Products: Modernizing Training and Capturing Operational Knowledge

The team from Reynolds Consumer Products’ South Boston facility explored how AI could help address one of the most time-consuming challenges in manufacturing: creating and maintaining training documentation.

Developing a single standard work document often requires dozens of hours spread over several weeks as trainers, supervisors, process specialists, and operators collaborate to document procedures. By the time documentation is complete, equipment changes or process improvements may already require revisions.

The result is often a gap between documented procedures and actual operations.

The team’s AI use case focused on accelerating the creation and maintenance of standard work documents while capturing valuable institutional knowledge held by experienced employees.

Their goal is to reduce documentation bottlenecks, improve onboarding, strengthen training consistency, and preserve expertise that might otherwise be lost through workforce transitions.

For many manufacturers facing retirements and workforce challenges, ensuring that critical knowledge remains accessible may prove just as valuable as improving operational efficiency.

Dedon & Gloster Furniture: Turning Five Freight Tools into One

Representatives from Dedon and Gloster, two outdoor furniture brands operating under one umbrella, tackled a challenge that affected both employees and customers: freight calculations.

As the organizations became more integrated, freight quotes continued to be generated through multiple tools, by numerous employees, across two brands. The result was inconsistent information, internal inefficiencies, and delays in responding to customer requests.

One example highlighted the challenge. A sales representative on the West Coast might be working to close a significant order after the East Coast freight team had already left for the day. Without access to reliable freight calculations, the sale would have to wait.

To address the issue, the team used ChatGPT as a collaborative design partner, consolidating freight maps, spreadsheets, and standard operating procedures into a single freight calculator.

“I used ChatGPT like a business partner,” one team member shared. “We went back and forth 39 times before we had a version that actually worked.”

The resulting tool standardizes freight logic across brands, simplifies the user experience, and provides faster, more consistent quotes regardless of time zone.

The project also underscored an important lesson about AI implementation.

“Garbage in, garbage out. You have to test it, validate it, and make sure what you’re getting out is accurate.”

The team plans to seek executive approval and begin implementation across customer service, sales, and warehouse operations.

Morgan Lumber: Preserving Knowledge Before It Walks Out the Door

For Morgan Lumber Group, a deck board manufacturer in Charlotte County, the challenge was knowledge management.

Critical operational knowledge existed in multiple places: vendor emails, maintenance records, manuals, blueprints, and the memories of employees with decades of experience.

“Every time we lose an employee, we lose a lot,” one presenter explained. “Once they retire, everything they know is gone.”

The company is developing a secure, internally hosted knowledge system that will allow employees to quickly search vendor communications, manuals, operating procedures, maintenance history, and troubleshooting records.

Instead of spending valuable time searching through binders, inboxes, and disconnected files, technicians would be able to ask simple questions such as, “Have we seen this fault before?” or “What fixed this issue last year?” and quickly locate relevant information.

One example demonstrated the potential impact. A recurring equipment fault that previously required 45 minutes of investigation could eventually surface related emails, manual pages, maintenance photos, and prior solutions in seconds.

The project will be implemented in phases, beginning with vendor communications and service records before expanding to manuals, blueprints, standard operating procedures, and institutional knowledge capture.

The team stressed that ease of use will determine success.

“Whatever we do, it has to be simple and easy to use. If they have to click through a bunch of screens and still can’t find what they need, they’ll stop using it.”

While the projects addressed different business challenges, several themes emerged throughout the cohort.

First, successful AI initiatives begin with clearly defined operational problems rather than technology itself.

Second, security and governance matter. Participants emphasized the importance of working within organizational policies and leveraging secure platforms that align with existing cybersecurity, privacy, and compliance requirements.

Third, AI is proving to be a powerful tool for preserving institutional knowledge. Across multiple projects, participants identified the loss of experienced employees and undocumented expertise as one of the most significant risks facing organizations today.

Finally, every team viewed AI as a tool that enhances human decision-making rather than replacing it. The most successful applications focused on helping employees work more efficiently, access information more quickly, and make better-informed decisions.

One participant reflected on the importance of continuing to learn and adapt:

“I hope I never get so old that I stop learning. I’m not the future of the company, but I have to map out a succession plan. I’m going to use AI to help me overcome some of my weaknesses and develop training plans, so when I do retire, that knowledge isn’t lost.”

