Suffolk Mayor Bobby L. Ralph called the second meeting of his CEO Task Force Friday

&uot;very meaningful.&uot;

The newly formed committee, which met at the Sara Lee Corporation in Suffolk,

consists of local business executives recommended by the city’s department of economic development. Industrial Development Authority Chairman John Harrell is one of the business leaders serving on the committee.

Soon after taking office July 1, Ralph

sought input from business leaders about how Suffolk could better meet the corporate community’s needs. Out of these discussions came the push to improve local education curriculums to match the needs of the local industry.

During the quarterly meeting Friday, Ralph said there was more discussion on the area workforce and properly equipping students to &uot;match up with employers.&uot;

Ralph believes the CEOs will be helpful in identifying special training, educational levels and other skills needs. The task force is also a networking vehicle for businesses and the public schools.

&uot;I think it will add support to the direction of curriculums for schools and community colleges,&uot; Ralph said in an interview with the News-Herald a few weeks after taking office. &uot;Businesses feel there needs to be a connection

between

what is being taught for schools and what is taught for employment.&uot;

The next meeting of the task force will take place at the Virginia Modeling Analysis and Simulation Center in north Suffolk.

luefras.robinson@suffolknewsherald.com