FutureMakers Talent Talk

Joe Bonora is the founder and president of Catalyst Asset Management and Catalyst Community Capital, Inc. The nonprofit works to provide investment for small businesses and project development with a concentration on multifamily properties. This includes mentorship, coaching, and technical assistance for developers to operate independently. He explains how he acquired knowledge through his entrepreneurial upbringing as a self-learner, despite not receiving a formal education beyond high school. Joe also elaborates on educating more people of color to the development business. He emphasizes that people living within communities are more aware of their residents and neighbors than an outside developer. Joe dives into skill development for prospective job applicants. He explains how valuable earning a credential is in comparison to traditional college education.

In this episode we hear from Dakota Pawlicki, the Director of Talent Hubs at Civic Lab. He was also our guest in Season 2. Dakota believes that the greatest change happens at the local and regional level. This is significant when it comes to systems change for students who are disadvantaged. He discusses the launch of Talent Hubs at Civic Lab as a way of expanding civic collaboration with support to regions and cross-sector partnerships. The Talent Hub designation continues to strengthen collective work that is focused on educational attainment beyond high school. Dakota also shares his perspective on the value of local collaboratives in producing community change. Dakota takes us through the adversity he faced growing up. He talks about his experience as a recipient of a caring network of individuals, which motivates his continued work today.

Michael Swindle was our first guest in the first season of Talent Talk. He discusses his vision as the current Superintendent of Hendry County Schools with a workforce-oriented approach. Mike started his position during the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, which presented several unique challenges going forward. He shares the focus of closing the achievement gaps, building capacity, and creating sustainable efforts for educational attainment within Hendry County. This includes increasing third grade reading proficiency and working to increase graduation rates. It's somewhat of a challenge working within a rural community with limited resources. He also shares progress from workforce initiatives to increase credentialed workers between the cities of LaBelle and Clewiston. Michael was previously a County Commissioner and Workforce Development Director for Hendry County Schools. This work involved initiating training programs to tackle the unemployment rates across the county. Looking ahead, he is shifting focus towards equity initiatives as a driving force to improving the education system.

Dr. Glenn Whitehouse is the Associate Dean of College of Arts & Sciences at Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU) and Director of the PAGES program. Glenn earned his Philosophy degree at the New College of Florida. He worked over the summer at a tech firm and completed a research report for the company to receive grant funding. He explains how his experience as a liberal arts student offered skills that translated into an entry level job. As Liberal Arts majors, students have many choices when it comes to choosing career pathways. The PAGES program at FGCU is designed to help students translate the skills they gain in their programs to start a career.

In this episode of Talent Talk, we hear from Jason Powella on his experience as an adult learner that returned to the classroom after stopping out. Many students in his situation were only a few credits short of earning their credential but faced uncontrollable life circumstances. Jason is the Senior Special Event Planner for the Lee Health Foundation and a member of Southwest Florida's Talent Hub Advisory Board. He has worked in the healthcare industry for 15 years and is working currently working in fundraising. Jason earned his bachelor's degree through the FGCU Complete program, which caters to students who previously earned college credits. He takes us through the unique factors that adult learners face, how they compare to traditional students, and the benefit of maintaining communication with students who stop out. He also keys in on the different funding opportunities available to students instead of taking on debt.

Shasta College is a community college that serves the three counties of Shasta, Tehama, and Trinity in Northern California. In this episode of Talent Talk, Kate Mahar discusses the significant role the college has had on the surrounding rural community it serves. Kate is the Dean of Innovation and Strategic Initiatives and explains her role in scaling best practices for degree seeking students. As a Talent Hub, Shasta College provides a notable example of the benefits of long-standing efforts to better-serve adults learners. Kate explains the piloting of the ACE (Accelerated College Education) and Credit for Prior Learning as two programs in their shift in accommodating returning adult learners.

