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Connections2010

Wednesday, October 27, 2010
JMU's Festival Conference & Student Center

Connections2010 is the largest premier business-to-business networking event of the year! For the first time ever, the Chamber will host a leadership summit featuring activities throughout the day designed to help attendees strengthen their leadership skills and shine within our community.

The leadership theme will be prominent throughout the event, beginning with a special reception for Alumni of the Chamber’s Community Leadership Program and ending with a presentation of leading companies within the
Harrisonburg and Rockingham County area.

Schedule of Events:

2:00 - 3:00  - Reception for Alumni of the Chamber's Community Leadership Program
                        Sponsored by BlueKey Web Solutions
                        Click here to register for the CLP Reception (CLP Alumni & Participants Only)
3:00 - 4:00
Guest Speaker General Jerrold Allen, USAF Retired, will present
"Leadership: Leveraging Your Connections" (Highlands Room)
Click here to register for General Allen's presentation (includes admission to the VIP reception)
4:00 - 5:00 - VIP Reception (for speaker attendees only)
Sponsored by Blackwell Engineering
5:00 - 7:00 - Presentation of leading companies within the Harrisonburg
and Rockingham area
Register your company here>>>
5:00 - 7:00 - Business After Hours (Exhibit Hall)

Featured Speaker: Major General Jerrold P. Allen

General Allen Major General Jerrold P. Allen, USAF (Retired) is Commandant of Cadets at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, VA. He was born in Palm Springs, CA, and graduated from high school in Brattleboro, VT. He earned a bachelor's degree in engineering management from the United States Air Force Academy and a master's degree in business administration from Golden Gate University. He completed the U.S. Navy Command and Staff Course, the Industrial College of the Armed Forces, and MIT's Seminar XXI.

General Allen flew 260 combat missions in Vietnam and he is a command pilot with more than 4,000 flying hours in the B-52, OV-10, F-111, B-1B, KC-135, and C-130. His military decorations and awards include the Defense Distinguished Service Medal, the Air Force Distinguished Service Medal, the Defense Superior Service Medal with oak leaf cluster, the Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster, Distinguished Flying Cross, Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf cluster, and Air Medal with 13 oak leaf clusters.

He has commanded three wings: the 319th Bombardment Wing, 96th Wing, and 7th Wing. He served in staff positions at the Pentagon and also at Headquarters Strategic Air Command. He was Director of Plans and Policy, U.S. European Command, and prior to his retirement from the Air Force in 1998, he was Vice Commander of the 21st Air Force at McGuire AFB, NJ.

General Allen's wife, Joan, is a graduate of Boston University. Their son, Craig, is an Air Force pilot and their daughter, Crystal, is a professional ballet dancer.