Issue link: http://businessnc.epubxp.com/i/756318
39 N o r t h C a r o l i N a E C o N o m i C D E v E l o p m E N t G u i D E administrative economies it could achieve in Clayton as its two facilities will share technical, financial, facility- management and other support services. "There are local synergies with the current site," he says. The company's own experiences with the region's workforce over more than two decades were its most powerful testimonial. "We've been fortunate with talent acquisition at the current site," Lohr says. He points to committed employees such as Luis Romero, a shift manager at Novo Nordisk who began there as a technician in 2010. Romero commutes to Clayton from Louisburg, about 38 miles away. Romero, who served in the U.S. Navy in the early 2000s, holds a bachelor's degree in information systems management that he received courtesy of the GI Bill. Novo officials like not only educational credentials, but also what military veterans bring to the company. Military experience translates well to biomanufacturing operations, Lohr says. "About 20% of the workforce at our current site are veterans." Veterans are used to following standards and procedures, he says. "They're good at documenting what they've done. We've found that's a nice, neat fit on a day-to-day basis in a regulated industry like ours." Given the presence of sprawling bases like Fort Bragg and Camp Lejeune, North Carolina employers can tap a unique workforce resource. "North Carolina is No. 6 in the nation for veterans transitioning out of the military," says Will Collins, assistant secretary for workforce solutions at the N.C. Department of Commerce. An estimated 78,000 service members will leave the military through North Carolina bases by 2018, a Commerce study found. "These are people with both hard and soft skills that can drive results for any business," Collins says. But the transition process is often fragmented. That's why state leaders established North Carolina For Military Employment (NC4ME) in 2015. The initiative pulls together workforce- development leaders, military officials and private-sector human-resources representatives to create a common language to describe skills, aptitudes and experience. "We've taken military occupation codes and translated them into civilian terms," Collins says. Staff members at 81 NCWorks Career Centers placed conveniently around the state are trained specifically to work with military talent and the companies needing them. In recent years, the state has transformed the fusty image of "unemployment offices" into one of a proactive career- development site capable of serving both employees and employers. "The perception used to be that these offices were there only to serve people in dire situations," Collins explains. Today, NCWorks Career Centers help job seekers write impactful resumes, improve interviewing skills, and connect with relevant education and training opportunities along with grants and scholarships that help with tuition. The centers even advise on transportation solutions and "Top Shelf" Occasions Our "Top Shelf" means the best in accommodations, dining and services. If there's a special occasion in your future, perhaps it deserves to be held in a "Top Shelf" destination. The Pinehurst, Southern Pines, Aberdeen Area of North Carolina was created for such moments. Our gracious hotels, cozy inns and intimate cottages are perfect for weddings, reunions and business conferences. Our restaurants invite conversation & friendship over memorable meals. And then there are our forty world-class courses which energize and relax at the same time. Come enjoy the legendary hospitality of the Pinehurst, Southern Pines, Aberdeen Area of North Carolina. Call Beverly Stewart at (800) 346-5362 (Ext.237) or email bstewart@homeofgolf.com for assistance with your group or to submit your RFP