Valley Business FRONT, Issue 149, February 2021

Submitted photo

Northam at VCW ribbon cutting

One stop shop for jobs, skills training By Gene Marrano “Keep your options open and be flexible, because the sky’s really the limit right now,” says Morgan Romeo. Morgan Romeo is executive director for the Virginia Career Works Blue Ridge Region office in Roanoke. The VCW she says is a collaboration of various agencies that has been around for a while but rebranded under the Virginia Career Works banner to help job seekers “who are looking for a new or better career.” The current center on Thirlane Road opened almost three years ago – after a fire at Crossroads Center destroyed their previous permanent home. Romeo has worked for VCW and before that for other Commonwealth workforce programs dating back to 2011. She says “everything” anyone needs to reach their education/training and employment goals can be accessed through the VCW office, on site or online in the COVID era. Seven partners representing 20-30 programs are available there, a “one stop shop model.”

34

t FEBRUARY 2021 / vbFRONT.com

Computers, printers, phones, fax machines and the like are available for those Romeo deems “self-sufficient,” people looking for jobs or maybe a short-term skills training program. One on one counseling is available – especially for those who may be switching careers or jobs after say, the restaurant they worked at laid them off last year or went belly up. Virginia Career Works can guide people to resources that can help pay for that education adds Romeo. It’s all about progressing towards career goals and “being selfsufficient,” at the same time. Direct pipelines to employers and their immediate needs can help the unemployed or under-employed land on their feet faster; those businesses are really VCW’s “main customer,” according to Romeo. Providing