Institute for Advanced Learning and Research

Driving Economic Transformation

IALR December 2024 Newsletter

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Inside IALR Podcast: Collaborative Forces in Maritime and Additive Manufacturing

Inside IALR Podcast: Collaborative Forces in Maritime and Additive Manufacturing

The U.S. Navy’s Additive Manufacturing Center of Excellence (AM CoE), a linchpin in maritime technological advancement, is located inside the Center for Manufacturing Advancement on the IALR campus. This episode highlights the AM CoE as a collaborative hub of strategic importance in meeting the U.S. Navy’s ambitious submarine production goals. This project is driving manufacturing innovation forward. 

IALR Executive Vice President of Manufacturing Advancement Jason Wells is joined by Advanced Manufacturing Director Jesse Geisbert and Additive Manufacturing Program Manager Aaron Wiest, both from the Maritime Industrial Base (MIB). They discuss the impact of the Navy’s AM CoE and the success stories where the project has prototyped and delivered mission-critical parts for ships and submarines much quicker than traditional methods, such as castings and forgings, and supply chains could have. This informative discussion includes:

  • What is the Maritime Industrial Base? (01:03)
  • Advanced manufacturing technology development (06:54)
  • Partnering with the Maritime Industrial Base (08:54)
  • Additive Manufacturing Center of Excellence (11:25) 
  • Public/private partnerships (18:41)
  • Success stories (24:44)
  • NASAM & ATDM (31:54)
  • Another success story (40:04)
  • AM CoE partners (50:27)
  • Parting thoughts (53:15)

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Inside IALR Podcast: Transforming the Region for 20 Years – Building an Anniversary Special Series

Inside IALR Podcast: Transforming the Region for 20 Years – Building an Anniversary Special Series

2024 marks the 20th anniversary of the opening of the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research main building. To celebrate, we will feature several guests who have been integral to the operation of this iconic facility over the last twenty years.

For the fourth and final anniversary episode, guest host Daniel Dalton is joined by two important guests who are vital to driving economic transformation: IALR President Telly Tucker and Linda Green, Vice President of Economic Development and Executive Director of the Southern Regional Alliance (SVRA).

There aren’t many facilities that serve such a multi-purpose function as the main IALR building, which offers a full-service conference center, on-site café, educational classrooms, research labs for different purposes and a high bay, all in one building. The building has hosted visiting international patrons and guests, governors, various ranking military officials, regional representatives and educators. As economic developers, Telly and Linda have also used the building (and now the IALR campus as a whole) as one of the primary selling points for companies interested in locating in Southern Virginia.

  • Background and early career (00:45)
  • Reactions to the construction of IALR (05:13)
  • Catalyzing economic transformation (08:39)
  • Since day one (15:30)
  • Evolution of IALR (16:30)
  • The building as a tool for economic development (27:41)
  • IALR as a host (35:32)
  • Flexing to meet demands (44:51)
  • Hopes for the next twenty years (46:33)
  • Parting thoughts (51:12)

For more history and information and to view photos of the construction of 150 Slayton, please visit https://www.ialr.org/history/.

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Inside IALR Podcast: Conference Center Tales – Building an Anniversary Special Series

Inside IALR Podcast: Conference Center Tales – Building an Anniversary Special Series

2024 marks the 20th anniversary of the opening of the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research main building. To celebrate, we will feature several guests who have been integral to the operation of this iconic facility over the last twenty years.

This third-anniversary episode features the two longest-tenured employees of both the Conference Center and all of IALR: Diana Parrish (Event Planner and Services Operations Coordinator) and Ellen Bass (Sales and Marketing Manager). From moving into the building and holding an event before it was fully completed to now hosting multi-day, international conferences, Diana and Ellen share their conference center story experiences and stories from the last twenty years. Throughout all those years, updates and technological improvements, Ellen and Diana highlight how the mission of the Conference Center remains the same: serve excellence and open IALR to the public.

  • Background and early career (00:44)
  • Nearing completion and moving in (02:51)
  • The first event/getting the word out & educating the public (07:09)
  • Catering challenges (10:24)
  • Megabytes Café (14:15)
  • Initial responsibilities and early events (18:20)
  • Trading spaces – how the building has changed (24:27)
  • Home to the Piedmont Governor’s School (29:18)
  • Conferences, baby showers, birthday parties, radio dance parties, weddings, Old McDonald’s Farm, oh my! (30:02)
  • Keeping up with the times (41:36)
  • Service Excellence (44:02)
  • Connecting the IALR Conference Center (48:01)
  • Renovating in 2020 (49:51)
  • Looking ahead twenty years (53:15)
  • Closing thoughts (56:22)

For more history and information and to view photos of the construction of 150 Slayton, please visit https://www.ialr.org/history/.

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Inside IALR Podcast: Better Call Maintenance – Building an Anniversary Special Series

Inside IALR Podcast: Better Call Maintenance – Building an Anniversary Special Series

2024 marks the 20th anniversary of the opening of the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research main building. To celebrate, we will feature several guests who have been integral to the operation of this iconic facility over the last twenty years.

