Senator James Webb visits Lynchburg, Areva, Babcock and Wilcox and Central Virginia Community College
Senator James Webb, a former Marine who holds an engineering degree “that he did not want” from the US Naval Academy, spent two days in Lynchburg VA (Aug 20, 21) getting an education about their nuclear industry and education programs. He toured Areva’s engineering and development center where he got briefed on the availability of nuclear fuel recycling technology. He also participated in an energy discussion at Central Virginia Community College (CVCC) where he learned that there have been people looking forward and creating solutions to the energy issues facing the world for quite a number of years.
CVCC, with the help of its industrial neighbors at B&W, Areva, Flowserve Inc., Trax, and Diamond Power Controls, has developed a well attended engineering technician program to provide the skilled employees that the growing energy industry requires today and will require for the foreseeable future.
Senator Webb made no promises to support recycling initiatives, but he was intrigued and promised to find out more. He pointed to his USNA experience and his previous understanding of nuclear ship operations gained in his time as the Secretary of the Navy. He also demonstrated that he is a bit more familiar with the nuances of the English language and marketing that many nuclear specialists.
Here is what I mean – Star Shoun, the vice president of the workforce development program at CVCC, said “Five or six years ago, we started looking at this problem, and companies with vision could see the perfect storm coming.” Here is how Webb, the author of several bestsellers and at least one movie script responded.
Webb, responding to Shoun’s comments, said he wouldn’t call the situation a perfect storm.
“I’d call it the perfect marriage,” Webb said, referring to the partnership between the companies and the college.
That is good marketing advice – do not use “perfect storm” to describe something positive.
