The Education Leadership Group (ELG) kicks off roadshow, showcasing report on urgent need to reimagine career development in Arizona through interdisciplinary collaboration
(PHOENIX, ARIZ. April 19TH, 2021) – “Dear Arizona: A Call from Educators” a report from the Education Leadership Group (ELG) is embarking on a statewide virtual roadshow to facilitate the collaboration needed to address the barriers to student career readiness. The roadshow is an opportunity for organizations to have members of the ELG present the report with an in-depth explanation of findings and recommendations to better the Arizona workforce in the future. Organizations can download the full report, share the findings, and sign-up to request a presentation at elg.pipelineaz.com.
“Dear Arizona: A Call from Educators” is a comprehensive analysis of the urgent need to reimagine career development for all Arizona students to secure the workforce pipeline for the future. The report is the result of a year of workshops, research and discussions through the Education Leadership Group, composed of educators, administrators and leaders from wide-ranging education organizations across the state dedicated to improving talent outcomes. The report analyzes the opportunities, gaps and redundancies facing Arizona talent and career development across the student lifecycle and offers insights to create a better approach to career exploration for students at every stage of their education journey.
Through a detailed workshop process, the report identified seven key challenges for Arizona while identifying three needs for immediate action, including creating:
- More equitable access to career exploration.
- A singular, shared technology infrastructure.
- A feedback loop between industry and educators.
“Our vision is to make Arizona the national showcase of workforce innovation, through collaboration across the talent development ecosystem,” said Jim Zaharis, co-chair of the ELG.
“Talent development is the foundation of economic development,” said Richard Condit, co-chair of the ELG. “This effort needs advocates, and our future will be defined by collaborative action. This report aims to close the disconnect between industry and education so that we can better prepare the workforce and get students more equitable access to careers they are passionate about.”
“As a career development and exploration tool designed for the Arizona community, connecting and amplifying the work of partners is core to our mission,” said Katherine Pappas, Director of Workforce Strategy for Pipeline AZ. “The roadshow is an opportunity to engage and activate industry, educators and community organizations across the state on the findings and recommendations of the report. Through collaborative efforts we can better equip employers with a future-ready talent pipeline in our state.”
ELG Team
Aaron Ball, Director, College Career Pathways, Center for the Future of Arizona
Abby Wilkymacky, Founder, Mindflower Studio
Amanda Abens, Dean of WorkforceDevelopment and Continuing Education, Pima Community College
Amanda Nolasco, School Counselor Specialist, Career Technical Education, Arizona Department of Education
Angela Hardy, Career Connections, Arizona Department of Education
Anne Landers, Vice President, Strategic Impact, Junior Achievement
Aric Bopp, Executive Director, Economic Development, Arizona State University
Aysha Bell, Director of Employer Relations, Grand Canyon University
Bill Symonds, Director, Global Pathways Institute
Breanne Bushu, Director, Policy & Communications, Achieve60AZ
Brenda Sipe, Director of Continuing Education, Northern Arizona University
Brian Fischer, COO, Futures Inc.
Carole Basile, Dean and Professor, Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College, Arizona State University
Carolyn Vasos, Senior Advisor of Strategy at Black Barons Group
Cathie Raymond, State Director, Career Technical Ed, Arizona Department of Education
Chad Wilson, East Valley Institute of Technology
Chris Coleman, President, Economic Independence LLC
Christine Thompson, President & CEO, Expect More Arizona
Cindy Erwin, Director College Career Pathways, Center for the Future of Arizona
Daniel Barajas, Associate Vice Chancellor for Workforce Development, Maricopa County Community College District
David Arellano, Dean of Enrollment Management, Pima Community College
David Bolman, Provost, University of Advancing Technology
David Brown, Chief Executive Officer, Valley Leadership
Dean Duncan, Executive Director, Partnership for Economic Innovation
Debra Raeder, Vice President of Programs, Arizona Business Education Coalition
Denise Kingman, Program Manager, Pima Community College
Douglas Small, Director, Strategic Business Partnerships, Northern Arizona University
Dr. Chad Wilson, Superintendent, EVIT
Gayla Stoner, Vice Provost, Northern Arizona University
Geoff Cramer, CEO, Futures Inc.