This second special anniversary episode features two maintenance professionals who have kept the building operational all these years: Jeff Forlines (retired Facilities Maintenance) and Stewart East (Senior Facilities Manager).

From opening locked office doors to changing 4,000 light bulbs in 2,800 light fixtures, Jeff shares how he did some of everything as a one-man maintenance team for almost nine years before Stewart was hired. They share stories about moving large research equipment through a standard-size door, explain the process of painting the Atrium’s tall ceiling and highlight their special trick to get helium balloons down from a 30-foot ceiling. Jeff fondly remembers getting to watch fireworks from the roof on the Fourth of July because he was fixing the AC unit. 

  • Jeff’s background and early career (00:37)
  • Stewart’s background and early career (07:01)
  • Advantages of seeing what’s behind the walls (08:47)
  • Growing campus brings Stewart on board (20:08)
  • Fitting equipment through a door (24:30)
  • Challenges of a growing campus (25:28)
  • Installing a walk-in freezer (28:21)
  • Cleaning all this glass (34:12)
  • Jeff’s reaction to seeing IALR for the first time (37:19)
  • Converting to LED (39:00)
  • Tight spaces and a hot roof (41:45)
  •  Lessons learned during employment (43:25)
  • Getting familiar with the building and campus (46:38)
  • Looking ahead twenty years (48:03)
  • Closing thoughts (50:46)
  • Help desk ticketing system (51:26)

For more history and information and to view photos of the construction of 150 Slayton, please visit https://www.ialr.org/history/.

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Inside IALR Podcast: The Mind Behind the Iconic IALR Building: Dewberry’s Larry Hasson

Inside IALR Podcast: The Mind Behind the Iconic IALR Building: Dewberry’s Larry Hasson

2024 marks the 20th anniversary of the opening of the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research main building. To celebrate, we will feature several guests who have been integral to the operation of this iconic facility over the last twenty years.

This special premiere anniversary episode features Dewberry’s Larry Hasson (Associate Principal | Architecture Department Manager), who led the design team that created the IALR facility. Larry shares the story of how the design and architecture of the 90,000-square-foot building came to be.

  • Larry’s background and early career (00:42)
  • Initial pitch for what the building needed to be (02:27)
  • The thought process behind the design and layout of the building (06:47)
  • How the iconic Atrium facade came to be (17:32)
  • The choice of building and architectural materials used, such as glass, steel and brick (19:55)
  • Reactions to the opening of the building (30:42)
  • Lessons learned and continuing a theme (37:07)
  • If this building was built in 2024 (42:29)
  • Looking ahead twenty years (47:38)
  • Outside inspiration and ahead of its time (57:20)
  • Closing thoughts (01:02:54)

For more history and information and to view photos of the construction of 150 Slayton, please visit https://www.ialr.org/history/.

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Inside IALR Podcast: Comprehensive Support for All Students: ATDM Wrap-Around Services

Inside IALR Podcast: Comprehensive Support for All Students: ATDM Wrap-Around Services

The Accelerated Training in Defense Manufacturing (ATDM) program provides comprehensive and unique support and career services from the day students arrive. This level of support makes the program more successful and accessible.

This episode features three ATDM staff to highlight those services and how they enhance student experiences and outcomes: Kevin Gatewood, Assistant Director, ATDM Student Services; Karen Hardy, Assistant Director, ATDM Career Services and Dr. Debra Holley, Director, ATDM Project Development.

  • ATDM program overview (01:19)
  • Support and wrap-around services (02:43)
  • Career preparation (06:50)
  • Balancing backgrounds and experience (10:04)
  • Evolution of ATDM student support (12:19)
  • Work study program (16:02)
  • Tutoring assistance (18:01)
  • Success stories (20:06)

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Inside IALR Podcast: Technology for a Growing and Diverse Campus and Team

Inside IALR Podcast: Technology for a Growing and Diverse Campus and Team

This episode features four of the five Information Technology staff: Tim Kruggel, Director of IT; Daniel Cory, Systems Administrator; Jessica Hardy, IT Technician; and Jeremiah Slaughter, IT Specialist. They discuss how the IT department provides services for a diverse and growing campus and team as well as maintaining and upkeeping all types of technology.

  • Meet and greet the IT staff and their roles (01:32)
  • Balancing traditional office technology with complex technology needs (04:14)
  • Supporting a growing organization and campus (10:59)
  • Managing separate networks for staff, tenants and guests (15:01)
  • Plugging cybersecurity holes (22:15)

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IALR January 2024 Newsletter

IALR January 2024 Newsletter

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The January 20224 edition of IALR at a Glance is jam-packed with exciting news and updates! Learn more about…

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IALR December 2023 Newsletter

IALR December 2023 Newsletter

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The December edition of IALR at a Glance is jam-packed with exciting news and updates! Learn more about…

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