"This fact clearly illustrates how important technology has become in the local workplace," said Paul Combs, who chairs the Chamber's Technology Advancement Committee.

"We also learned that the community has an impressive array of training programs in place," he said.

Combs interest in technology stems from his work as director of the Appalachian Regional Development Institute, which is an outreach and public service program of Appalachian State University.

"The purpose of the Technology Education Focus Group was to bring together educators and employers to share information about the computer and technology skills needed by local employers and take an inventory of the education programs available in the community."

Representatives from nine employers – ASU, Skyline Telephone Membership Corp., Charter Communications, Blue Ridge Electric Membership Corp., Watauga Medical Center, IRC, eVerian, On the Clock Employment Services and Hall Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Isuzu – commented on the make up of their workforces.

Peggy Wallace of Watauga Medical Center said that every job in the hospital requires some level of computer skills, including administrators, physicians and housekeepers.

This sentiment was echoed by Angie Miller of Skyline Telephone. "There's not a job in our company that doesn't require the use of computers."

Tony Barlage of Charter Communications added, "In the every day life of the Charter employee, he or she has multiple opportunities for computer interface."

Don Mele of the Hall auto dealership said that 36 out of the company's 40 employees work with computers daily. "We have Chrysler's computer system, and we have Isuzu's system. Then, we have the dealership system to bring the two of them together," he said.

"Technicians use hand-held computers, because every vehicle these days has one or two computers built in to the vehicle."

Only the detail crew, which prepares and cleans vehicles on the lot, has responsibilities that are computer-free, Mele said.

Mary Ann Cole of On the Clock Employment Services said, "Virtually all our clients' jobs require at least basic computer skills. Unfortunately, about half the applicants we see don't have those skills.

"On the positive side, there are lots of opportunities for individuals to get training in this market," Cole said.

Those employers represented accounted for nearly 200 jobs that are strictly in the Information Technology (IT) field, with ASU itself employing more than 100 IT professionals to keep the university running.

Representatives of the participating educational institutions took turns outlining their respective programs. Shannon Carroll and Errol Shook of Watauga High School listed 17 different computer and technology courses that are offered as part of the curriculum for students in grades 9-12.

Faye Sawyer of ASU's Department of Information Technology and Operations Management noted that each incoming class of college students is more computer savvy than the class before it. The challenge to the university has been upgrading the curriculum to keep pace, she said.

ASU and Caldwell Community College & Technical Institute (CCC & TI) both mentioned the need to accommodate older students who are returning to school to re-tool their skills to enable them to change their career orientation.

CCC & TI provides four instructional programs that are technology-based – Information Systems, Network Administration, Internet Technology and Computer Programming.

By comparing notes in a "managed conversation," Combs said the educators and business leaders had the opportunity to identify any gaps or training needs that are currently being unmet. None surfaced.

"We are very pleased with the assets that the university and community college offers," Barlage said. "This is a very good environment here."

While computer training opportunities in the region appear to be more than adequate, the schools still have some work to do.

Several employers expressed concern about the basic educational level of applicants.

"I just wish they could all write, spell and speak good English," one employer commented.

Materials provided by CCC & TI noted that about 75 percent of entering students "require at least one developmental English, mathematics or reading class to prepare them for college level work.

"The vast majority of our students do not need to be simply trained in computer technology, but need to be educated more broadly to acquire learning skills, dependable work habits, appropriate communication skills and creative problem-solving skills."