Event Details

Schedule: 11:00 am - 11:30 am  Networking

                     11:30 am - 11:55 am  Business Meeting

                     12:00 pm - 1:00 pm   Presentation

Registration: Click here to register!

Topic: Understanding State and Federal Workforce Programs: Talent Solutions for Local Employers

Topic Description: Navigating the wide range of state and federally funded workforce programs may seem daunting, but it doesn’t have to be. This presentation aims to provide a clear overview of the workforce services available to employers through Virginia Career Works, including support with recruitment, customized hiring events, wage-reimbursement options to support On-the-Job Training, and funding for upskilling current employees. The presentation will also cover how apprenticeship works as a structured talent-development model, outline the steps involved in establishing a registered apprenticeship program, and explain how employers can leverage state resources to support this training model. This session is designed to give HR professionals actionable information about the tools and programs available in our region to help strengthen their workforce strategies.

Speaker: Tim Saunders - Deputy Director, Central Virginia Workforce Development Board

Speaker Bio: 

Tim Saunders serves as Deputy Director of the Central Virginia Workforce Development Board, where he collaborates with partners to develop regional strategies that connect employers with talent. He helps lead business engagement efforts for Virginia Career Works in the Lynchburg region, working closely with companies across industries to coordinate hiring support and develop solutions that address local workforce needs.

Tim specializes in helping employers leverage state and federal workforce programs, including On-the-Job Training, Existing Worker Training, and youth and adult career services funded through the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA). He also supports initiatives that expand work-based learning and apprenticeship opportunities for students and jobseekers.

Tim is an adjunct instructor at Central Virginia Community College and is pursuing a Ph.D. in Community College Leadership at Old Dominion University. His research focuses on alternative training pathways and expanding talent pipelines to meet evolving workforce needs.

Prior to entering the field of workforce development, Tim spent 20 years in the television news industry. His work as a reporter and producer was recognized with three Emmys from the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences and two Edward R. Murrow awards from the Radio Television Digital News Association.

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