Gina Vance, Associate Vice President, Northern Arizona University
Gregory Donovan, Superintendent, West MEC
Gregg Ghelfi, Business Development Officer, Maricopa County IDA
Haley Fagerlie, Executive Director, Strategic Employer Initiatives Internships Grand Canyon University
Hank Radda, Provost, Grand Canyon University
Ian Roark, Vice President of Workforce Development & Strategic Partnerships, Pima Community College
Irene Robles- Lopez, Vice President of Student Affairs, Pima Community College
Jennifer Kaufman Fourness, Interim Director Workforce Operations, Maricopa Colleges District
Jennifer Mellor, Chief Innovation Officer, Great Phoenix Chamber of Commerce
Jeremy Babendure, Executive Director, SciTech Institute
Jim Zaharis, Vice President, Education at Arizona Business Education Coalition
John Mulcahy, Assistant Superintendent, West MEC
Julie Stiak, District Director, Center for Curriculum and Transfer, Maricopa Community Colleges
Karen Quick, Junior Achievement
Karla Phillips, Associate Dean, Yavapai College
Katherine Pappas, Director of Workforce Strategy, Pipeline AZ
Kathy Prather, Superintendent, Pima County Joint Technical Ed
Katie Belous, Research Analyst, Pipeline AZ
Kelly Sandin, Corporate Engagement, Arizona State University
Kevin Imes, Superintendent Southwest Technical Education District of Yuma (STEDY) CTED
Kimberly Vegliante, Workforce Development Manager, Greater Phoenix Chamber of Commerce
Leah Palmer, Executive Director, AZAMI, Mesa Community College
Leo Goncalves, VP Workforce Solutions, University of Phoenix
Linda Beck, Executive Assistant, League for Innovation Community College
Marlo Loria, Director of CTE Innovative Partnerships
Marty Levy, Chief Executive Officer, Level Up Growth Partners
Mary Foote, Managing Director, Pipeline AZ
Melanie Baca, Project Manager, Arizona State University
Melanie Burm, Director, External Affairs, Workforce Development & Community Partnerships, Scottsdale Community College
Meredith Warner, District Director, Integrated Student Services, Maricopa Community Colleges
Mickie Lara, Career Management Coach, Arizona State University
Nicole Thompson, Dividion Director, Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College, Arizona State University
Pam Ferguson, Executive Director ACTEAZ
Patricia Green leaf, Director of Academic Affairs, Pima CTED
Patti O’Brien, Chief Operating Officer, Maricopa Corporate College
Rachel Yanof, Executive Director, Achieve60AZ
Randy Kimmens, VP, Strategic Partnerships, Futures
Richard Condit, President Economic Independence, LLC.
Rufus Glasper, President and CEO League for Innovation in the Community College
Salvador Bretts, Vice President at MidFirst Private Wealth Management
Stephanie Tomlin, Director of Marketing Partnership for Economic Innovation
Stephen Weltsch, Assistant Superintendent for Teaching, Learning and Campus Operations, West MEC
Stuart Rice, Director, Digital Initiatives, Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College, Arizona State University
Suzanne Desjardin, Dean of Students, Pima Community College
Tina Norton, Assistant, Pima County JTED
Todd Hardy, Vice President, Arizona State University
Tracy Baynes, Founder and President STEP Expedition
Troy Pottgen, Co-Founder/ Creative Director, Narwhal Stories
William Symonds, Director, Global Pathways Institute
Willie Higgins, Director of Apprenticeships Office, State of Arizona
Zachary Stringer, Program Assistant, Pipeline AZ