While each organization entered the program with different goals and challenges, all demonstrated a commitment to exploring how emerging technologies can strengthen operations, support employees, and create value within their organizations. The cohort provided a unique opportunity for participants to learn from one another, share ideas across industries, and begin building a regional community of practice around artificial intelligence and innovation.

Building Southern Virginia’s AI Capacity

The first gener8tor Skills AI for Leaders cohort demonstrated that organizations do not need large technology budgets or dedicated data science teams to begin exploring AI.

The most promising opportunities often start with practical business challenges:

- Improving quality and reducing defects
- Preserving institutional knowledge
- Streamlining training and onboarding
- Simplifying complex operational decisions
- Improving customer service and responsiveness

Artificial intelligence presents tremendous opportunities for organizations of all sizes, but success starts with access, education, and hands-on experience. Through collaborations like this one with the SOVA Innovation Hub and gener8tor, we are helping employers explore practical applications of AI that can strengthen operations, support their workforce, and position them for future growth.

Jeremy Satterfield

TechSpark Virginia Manager, Microsoft

What stands out about these projects is that they began with real business needs. Whether improving operational efficiency, preserving decades of institutional knowledge, or helping employees access information more quickly, these organizations are demonstrating how AI can create meaningful value today. We are proud to support efforts that help build innovation capacity across Southern Virginia.

Kristin Vaughan

Senior Community Affairs Manager, Microsoft

What’s Next for AI Training in Southern Virginia?

The SOVA Innovation Hub will continue working with Microsoft, gener8tor, employers, educators, and other regional partners to build Southern Virginia’s capacity for practical, human-centered AI adoption.

Beginning in early fall 2026, the SOVA Innovation Hub will launch additional opportunities for businesses, nonprofits, educators, students, local governments, and community members to engage with artificial intelligence through the SOVA AI Connect Workshop Series and the AI Civic Innovation Challenge.

These initiatives will provide hands-on learning opportunities, practical use cases, collaborative problem-solving experiences, and pathways for organizations to explore how AI can be used responsibly to address business and community challenges.

To stay informed about future AI workshops, cohorts, innovation challenges, and other technology-focused opportunities, follow the SOVA Innovation Hub on social media, subscribe to the Hub newsletter, or visit sovainnovationhub.com/ai-programs >

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Introducing SOVA AI Connect

SOVA Innovation Hub — Wed, 03 Dec 2025 20:30:00 +0000

Building Southern Virginia’s Future Through Community-Driven AI Innovation

The SOVA Innovation Hub is proud to announce that it has been awarded an OpenAI Foundation People-First AI Grant. The SOVA Innovation Hub was one of 208 nonprofits nationwide, and one of only four in Virginia, chosen from more than 3,000 applicants. This award underscores both the strength of Southern Virginia’s innovation-driven vision and the meaningful work already underway to advance that vision.

With this support, the SOVA Innovation Hub will launch SOVA AI Connect in 2026. This new community-based initiative will be designed by and for Southern Virginians anchored at the SOVA Innovation Hub. SOVA AI Connect aligns with the mission of the SOVA innovation Hub to spark economic transformation in Southern Virginia.

SOVA AI Connect will help people build AI literacy, confidence, and practical skills through hands-on workshops and demonstrations, civic innovation challenges, and workforce training. The initiative will help people apply AI responsibly and creatively to strengthen local industries, improve services, and solve community challenges. This project will deepen the SOVA Innovation Hub’s ability to support community innovation and workforce development.

The SOVA Innovation Hub was created in a partnership between Mid-Atlantic Broadband Communities Corporation (MBC) and Microsoft TechSpark to inspire people to pursue entrepreneurship and develop digital skills. Through coworking, hands-on training, signature programs like RISE, EXCITE, and EVOLVE, and regional community outreach, the SOVA Innovation Hub brings together entrepreneurs, educators, students, and non-profit leaders to learn, collaborate, and grow.

MBC has spent over two decades expanding broadband infrastructure and economic opportunity across Southern Virginia. Through the SOVA Innovation Hub, MBC supports programs that build digital skills, support entrepreneurship, and ensure that rural communities have access to the tools they need to thrive in a modern economy.

“MBC invests in the SOVA Innovation Hub because we believe every community in Southern Virginia deserves the chance to participate fully in the digital economy,” said Tad Deriso, President & CEO, Mid-Atlantic Broadband Communities Corporation. “This recognition from the OpenAI Foundation affirms the impact of that work and the potential of the people who call this region home. SOVA AI Connect will help residents build trust, skills, and confidence with AI—ensuring that emerging technology benefits our farms, schools, small businesses, and nonprofits in practical, meaningful ways.”

