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Ken Williams

President

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OVERVIEW

  • One of the oldest counties in Ohio – median age 49.3
  • Business Advisory Council (county-wide) established in 2014
    • Partnership between business and education leaders to drive career preparedness within Ottawa County;
    • Our members include a cross-section of our communities
      • Education (superintendents, principals, counselors, career coaches)
      • Business leaders from our leading industry sectors across county
      • Community partners – OC Community Foundation, United Way, etc.

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INITIATIVES

  • Goal to engage our youth in better understanding of career opportunities available in their community;
  • Build a stronger relationship between education and business to develop a pipeline for our future workforce;

    • Career Readiness & Development Pipeline (6-12)
    • Career Engagement Opportunity (CEO) Internship
    • Ottawa County Career Showcase
    • Skilled Trades Academy
    • Marine Trades & State Tested Nursing Assistant (2022)
    • Teacher Manufacturing Boot Camp

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CEO INTERNSHIP PROGRAM

  • The Career Engagement Opportunity (CEO) program is a credit-based internship program launched during the 2017-18 school year.
  • Program is designed to give juniors/seniors the opportunity to work in a local business in the student’s desired career field.
  • 45 students have completed the program; 12 more this spring.
  • Internships have included the education, sanitary engineering, manufacturing, accounting, electrical, information technology (IT), zoology, maintenance, and journalism sectors.
  • Students gave in-person presentations to our BAC – conducted virtually via Google Docs or YouTube during COVID-19.

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SKILLED TRADES ACADEMY�

Stage One

CREATE FOUNDATION

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MSSC (manufacturing)

OSHA 10-hour

CPR

Forklift

Stage Two

EXPLORATION

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Students “dabble” in multiple trades with intent to narrow focus and experience deeper training.

3-stage program focused on high school seniors�who missed career technical center opportunity.

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SKILLED TRADES ACADEMY

Hurdles

  • Instructor retired (July 2020)
  • In-person instruction? COVID
  • Funding (Growth/Virtual component)

Solutions

  • Northwest State CC (instruction)
  • Community Foundation & OH DoEd IRC Grant provided funding
  • Schools provided computers, other resources

Impact

  • 20 students graduated past 2 years
  • 11 more on track for 2021-22

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PANDEMIC PROOF IRC’S

  • Grant from Ohio Dept. of Education;
  • One of 10 grants issued statewide;
  • BAC, ESC & 6 schools identified credentials;
  • Credentials based on local need/demand:
    • Skilled Trades Academy (MSSC Certification)
    • State Tested Nurse Assistant (Magruder Hospital)
    • NRF’s RISE UP (Customer Service/Sales/Retail)
    • Microsoft Office Certification

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NEXT STEPS

  • Growth is Good, so we MUST evolve;

  • Serving a NEED while satisfying DEMAND;

  • Continue relationship with Northwest State CC;

  • Implement state-approved Marine Trades certification;

  • Collaborate with our regional education partners;
    • Unique Geography (no CTE)

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Thank you for the opportunity!

Ken Williams

kwilliams@cicclub.com

(419) 898-6242