YMTF Activities Announced for Spring 2023

Alabama A&M University will engage in two of the most impactful days of the year when teams of consultants convene upon the campus to motivate students to stay focused and determined to make a difference in the world.

 

The Youth Motivation Task Force (YMTF) Advisory Board and Career Development Services (CDS) will host the 48th annual YMTF Outreach Program April 3-4.  The 2023 theme is: "I Am YMTF: Bigger. Better. Bolder."  Throughout the hybrid program, consultants representing agencies, businesses and industries will visit select classrooms in-person and virtually. They also will provide an avenue through which students can ask questions about work-world experiences.

 

Another plus of the popular two-day outreach program is its Resume Critique, Mock Interview event, and the Mentorship Program reception.  These activities offer students year-round guidance and support, according to Yvette Clayton, YMTF chair and director of CDS.  Clayton is ably assisted by the Advisory Board; Dr. Aaron Adams, who serves as the YMTF "University" co-chair; Jermaine Ralph, "Industry" chair; and Sylvester Johnson, Industry co-chair. 

 

Geoff Foster, CEO and President of Core Technology, will address YMTF's Opening Session on Sunday, April 2, at 4 p.m. in the Knight Center, with a Reception following at 5 p.m.   Foster earned the B.S. and M.S. degrees in industrial technology with a concentration in applied engineering technology from North Carolina A & T State University. He formerly worked as an engineer with AMP Inc. and Tyco Electronics in roles of related to quality engineering, product engineering, product management and global product management. He was awarded US Patent 6,024,591 for a sealed electric connector for Ford Motor Company, which has used over 31 million of the parts on the Ford, Lincoln, Jaguar and Mercury models.

Foster completed his MBA at Wake Forest University’s Babcock Graduate School of Business in May 2001. After obtaining his MBA, he worked with Corning Life Sciences in Durham, N.C., where he held the position of operations manager in the tissue culture department and was responsible for an $80 million product line and 125 employees.

In 2006, Foster founded Core Technology Molding Corporation, based in Greensboro, N.C.  It is an injection molding solutions provider that is certified and competes in the medical device, automotive, aerospace, gaming, biological pharmaceutical, consumer goods, appliance and outdoor lawn equipment markets. Core Technology has quickly grown and has global customers in 150 countries.

​In 2015, Foster was named the Minority Small Business Man of the Year by the Greensboro Chamber of Commerce. Additionally, Core Technology was named the Minority Supplier of the Year Class I-2009 and Class II-2015 by the Carolinas Minority Supplier Development Council, Inc. Core Technology was recently featured in Diversity Plus Magazine. Foster also was named the Distinguished Alumni from the School of Science and Technology in 2017 at NCAT.

Currently, Foster serves as an adjunct professor in the Department of Applied Engineering Technology at NCAT, where he has been teaching for 12 years. He is the faculty advisor for the Society of Plastics Engineers at NCAT. In 2016, he was invited by Chancellor Harold Martin to join the Board of Visitors at North Carolina A&T State University. Moreover, Guilford County Schools named Core Technology Molding a STEM partner for advanced manufacturing because of its open house events that allow students and their parents to attend plant tours and to meet employees.

Foster and his wife Tonya Oliver are parents of two children.

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The complete three-day YMTF schedule follows:

Sunday, April 2, 2023 >> 1:00 PM – 6:30 PM

Alabama A&M University >> Ernest Knight Center, Reception Room & Whova

1:00 pm – 2:30 pm On-Site Registration > Entrance of Ernest Knight Center, Reception Room

1:00pm – 2:30 pm Whova Welcome/Help Center > Whova

2:00 pm – 2:30 pm Newcomers’ Orientation (first-time consultants) + > Ernest Knight Ctr., VIP Dining & Whova

2:00 pm – 2:30 pm Team Leaders’ Session + > Ernest Knight Center, Reception Room B & Whova

2:30 pm – 3:00 pm Team Strategies Session + > Ernest Knight Center, Reception Room B & Whova

3:00 pm – 3:30 pm Mentor Orientation & Resume Reviews/Mock Interviews + > Ernest Knight Center, VIP Dining Rm & Whova

3:40 pm – 4:00 pm General Session + > Ernest Knight Center, Reception Room A & Whova

4:00 pm – 5:00 pm Opening Session + > Ernest Knight Center, Reception Room A & Whova

5:00 pm – 5:15 pm Whova Help Center/Group Photo (screenshot) for Virtual Attendees *

5:00 pm – 6:30 pm Reception ‡ > Ernest Knight Center, Reception Room

 

Monday, April 3, 2023 >> 7:30 AM – 7:00 PM

Alabama A&M University >> Campus Wide & Whova

7:30 am Breakfast ‡ > L. R. Patton Building, Room 101

7:30 am Whova Welcome/Help Center > Whova

8:00 am – 4:00 pm Classroom Presentations + > Hybrid

12:00 pm – 1:00 pm Lunch on Your Own +

2:00 pm – 4:00 pm Resume Reviews/Mock Interviews Session +

> Arthur J. Bond Hall, Auditorium, Rm 233

4:00 pm – 7:00 pm Networking Event > Welcome Center, 1st Floor Conference Room

4:30 pm – 5:00 pm Group Photo ‡ > Welcome Center, 1st Floor Conference Room

 

Tuesday, April 4, 2023 >> 7:30 AM – 5:00 PM

Alabama A&M University >> Campus Wide & Whova

7:30 am Breakfast ‡ > L. R. Patton Building, Room 101

7:30 am Whova Welcome/Help Center > Whova

8:00 am – 11:50 am Classroom Presentations + Hybrid

12:00 pm – 12:30 pm Student Motivation Awards + > Ernest Knight Center, Reception Room & Whova

12:30 pm – 1:00 pm Lunch + > Ernest Knight Center, Reception Room & Whova

1:00 pm – 2:00 pm Culminating Program + > Ernest Knight Center, Reception Room & Whova

2:00 pm – 5:00 pm Classroom Presentations + Hybrid

 

‡ In-Person – On-site at various locations across Alabama A&M’s campus.

* Virtual – Hosted in Whova and Zoom based platforms.

+ Hybrid – Combined event to support on-site and virtual audience via Whova/Zoom. The schedule for hybrid events will integrate live sessions from the in-person events with the virtual participation.

For additional information about YMTF and other CDS events, call (256) 372-5690.