Charleston has been ranked the third most promising real estate market in the United States for 2012 by the website HousingPredictor.com.

The ranking was based on housing appreciation expectations for 2012. West Virginia is represented in the Top 25 three times. Huntington and Wheeling came in at 8th and 9th place respectively.

“As a state that has suffered with poverty and hard times for generations, West Virginia lands three markets on the best 25 list for the year as it benefits from newcomers moving to the state for its housing affordability,” the article states.

Tina Pepper, a Charleston based realtor, said the news is very exciting for buyers in the area.

“This information provides us a great tool to show our clients,” Pepper said. “Right now is a great time to buy a home because interest rates are still low and prices have not yet started to rise. It is also a good time to sell before the market becomes saturated with homes.”

To see the list and read the results, click HERE.

This “Member Market” is a paid announcement sent by the Alliance on behalf of a member to business and community leaders and young professionals.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The University of Charleston will kick of the 2012 Speaker Series at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, January 31, with a special panel on the future of healthcare.  “Who Decides Patient Treatment?” will feature Tommy Thompson, former governor of Wisconsin and U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services, currently running for the U.S. Senate; and Tony Coelho, former U.S. congressman from California and chair of the National Partnership to Improve Patient Care.

The panel will explore the extent to which the public, the government, or insurers should pay for treatment that individuals cannot afford, the extent to which patients should be allowed to choose treatment that is not “best practice,” and other ethical questions emerging from recent and proposed changes in healthcare law and policy.

The panel is free and open to the public. For more information, call the UC Communications Office at 304-357-4716.

 

Part 1: Wednesday, Jan. 18
Part 2: Wednesday Jan. 25
9 a.m.- Noon

Charleston Area Alliance
1116 Smith St.

Register now to sign up for DigiTools: Microsoft Word training.

DigiTools is a partnership between the Charleston Area Alliance and Bridgemont Community and Technical College to offer training on Microsoft software.

If you’re a business professional or an individual interested in sharpening your computer skills, sign up and take a two week session on specific software.

The first part of the class for Microsoft Word will be held Wednesday, Jan. 18. The class will continue on Wednesday, Jan. 25 from 9 a.m. to noon. at the Charleston Area Alliance offices on 1116 Smith Street.

To sign up for DigiTools: Microsoft Word, please click the link below:

Register Here

Registration ends Tuesday, Jan. 17 at 5 p.m. Classes are only open to the first 13 individuals who sign up. The cost is $60 for Alliance members and $90 for future Alliance members.

This fourth session will be on Microsoft Word, a very popular word processing program.

Tools that will be learned at this session will include: • controlling page setup and appearance • editing and formating text • adding tables to a document • adding tables and charts • merging letters, labels, and envelopes • controlling text flow in a large document And much more!

For more information, contact Matthew Thompson at mthompson@charlestonareaalliance.org or at 304-340-4253.

NCO Group, Inc., a leading provider of business processing services, will create 90 new jobs at its Charleston-based contact center. The hiring will expand NCO’s presence in Kanawha County and will include more than $350,000 of new investments in equipment and training.

The Charleston Area Alliance worked closely with the West Virginia Development Office to recruit NCO in 2007 and on this expansion project.

“The Alliance was honored to work with Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin and his team on several specific details that were needed to secure these additional 90 jobs,” said Alliance President/CEO Matt Ballard. “Bringing new jobs to the core of the capital city is a wonderful way to begin the new year.”

Headquarted in Horsham, Pa., NCO provides successful business process outsourcing solutions. The company has more than 100 locations in 11 countries and employs more than 30,000 people.   The new jobs will include direct customer service support for one of NCO’s leading utility clients. The company is also hiring for managers, trainers and supervisors. Positions are full-time and include a complete employment benefit package.

Interested candidates may apply at the company website www.ncogroup.com/careers or call 412-249-5300 for more information. The contact center is located at 408 Leon Sullivan Way.

Just Beneath the Surface
Business After Hours
Thursday, Jan. 19
5 – 7 p.m.
BB&T Building
300 Summers Street, 15th Floor

Join the party Jan. 19 for Business After Hours at the offices of the Just Beneath the Surface alliance on the 15th floor of the BB&T Building at 300 Summers Street in downtown Charleston.

Business After Hours events are fantastic opportunities to network and meet the region’s leaders in a relaxed setting, all while enjoying food, drinks and entertainment.

Click here to register.

The cost is $15 for Alliance members and $25 for future members who register early online. Online registration ends the morning of Jan. 19. Prices at the door are $25 for Alliance members and $35 for future members.

The Alliance will be able to invoice only for groups of 10 or more. Contact Deb Coffman at DCoffman@CharlestonAreaAlliance.org for more information.

The Alliance cannot issue cancellation refunds within 48 hours of the event. Thank you.

 

Position: Donor Relations Specialist
Department: Development
Reports To: Vice President of Development

Statement of the Job: Serve as liaison to WVSO donors. Responsible for maintaining current donor database, coordinating donor mailings, fulfilling donor benefits including planning donor receptions, preparing corporate proposals and conducting donor prospect research.

Essential Functions: Enter and update data to ensure corporate and individual donor database is current. Prepare corporate sponsorship proposals; assist in presenting to prospects. Coordinate donor mailings, including solicitation and acknowledgment letters and invoices; prepare sponsor follow-up packets. Fulfill corporate and individual donor benefits per levels of giving. Plan and execute donor receptions; create invitations and coordinate facility rental and catering. Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Education, Experience and Skills: Bachelor’s degree required; proficiency in Microsoft Office; experience with Raiser’s Edge preferred but not necessary; one to two years fundraising experience preferred but not necessary; proven track record in previous positions of building relationships with customers, clients or donors; excellent communication skills.

Physical Demands: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to sit. The employee is occasionally required to stand and walk. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 30 pounds. Position requires regular attendance and attendance at evening and weekend concerts and events.

Work Environment: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally exposed to outside weather conditions. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

To Apply: Send cover letter and resume to Laura Barry, Vice President of Development, at lbarry@theclaycenter.org or P.O. Box 2292, Charleston, WV 25328.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This “Member Market” is a paid announcement sent by the Alliance on behalf of a member to business and community leaders and young professionals.

The Vision 2030 Community Forum that was to be held tonight at The Art Store in South Hills has been canceled due to inclement weather.

The forum has been rescheduled for Wednesday, Jan. 11 from 5:30-6:30 p.m. at The Art Store located at 1013 Bridge Road in the South Hills Plaza.

Thank you.