Inside IALR

What if you could track a plant’s health and growth every 15 minutes, all automatically and without ever touching it?

In this episode of Inside IALR, Dr. Scott Lowman, Vice President of Applied Research at the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research, explores the SMART Platform—IALR’s Spatially and Mechanically Accurate Robotic Table system. These high-tech tables combine robotics, precision imaging and automation to capture te...

Registered apprenticeships pair paid, hands-on work with classroom lessons to grow dependable talent. In this Inside IALR episode, host Caleb Ayers talks with:

• Natori Neal – Apprenticeship Coordinator, IALR’s EXTRA program
• Jenny Spitzer – Co-owner, Spitzer Inc. (electrical contractors)
• Josh Arnold – Master Electrician and lead instructor at Spitzer
• Jacob Oakes – Second-year electrical apprentice

They share insights on:

• How a...

In this episode of Inside IALR, host Caleb Ayers talks with Patrick Crowley and Ronald Green, recent graduates from the Accelerated Training in Defense Manufacturing (ATDM) program. Listen in as they share:

• Patrick’s transition from logistics to CNC machining for more impactful work.
• Ron’s journey from entrepreneurship in fashion to welding for career stability.
• Their intense and rewarding four-month ATDM training experience.
• How t...

In this episode of Inside IALR, we dive deep into the world of metrology, a crucial trade that plays a significant role in national defense manufacturing. The episode features Tony Almeida, Regional Sales Manager at Mitutoyo, and Jarrod Hankins, Metrology Instructor at IALR's Accelerated Training in Defense Manufacturing (ATDM) program. 

Metrology is the science of measurement. It ensures that parts are manufactured with incred...

Let's hear from Randy Johnson, founder of God's Pit Crew, a faith-based disaster relief organization headquartered in Danville, Virginia, and Tracy Fink, Vice President of the IALR Conference Center. God's Pit Crew has transformed from a simple altar prayer into an extensive operation that has responded to over 200 disasters across more than 30 states and 15 countries in their 26-year history.

Randy shares the remarka...

Let's hear from Jake Taylor, Technical and Training Manager of the Great Opportunities in Technology and Engineering Careers (GO TEC®) program managed by IALR. GO TEC is an innovative career initiative providing middle school students across Virginia with engaging, hands-on experiences in technology, manufacturing and engineering careers. 

Jake shares how GO TEC rapidly expanded from a pilot program in Danville and Pittsylvania...

Internships create powerful win-win opportunities for both students and employers when structured properly. IALR's Work-Based Learning Coordinator, Kiana Dillard, explains how these programs build talent pipelines while giving students valuable real-world experience.

• Internships provide structured learning opportunities where students develop skills while exploring potential career paths
• IALR offers personaliz...

This episode features Daniel Hyler and Tim Holland—two graduates turned additive manufacturing instructors with the Accelerated Training in Defense Manufacturing (ATDM) program. Hear them discuss lessons they picked up along the way, plus real-world applications of additive manufacturing in today’s job market.

Listen in as they discuss:

• Jumping from Student to Instructor: How they found their calling in the classroom.
• The ‘Light B...

In this episode of Inside IALR, Value Chain Coordinator Mitchell Doss highlights a new initiative aimed at strengthening Southern Virginia’s local food ecosystem. Funded by a Tobacco Commission grant, Mitchell’s work focuses on helping farmers broaden their reach to new markets while ensuring communities gain greater access to fresh, local produce and products. Hear how Mitchell’s journey—from IALR intern to horticulture researcher...

Question: How do you move an active training program with massive, sophisticated equipment into a new facility without halting progress?
Answer: An abundance of planning—and the determination to make it happen.

In this episode, Senior Facilities Manager Stewart East and Assistant Director of Advanced Training and Operations Wesley Cifers explain:

• Preparation: Months of logistical strategizing for a multi-phase relocation
• Execu...

Industrial fermentation—a core biotechnology process that harnesses living organisms—is a growing discipline used across multiple industries. In this episode of Inside IALR, we recap IALR’s first week-long fermentation workshop, offered in partnership with Virginia Tech and industry experts. Joining the conversation are Dr. Scott Lowman, Ph.D., Vice President of Applied Research at IALR; Biswarup Mukhopadhyay, Ph.D., Professor with...

The Dan River Year AmeriCorps program celebrates its decade of impact in the community. The episode highlights the evolution of the program and its multifaceted approach to address educational gaps in STEM and literacy.

This episode features Dana Silicki (Director of STEM, Service, and Lifelong Learning at IALR), Audia Harris (Program Coordinator at IALR), and Adam Goebel (Executive Director of the Danville Science Center)...

The U.S. Navy's Additive Manufacturing Center of Excellence (AM CoE), a linchpin in maritime technological advancement, is located inside the Center for Manufacturing Advancement on the IALR campus. This episode highlights the AM CoE as a collaborative hub of strategic importance in meeting the U.S. Navy's ambitious submarine production goals. This project is driving manufacturing innovation forward. 

IALR Execut...

2024 marks the 20th anniversary of the opening of the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research (IALR) main building. To celebrate, we will feature several guests who have been integral to the operation of this iconic facility over the last twenty years.

For the fourth and final anniversary episode, guest host Daniel Dalton is joined by two important guests who are vital to driving economic transformation: IALR Presiden...

2024 marks the 20th anniversary of the opening of the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research (IALR) main building. To celebrate, we will feature several guests who have been integral to the operation of this iconic facility over the last twenty years.

This third-anniversary episode features the two longest-tenured employees of both the Conference Center and all of IALR: Diana Parrish (Event Planner and Services Opera...

2024 marks the 20th anniversary of the opening of the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research main building. To celebrate, we will feature several guests who have been integral to the operation of this iconic facility over the last twenty years.
 
This second special anniversary episode features two maintenance professionals who have kept the building operational all these years: Jeff Forlines (retired Facilities Maint...

2024 marks the 20th anniversary of the opening of the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research main building. To celebrate, we will feature several guests who have been integral to the operation of this iconic facility over the last twenty years.

 This special premiere anniversary episode features Dewberry's Larry Hasson (Associate Principal | Architecture Department Manager), who led the design team that created ...

The Accelerated Training in Defense Manufacturing (ATDM) program provides comprehensive and unique support and career services from the day students arrive. This level of support makes the program more successful and accessible. 

This episode features three ATDM staff to highlight those services and how they enhance student experiences and outcomes: Kevin Gatewood, Assistant Director, ATDM Student Services; Karen Hardy, Assistant Di...

This episode features four of the five Information Technology staff: Tim Kruggel, Director of IT; Daniel Cory, Systems Administrator; Jessica Hardy, IT Technician; and Jeremiah Slaughter, IT Specialist. They discuss how the IT department provides services for a diverse and growing campus and team as well as maintaining and upkeeping all types of technology. 

• Meet and greet the IT staff and their roles (01:32)
• Balancing traditiona...