On Friday morning, county, city and school officials gathered at the Washington-Beaufort County Chamber of Commerce to celebrate Beaufort County’s recent designation as an NCWorks Certified Work Ready Community.

Those in attendance included: Wendy Petteway, director of BCS career and technical education; Lou Stout, director of workforce initiatives at BCCC; Ron Buzzeo, county commissioner; Ed Booth, county commissioner; Ed Troha, vice president of the N.C. Chamber Foundation; Stacey Gerard, vice president of continuing education at BCCC; Alma Friedman, Chamber ambassador; Dr. Don Phipps, BCS superintendent; Dr. Barbara Tansey, BCCC president; Brian Alligood, county manager; Jennie Bowen, director of Region Q Workforce Development Board; Darone Dancy, Beaufort County NCWorks manager; Al Powell, president of Beaufort County Police Activities League; and Larry Donley, NCWorks regional operations director.