Roberto Sanchez is the Director of Secondary Education in Hendry County Schools and serves a diverse school district. He was born in Mexico and immigrated with his family to the United States at the early age of two. Roberto grew up in Arcadia, FL and moved to Hendry County in 2005. He touches on how his father was the driving force in developing his work ethic and desire to gain an education as a pathway to a better life. He served as a teacher and principal during his tenure at Clewiston High School. Roberto talks about how many students in Hendry County come from a similar background as himself, which allows him to better-understand their circumstances. Roberto explains how Hendry County is working to equip students for college and career readiness. Many are first-generation students and need guidance as they work to enter the workforce. He discusses dual enrollment for students to earn an AA degree prior to graduating with the Collegiate Academy. This is a partnership with Florida South Western State College and provides students an opportunity to take college courses without leaving the classroom.

Growing up in Immokalee, home to many agricultural workers and their families, presents many challenges as students juggle life outside of the classroom. Noemi Perez is the President & CEO of the Immokalee Foundation and speaks on these circumstances. She discusses her personal journey growing up within a hard-working community that is built on trust, which inspired her to continue this work. The Immokalee Foundation is celebrating 30 years of operation and works to guide students towards academic and career success within a community that is driven by agriculture. The town of Immokalee is in Collier County and approximately 35 miles from Naples, Florida. There is a sharp contrast between this rural town and its neighboring counterpart being one of the wealthiest cities in the United States. The Immokalee Foundation serves approximately 14,000 students per year with a concentration on students ranging from kindergarten to post-secondary attainment. Noemi explains the implementation of the Career Pathways initiative to provide at-risk students with exploration of their desired career field.

Our guest this episode is Carlos Mendez, a first-generation college student in his third year at Florida Gulf Coast University. Carlos is a full-time student majoring in Anthropology, but he is also working full-time as a Graphic Designer. He shares with us what it is like to work full-time while attending college as well as his experience with online school and why he enjoys it. Carlos also explains the importance of employment flexibility for people who are attending school and how that has played a significant role in his journey to completing a degree. Listen to this Talent Talk episode to hear his very valuable advice to people working in higher education on how to better support students who are working full time.

From New York to Florida, Susan Block has always known she has had a passion for early childhood education. Susan is our guest on this episode of Talent Talk, and she is the CEO of Early Learning Coalition here in Southwest Florida. She shares her work history and the journey that led her to her current position at the Early Learning Coalition. She explains what this organization is and goes into detail about quality childcare and what it entails. Susan also shares with us why early childhood education is important, as well as how it affects peoples' involvement in the workforce and the impact of childcare on the economy. Finally, from providing personal protective equipment to staying in touch with childcare providers, Susan shares how the Early Learning Coalition has been impacted by COVID-19 and the current demands for childcare right now in our region.

In this episode of Talent Talk we hear all about career and technical education from Yolanda Flores. Yolanda currently works at Lorenzo Walker Technical College as the Administrative Director. She explains to us what exactly technical colleges are and the benefits they have for students in the Southwest Florida community, and why it is important for students to pursue a career in the technical pathways. Yolanda also shares with us some of the most popular programs at Lorenzo Walker, both in and out of the health science field. Although technical colleges do offer a variety of opportunities and benefits for students, some of them are facing challenges, and Yolanda tells us how we can help. Listen to this podcast to find out more about some of the fields that are in high demand in the Southwest Florida region, and how stacking credentials is economically advantageous.

Our guest this episode is Jenna Rytlewski, a student success advisor at Florida Southwestern State College. Jenna tells us all about FSW and some of the programs this regionally accredited institution is currently offering. She also shares with us the journey that led her to her current career, and what her job at FSW entails, including how she helps students meet their goals and is dedicated to being a student ally. Jenna also tells us some of the most common barriers students face that her and other advisors are more than willing to help them with, and some of her recommendations for how to overcome these barriers. Listen to this episode to hear Jenna's advice to people who haven't been able to complete their degrees and are looking for a secure future!

In this episode of Talent Talk we hear from Whitney Rhyne, the Director of Strategic Initiatives at Florida Southwestern State College. Whitney begins by telling us about FSW and the diverse and unique student population they serve in Southwest Florida's five-county region, ranging from students who just graduated high school and full-time professionals looking to attend night classes to further their career, to military veterans. Whitney also goes into detail about the newly developed Second Look Initiative, a program aiming to connect with students who were previously enrolled at FSW who were unable to complete their degrees, and what the process is like to start a program like the Second Look Initiative. Additionally, she explains the process for a student who previously attended FSW who was unable to complete their degree to inquire about their standing with the college and actively seeking to complete their degree and/or graduate.

