Meet Wes Smith – Interim Assistant Vice President of Workforce Development
How long stimulate got you lot been amongst CCWA together with what are your function responsibilities?
It’s been a wild ride. Over the final seven years, I’ve been CCWA’s Richmond GATE Director, Manufacturing Coordinator, Director of Manufacturing & Logistics Programs, together with currently, the Interim Assistant Vice President for Workforce Development. My destination at CCWA is to engage local trace of piece of job organisation together with manufacture partners together with project seekers through diverse workforce solutions together with manufacture credentials. The trades manufacture is a specific growth sector that I’m currently spending a lot of fourth dimension on these days.
We heard you lot were inwards the armed services – what did you lot produce spell serving our country?
I joined the Marine Corps straight later on high-school. My parents actually wanted me to perform a technical project inwards the armed services inwards fellowship to growth my skill-set. I went the contrary direction together with enlisted equally an infantryman. My unit’s specialty was raiding beaches amongst zodiac boats. But jokingly, I similar to tell people our actual specialty was earthworks holes together with shooting stuff. My personal specialty inside our unit of measurement was mount warfare. I became 1 of the few atomic number 82 mount climbers inwards the sectionalisation together with spent a lot of fourth dimension hiking together with cross-country skiing inwards California. I also completed 2 fighting tours inwards Republic of Iraq inwards 2003 together with 2004. Republic of Iraq was a truthful approbation for me. It was tough at times, but it changed my outlook on life together with made me a genuinely grateful person. I experience similar I gained fifteen years of life experience from those four years of service.
What produce you lot similar to produce when non at work?
Hanging out amongst my married adult woman together with kids is my favorite. They’re simply fun people! Outside of family, it’s all nigh my side trace of piece of job organisation inwards real-estate investing together with the groovy outdoors. I endeavour my best to go past times on the household unit of measurement involved inwards those areas too. My kids actually savour the demolition element of rehabbing a house. This may hold upward a slight exaggeration, but I also similar to mean value I’m 1 of the best smallmouth bass fisherman inwards Virginia.
If you lot won the lottery, what would hold upward the outset matter you lot would do?
Build a team/framework that would allow me to go past times a series entrepreneur together with invest inwards a ton of real-estate. I’d e'er hold upward involved inwards workforce evolution equally well.
Where is your dream vacation?
Nowhere specific, but I am planning to stimulate got my household unit of measurement to Republic of Costa Rica soon. No resorts or fancy things, simply traveling to a greater extent than or less inwards a 4-wheel motility rental auto to go past times surfing, fishing, hiking, eating goodness food, talking to goodness people, etc. I mean value we’ll go past times when my youngest is six.
We know you lot honey the outdoors – what would hold upward some of your suggestions for a somebody who wants to laid out hiking together with camping?
Just Do It! I mean value folks worry nigh tactics, especial gear, practiced advice, together with grooming likewise much. Just select grip of your sneakers, H2O bottle, beef jerky, together with GPS together with go past times play inwards the mountains. Shenandoah National Park is a goodness house to start.
Where is your favorite house to consume to a greater extent than or less Richmond?
Anywhere I tin stimulate got a fun appointment black amongst my married adult woman together with drinkable a arts and crafts beer.
What produce you lot similar best nigh working at CCWA?
The changing environment. Our workforce is changing at a rapid footstep together with I believe community colleges are inwards a seat to assist motility novel innovations inside the instruction together with workforce evolution industry. I’m a huge fan of alter together with innovation, together with CCWA allows me to function inwards this ever-changing environs on a daily basis. Our squad is pretty cool too.
