A Culture of Continuous Learning

Culpeper Star Exponent

Business Monday

February 11, 2013

Jim Charapich

We have a great community. I am simply amazed at what we can do when we work together to improve our opportunities. The Culpeper Chamber hosted the 4^thAnnual Professional Development Conference last Thursday. There are so many that collaborated to bring the program together with such success.

When I speak of collaboration, this event brings together both the Non-Profit Community and Small Businesses to elevate awareness on subjects that are important to “Strengthen the Business of Non-profits and Small Business”. Our volunteer corps of Non-profits and Small Business that identified our subjects, drafted our speakers, and developed our sessions are remarkable. I cannot name them because I inevitably omit someone by accident and I do not want to diminish a BIG Thank You to them for making the day possible.

Our speakers brought subject matter expertise from Loudoun, Fauquier, Madison, Rappahannock, Fredericksburg, Richmond, Charlottesville, and Culpeper. To our speakers – Thank you for your time and energy. You helped raise the level of potential in Culpeper by sharing your expertise. Knowing what you do not know is a big part of business success. The Professional Development Conference (PDC) opened pathways of new thinking. The next step is the broad range of classes at Germanna to advance the learning concepts from the PDC sessions.

We have had several immediate positive comments from those that attended. They too came from a regional audience. Among their comments was the appreciation for the smooth and efficient way that the program unfolded throughout the day. This was due in large part to the professional staff at Germanna Community College - Daniel Technology Center. As a Co-host of the event with the Culpeper Chamber, Germanna’s commitment to education and workforce development in our community is significant. It is easy to take such resources for granted. I do not… Thank you to Germanna, and especially Dr. Sam for your leadership and excellence in community support.

Finally, our events are very fortunate to have support from a full range of sponsors. The Northern Piedmont Foundation and Rappahannock Rapidan Community Services (Healthy Culpeper, Aging Together, Rusty Bowers Suicide Prevention Coalition, and Scott M. Fisher Suicide Prevention Coalition) were responsible for helping to keep the event cost so affordable. Thank you for your extremely important support for this community effort.

In addition, the PDC was supported by Culpeper Regional Health System, Culpeper Star Exponent, Verizon Terremark, TE Connectivity, Culpeper Times, WJMA / 105.5 Sam FM / WCVA Radio, The P.I.G. Legacy, Comcast Spotlight, Culpeper Car Wash, and Fantastic Sam’s.

I encourage you to go www.CulpeperMedia.org – Click - Video on Demand to hear the keynote speaker Chic Thompson’s session “What a Great Idea”. He is an inspiration!!! Thanks to Culpeper Media Network for filming the keynote address for the community.  (Editor note:  if the video is not up yet, it will be, shortly).

There are few things that can move a community forward more than a culture of continuous learning.