WHEELING, WV, 24 July 2006 – Williams Lea, the leading global provider of Corporate Information Solutions, and West Virginia Northern Community College announced today a partnership to develop current and future coursework to prepare students for the evolving job market in the Wheeling, WV, area.

Beginning with the Fall 2006 academic year, West Virginia Northern will offer the Legal Office option, a certificate program within the Business Career Studies curriculum, to deliver the skill-sets required for graduates to pursue local careers in legal services within Williams Lea’s full-service facility in Wheeling. 

Williams Lea and West Virginia Northern have collaborated together on courses such as word processing, business law, legal transcription and legal document production – all valuable skills for the growing legal office environment in Wheeling.  In October 2005, Williams Lea, a business process outsourcing company providing document, litigation and IT support services, signed a contract with Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe, LLP, an international law firm, to coordinate all of Orrick’s word processing, transcription and document needs within Williams Lea's full-service facility located in the historic Wheeling Stamping Building.  Since then, Williams Lea has been growing its wholly-owned and independently-operated full-service facility to meet the outsourcing needs of global organizations across multiple industries.

“When we established our full-service facility in Wheeling, we found a highly talented, industrial-driven workforce that prides itself on hard work and dedication,” said John Snowdon, VP, Document Production Services for Williams Lea. “We saw an immediate opportunity to work directly with West Virginia Northern to tap into that talent pool and as we continue to hire new workers, grow our client base, and collaborate on future courses, we welcome the best talent West Virginia has to offer.” 

In addition to offering courses for careers in legal services, West Virginia Northern will create training programs for Williams Lea’s new hires and both organizations will work together to provide short-term accelerated training for new employees on an as-needed basis. Williams Lea will also advise on internship programs and continue to expand its recruitment and partnership efforts with the many colleges and universities in West Virginia and surrounding areas. 

“As a leader in workforce development, we strive to create course programs that are relevant to the economic needs of the community,” said Mike Koon, VP, Economic and Workforce Development for West Virginia Northern Community College.  “The job market continues to evolve rapidly in West Virginia and so too must its educational institutions. In order to promote Wheeling as an attractive area for our students to live, work and learn, it is essential that we collaborate with area businesses, such as Williams Lea, to equip our students with applicable courses to meet the requirements of a truly global economy.” 

“West Virginia has seen healthy economic development over the last few years and it’s poised to keep growing,” said Don Rigby, Executive Director of the Regional Economic Development Partnership, a non-profit organization dedicated to creating business opportunities in West Virginia. “A large reason is due to the attractiveness that the areas within Ohio, Marshall and Wetzel counties offer the business process outsourcing and shared services industry. All bring an educated and dedicated workforce, but when you couple human capital assets with an extremely low cost of doing business, plus low turnover rates and a local government dedicated to economic development, these areas present an alternative to off-shore outsourcing in the U.S.” 

Registration for the Fall semester, which begins August 19, is ongoing.  For more information, call West Virginia Northern at 304-233-5900.  Online registration is available by going to http://www.wvnorthern.edu/. To inquire about employment opportunities at Williams Lea’s full-service facility in Wheeling, contact Shannon Reid, Account Manager, at shannon.reid@williamslea.com.