The TechEd Podcast Matt Kirchner

If we want to fill all the skilled positions our workforce has open, it's going to take aligning business needs with educational programs at all levels.

With experience at the U.S. Department of Education, Dr. Casey Sacks has seen best practices in creating this kind of alignment. In her current role as President of BridgeValley Community and Technical College, she emphasizes the need for collaboration between colleges, employers, and K-12 schools to ensure that students are aware of and prepared for the opportunities available in technical fields.

In this episode, discover what true career pathways look like:
Getting employers involved in technical programs - from hiring current students to teaching in the classroom (Aspiring Nurse Program and WV FAME)Offering dual-credit opportunities for high school students to get a head start on college (Win Academy)Bringing real career exposure down to the middle school levelHaving the courage to close programs that don't tie back to high-wage, high-demand careersQuotable Moments:
"The elevator speech for an advanced manufacturing technician is a lot longer than the elevator speech for a nurse."

Advice to her 15-year-old self: "Just keep saying yes to things."

Resources mentioned in this episode:
Learn more about BridgeValley Community & Technical CollegeThe Win Academy at BridgeValley - Offering nursing (and soon manufacturing) programs to high school studentsWest Virginia FAME - Creating a pipeline of skilled talent for manufacturingConnect with BridgeValley Community & Technical College:
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Episode page: https://techedpodcast.com/sacks/
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What if we valued skills and competencies more than degrees? As President of Bismarck State College, Dr. Jensen sees education as an economic investment, where the skills a student has upon graduation are far more important than degrees and certifications.

A competency-first approach to higher education requires disrupting the traditional model. In this episode, we talk about the components that drive competency-based education, including:
How to incorporate credit for prior learningGiving industry partners the freedom to help create and deploy new programsBecoming a polytechnic institution that integrates technology with career-readinessHow BILT teams go far beyond the traditional industry advisory boardWhy education is an economic investment, not a public expenseQuotable Moments:
"A college like Bismarck State is someplace where you will go, where people will believe in you before you're capable of believing in yourself."

"Education is empowering. If you really want to look at preparing somebody for life, you need to empower them. It's not just about degrees, it's about skills, competencies, and knowledges."

"A polytechnic institution starts to train individuals with hands-on real experience, working side-by-side with industry leaders in large flex spaces on projects that they will face in the real world."

3 Big Takeaways from this episode:
Employers are more interested in the skills and competencies of an individual than their degree: In today's skilled workforce, employers are less interested in "what's your degree in?" and more interested in "what skills do you have that can be put to work to benefit our organization?". The distinction is an important one for higher education. As you look to the future of your programs, consider how a competency-based education model will benefit your graduates and industry partners alike.BILT (Business and Industry Leadership Teams) bring real-world industry challenges to the classroom: BILT teams go beyond the advisory board. Learn about how industrial companies are bringing their challenges to the college, who then helps bring together the best cross-functional teams to devise a solution to that challenge.Education is an economic investment, not a public expense: Dr. Jensen has a unique perspective on the role of education in driving local economies forward. Hear about BSC's unit cost model, their approach to the ROI of programs, and how they've improved that ROI over the last few years.Resources:
Bismarck State College: North Dakota's Polytechnic InstituteRead about the college's new polytechnic building expansionBusiness and Industry Leadership Teams (BILT)Connect with BSC:
Facebook  |  LinkedIn  |  Twitter  |  YouTube

Episode page: https://techedpodcast.com/jensen/
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While colleges across the U.S. are worried about declining enrollment, Lake Area Technical College in South Dakota is expanding.

President Tiffany Sanderson sees the value in building a vision so big, so bold that other organizations can't help but want to get involved. And in a state like South Dakota that is seeing faster than average population growth, now is the time for expansion!

In this episode, you'll discover how expanding an organization can energize the staff, customers, students and community partners. You'll learn what it takes to build enthusiasm around expansion projects, measure the right metrics, and attract key stakeholders to join the movement.

Quotable Moments:
"The number one way to get everybody excited about the future is to expand the organization."

