CareerTech Horizon

With the proliferation of movies and TV series, studios are turning from Hollywood to the heartland. This means filming in different locations and using a different workforce. We speak with Justin Siler, adult and career development coordinator at CareerTech, about what his division is doing to prepare Oklahoma's workforce for the big screen. You can view a video of this conversation here: https://youtu.be/qh52RomyO-Y?si=rCsIbxSXSiQx5sx3  

From welding to carpentry, from plumbing to electrical work, trade and industrial education is one of the most diverse divisions at Oklahoma CareerTech. Until recently, that division was led by John Day, who joined us in the studio to give an overview of this wide-reaching division, as well as his insight on where it goes from here. You can view a video of our conversation here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vzitHl0zRfg ADDITIONAL CONTENT SkillsUSA https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Cytrf6oxkw Learn more about Oklahoma SkillsUSA at https://www.okskillsusa.org/ SkillsUSA Lineman Rodeo https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FssnmexJQ3w

With the state legislature and budget negotiations in full swing, the beginning of the year is always a busy time for CareerTech. This time, however, those challenges are being met with a new person at the helm: Brent Haken. In a conversation recorded in February, we get to know CareerTech's new state director. He talks about his experiences as an instructor and administrator that led him to this new position and his long-term goals for advancing career and technology education in Oklahoma.   You can view a video of our conversation with Brent Haken here: https://youtu.be/u0TLxVqw5wU

Have you started a small business? Do you know someone who has? The challenges of starting out from scratch are well known, but what you may not know is that CareerTech has resources to help make growing a small business easier. Carter Merkle of Oklahoma's Procurement Technical Assistance Center sat down with us to talk about the ways in which OkPTAC connects small businesses in the state with government agencies. You can view a video of our conversation with Carter Merkle here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=afgk_j44IOc You can view videos of the business leaders we talked to at ICBSSHOW here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=utqBxXJhr4U Additional links: ICBSSHOW OkPTAC  

How do you lead in a time of transition? CareerTech's Interim State Director Dr. Lee Denney sat down with Russell Ray to tell us about her unique role at the agency. She also shares her thoughts about the CareerTech student organizations and the many ways the system delivers on its promises to students and businesses across the state. You can view the video version of this conversation here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hIRLsErd3e8  

CareerTech Horizon is becoming CareerTech Conversations! We will still be bringing you the amazing stories from people within Oklahoma's CareerTech System, but with a slightly different approach, as they tell their stories in their own words. We will also be bringing you some of our episodes in video format on CareerTech's YouTube Channel. Thanks to everyone who stayed subscribed to us during our hiatus. You should already be on track to hearing our newly revamped podcast. Our first episode, featuring CareerTech's Interim State Director Dr. Lee Denney, will be hitting your feeds soon. Be sure to spread the word about our new rebranding, and we'll see you soon!

Do you remember last year when meat was difficult to find? When the lockdowns went into effect, and major meat producers had to scale back production in the fight against COVID-19, many Oklahomans sought out local sources of meat. However, that highlighted a new problem: workforce shortages. In this episode, we examine Oklahoma's meat shortage and how teamwork from all over the state seeks to train more meat processors to prevent another shortage. We'll examine how Oklahoma lawmakers responded to the initial meat shortage  and began to expand the state's local processing capacity. We'll look into how CareerTech teamed up with the Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry to train a new workforce in a partnership that paid dividends. We'll hit the road to check out high schools and tech centers adding meat processing to their curriculum. Check out the new Mobile Meat Processing Lab - a refrigerated semi-trailer converted into a classroom on wheels. A new Oklahoma-certified beef standard seeks to help farmers and ranchers market their meat directly to consumers. You can subscribe to our podcast on Apple, Spotify, Google, TuneIn or Stitcher or ask your smart speaker to play "CareerTech Horizon.” Also, don’t forget to follow us on Twitter @CT_Horizon, or on Facebook to stay up to date with this ongoing project. Visit our website for show notes, episode trailers and bonus content "Beyond Your Horizon" at http://cthorizon.org Beyond Your Horizon: Articles, Videos, and Related Stories CareerTech Horizon Episode 2-1: "Challenges and Opportunities" in Agriculture Mobile Meat Processing Lab: Behind the Scenes (Facebook Video) Episode Video Trailer (Facebook) (Twitter) Classic Horizon Stories Local Food in Neighborhood Schools (2014) The Farm to School program not only exposed children to locally grown meat and produce, it also gave state farmers a new marketing avenue. Fighting Hunger... Feeding Hope (2015) The Food For Kids program gets a boost thanks to some young people whose love of livestock goes beyond the show ring. Made In Oklahoma - In Germany with Chef Kurt (2011) Travel to Europe and there is a fascination with the American West, not just out culture, but our food. One of the reasons a group of Oklahomans traveled to Germany to attend a giant food show and show off Made in Oklahoma products.

