
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: WEDNESDAY, May 3, 1995                   TAG: 9505030050
SECTION: BUSINESS                    PAGE: B-7   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: SHANNON D. HARRINGTON STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

TECH'S TECHNOLOGY CENTER GETS A BIG-TIME INTRODUCTION

After undergoing a management change and about a year of "ironing out its policies," Virginia Tech's Center for Organizational and Technological Advancement was introduced to the state's public and private sector Tuesday in Roanoke.

During the inaugural event, the program also received strong support from one of the nation's most sought-after management consultants, Stephen R. Covey, at the Hotel Roanoke and Conference Center.

The Center for Organizational and Technological Advancement aims to form partnerships with business and government organizations to help meet their needs in training and development, according to its director, Harold Kurstedt.

"This could become one of the leading centers for leadership and management training," said Covey, author of the bestselling "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People" and "First Things First," which is 11th on the New York Times bestseller list. Covey also is chairman of the Covey Leadership Center in Washington, D.C.

Covey said he was impressed with the conference center's facilities, citing its "enormous capacity" for leadership and management training programs.

Although COTA has yet to finalize all of its policies and programs, Kurstedt said several organizations have expressed interest in a partnership. Dozens of businesses and government organizations already are working in informal partnerships, Kurstedt said. The formal partnership with COTA will be ongoing, "like a marriage relationship," he added.

"Based on needs assessment, we will see how we could work together," he said, adding that the assessment will take place after a joint study agreement.

Dr. Gerald Robinson, professor of management at Virginia Tech, said partnerships could include such programs as internships for Virginia Tech students, business leaders addressing Virginia Tech classrooms, and the sharing of resources and expertise.

Response from the business community also showed support for the program.

James Arend, president of the Roanoke Valley Business Council, said COTA should boost the local economy. "The intent of Virginia Tech to utilize the Hotel Roanoke and Conference Center to enhance seminar offerings will undoubtedly bring additional business into the Roanoke Valley," he said.

As a land-grant university, Kurstedt said, Virginia Tech has an obligation to "provide services to the people of the commonwealth. If we don't do it, we fail our mission."

Kurstedt took over as COTA director in early March from Jim Buffer, a Virginia Tech professor who returned to teaching in the College of Education.

Tuesday's event drew 72 representatives from 52 companies and governmental agencies, said Virginia Tech spokeswoman Clara Cox. A total of 150 to 160 people attended the presentation.

Some of the businesses represented were Norfolk Southern Corp., General Electric Drive Systems in Salem, Carilion Health System and Volvo-GM Heavy Truck in Dublin.

by CNB