BRAC REGIONAL TASK FORCE (RTF)
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETING
March 20, 2008, 3:30 pm
Spring Lake Family Resource Center
1. The meeting was called to order at 3:30 pm and a quorum was established.
Executive Committee (Voting Members) in attendance: Tim McNeill (Harnett County), Ethel
Clark (Cumberland County) Cary McSwain (Moore County), Tom Parker (Scotland County),
Greg Taylor (Bladen County), Jim McCaskill (Alternate for Rick Sago, Richmond County),
Tony Chavonne (Cumberland County).
Additional attendees: Stephanie Balaam,(DSA Marketing), Don Belk (BRAC RTF), John
Bellamy (BRAC RTF), Karen Brown (Century 21 Cornerstone Realty), Sharelle Bullock (DSA
Marketing), Danielle Byrd (Residence Inn), Dr. Curtis Charles (FSU), , Henry Cuningham
(Fayetteville Observer), Don Gemeinhardt (RTI International Research), Cecil Hammonds, (US
Falcon, Inc), John Harbison (BRAC RTF), Melissa Hill Ix (Moore Co. Cooperation Extension),
Jim Konneker (Fayetteville BRAC), Renee Lane (BRAC RTF), Joe Kilgore (InovaTech), Shante
King (DSA Marketing), Laurel Leal (Holiday Inn Bordeaux), Bruce Marion (Cameron, NC),
Tim Moore (BRAC RTF), Ramona Moore (Holiday Inn Bordeaux), Phyllis Owens (Cumberland
County Business Council), Shevelle Ramirez (Ft. Bragg School Liaison Services), Richard Rice
(FTCC Ft. Bragg/Pope), Mike Santiago (ECS Carolinas), John Scroggins (General Dynamics),
Jane Smith (BRAC RTF), Jim VanBuskirk (Booz Allen Hamilton), Steve Wilkins (BRAC RTF),
Jean Wooten (NC Department of Commerce),
2. ACTION: Minutes of the January 24, 2008 meeting were approved.
MOTION: A motion was made by Ethel Clark to approve the minutes. The motion
was seconded by Cary McSwain. The motion was carried unanimously.
3. Chairman’s Report. Tim McNeill provided brief opening remarks.
4. Executive Director’s Report (Paul Dordal):
a. Congressional Authorization Military Construction Request: Additional funding
is required for construction for U.S. Army Forces Command Headquarters.
b. White Papers were submitted to the Office of Economic Adjustment (OEA)
addressing the shortfalls in funding for the following high priority BRAC
impacted issues:
o Schools: Additional $276 million is needed to accommodate increase of
6,300 school age children in the region
o Transportation: Additional $25.64 million is needed to close Bragg Blvd.
and widen Murchison Rd. for added security of FORSCOM and USARC
Headquarters.
o Public Safety: Additional $18,008,835 is needed for VIPER regional
communication system.
c. U.S. Department of Labor BRAC Workforce Summit: Held March 5th-7th, 2008 in
Tampa, Fl. BRAC Regions from across the U.S. attended. Highlights included New
Insight into BRAC, Why BRAC is necessary, Why BRAC is important to workforce
professionals nationwide and Lessons learned from previous rounds of BRAC in base
redevelopment and workforce development in rural areas.
d. Preliminary Impact Assessment update: On February 29, 2008 TDA presented its
initial findings reports on the growth increase to BRAC Counties. This report is
available at on the BRAC RTF website. The final report will be released in May
2008.
e. Upcoming Events & Issues:
o TTX in Raleigh, Tuesday March 25th Booz Allen Hamilton will conduct a
Exercise with State, Federal and local business leaders and stakeholders to
identify potential BRAC successes and shortfalls, assuming a utopian 2013
end-state. This will help structure the All-American Defense Corridor
o Presentation to Golden Leaf Foundation: In the June 2008, the BRAC
RTF will make a presentation to the GLF board with concepts for a Center
of Excellence for Regional Transformation. BRAC Stakeholders will be
requested to provide input for this.
o Meeting with RTRP Board: May 2008. This will be a gathering of
regional leaders to identify the trends and emerging issues in the broad areas
of economy, social/cultural, political/legal, and technology to synthesize all
reports and create a searchable data warehouse that will be available for use.
5. Workforce Demonstration Program Update (Steve Wilkins & Dr. Jane Smith):
a. Implementation Plan Update. The Final Draft was received from Leonard
Resource Group and the BRAC RTF team is currently reviewing the plan. This is
due to the Department of Labor on March 31, 2008.
b. Wounded Warrior Update: There are ongoing assessments with soldiers to identify
job needs. Participating business alignments are in progress. There will be a Career
Fair at the Ft. Bragg Officers Club April 1st and 2nd 2008.
c. Steering Group/Joint Workforce & Education Advisory Group Updates: The
next meeting will be held on April 1st, 2008. Actions: Develop a Plan for the All
American Center for Workforce and Innovation Request for Proposals.
d. Job Connection for Construction Cluster: Letters were sent to prime contractors.
Meeting was held March 18 with industry, WDBs, ESC, Education providers, & Ft.
Bragg ACAP. Heard industry perspective & identified the need for more proactive
planning for this. Next meeting is scheduled for May 17, 2008.
e. Defense Business Association Meeting: An initial transitional meeting was held on
March 11th and was well attended by business leaders. Guest speaker was Gil
Gilleland from U.S. Army Forces Command. Progress and interest will be monitored
for this. Next Meeting: Late April 2008 (TBD).
f. Economic Developers Committee: Next meeting: April 8, 2008 at 9:00 am at the
Spring Lake Family Resource Center.
g. NC Logistics Study: Visioning meeting held at NCSU on March 14th. BRAC RTF
participated.
h. NC International Port: Briefed to BRAC RTF on March 18th by SPA and CH2M
Hill.
i. Education Update: Scotland County Schools and Career Readiness Certification
Program is successful in preparing high school students for job readiness. 305 Seniors
received certificates. There are ongoing collaborations with Universities and Defense
Research companies. There are several regional initiatives involving support of
military children.
j. Joint Education and Workforce Advisory Committee: Next meeting at FSU on
March 28th at 1:00 pm. Topics include Career Start, Real Game Online, Leadership
Program, Best Practice Forum, Higher Education Showcase, Career Readiness
Certification and Living in the New Normal.
6.
Funding Request for Virtual Hospital Visit: To address the training needs for our
healthcare professionals, a team of regional healthcare educators and providers will make an
exploratory trip to the University of Maryland to investigate a model innovative clinical
simulation environment.
ACTION: Recommend approval to use $1,000 DOL funds to pay for visit to Maryland
Virtual Hospital.
MOTION: Cary McSwain made a motion for approval to pay for the visit, with an
additional request that counties agree to pay above the $1,000 if all 11 counties show a
vested interest in this. Ethel Clark seconded the motion and the motion was carried
unanimously.
7. Next Scheduled Executive Committee Meeting:
Thursday April 17, 2008 at 3:00 pm Spring Lake Family Resource Center
8. Next Scheduled Board of Directors Meeting
Thursday, May 22, 2008 at 10:00 am at Fayetteville Technical Community College
Meeting adjourned 4:30 pm.
Submitted by Paul Dordal
Executive Director, BRAC RTF