Have you ever thought about where your food comes from? Have you thought about the processes and the people involved with getting it to your plate? In our Season 2 premiere, CareerTech Horizon takes a dive into Oklahoma agriculture, the challenges the industry faces and the new opportunities for people to get involved in it. State Agriculture Secretary Blayne Arthur gives us a look at the industry and how it fared during the pandemic. John Patrick Lopez of Lopez Foods tells us about food processing. Some things changed with technology, but he still needs hard-working people, too. OSU's Cynda Clary takes us through the many jobs available in agriculture, many of which don't involve farm work. CareerTech's Scott Nemecek explains how they are training the next generation of ag workers. Nikki Snider of the Oklahoma Pork Council works to bridge the gap between farmers and consumers. You can subscribe to our podcast on Apple, Spotify, Google, TuneIn or Stitcher or ask your smart speaker to play "CareerTech Horizon.” Also, don’t forget to follow us on Twitter @CT_Horizon, or on Facebook to stay up to date with this ongoing project. Visit our website for show notes, episode trailers and bonus content "Beyond Your Horizon" at http://cthorizon.org Beyond Your Horizon: Articles, Videos, and Related Stories Trends and Employment Opportunities in Oklahoma Agriculture -- Full Panel Discussion with CareerTech Horizon's Rob McClendon Inside the Food Industry at Shawnee Mills -- CareerTech Horizon's Blane Singletary shows how STEM and food go together like peanut butter and jelly! My Oklahoma FFA Story -- Students interested in agriculture share how their experiences changed their lives. Classic Horizon Stories Hal Clark: Ag Environmental Stewardship [2017] -- Hal Clark has spent a lifetime raising cattle in the wide-open spaces and bitter extremes of our state’s panhandle. Rural Physician Shortage [2017] -- From Blue Coats to White Coats, FFA students are sought out to fill the medical needs of their rural communities. Devon Energy Invests in Agriscience [2015] -- FFA members bridge the gap between agriculture and STEM.

Head over to our Facebook or Twitter to see the video version of this trailer! In the lead-up to CareerTech Horizon's Season 2 debut, producer Blane Singletary takes you behind the scenes, onto the set of the show, to talk about how the pandemic changed the way the shows were put together. We also talk about our next episode about how Oklahoma's agriculture industry went through its own trials, as many in the state faced a food shortage. Through these difficult times, however, new opportunities have emerged, and a variety of jobs are available for those willing to step up. Subscribe to the show with your favorite podcast app or platform. Or, ask your smart speaker to "Play CareerTech Horizon."  

