Workforce Development Took Customized Training to Poquoson

The mere thought of public speaking is daunting for many. Most people "would rather run into a burning building" than do it, joked Poquoson City Manager J. Randall "Randy" Wheeler.

So, when he began considering tailored professional development the city could provide employees, he looked to Virginia Peninsula Community College for just that. And, he wanted training concentrated on public speaking.

"We needed specialized training customized to us. It's not the kind of thing you could easily get a consultant off the shelf to do," he said.

To meet the need, the College's Workforce Development team expressly designed a Principles of Public Speaking skills training program, according to Adrienne Cosby, director of Employer and Community Programs at the College.

"After the pandemic, the nature of work and our economy have undergone, and continues to undergo, a fundamental transformation," said Dr. Cosby. "Customized training programs can enhance employee productivity and give your organization a competitive edge."

Sessions convened at Poquoson City Hall in city council chambers for four consecutive weeks. Dr. Cosby brought on independent training facilitator Dr. Robert Kenney as the instructor. The three-hour sessions allowed 12 participants (primarily department heads) to explore the best practices for enhancing their public speaking skills.

The course provided 12 hours of instruction covering areas ranging from creating a speech and developing presentation outlines to generating increased interest through visuals and understanding the different types of speeches (informative, impromptu, and persuasive), among other topics.

Wheeler was particularly impressed by Dr. Kenney.

"The thing I'm really gratified by is how much the group took to the instructor. Everybody was plugged in. Often during training like this, you'll have those who tune out. But this group did not and that's a testament to the instructor," he said.

The course wrapped up on Sept. 22 with Dr. Cosby presenting certificates to the participants. She thanked Wheeler for partnering with the College to "shape his organization's workforce with resources that prepare them for tomorrow's economy."

"(The College) is committed to developing a high-skilled workforce. Partnering and collaborating with Randy Wheeler, the City Manager's office, to provide professional development for the City of Poquoson employees demonstrates how important he knows it is to … (provide) employees with the skills they need to succeed today--and the skills that will drive innovation and growth for city workers in the future," she said.

Wheeler said he was grateful for the College's responsiveness to the City of Poquoson in providing this on-time training.

"One of the great things about it is I've been bragging about it to all my colleagues on the Peninsula," he said.

"I would encourage any employers who have a specialized need for training to think about the community college as a potential partner to deliver it. They've shown great flexibility in delivering this. They didn't have a class like this, so they created one."

Asked if the city plans to offer the training to those other than supervisors, he said input from this cohort will inform that decision.

"Does it make sense to continue to offer this, or do we need something in addition? I'll look to them for that feedback. All the feedback I've gotten so far is really good, though," he concluded.

Pleased by the positive feedback, Dr. Cosby emphasized that Workforce Development serves to provide subject-matter expert training where and when clients want it. That includes small, mid-sized, and large companies as well as federal, state and local government entities. For information about securing customized training, contact Dr. Cosby at (757) 825-4073 or cosbya@vpcc.edu.

In addition to Workforce Development programs, Virginia Peninsula Community College provides a myriad of academic programs with various sessions within each semester. Sessions include 16-week, 12-week, 8-week and others. Start dates and other details are available here.