We look forward to launching SOVA AI Connect in partnership with the OpenAI Foundation and continuing to expand innovation capacity across Southern Virginia.

To receive updates and announcements about SOVA AI Connect, please join the SOVA Innovation Hub newsletter and follow the SOVA Innovation Hub on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

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Workforce Innovation Celebration hosted by Microsoft with gener8torSkills Accelerator and SOVA Innovation Hub

SOVA Innovation Hub — Wed, 16 Apr 2025 20:55:59 +0000

On Monday, April 7, 2025, the SOVA Innovation Hub and gener8tor, in collaboration with Microsoft, hosted a Workforce Innovation and Program Celebration at the SOVA Innovation Hub in downtown South Boston, Virginia. The event recognized the achievements of individuals who completed the gener8tor Skills Accelerator program.

Since its launch in 2020, the gener8tor Skills Accelerator has supported over 170 residents in Halifax County and surrounding areas. This no-cost workforce training program offers career-ready education, mentorship, and job placement assistance—empowering rural Virginians to build sustainable careers. Thanks to Microsoft’s scholarship funding and the SOVA Innovation Hub’s wrap-around support, participants gain valuable skills to enter or advance in the workforce.

Pictured Above: Danielle Remmick of gener8tor Skills (far left, first row) pictured with program completers at the SOVA Innovation Hub

The gener8tor Skills Accelerator is a virtual rapid-skilling program designed to equip individuals with in-demand skills for local or remote job opportunities. Nationally, more than 3,200 individuals have completed from the program since 2020, with an 82% graduation rate and 63% job placement rate within six months. In Southern Virginia, the program has run 13 cohorts, serving 173 participants, with a 70% placement rate and an average starting salary of $60,802.

Program completers earn a gener8tor Skills certificate, industry-recognized credentials, and receive personalized job placement support. The program is made possible by grants, workforce innovation initiatives, and corporate sponsorships from partners like Microsoft.

The gener8tor Skills Accelerator continues to drive economic opportunity by helping individuals thrive in high-growth industries. Learn more and apply at https://sovainnovationhub.com/gener8tor-skills/

“The pandemic forced us to look at the widening digital divide in our community. Through Microsoft TechSpark, we are committed to helping people gain the skills they need in order to move into available jobs within the digital era.”

Jeremy Satterfield

TechSpark Virginia Manager, Microsoft

“We are excited to be working with gener8tor and Microsoft to bring this opportunity to the citizens of Southern Virginia. The goal of the SOVA Innovation Hub is to inspire people to pursue digital careers and entrepreneurship, and the skills taught in this program are critical to success in these fields.”

Lauren Mathena

Director of Economic Development and Community Engagement , Mid-Atlantic Broadband Communities Corporation & SOVA Innovation Hub

“Completing gener8tor’s six-week project management course has been an invaluable experience… I am excited to apply these insights to future opportunities.”

Angela Reel

gener8tor Skills Accelerator Completer, Southern Virginia

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Master Project Management Skills with gener8tor’s Spring 2025 Program

SOVA Innovation Hub — Wed, 08 Jan 2025 15:13:26 +0000

gener8tor Skills Accelerator is a free, online training program designed to help residents acquire the skills needed for in-demand jobs, with a focus on project management for the Spring 2025 cohort. With a proven track record of success, this program is your chance to gain new skills, certifications, and career confidence—all at no cost.

Spring 2025 Cohort Details

Focus: Project Management
Application Deadline: February 2, 2025
Program Dates: February 3 – March 13, 2025
Apply Here: gener8tor Skills – Southern Virginia

Why Choose the gener8tor Skills Accelerator?

Flexible, Self-Paced Learning
Complete the program on your schedule during the five-to-ten-week cohort.

One-on-One Career Coaching
Get personalized support for resume writing, LinkedIn optimization, interview preparation, and career strategies.

Lunch and Learns
Gain insights from experts on topics like personal branding, career pivots, and leadership skills.

No Out-of-Pocket Costs
Thanks to support from Microsoft, eligible applicants can participate entirely free of charge.

Job Placement Support
Benefit from long-term career assistance, access to curated job openings, and connections to a national network of employers.