2020 has been called a lot of things, and most of them aren’t very nice. But at least one positive situation has emerged from this challenging year – a profound appreciation of our frontline health care workers. As COVID-19 fills hospitals with critically ill patients, nursing homes battle the virus among its patients and staff, and front line nurses give countless COVID tests and now…vaccines…now, more than ever, Oklahomans owe a debt of gratitude to workers in the health care industry and those who train health care workers. In this season finale episode: We talk about the worldwide nursing shortage and its effect on Oklahoma’s health care system. Connie Romans tells us about a generous gift from a CareerTech grad that’s benefitting health care educators and students across the state. We hear about some of the challenges of training students for health careers – in the middle of a pandemic. We’re reminded that men and women can follow whatever career path they choose…especially in health care! You can subscribe to our podcast on Apple, Spotify, Google, TuneIn, Stitcher, or ask your smart speaker to “Play CareerTech Horizon.” Also, don’t forget to follow us on Twitter @CT_Horizon, or on Facebook to stay up to date with this ongoing project. Visit our website for show notes, episode trailers, and bonus content "Beyond Your Horizon" at http://cthorizon.org   Beyond Your Horizon -- Articles, videos, and bonus content Getting Started in Health Careers How to find your nearest tech center EMSA Bed Donations A gift that will keep on giving to Oklahoma's health care system CareerTech Champions: Heather Yazdanipour - Metro Technology Centers Related Episodes Episode 8: "Back In The Swing of Things" -- Tri County Technology Center's "Skills To Rebuild" program focuses on training students for healthcare jobs quickly, without sacrificing quality. Classic Horizon Stories Single Mom Overcomes Odds -- How nursing turned Mandii Brower's life around SIM Nursing Training -- Lifelike training mannequin helps nursing students Medical Care Shortage (2017) -- Northeast Technology Center is working to fill the medical care shortage in rural areas through its nursing program.

Francis Tuttle Tech Center Student Toni Lochrie talks about how she found a new career and new purpose in the energy industry. When is the last time you thought about what goes into keeping power going to your home, uninterrupted? Oklahoma's thriving and evolving energy industry can be found in many forms. Whether it's oil, gas, hydroelectricric, wind, or solar energy, careers in this field can be lucrative and rewarding, but with a growing gap for skilled labor around the state, energy leaders hope more students sign on to technical programs to keep things going. In this episode: We travel the state to hear from energy leaders on the challenges they are facing, and the new programs in place to help alleviate the energy skills gap. We profile two students from very different backgrounds, and who are training for two very different jobs, but are ultimately working for the same goal. We climb hundreds of feet to get a good view of the wind energy industry, and learn about the technical and safety demands of the job. Listen in on a panel discussion, as Oklahoma's energy experts discuss what the industry will change in the coming years, while other parts stay the same. You can follow us on Twitter @CT_Horizon, or find us on Facebook. You can also visit our website, cthorizon.org, for show notes, discussion and bonus content, “Beyond Your Horizon.” Beyond Your Horizon: Learn more about today’s stories   Governor's Energy Week and Energy Cluster Launch Get Into Energy - Oklahoma Energy Workforce Consortium (VIDEO) Official Website Wind Energy Taking Oklahoma By Storm Virtual OEIP Wind Energy Panel (VIDEO) Upcoming OEIP Events/Regstration CT Horizon Episode 5: "Growing Partnerships," discussing OEIP in detail A Chat with Oklahoma's Energy Experts Oklahoma's Energy Cluster - Launch Panel (VIDEO) Classic Oklahoma Horizon Stories Wind Tower Technician Training (2013) Skilled Workers - Just In Time (2014) Discussing Oklahoma's Rapid Workforce Development Program Oklahoma's Solar Industry Future (2011) Skilled Labor in High Demand (2010)

HAPPY FIRST BIRTHDAY TO CAREERTECH HORIZON! It's hard to believe, but it's been a full year since we started this podcast! We've loved the opportunities to tell great stories from around the state, and we could'nt have done it without the support of you, our listeners. Thank you! NEXT TIME: EPISODE 9 -- "Power Up!" We may sometimes take it for granted, but energy is a critical resource in keeping our lives going. Oklahomans have been doing their best to capture and harness energy in many forms, and new statewide initiatives seek to further the Sooner State's energy workforce. On the next episode of CareerTech Horizon, we bring you the stories from the evolving world of energy, and the students and workers ready to ride its wave.   Subscribe today on your favorite podcast app to be the first to hear our episode when it comes out, next week!