"My gift and my passion is about helping to grow people to do their very best work in the world."

"There are tons of opportunities and not enough bodies to fill all those spots in the workforce."

3 Big Takeaways from this episode:
Population expansion in a region is both a challenge and an opportunity for the workforce: There is a mismatch in our world between the skills employers need (now and in the future) and the skills people currently have. In a growing population, this gap can become exacerbated without the educational support to align skills with workforce demand. Expansion necessitates an intentional plan to develop the workforce to sustain that growth.How do you measure success? Enrollment vs Graduation rates in education: Most colleges use enrollment rates as their measurement for success. Tiffany Sanderson sees it differently: the college measures success in terms of graduation rates. That makes a lot of sense in a world where the workforce doesn't benefit unless it's getting a stream of graduates with competent skills. Over the next 7 years, Lake Area Tech's goal is to increase graduate production by 20+%. That's the kind of metric that will get partners on board with an expansion project.Want to build excitement around your vision? Share stories: Strategic goals, impact studies, and data are fine...but nothing gets people fired up like personal success stories. Tiffany shares her secrets to getting industry partners, community partners and faculty on board with an expansion project, and a key part of that is sharing the stories of students being impacted by the college. Let the students share their perspective, and others will want to get involved.Resources mentioned in this episode:
Visit Lake Area Technical College's websiteSee all the expansions taking place at Lake Area TechLearn more about the Build Dakota ScholarshipConnect with Lake Area Tech:
Facebook  |  LinkedIn  |  Instagram  |  YouTube

View episode page: https://techedpodcast.com/sanderson/
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Are you a budding entrepreneur with a great business idea? Have you always wanted to start a company in the tech space, but don't know where to start?

Get great advice on launching your own tech company as you listen to our conversation with Amber Busuttil Mullen, partner at Bowen Tax Law. Amber has spent her career helping executives in their businesses and knows that tech is everywhere! From cosmetics to fabrics, ice cream to athletics, there's an application for every technology idea.

So if you'd like to learn how to be a successful entrepreneur, listen to this episode to discover:
What qualities make entrepreneurs successful in their business venturesHow to build a product that people will buyThe two things to do when first starting a company (creating an entity + opening a bank account) and how to do themFinding funding - from friends & family, angel investors, incubator programs and venture capitalUnderstanding stock and stock optionsHow to sell your company!Get ready to take notes, because this episode is packed with actionable ideas!

3 Big Takeaways from this episode:
You CAN do it! Have the courage to get started and resilience to keep going: Believe it or not, you don't have to have the next "it" technology to start a company. With the right product and business plan, you CAN be a successful entrepreneur! Amber breaks down the first steps you need to take to make your business a reality into simple, actionable tasks you can get started on today.There are tons of options to fund your startup - learn about the most popular options and what's right for you: You don't necessarily need to fund your startup alone. From friends & family, to teachers and mentors, angel investors, incubator programs and venture capital, there are a number of funding options you can choose from. Amber helps us understand each option in detail and will give you an idea of what the right path might be for your business.Start with the end in mind - selling your company: If you've got a great business idea - your goal should be to start, scale and eventually sell that business. Learn about what you'll need to implement in your business at the beginning to make selling the business easier later on. You'll also learn about stock and stock options and how these can attract new team members, scale the business and enable you to sell when the time is right.Resources mentioned in this episode:
Learn more about Bowen Tax Law: https://www.bowentaxlaw.com/
Connect with Amber
LinkedIn

View episode page: https://techedpodcast.com/amber/


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Funding, filling programs, and finding partners in industry - these are three challenges facing technical colleges across the country. And a great solution to all these challenges: industry-sponsored programs.

North Dakota State College of Science has an incredible Diesel Technology program that partners with the biggest brands in agricultural equipment like John Deere, Case, Komatsu and Caterpillar to offer hands-on, career-relevant learning on the latest equipment being used in the workforce today. Through this program, students are sponsored by a dealer to work through the courses on brand-specific equipment, ensuring a pipeline of skilled talent that's experienced on the right technology for those dealerships.

