WATCH THE RECORDING
- 4:10 – Challenges and Opportunities for Community Colleges in rural regions by Chris Breitmeyer
- 14:11 – Louisiana’s Shift to a Competency-Based Hiring Framework by Nicole Tucker
- 25:47 – Why Workplace Readiness Skills Matters from a Local Business Lens by James McKenzie
- 40:04 – Making Skills Visible by Margo Griffith
ABOUT THE SESSION
Current worker shortage estimates put the skills gap at 1 billion globally and 75 million in the U.S. by 2030. Community Colleges are stepping up to address this skills breach and can do much to respond by leveraging new and existing technology, starting with asking: What do we want to recognize and why? How could we recognize the learning of those with some college / no degree? How do we also capture and recognise human-centred skills (soft, durable skills) valued by employers?
In this webinar, the panel addressed the challenges and opportunities currently faced by Community Colleges including impacts on rural Community Colleges, heard a state government, industry and learner perspective on the impact of skills on the education to employment journey, why industry-led curriculum development is and should be on the rise, how AI can help with the administrative burden, and how Community Colleges can leverage their existing systems (such as their LMS and SIS) to unlock skills recognition data to enable scalable solutions.
Rounding out the webinar was a showcase of some of the practical guides and technology tools (free and paid models) currently available to assist Community Colleges in achieving skills recognition success.
Panelists:
- Chris Breitmeyer – President of the Rural Community Colleges Network, whose member institutions serve the 89.3 million people who reside in rural America
- Nicole Tucker – Chief Operating Officer at Louisiana State Civil Service, who recently shifted away from requiring degrees to a skill-based hiring model
- James McKenzie – Manager at Heglar Creek Electric & Heglar Creek Plumbing, graduate of College of Southern Idaho (CSI) who also works to co-design skills based learning with his Community College partner
- Dan McFadyen – Managing Director and Margo Griffith – Principal Skills Consultant from Edalex, a skills technology company at the cutting edge of skills recognition data software
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Dan McFadyen For the past 20+ years, Dan has focused on enabling innovation in education powered by educational technology and long-term partnerships with educational institutions. This passion fuelled varied roles from a start-up developing the CODiE award-winning EQUELLA software to global educational powerhouses Blackboard and Pearson. Since 2016 Dan has served as the Co-Founder and Managing Director of Edalex, tackling skills- and employability-related challenges by supporting the definition, development and recognition of skills through education. On a personal level, as a dual American-Australian citizen, he struggles daily with the conflict between raising his two children on peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, or vegemite. |
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Chris Breitmeyer Chris brings over 25 years of experience in higher education. He began his career as a Professor of Biology, where he enjoyed teaching and learning with his students at Yavapai College in Clarkdale, Ariz. He then served as Dean of Math, Science, and Health at Saint Charles Community College in Cottleville, Mo, followed by his role as Vice President of Academic and Student Affairs at the same institution before moving to the role of President at Clatsop Community College (CCC) in Astoria, OR. Chris brings a passion for student success and extensive rural college leadership “I am thrilled to join the RCCA as president, and I look forward to working with our members to strenghten rural communites and create pathways to success for all students” |
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Nicole Tucker Nicole is a dedicated public servant with over 13 years of experience in state government. She began her career as an HR Consultant within the Compensation Division at Louisiana State Civil Service, where her expertise and commitment to public service quickly led to her promotion through various supervisory and management roles within the agency. Her journey through the ranks has given her a comprehensive understanding of the intricacies of state operations and human resource management. In her current role as Chief Operating Officer, Nicole oversees a broad spectrum of divisions, including talent acquisition and workforce development, compensation and classification, statewide training and development programs, compliance and audit functions, applications and data, and HR program support. She thrives on the constant activity and finds excitement in managing multiple projects simultaneously. Her leadership is marked by a strategic vision for enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of these critical functions, ensuring that the agency meets its goals and serves the public with purpose. Her most recent project includes representing and leading the State of Louisiana in the Transformers in the Public Sector Cohort – a first-of-its-kind cohort led by the social enterprise Opportunity@Work. This cohort allows Louisiana, in addition to five other states, to collaborate and receive targeted support focused on refining and implementing skills-first talent strategies. Nicole holds a Master’s in Business Administration and is actively involved in the Greater Baton Rouge Society of Human Resources Management (GBR SHRM), where she currently serves as the President-Elect/Vice President. Her progressive career and deep expertise continue to drive positive change within State Civil Service and the State of Louisiana, where she remains committed to advancing the mission of public service and public sector organizations. In addition to her professional accomplishments, Nicole is a graduate of the 2022 Baton Rouge Business Report Leadership Academy and holds the Certified Compensation Professional (CCP) designation. She is deeply dedicated to her community, volunteering her time with various organizations such as Empower225, BR Food Bank, Way to Work (HOPE Ministries), and more. Through her leadership and service, Nicole continues to make a lasting impact both in her career and in the community. |
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James McKenzie James McKenzie is a devoted husband, a father of four boys, and a respected professional based in Heyburn, Idaho. As the manager of Heglar Creek Electric and Heglar Creek Plumbing, he leverages his extensive expertise in electrical and plumbing services to lead these reputable companies. Under his direction, they provide high-quality, reliable solutions to industrial, RNG, residential, commercial, and agricultural clients across Idaho, Colorado, Tennessee, Virgina, and Kansas. Heglar Creek Electric is celebrated for its excellence in electrical installations, repairs, and innovative automation. Heglar Creek Plumbing is an emerging company focused on building a strong foundation and reputation in the industry. James is deeply committed to giving back to the community. James prioritizes both community engagement and customer satisfaction. James has forged a dedicated partnership with the College of Southern Idaho Workforce Development Apprenticeship programs, actively encouraging and promoting the electrical and plumbing trades. With both industries experiencing rapid growth and workforce shortages struggling to meet demand, his efforts help cultivate the next generation of skilled professionals. James’s hands-on leadership and commitment to operational efficiency have solidified both companies’ reputations as premier service providers in the Mini-Cassia and Magic Valley regions. |
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Margo Griffth Margo’s in-depth knowledge and experience of skills, the skills ecosystem and digital credentials is the result of working in and with higher education providers and edtech leaders, nationally and internationally for over 30 years. She is passionate about the positive impact of technology within education and the enablement of lifelong learning, learner agency and mobility. Margo co-convenes a Cross Sector Community of practice around Micro credentials in Australia and consults with Government, industry and education sectors around a skills first approach to learning and workforce. Her recent publications include “Creating the University of the Future: A Global View on Future Skills and Future Higher Education” (Contributor) (Springer 2024) and “Technology Enablement of the Skills Ecosystem” Naomi Rose Boyer and Margo Leanne Griffith (International Journal of Information and Learning Technology ISSN: 2056-4880, 2023). |
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