January Luncheon: Bill Crow Presents VSRA Annual Report

JANUARY LUNCHEON: VSRA PRESIDENT BILL CROW, ADDRESSES VSRA MEMBERSHIP

 

The first General Membership Luncheon of 2020 took place on Tuesday, January 28, 2020 at the Portsmouth Renaissance Hotel. The speaker for the meeting was Bill Crow, President of the Virginia Ship Repair Association.

Bill began by saying that the success and achievements VSRA had accomplished in 2019 were emblematic of two main things: power in numbers and power in knowledge.

He noted that VSRA continues to outgrow even the closest ship repair trade associations in member size, and that this has happened despite any membership recruitment activities. Thanking the Board of Directors, he then touted how good they’ve been at being supportive of approving funds aimed at strategic growth, such as the expanded VSRA office now located in a state-of-the-art facility in Norfolk’s World Trade Center, which boasts two training rooms that can accommodate over 40 students each, as well as the 3 new staff members and 1 new part-time member.

Bill then switched focus to the success of the committees last year, especially focusing on the Security Committee and how it tackled the tedious issue of DBIDs. He highlighted how Leigh Kennedy, Neil Burns, and those in attendance, worked fruitfully alongside MARMC and their guidance. This collaborative participation during the meetings directly influenced the creation of new rules that now benefit the entire region.

Further elaborating on the Committee efforts, Bill highlighted the successes of the expanded Safety and Health seminar and the Human Resources Seminar. In addition, he detailed the impact of the 5 Fall Contract Seminars.

In 2019, VSRA’s efforts, Bill explained, led to direct outreach that involved over 18,000 students, teachers, guidance counselors, administrative staff, etc. This number nearly doubles the number of students and school personnel that were reached only two years ago, a new record. He then made it emphatically clear that this would never have been possible without VSRA’s diligent volunteers, which are the core of all the association’s efforts.

Bill went out to elaborate on specific outreach efforts, for instance, such as last year’s Race Night event that involved over 4,000 participants. He then highlighted the success of last year’s VSRF Lego Competition and drew attention how hard work at the end of last year led to a new registration record of 30 schools for the upcoming 2020 Lego Competition. He then discussed how VSRF was awarded by the Commonwealth as Business/Industry Partner of the Year for 2019, due to the Foundation’s diligent work with the Academies of Hampton Maritime Academy. These efforts also led to Hampton City Schools Superintendent and City Manager to bestow the special recognition of Advisory of the Year to the Foundation-led Maritime Academy.

Continuing the list of VSRA and the Foundation’s achievements, Bill stressed the achievement of the Women in Skilled Careers (WISC) program, something that would not have been possible without the collaborative efforts involving the Hampton Roads Workforce Council (HRWC), WHRO, Tidewater Community College, and the United Way.

Bill stated that 2019 was “Year of the Testimonial”; 16 testimonial videos were developed in 2019 and demonstrate the ship repair industry’s proud stories that reflect hard work and dedication. He then went on to talk about the Tradesperson of the Year Awards, and how the winners starred in these testimonial videos, as well as the annual VSRA holiday greeting message.

Bill then talked about the growing success of the Marine Trade Training (MTT) program, which started in January 2017. Thus far, the program has put over 1460 students through the course, and boasts an approximate 90% retention rate, with average jobs starting at $16 an hour. He then explained that VSRA has a Shipfitter course in development which would be the first MTT Level 2 course that VSRA offers, as well as a Shipyard Safety Professionals course in the making.

Pausing for a reflective moment, Bill then praised VSRA’s membership for all their hard efforts and said that serving them is the best job in the world. VSRA Board Chair Dave Thomas then thanked Bill for all he does and presented him with the gift of diet Mountain Dew.

Click Here to View the VSRA 2019 Annual Report!

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