In recent years, the student population has become much more diverse in terms of race, socioeconomic status, and age, meaning that the term “traditional student” no longer applies to the majority of the student population. Adrian Surratt is one member of the student population that has led to the diversification of this group. He is an adult learner who will soon be attending Florida Gulf Coast University after his recent completion of his Associate's Degree at Florida South Western State College! Adrian shares with us his educational journey, including why he became a stop-out student in the first place, what pushed him to go back to school to complete his degrees, and what his goals are. He also explains what it is like to attend school during a pandemic while juggling the responsibilities of raising two kids and taking care of his family.

Building a skilled workforce has been an important focus for not only FutureMakers Coalition, but businesses and organizations across the country, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Talented workforce is just one of the topics our guest Dakota Pawlicki discusses in this episode of Talent Talk. Dakota was the Strategy Officer for Community Mobilization at Lumina Foundation at the time of this recording, another important organization in analyzing talent attraction. Currently, he is the Talent Hub Director at CivicLab. He shared with us Lumina's philanthropic strategy behind assigning Talent Hub designations, which are communities across the nation that are exemplars for significantly increasing the percentage of residents with an education beyond high school. He also explained Lumina Foundation's goal of having 60% of Americans having an education beyond high school and people's reaction to this bold, time-bound goal. Lastly, he talks passionately about the important role community-level work plays in Lumina Foundation achieving this goal.

Mike Boose is the Senior Director of Human Resources and Organization Development at Arthrex, a company based in Naples, Florida. In this Talent Talk episode, Mike shares his professional background in manufacturing and leadership, leading him to his career in Human Resources at Arthrex. He also explains what Arthrex is, the work they do, and how manufacturing relates to healthcare, specifically medical device manufacturing. Mike shares the difficulty this company has had finding people with the proper qualifications and skills needed to work for them and some of the solutions they have implemented. Despite the pandemic, Arthrex is still looking for new employees. He explains some of the possible credentials and qualifications that employers working for this company are looking for in their employees, along with the benefits he believes a career in manufacturing could have for residents of Southwest Florida.

Around 20% of the working-age adults in Southwest Florida who do not have a credential beyond a high school diploma started college but did not complete their degree. Many of these students stop-out of college because of financial barriers or other responsibilities that prohibit them from dedicating the necessary time to school to be successful. One of these adults is Megan Overmyer, an adult learner at Florida Gulf Coast University. This past summer, Megan was able to return to FGCU and join FGCU Complete. Megan tells us about her academic journey, and how she is the first person in her family to attend college. While talking with Megan we quickly learned of her courage and strength, being a mother of four who is recently widowed, working full-time while being a student. In this session she explains how FGCU Complete made it feasible for her to return to school after 20 years to complete her degree. Megan also explains the process of acquiring financial aid as an adult learner; she gives very beneficial advice to adults who are looking to go back to school and complete a degree but are wary of the process because of the financial strain.

In this episode of the FutureMakers Coalition Talent Talk we hear from Kristen Vanselow, the Director of Operations for FGCU Complete. Kristen describes what the FGCU Complete program is and their goal of welcoming back adult-learners, removing barriers to degree completion, being more inclusive for this student population, and personalizing the experience for adult-learners. She discusses the difference between student groups and the different challenges they face depending on life experience. Kristen also shares with us FGCU's definition of “stop-out students” and this university's dedication to welcoming these students back and doing everything they can to create an environment in which they can thrive and finish what they started.

Meet Paul Volperian, an adult learner at Florida Gulf Coast University. After many years of dedication and hard work, Paul will be graduating in the fall with a degree in Integrated Studies and a minor in Education! In this episode of the FutureMakers Coalition Talent Talk, he shares his educational journey, the barriers that prohibited him from finishing his degree his first time at FGCU, and what motivated him to go back. He also tells us the benefits of FGCU Complete for him and adult-learners alike, but also gives his advice to institutions of higher education on how to address aspects of the college experience to better cater to adult-learners and make them feel more included. Finally, Paul shared valuable advice for anyone thinking about going back to school, but is hesitant because of their first experience, and advice for high school students and parents of high school students on their journey into higher education.

