Capital Region Language Center

“Around the World” Open House Dates:

Malta:  Thursday, February 2, 5-7 PM &
Colonie: Monday, February 6, 5-7 PM

March Open House Flyer

Ania Hair Studio & Spa, a unisex salon, was established in 2001 by Ania Bickham, an immigrant from Poland. The woman-owned business has grown to employ 40 people and provide a full range of hair, beauty and spa services to thousands of Capital Region residents.  “I chose to support Tech Valley Connect on my anniversary because I understand the challenges individuals and families face in moving to a new country or area,” Bickham says.  She herself wishes an organization such as Tech Valley Connect existed to help her make the transition when she moved to the United States.

Three Tech Valley Connect clients received make-overs from Ania Hair Studio & Spa and were be dressed by Evoke Style in Stuyvesant Plaza. These three women participated in the celeration and modeled their new looks.

“It was great family outing and the girls really enjoyed it.  It’s a great way to meet other people when you are new in town. Thank you very much.”  – Gita (Tech Valley Connect Family)

“But in the Northeast, there is a shining star and a Region that is poised to explode and prosper  ….”

The next frame – the sign for the Village of Malta, NY. The story went on to say that while other areas were losing industries and population, the Upstate NY area was going in the opposite direction. The story touted the number of jobs, the number of businesses,  the development of our Region and how it will impact and the number of people that will be coming to work here.  WOW – that was sweet.

And it is happening. We have families relocating to the Region now for jobs coming domestically and internationally. They don’t see us as SmallBany – they see opportunity. We even have the only program existing in the US – TechValley Connect (www.techvalleyconnect.com) – focused solely on helping relocating families acclimate to the Region, find jobs for the trailing spouse and helping those not of origin in the US culturally acclimate to the community. And it is working – and growing . Kudos to Angela McNerney and Julie Hansen of Tech Valley Connect for the great work they are doing and the impact they are having on the community.

http://blog.timesunion.com/careers/we-are-not-smallbany-anymore-%E2%80%A6/1033/

Check out the Times Union’s Best of 2011.  The readers voted on everything from Dining to Goods & Services.

http://blog.timesunion.com/bestof2011/

Our sponsors for the event included; Gold Sponsor – SEFCU, Silver Sponsor – Albany Valve & Fitting and Bronze Sponsors – Albany Academies, Center for Economic Growth, First Niagara, Fusco Personnel, Key Bank, LCS&Z Accountants, Pattison, Sampson, Ginsberg & Griffin, PC, Realty USA, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, TCE Search Group, Tech Valley Communications, Wojeski CPA.  Our gorgeous flowers were donated by Bountiful Blooms and a portion of the event’s catering was donated by Mazzone Hospitality. 

January 2011

The power of networking
Tech Valley Connect

By Danielle Pitanello

A great example of the power of networking is a newer non-profit in the area – Tech Valley Connect (TVC). TVC’s sole focus is to connect professional families moving to this area with employment, social, cultural and most any other type of need they may encounter. Many, many families are relocating here for employment opportunities with the growth of the region’s technology and research segments – and this will continue.

I sat down with Angela McNerney, executive director of Tech Valley Connect to talk about the program and the impact on this area.

Angela – tell the readers in a nutshell what TVC is all about.

We started as a pilot program on the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute campus, funded by the Elsevier Foundation and supported by the National Science Foundation’s Advance Program to be the conduit for relocating professionals and their trailing spouse/partner to the community, which is critical for employee retention. Linda Hillman at the Rensselaer County Chamber of Commerce was instrumental in gathering supporting businesses to align with TVC and help the program become a reality. In many situations, without an organization addressing spousal employment or family assimilation, many relocating professionals don’t invest themselves into the community and without work for the spouse they can become unhappy quickly, and they leave the area. This creates a significant dent to that organization’s budget. It can cost an employer two-and-a-half to fives times the salary of a new hire to lose them within the first two years.

In January of 2010, TVC became its own independent non-profit. The program networks the employee and their family to the community and employment opportunities before they move here and after they’ve arrived. Many think it is just about finding jobs for the trailing spouse, but it isn’t – the second reason a hire would leave a position is that the family hadn’t assimilated into the community. TVC does a thorough intake of the family, finding out what is important to them and what services they will need specific to their unique needs. We connect them with everything from doctors to mechanics, as well as provide volunteer opportunities which help gets them invested in their new community. If they network, both professionally and personally, more than likely they will stay and prosper in the area, which will keep highly-talented professionals living and working in the Capital Region.

How is this done? 

Through our dedicated coordinator, Julie Hansen, who focuses on understanding the needs of the family or individual through an extensive intake. Then the networking process begins – often through many of our sponsors, partners and resources. As an enhancement to their recruitment efforts and added value to bolstering of retention rates, the services TVC offers is second to none. Trailing spouses are set up in informational interviews with decision makers of employers, giving them an edge in a very tough job market.

And the outcomes? 

In some cases, it is a valuable networking contact on a senior level in a company that leads to an opportunity (many have found jobs). In other cases, it is helping an individual, couple or family find services that will help them feel comfortable in the region, and that is critical. Others have purchased real estate; still more have been introduced to new social networks. We determine the needs – and are innovative in our approach. The bottom line is we work to network every facet of their lives to get them to call the Capital Region ‘home’. 

Is this a new concept? 

Currently, Tech Valley Connect is the only organization in the country modeling this concept – to address each family and their individual needs. Our program reaches out to the broader community; both to businesses and human services. We did this by building a consortium of employers in the Capital Region who all commit to high-level informational interviews for the trailing spouse of a hire within the consortium. The Capital Region was and continues to be an excellent market for this type of program with our high growth in technology, numerous universities and our many healthcare organizations requiring specialized talent.

Is there a secret to success for TVC?

Most certainly, and that is making people find a strong sense of ‘home’. When we can focus on families and their needs, we create retention in the workforce of the Capital Region. This is critical to the successful hiring of top talent in the Capital Region. We are very thankful to our sponsors as well – SEFCU, Realty USA and others – who have supported our initiative from the beginning helping to make us a viable, sustainable program. 

So for the doubters who don’t believe that we are the Tech Valley – what do you have to say?

It is here. It is real. And it’s getting bigger. Our area is going to change, grow and prosper in the next decade and we will be seeing more impact to both businesses and residents, and it is exciting. If you could just talk to one of the families coming here and listen to their trepidation turn to enthusiasm and excitement…well, you would be a believer too!

Sue Harrison hooked into Tech Valley Connect through her husband’s employer, GE HealthCare.  “I’ve been fortunate that my husband has moved a number of times in his career and I’ve always found gainful employment,” Harrison says.  “I think the same thing will happen in Albany.”