Collaborative Learning Environment
Join a network of peers for mutual support and shared learning experiences.

Access to Resources
Participants can use the coworking space at the SOVA Innovation Hub. Email hello@sovainnovationhub.com to receive the discount code for a coworking pass.

“This is not your typical Project Management course. This program helps you define yourself; it builds your trust and makes you more confident in being a leader. Being a leader is the most essential skill needed for a Project Manager. In addition, the LinkedIn training is excellent and provides enough CU hours to qualify for the Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM)! g8 has impacted my sense of self by giving me more self-confidence. Being able to talk with career coaches to receive constructive criticism regarding my resume, cover letter, LinkedIn profile, and the mocked interview with recommendations, I was able to come back to the drawing board and improve each one of those items. In addition, I thought I was a terrible interviewer, but the mentor gave me highlights that will enhance my interview techniques.”

Nakita Wilson

gener8tor Skills Project Management Graduate, Skipwith, Virginia

“The mock interviews were extremely helpful. Being in the unique position of usually having found my jobs organically through relationships, I have very little experience going through the application and interview process. It was an area that I was very nervous about. Doing the mock interviews gave me a lot of confidence in myself and showed me areas open to improvement. The skills that I learned in the program have helped me to craft a more accurate timeline and execution plan, as well as better identify all the stakeholders of the project and build a more comprehensive communication plan. I would absolutely recommend g8 Skills Accelerator to others. The program was very thorough in the material covered, but one of my favorite things is that the g8 team is continually at our disposal even after the program.”

Wendy Grimm

gener8tor Skills Project Management Graduate, Gasburg, Virginia

“It exceeded my expectations. I really love the self-paced aspect of the curriculum. I didn’t necessarily have to do everything within a certain time frame, so that gave me a little bit more flexibility… But I also appreciated the accountability that came with the weekly check-ins. That provided an important aspect of staying engaged with the program. Learning about the different types of project management, from Agile to Waterfall, helped me see how I can adapt my leadership style and my approach to different projects based on their specific needs… Within a project, you might need to use one style for one person and another style for someone else. The program gave me a broader perspective on being adaptable, which is crucial for success in any project… I would definitely recommend gener8tor Skills to job seekers as well as entrepreneurs. Regardless of what your needs are, they cater to that within the program, so I feel like it’s fitting for anybody.”

Tiffany Ferrell

gener8tor Skills Project Management Graduate, South Boston, Virginia

Total Cohorts

Total Participants

Total Graduates

Job Placement Rate

Average Salary Post-Program

Who Should Apply?

Whether you’re a recent graduate, a professional looking to pivot careers, or an entrepreneur seeking new skills, the gener8tor Skills Accelerator caters to all.

Apply Today!

The Spring 2025 Project Management cohort begins soon—apply by February 2, 2025!

Click Here To Apply

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Upcoming opportunities: gener8tor Skills, RISE Business Bootcamp, and ChangeX

SOVA Innovation Hub — Wed, 22 Nov 2023 23:10:47 +0000

Upcoming Programs and Opportunities

Are you ready to soar to new heights in 2024? There are lots of upcoming opportunities at the SOVA Innovation Hub!

RISE Business Bootcamp powered by CO.STARTERS

Start, grow, or scaleup your business in Southern Virginia with a community of peers and mentors. For any entrepreneur in Southern Virginia (Halifax County and the 14 localities surrounding it). Apply by December 8th, 2023.

Apply by Dec 8th

ChangeX Southern Virginia Community Challenge

Use your own project idea, or one of 12 projects from the ChangeX list of options, like starting a LEGO robotics team or a pollinator garden. For people in Halifax, Lunenburg, Mecklenburg, Brunswick, or Charlotte County, Virginia.

Apply Now

gener8tor Skills Accelerator

Get skills and coaching to advance your career in Project Management. For anyone in Southern Virginia who wants to learn in-demand skills to apply in local companies or as a remote worker. Apply by January 14th.

Apply by Jan 14th

View our monthly flyer

Download PDF Flyer

Contact us for more information

MALLORY LAWTER

SOVA Innovation Hub Community Manager

(434) 570-1305 | hello@sovainnovationhub.com

COWORKING SPACE HOURS

Open Monday – Friday, 8:30AM – 5:00PM
Closed for Holidays & Weekends

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Gain critical Administrative Assistant skills for in-demand jobs through the free gener8tor Skills Accelerator program.

