Tech Valley Connect presented to the Capital Region Human Resource Association, Capital Region Recruiters Network, the Consulting Alliance and the Association for Training & Development.  The topic presented to the panel was “The Impact of Retention on Employers”.  Included on the panel
from left to right; Angela McNerney, President of Tech Valley Connect, Tom Feist, General Manager of GE Healthcare,  Sujata Chaudhry, Principle of Tangible Development and Gwen Pulvirent, newly relocated ‘trailing spouse’ of a recent Global Foundries hire.

Cost of Turnover Worksheet

Tech Valley Connect in conjunction with the State University of New York at Albany M.B.A. program cordially invite you t0 participate in a workforce turnover survey. Tech Valley Connect is a not-for-profit started through Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute seeking to provide local employers with infrastructure to increase employee retention, particularly among those who relocated into highly specialized positions. While a preliminary study has been done, further research is needed to identify the specific needs of Capital Region businesses.

The following survey should take approximately 5-10 minutes to complete. In exchange for your participation in this confidential survey, we will happily provide you with the finalized aggregate results of this study. Please click on the following link to participate: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/6SJ3KPS.

We appreciate your time and consideration by joining with regional employers to compile update local workforce data. If you have any questions about this survey, please contact me at angela.mcnerney@techvalleyconnect.com or phone 518-283-1812.  The deadline to participate in this survey is April 13, 2012.

Sincerely,

Angela McNerney
President & CEO
Tech Valley Connect

To read the complete article.

The Albany Children’s Book Festival — now in its fourth year — was inspired by noted Childrens Author Daniel Mahoney who participated in other festivals throughout New York State and wanted to bring a similar concept to the Capital Region. His idea was to offer a Book Festival that would be free and open to all children of the Greater Capital Region, providing them with the opportunity to meet many distinguished authors and illustrators.

The Mission of the Albany Children’s Book Festival is to nurture literacy in school-aged children.  We aim to encourage, promote, and celebrate the joy of reading, while fostering a love of books, stimulating imaginations, and opening new worlds to them.

Our Vision is to become the premier literacy event in the Albany area. We hope to continue to grow and develop into a community event that inspires the region’s children to read, write, and explore the world of books.  It is our belief that every child, in every community should have access to books to explore, learn from, and to trigger their imaginations.

The event promises to be better than ever! We are honored to welcome 70 highly talented and accomplished children’s authors and illustrators to the festival. Each one is approachable, glad to share a moment or two talking about the process of creating their books, reflecting on the experiences that shaped them, pointing out special features in them, or simply listening to your reactions to them.

Listen to Ruth Pelham of The Music Mobile; watch Mike Maybee as he juggles an amazing assortment of items. See the Tulip Queen help dramatize a story or march in the storybook parade dressed as a favorite storybook character. Visit Bette’s Cupcake truck for a snack or Dave’s Wood Fired Pizza truck for lunch.

We are all looking forward to a wonderful event. For more information, please contact Ann Wendth at 518.429.2385 or email wendtha@albanyacademies.org.

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/