Has the time come for you to transition back to your normal life? Does the uncertainty of going back to school or work amidst a pandemic give you stress and anxiety? In this episode, CareerTech Horizon takes you inside one technology center to see how they navigated their reopening with a new program for students and plenty of guidelines to keep everyone safe. At Tri County Tech in Bartlesville, we take a look at the newly revamped "Skills To Rebuild" program, designed to train students quickly for new careers in the areas hardest hit by the pandemic. We sit down with Tri County Tech's CEO and Superintendent Lindel Fields and ask about how the tech center approached the shutdown and the reopening, and what this means for the future of education. Finally, we call up CareerTech's own Dr. Steven Aragon, a cognitive psychologist who has some advice on how to navigate these uncertain times with your family. You can follow us on Twitter @CT_Horizon, or find us on Facebook. You can also visit our website, cthorizon.org, for show notes, discussion and bonus content, “Beyond Your Horizon.” Beyond Your Horizon: Learn more about today’s stories Skills To Rebuild - Tri County Tech Programs offered by Tri County Tech OCPA Article Pandemic and Mental Health "Keeping Mental Health in Check" with Steven Aragon (VIDEO) Classic Horizon Stories The original "Skills To Rebuild" program -- Moore, Oklahoma (2013)

While the world around us changes rapidly, some may choose to hang on to the familiar things in life.  For others, this may be the perfect time to make changes for themselves. Next time on CareerTech Horizon, we go to TriCounty Tech in Bartlesville, where a new take on an old program trains students for a new career in less than a month, so they can fill some of the most pressing needs of their community. All that, during a pandemic that has forced educators to re-think what school looks like. Subscribe on your favorite podcast app or platform, and follow us on Facebook and Twitter. Or, ask your smart speaker to "Play CareerTech Horizon."

While you were at home during the coronavirus lockdown, did you find yourself trying to learn new "home skills?" With people turning to things like baking and sewing, some for the first time, Family and Consumer Science teachers have suddenly found their subject in high demand. In this episode, we sit down with Terri Hollarn, a longtime FCS educator and state administrator, on how an elective class is becoming essential learning. We also highlight the shortage of FCS teachers across the country, and the hope that this crisis may encourage more people to become teachers. You can follow us on Twitter @CT_Horizon, or find us on Facebook. You can also visit our website, cthorizon.org for show notes, discussion, and bonus content, “Beyond Your Horizon.” Beyond Your Horizon: Learn more about today’s stories "Adulting 101:" How FCS teaches the skills we all need to know "Oma's" Bread Recipe -- Courtesy of Terri Hollarn From the Archives: Classic Horizon Stories from the world of FCS District 21: Student-run fine dining Growing Healthy Children Workforce training begins in Pre-K

In the age of social distancing and "safer at home" orders, many people have had to brush-up on their home-making skills. These skills, often taken as electives in high school curriculum, have now become what many consider essential. Next time on CareerTech Horizon, we sit down with a longtime Family and Consumer Sciences educator and reflect on these skills returning to prominence. Subscribe on your favorite podcast app or platform, and follow us on Facebook and Twitter. Or, ask your smart speaker to "Play CareerTech Horizon."

Do you remember your first car, and how liberating it was to drive on your own? Do you remember the first time that car stopped working? In this episode, CareerTech Horizon hits the road, driving through the many parts of this growing, diverse industry in our state. Our first stop is the Oklahoma City Auto Show, bringing together auto dealers and enthusiasts to spread the word about the opportunities of the auto industry to students. We visit an auto service education program mixing alternative fuels into the curriculum, and the importance of playing it safe around natural gas, electric, and hybrid cars. We fire up the not-so modern marvel of the internal combustion engine, and the oil-based fuels that power it. A journalist shares his documentary, seeking the truth about the oil industry. Finally, we look at the bigger picture of Oklahoma's auto manufacturing industry, and how state leaders are planning to build it up all over the Sooner State. You can follow us on Twitter @CT_Horizon, or find us on Facebook. You can also visit our website, cthorizon.org for show notes, discussion, and bonus content, “Beyond Your Horizon.” Beyond Your Horizon: Learn more about today’s stories Oklahoma City Auto Show MAIN WEBSITE Future of Automotive Education SOUTHERN TECH -- Automotive Technology Program "SpOILed" and the Oil-Industry Original Oklahoma Horizon Segment (2012) Clear Energy Alliance Not Your Father's Auto Manufacturing Brent Kisling and the team at Oklahoma Commerce