Southwest Florida has seen sustainable growth and measurable impact in recent years despite barriers pertaining to the environment, equality, and COVID-19. In this session, Colleen DePasquale tells us about The Greater Fort Myers Chamber of Commerce, of which she is the President and CEO, and how it is addressing these problems and working to make the region a better place. She discusses with us new work The Chamber is doing in response to community and member needs, including an Equity Committee's focus on the issue of implicit bias and discrimination to make a long-term impact in our region. She discusses her desire to diversify The Greater Fort Myers Chamber of Commerce and empower members of the community to learn about ways to make local, positive change. Colleen also shares why she partners with the FutureMakers Coalition, as well as valuable information she knows about the local workforce and current workforce needs.

In this episode of the FutureMakers Coalition Talent Talk we hear from Alissa Perry, an adult learner at Florida Gulf Coast University. Alissa describes her journey as a part-time student at a community college, while simultaneously juggling the responsibilities of being a single parent, taking care of her ill mother, and struggling with a disability. She also tells us about her experience as an adult learner and her participation in FGCU Complete, a program that offers students with previously earned college credit the opportunity to earn their bachelor's degree, and the benefits of the program for adult-learners. Alissa has some really great tips for anyone thinking of returning to school, and valuable information for those looking to design programs catered to returning adults and creating an environment to help them thrive.

Our guest this episode is Dr. Nicole King-Smith, a certified culture consultant who works with organizations in the private and public sectors on ways to improve equity and cultural competence on internal and external fronts. Dr. King-Smith shares her passion for generational change and the qualities we are seeing in our region's future skilled workers, and how organizations must establish inclusivity practices now to accommodate for the incoming workforce. She also addresses the adaptations the workforce has made in the face of COVID-19, particularly the hospitality and tourism industry, and gives her advice to workers in these businesses who have been affected by the pandemic. Dr. King-Smith elaborates extensively on her Equity work, including her role on the FutureMakers Equity Action Team, her perspectives on racial and ethnic disparities in her field, and finally, tips and guidance for organizations looking to implement equity practices.

In this episode of the FutureMakers Coalition Talent Talk we chat with the president of Hodges University, Dr. John Meyer. John shared his postsecondary experience as an adult learner and how it has helped him in his current position and allowed him to support his students. He also shares common barriers adults face that prohibit them from getting a higher education, and how the education system should take them into consideration and design programs to help priority populations complete their degrees. Dr. Meyer expresses the need for collaboration between employers and colleges and universities and gives advice to small businesses who are having difficulties growing their business and finding skilled and qualified workers. He also tells us how he, as the president of a University, is helping his students thrive amid a pandemic and economic crisis, and some things he believes need to change in our education system and workforce to assist people in Southwest Florida get jobs and make a livable wage.

Rural communities face many economic barriers and there are many challenges to finding solutions to address poverty, both of which have been heightened since the onset of COVID-19. At the time of recording, Mike Swindle was Hendry County Commissioner and Director of Workforce Development for Hendry County Schools. He has since been elected to Superintendent of Hendry County District School. Mike explains to us how COVID-19 affected the challenges Hendry County was facing before the onset of the pandemic, and the new challenges it has created for the community. He shares valuable information about what it takes to help students and other individuals defeat generational poverty and shared some of the successful outcomes of his program. He also expressed the need for change in how adult-learners are reached and encouraged to finish their degrees and provides us with some examples used by his program and the benefits they have seen. Mike explained what it is like to finish a certification program with Workforce Development for Hendry County and the ease of connecting students to jobs right after completion due to the high workforce demands. He shares the benefits his program has experienced through collaboration with other organizations, while also expressing the challenges rural communities face when trying to collaborate and how external entities can help minimize these challenges and support rural communities.

Conversations that dive deep into the ever-changing world of talent and economic development from the perspectives of those designing, working in, and experiencing these systems. Given the economic impacts of COVID-19, changing perspectives on the value of a college education, and the way and speed at which work is evolving, there is no shortage of perspectives to explore.