SOVA Innovation Hub — Wed, 12 Apr 2023 14:53:39 +0000

South Boston, VA – April 12, 2023 – Registration has opened for the Southern Virginia gener8tor Skills Accelerator Spring 2023 Administrative Assistant program. This program is a free, 6-week, self-paced skills training program that is designed to help Southern Virginia residents enhance existing skills or develop new skills for today’s ever-changing workforce and receive a job as an Administrative Assistant.

Members of the Administrative Assistant program cohort will:

Master communication techniques and interpersonal skills that will propel their ability to work in multiple industries;
Explore a great entry level position that allows them to learn all areas of a company before deciding what aligns with their passions
Learn how to coordinate information across stakeholders that is impactful and drives business revenues;
Discover the value in being a key player who makes sure day-to-day business operations are efficient and smooth.

The spring cohort will take place from May 22, 2023 – June 30, 2023. Register online here by May 14, 2023.

Anyone accepted into the program can use the SOVA Innovation Hub coworking space for free during regular business hours, Monday – Friday, 8:30am – 5:00pm for the duration of the program.

What is gener8tor Skills?

The gener8tor Skills Accelerator is a virtual, rapid reskilling program for people looking for jobs in high-demand roles in their communities or working remotely for companies across the country. The program utilizes the LinkedIn Learning platform to provide high-quality instruction in fields ranging from Customer Service to Software Development.

The program offers:

Self-paced, virtual curriculum from Microsoft and LinkedIn to learn skills for a career as an Administrative Assistant
One-on-one career coaching & long-term job placement support
Lunch & Learns with industry experts
Resume, cover letter, and LinkedIn profile coaching
Job Interview preparation including mock interviews.

Learn more about the program on the gener8tor website. Please contact Mackenzie Herro, Skills Recruitment Manager for gener8tor at mackenzie@gener8tor.com for more information.

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Tech on Tour in South Boston

SOVA Innovation Hub — Tue, 28 Feb 2023 16:38:55 +0000

Southern Piedmont Technology Council hosted Tech on Tour in South Boston, Virginia on Thursday, February 23, 2023. The event was co-hosted and sponsored by the SOVA Innovation Hub, the Southern Virginia Higher Education Center (SVHEC) and Microsoft. Themed in honor of National Career and Technical Education Month®, the event was open to SPTC members and potential members, including technology professionals, educators, and students. Attendees had the opportunity to tour the Southern Virginia Education Center, ProductWorks @ SVHEC, and the SOVA Innovation Hub, including MBC’s corporate offices, and the Microsoft Experience Center.

In celebration of February being National Career and Technical Education Month®, the event included a panel to share perspectives on career technical education. The panel consisted of Holly Elliott, Microsoft Data Center; Jerry Shelton, Microsoft Data Center; Ryland Clark, Hitachi and RCFlyBy; Dr. Scott Lowman, Institute and Advanced Learning Research; Rebecca Saunders, Halifax County Public Schools; Dr. Brian Jackson, Virginia Economic Development Partnership.

The panel was moderated by Jeremy Satterfield, Microsoft TechSpark Program Manager and Board Member of the Southern Piedmont Technology Council.

Attendees were encouraged to bring their children, thanks to STEM activities being provided by Building Buddies.

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Southern Piedmont Technology Council is a member-based organization that advocates for the importance of the need for the region to invest in technology.

If you are interested in joining the SPTC and being a part of raising awareness to enable the region to accommodate the changing way of doing business and also to evolve please visit https://www.sptc-va.org/membership/.

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Links mentioned in this post:

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Microsoft expands community economic opportunity program nationwide

SOVA Innovation Hub — Fri, 17 Feb 2023 22:07:43 +0000

NEWS PROVIDED BY
Microsoft Corp.
Feb 16, 2023, 06:00 ET

___

REDMOND, Wash., Feb. 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — Five years ago, Microsoft Corp. launched the TechSpark program with a goal to accelerate economic growth in six communities across the United States and Mexico. TechSpark works with local community organizations to develop digital skills, support nonprofits and create jobs. Microsoft is now expanding this program to all 50 states via a new TechSpark Fellows model.

The expansion beyond eight existing locations to communities across the United States means Microsoft will supply a grant to support a TechSpark fellow, along with hands-on mentorship and training. The program will remain hyperlocal and partner-driven with a focus on four key issues:

Digital access – building broadband infrastructure so people have access to essential online activities.
Computer science education – helping build computer science classes in local schools.
Digital skills – helping people learn the skills they need for the jobs of the future.
Digital transformation – helping nonprofits, startups and local businesses leverage technology to grow, innovate and compete.