(Note: Due to the outbreak of COVID-19, we will be postponing our originally planned episode on this year's "Making It Work" award recipients. However, we will continue to bring you new, great stories in the meantime.) With more than 100 million passenger vehicles in America today, it pays to be in the automotive business. But with new technology speeding ahead at a breakneck pace, it's important for technical education programs to keep up. We'll take you inside the OKC Auto Show where students show off their skills and network with potential employers and educators. We'll also take you inside one such program, where electric, hybrid, and natural gas vehicles are part of the curriculum. Auto shops and dealerships have a stake in this too, as they look for new and innovative ways for workforce development. Subscribe now on the podcast app or website you found us on! And check out our previous 5 episodes for some great, positive stories in this time of uncertainty. Or, ask your smart speaker to "Play CareerTech Horizon."

How did you learn the skills you have now? Are the skills you know still relevant today? Will they remain relevant in the future? In this episode, we examine the growing partnerships between industry and education. We'll dive into what businesses are doing to keep instructors on the same page, and how these instructors use that knowledge to cultivate the workforce they'll be hiring from. American Airlines donates one of its passenger jets to CareerTech, so students in their aviation programs can work hands-on with real aircraft. A summer camp for teachers brings educators behind the scenes at businesses their students may one day work for. "Futuring Panels" facilitate conversation on where the industry is heading, and how educators can keep up. You can follow us on Twitter @CT_Horizon, or find us on Facebook. You can also visit our website, cthorizon.org for show notes, discussion, and bonus content, "Beyond Your Horizon." Beyond Your Horizon: Learn more about today's stories American Airlines donates MD-80 to CareerTech Video produced by MetroTech From The Oklahoman: American Airlines donates passenger jet to Oklahoma students MD-80 Archival Promotional Videos: Video #1 Video #2 Oklahoma Education and Industry Partnerships OEIP 2020 Registration Information "Futuring Panels" MBA Research: Futuring Panels Report

Next time on CareerTech Horizon, we go aboard a recently retired passenger jet that's now a classroom with wings for students looking to take off in the airline industry. It's just one of many ways business and industry partner with technical education; a partnership that grows both ways. Subscribe today on the platform you found us on to get instant access to our roundtable discussion when it releases. CareerTech Horizon is now on Spotify! Find us here.

What does it take to be a leader? In today's episode, host Blane Singletary dives into seven student organizations centered around technical education and the major benefits they provide to their members. We'll sit down with the leaders of those organizations, and find out how they see their roles within their teams evolve over time, and their reasons for becoming CareerTech students. You can follow us on Twitter @CT_Horizon, or find us on Facebook. You can also visit our website, cthorizon.org for show notes, and soon, bonus content, "Beyond Your Horizon." Learn more about today's stories: Making A Difference: CareerTech's Student Organizations

Next time on CareerTech Horizon, we sit down with the students at the helm of CareerTech's Student Organizations. Subscribe today on the platform you found us on to get instant access to our roundtable discussion when it releases. CareerTech Horizon is now on Spotify! Find us here.  

