In today’s world we are faced with complex challenges. The complexity of the challenges are beyond the capabilities of any one organization to address. It takes multiple organizations working together in partnership to face the challenges and seize the opportunities. Throughout my work history I have built community partnerships to effect positive change. There are numerous examples I could highlight, however I will focus on the Chautauqua County Education Coalition (CCEC). With the support of Cummins, I led the creation of the Chautauqua County Education Coalition. The Coalition is a multi-sector, multi-stakeholder initiative focused on aligning resources and building capabilities in Chautauqua County’s learning system. Working with over sixty organizations that we brought to the table, I led the group to consensus on a mission and the core goals, outputs and outcomes of the coalition. Since 2013, the Coalition has directly leveraged over $12 million dollars in new investment in the Chautauqua County learning system, expanding kindergarten readiness initiatives and building career pathways to health care and manufacturing careers. Through this collective impact model the CCEC is making a profound impact within the Chautauqua County learning system.
Early in my tenure, the Manufacturers Association of the Southern Tier (MAST) entered a partnership with Jamestown Community College (JCC) and the Private Industry Council (PIC) to form what would become the Manufacturing Technology Institute (MTI). At the time these two publicly funded technical training providers were within a mile of each other. JCC provided contract training through its continuing education department and credit bearing technology programs, while PIC provided contract training and public offerings of technology training through the Teaching Factory. At the Manufactures Association we were looking at the data and demographic trends and recognized that a vast amount of baby boomers would start to leave the workplace in the early part of the new century and that there was not a substantial pipeline of talent to backfill job opportunities. MAST, JCC and PIC convened and began to identify opportunities to work together to create a center of excellence with a focus on providing technical training in support of the manufacturing economy.
I provided leadership to the collaborative process on behalf of the manufacturers and to what became a multi-party partnership. Together we secured funding and developed plans for a technology facility. As the MTI facility was developed, MAST worked with JCC and PIC to integrate programming and equipment and became the intermediary between the two training organizations. On the eve of the new facility opening, PIC went out of business. Under my leadership, MAST immediately went into action and in partnership with JCC began development of new programming with input from industry. We integrated credit and non-credit offerings to provide certificate and MTI diplomas in welding, machining and industrial maintenance technology. These programs were offered to the public and customized to meet the specific needs of local manufacturers in the form of contract trainings. For the first four years of MTI I was involved in all aspects of the operation including: developing budgets, developing curricula, managing programs, marketing services, recruiting students, negotiating with vendors, securing equipment, purchasing consumable, overseeing accounts payable and receivable, organization of the shop floor, safety compliance, managing inventory, recruiting instructors, managing instructors and reporting to the MTI board of directors. MAST worked with JCC to assist in the accreditation of the MTI programming. By 2007 all the credit and non-credit programming had matured to the point where it could be transitioned to JCC. MAST then turned its focus to working with secondary institutions to better inform students, educators and counselors of career opportunities in local manufacturing.
Chautauqua County Mental Health Association - Chair of Advisory Committee, Occupational Peer Empowerment Network (OPEN) Program
Chautauqua STRIDERS - Mentor
Manufacturers Alliance of New York State
New York State Workforce Investment Board
Chamber Alliance of New York State
Chautauqua County Education Coalition
Chautauqua County Mental Health Association Advisory Board
Chautauqua County Workforce Investment
Citizen’s Opportunity for Development and Equality Inc.
Governor’s Early Childhood Advisory Council
Jamestown Strategic Planning & Partnership Commission
Lucy-Desi Center, Inc.
Maple Springs Citizen’s Association
New York Early Care and Learning Council
Startup New York
Support Enterprises Inc.
Western New York Chamber Alliance
Western New York Regional Economic Development Council Workforce Committee