Microsoft is also releasing a playbook and a resource hub to replicate and build on approaches learned thus far, designed for anyone looking to drive change in their community and help bolster the local economy.

Communities across America are facing significant headwinds, especially in this economic environment. The Brookings Institution notes that “digitalization divides across and within places now stand as one of the nation’s starkest limits on opportunity.” Rural small-business owners feel more uncertain about their future than urban counterparts. Significant areas of the country either don’t have access to or can’t afford broadband internet, according to Microsoft research. And it’s often tough to raise money for startups outside major, coastal metropolitan areas — venture capital is overly indexed on the coasts.

Since its inception, TechSpark has catalyzed new funding resources for communities, helped create new jobs, helped people gain critical digital skills, and supported new startups and local organizations including:

Helping create the Grand Farm, a partnership between farmers, businesses, government and entrepreneurs in Fargo, North Dakota, to create the farm of the future and spur the next generation of agricultural innovation.
Helping found the Bridge Accelerator, a cross-border technology accelerator in El Paso and Juarez that works with manufacturing companies to help them succeed in this binational economy. To date, this work has helped 78 companies create over 500 new jobs, infusing over $61 million in new sales.
Helping expand computer science education to 88% of schools in Northeast Wisconsin.
Helping build a brand-new building in South Boston, Virginia — the first new building to be built in downtown South Boston in over 40 years — now home to the SOVA Innovation Hub, teaching the local community digital skills and entrepreneurship.
Partnering with the Green Bay Packers to help build TitletownTech, a seed-stage venture capital firm that has secured $25 million in venture funding for the region and sits across from historic Lambeau Field, now home to over 25 growing startup companies.
Helping launch CoBuilders in Jackson, Mississippi, the state’s first startup accelerator, guiding 21 new startup companies.

Microsoft TechSpark thus far has resulted in:

$125 million raised in partnership with community organizations and businesses.
471 computer science classes created or supported.
1,100 educators trained to teach computer science classes.
50,000 people trained in critical digital skills.
3,300 jobs created and jobseekers placed.
500 startups supported.

Microsoft is holding an information session on March 1 — sign up at https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/corporate-responsibility/techspark.

Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT” @microsoft) enables digital transformation for the era of an intelligent cloud and an intelligent edge. Its mission is to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more.

SOURCE Microsoft Corp.

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Coworking Member Spotlight: Holley Lewis

SOVA Innovation Hub — Wed, 21 Dec 2022 16:56:47 +0000

Holley Lewis is a coworking member at the SOVA Innovation Hub.

We had the pleasure of interviewing Holley Lewis, who utilizes the coworking space at the SOVA Innovation Hub to work remotely when she is not traveling to her home office or visiting customers. Holley works for Trane Technologies as a Senior Systems Account Manager. She is an active member of the Halifax County Chamber of Commerce, serving on the Board of Directors and as a Halifax Young Professionals and Entrepreneurs (HYPE) committee member. She most recently dedicated her time to conducting mock interviews with Halifax County High School seniors to prepare them for the business sector.

Can you tell us a little about yourself and the work that you do?

Answer: I graduated from Virginia Tech in 2011 with a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering. This degree set me up for two really great job opportunities, one with Trane and the other with ABB (Hitachi). I’m a Halifax County native, and the job opportunity with ABB is what brought me back to Halifax in 2019. I currently work for Trane and have been a Sales Engineer with them for about 8 of the last 11 years.

What is your personal why for the work you do? How do you use technology in your work?

Answer: Most people think of their home HVAC system when they think of Trane. But we are so much more than that! I work for the commercial division of Trane Technologies, and it’s our commitment to innovate and advance sustainability while providing comfortable and safe environments for others. I rely heavily on technology to lay out systems for our customers. Building specifications and plans are very detailed documents that often take years to develop. Trane is part of that process start to finish, and we rely on modeling software and equipment design programs throughout the process. I appreciate the challenges my job presents and the consistent learning opportunity that come along with it.

Has your career path been surprising?

Answer: The HVAC industry was not on my radar during college, but it’s important to find a company whose goals and commitments align well with your own. Trane felt like the best fit for me, and I am glad I went with my gut when making the decision.