How high would you go to chase your dreams? For the women featured in today's episode, the sky is hardly the limit. We're taking a dive into the past, present and future of Oklahoma women in aviation. Legends such as Pearl Bailey Scott, who blazed a trail into the skies that women continue to follow to this day. Founding member of women's pilot group, The Nintety-Nines,Wally Funk talks about her journey as an integral aviation pioneer. After getting her first taste of flying at age 8, LTJG Whitney Heer pulls out all the stops to pursue a career as a U.S. Navy pilot. From homeless to flying high, Porsha Lippincott turns her life around after finding her passion as an airplane mechanic. You can follow us on Twitter @CT_Horizon, or find us on Facebook. You can also visit our website, cthorizon.org for show notes, and soon, bonus content, "Beyond Your Horizon." Learn more about today's stories: Oklahoma Women In Aviation Day BancFirst Oklahoma LoyalTV's Segment on The Flying 99s NETFLIX: Mercury 13 Trailer @TheNinetyNines on Twitter Wally Funk's Race For Space LTJG Whitney Heer, from STEM to Naval Academy Original Oklahoma Horizon TV Segment (2016) Gordon Cooper Technology Center's Pre-Engineering Academy Porsha Lippincott, from homeless teen to airplane mechanic Original Oklahoma Horizon TV Segment (2016) Metro Tech Foundation MetroTech Aviation Careers Campus Moore Norman Technology Center

Legendary pilot Amelia Earhart once said, "There's more to life than being a passenger." In a time where men ruled the skies, Earhart courageously followed her dreams into the cockpit. Today, 80 years after her disappearance, women are still following her contrails. Next week on CareerTech Horizon, we bring you the stories of Oklahoma women who took their lives into the skies. Subscribe today to be ready for liftoff on this episode, launching Thursday, December 19th.

What is your greatest accomplishment? Did you do it alone, or did you get help from your friends, family, or people in your community? In this episode of CareerTech Horizon, we take a deep dive into Adult Basic Education, and share the stories of Oklahomans who turned their lives around, thanks to the right people helping, supporting, and advocating for them. A mother, stressed from working dead-end jobs, who decided to go back to school, just as her child started her first day of school. An adult-learning organization in Ardmore, expanding their reach in a short time, thanks to their enthusiastic staff, and the cereal boxes that immortalize their success stories. How education plays an integral role in state inmates' re-entry into society. You can follow us on Twitter @CT_Horizon, or look for us on Facebook. You can also visit our website, cthorizon.org for show notes, and soon, bonus content, "Beyond Your Horizon." Learn More About Today's Stories: https://www.pioneertech.edu/adult-basic-ed-abehse/ Ardmore Family Literacy Former Inmate Kevin Ludolph Earns National Education Award (VIDEO)  

To do something incredible, groundbreaking, or phenomenal, often times you'll need more than just yourself. Host and Producer Blane Singletary explains the theme for our upcoming episode on Adult Basic Education in Oklahoma, coming very soon to Apple, Stitcher, TuneIn, Google, and more. Subscribe today so you don't miss it.

Sometimes, the gap between having a dead-end job, just getting by, and having a job you love and thriving, can be bridged with three little letters: G E D. But getting people to cross that gap, to get the right amount of confidence, to plan their future, to step out of their comfort zone, takes a whole lot more. Next time on CareerTech Horizon, join us as we share the stories of people vying for success, and the people they couldn't do it without.

What did you have to go through to get to where you are today? In our first episode of CareerTech Horizon, we take a look at a few Oklahomans' "origin stories," including... An HVAC instructor who overcame his own past failures in education, and how he now helps others do the same. A "jack of all trades" who decides to become a cosmetologist, so he can get closer to his daughters. An Air Force veteran who now teaches family and consumer sciences, and how a similar approach can be used from serving one's country, to serving one's students. You can follow us on Twitter @CT_Horizon, or find us on Facebook. You can also visit our website, cthorizon.org for show notes, and soon, bonus "value-added" content.

Welcome, listener! On October 24, we'll be launching CareerTech Horizon, a new podcast from Oklahoma CareerTech. We'll be covering the amazing stories of Oklahomans, as well as the economic, educational, and workforce issues at large. Subscribe today so you can be ready for launch. We hope to see you on our Horizon in just a few short weeks!