In this episode, we sat down with NDSCS president Dr. Rod Flanigan to dive into this program and how successful it's been.

Discover the power of industry partnerships in building a technical program that benefits the college, learners and employers alike, and get advice for how to launch a similar program in your own institution!

3 Big Takeaways from this episode:
Industry-sponsored programs benefit students with career-relevant skills and experiences:The industry-sponsored diesel program benefits students by providing them with valuable hands-on experience, access to state-of-the-art equipment, and opportunities for professional development through internships and sponsorships, ultimately preparing them for successful careers in the field. They get access to the same equipment from the biggest brands they'll encounter in the workforce, and they get assistance from their sponsor while going through their education.Industry-sponsored programs benefit the college with funding, filling programs, and finding friends in industry: With these strong partnerships with industry, colleges can get access to the latest equipment, a pipeline of dedicated students, and the added benefit of having a reputation for career-relevant programming.Industry-sponsored programs benefit employers with a pipeline of skilled workers: When a student is required to be sponsored by a company in order to be admitted into a program, and when they're supported through the program financially and otherwise by that company, and when they're confident in finding employment upon completion of that program, there's a fostering of brand loyalty that just can't be beat. These companies will benefit by having a pipeline of skilled technicians who learned on their specific equipment and are work-ready to add value to the organization.Resources mentioned in this episode:
Learn more about NDSCS's Diesel Technology ProgramLearn more about North Dakota State College of ScienceConnect with NDSCS
Facebook | LinkedIn  |  Instagram  |  Twitter  |  YouTube

View episode page: https://techedpodcast.com/flanigan/
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Peter Rathmann is an advocate for neurodiversity in the manufacturing workforce. As CEO of Allis Manufacturing, he's built a culture that gives these individuals the tools for a successful career. As a father, he's seen his own daughter Emma, who has Asperger's Syndrome, find passion in a manufacturing job.

Now, Peter joins us on the podcast to shed light on the great value these individuals can bring to the manufacturing workforce.

If you're a manufacturer who can't find people to fill your open positions, you'll learn about a whole segment of our population that could be a perfect match for your company. 

If you're a parent or educator, you'll learn all about the career opportunities in manufacturing for neurodiverse individuals, and why this industry has an environment that could be a great match for them.

In this episode, you'll learn:
What is neurodiversity? Understanding a term that covers a wide spectrumThe misconceptions of autism and what you should know about itWhy neurodiverse individuals may be perfectly wired for manufacturing jobsHow to build a work culture and environment that sets these individuals up for successAdvice for educators to help raise awareness and pathways into manufacturing careers3 Big Takeaways from this episode:
Neurodiverse individuals can bring unique strengths to the workplace: The characteristics manufacturing leaders say they want from their workforce (showing up every day, timeliness, paying attention to their work, efficiency, accuracy) are the same qualities that those with autism can bring to the table. Peter shares the success stories of his own neurodiverse daughter and employees and how their unique approach to the world makes them excellent manufacturing employees.Manufacturers must build a supportive work environment that values neurodiversity and creates space for growth and autonomy: There are certainly challenges to hiring neurodiverse individuals, and Peter shares insights into how to build a work environment that enables these people to succeed at their role. He also shares how to create support and awareness for the rest of your workforce and management to lead and work alongside these individuals.There are training programs and support organizations dedicated to helping neurodiverse individuals get the skills they need to work in manufacturing: Hear about The Uniquely Abled Project and the Uniquely Abled Academy at Milwaukee Area Technical College (MATC), which is currently helping those with autism learn to become machinists. Listen to hear about a number of other organizations that provide services to neurodiverse individuals and their families, as well as employers, that help bring more people into successful employment.Resources mentioned in this episode:
To learn more about Allis Manufacturing, visit their websiteThe Uniquely Abled ProjectUniquely Abled Academy at Milwaukee Area Technical College (MATC)Think Ability WisconsinMore links and resources on the show page: https://techedpodcast.com/rathmann/
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