Holley uses her dedicated desk to get work done at the SOVA Innovation Hub.

Can you tell us about your reason(s) for seeking out our coworking space? What problems were you trying to solve? What was the solution like once you experienced the coworking space?

Answer: I needed a dedicated workspace that was distraction free, and the SOVA Innovation Hub was able to offer that for a reasonable amount. My productivity has increased dramatically and it’s great to have some separation between work and home. I’ve really enjoyed meeting others in the community that use the space as well. And fun fact – if you look up in the coworking space, you will see 3 Trane units dedicated to heating and cooling the space!

Would you recommend this space to others?

Answer: I would absolutely recommend this space to others.

Are you a member of any community organizations or groups? What do you want the reader to know about those organizations?

Answer: I am a committee member for:

HYPE (Halifax Young Professionals and Entrepreneurs)
Board of Directors for the Halifax County Chamber of Commerce
Community Strategic Plan Implementation Committee

It’s wonderful how these organizations help make Halifax County a better place to live. There are so many passionate citizens in this county who volunteer their time and talent. Our community is a better place because of it.

More Information

Trane Technologies focuses on manufacturing of heating, ventilation, and air conditioning and refrigeration systems bringing efficient and sustainable climate innovations to buildings, homes and transportation. Learn more at TraneTechnologies.com.

Connect with Holley Lewis on LinkedIn.

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SVHEC Career Tech Students Build Better Block Parklet in Downtown South Boston, Virginia

SOVA Innovation Hub — Thu, 01 Sep 2022 14:44:32 +0000

The Southern Virginia Higher Education Center (SVHEC) is an innovative destination for workforce development and educational degree programs. It is home to the Career Tech Academy, which is part of GO TEC.

If you drive into South Boston, Virginia from the south, going north on Highway 501, you’ll cross the Dan River, then look up to the left to see the impressive Southern Virginia Higher Education Center campus emerge. The SVHEC occupies three large, former tobacco warehouses. It is in the South Boston Historic Tobacco Warehouse District, which includes 15 buildings spanning 20 acres adjacent to the downtown commercial district. SVHEC is located within walking distance of many downtown businesses including Southern Plenty Cafe, Main Street Bar & Grille, Factory Street Brewing, and more.

One of the newest additions to the SVHEC campus is a Better Block Parklet. The Better Block Parklet was funded through a grant from the 2022 ChangeX Southern Virginia Community Challenge. Students in the SVHEC’s Career Tech Academy were involved in the design and fabrication of the parklet, using 3D printers and other technology at ProductWorks.

The SVHEC’s Better Block parklet expands outdoor space for both students and the community. It created a new seating area with outdoor chess games to encourage people to gather together. It includes digitally fabricated outdoor furniture and a brightly colored parking lot mural.

We recently visited with Dr. Betty Adams to learn about SVHEC and the Better Block parklet.

About the SVHEC Campus in South Boston, VA

The SVHEC’s main campus can be found at 820 Bruce Street. It includes the 820 Bruce Street building and the Innovation Center. The Prizery, the premier performing arts center in Southside Virginia, is located between the 820 Bruce Street building and the Innovation Center. ProductWorks, a division of SVHEC dedicated to product development, is located just 0.3 miles down the street at 700 Watkins Avenue.

As you turn into the parking lot that serves SVHEC’s main campus and The Prizery, you’ll notice large art sculptures. The 820 Bruce Street building is adorned with banners of SVHEC’s college partners, which include Longwood University, Old Dominion University, Danville Community College, and Southside Virginia Community College. Depending on the day, the GO TEC mobile Training Lab might be parked outside.

As you enter the 820 Bruce Street building or the Innovation Center, you’ll find modern, brightly-lit spaces for gathering and learning. You’ll be greeted by friendly, professional staff from SVHEC and you’ll notice the place is a hub for SVHEC’s college and institutional partners.

Most importantly, you’ll catch the optimistic energy of students ranging from 11th and 12th-grade high schoolers to adults of all ages. The students’ fields of study will be as diverse as their backgrounds. SVHEC excels at delivering job training programs tied to specific career opportunities. Job training programs include Automation Technician, Information Technology (IT), Heating and Air Conditioning (HVAC), Nursing, Teaching, and Welding. SVHEC also works with employers to develop and implement customized training for current and potential employees.

Find More Information:

https://svhec.org
https://productworks.tech
https://sovainnovationhub.com/changex

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