Meeting the Needs of Rural Montana in Workforce Readiness

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Flathead Valley Community College
Arts and Technology Building, Room AT139
October 2-3

Agenda items are subject to change, but the timing of the sessions and Summit dates are final.

Thursday, October 2

Time Session
8:30 am Registration, Coffee & Light Breakfast
9:00 am

Welcome and introductions

  • Dr. Angela McLean, Director of American Indian/Minority Achievement
    and K-12 Partnerships, OCHE
9:30 am

FVCC Welcome

  • Dr. Bryan Brophy-Baermann, VP of Academic and Student Affairs, Flathead Valley Community College
9:45 am

Opening Keynote: Who Is Rural? Understanding and Centering Rural Voices in Developing and Delivering Educational Opportunity

  • Dr. Andrew Koricich, Executive Director, Alliance for Research on Regional Colleges
  • Mr. Adam Ray, Deputy Director, Rural Talent Lab, Appalachian State University
10:30 am Break
10:45 am

State of the State – DE, CTE, and Micro Pathways Data

  • Chase Stahl, Data Specialist, OCHE
11:30 am

T Profile Session

Facillitators

  • Lisa Blank, Executive Director, Workforce Development, FVCC

  • Minzi Thomas, Senior Designer, Education Design Labs

Panelists

  • Francis Bristol, Program Director, Strengthening Community Colleges

  • Ryan Bowman, CEO, Montana Sky

  • Ryder Harp, Western Telecom Manger, Rocky Mountain Contractors

  • Brett Ogden, General Foreman, Rocky Mountain Contractors
  • Sandy Harmon, Human Resources Manager, Rocky Mountain Contractors
  • Chris Moore, Program Director, Heavy Equipment, Flathead Valley Community College
12:15 pm Lunch (sit with regional partners)
12:45 pm

Highlands College Grant Award

  • Francis Bristol, Program Director, Strengthening Community College, Highlands College
  • Bernie Phelps, Director of Dual Enrollment and Grant Funding, Highlands College
1:15 pm

Education Design Labs Update

  • Dr. Minzi Thomas, Senior Designer, Education Design Labs
  • Gabby Billiott, Associate Education Designer, Education Design Labs
2:15 pm Jon Bennion, Executive Director, The Dennis and Phyllis Washington Foundation
2:30 pm Break
2:45 pm 2024-25 Montana’s Future at Work Spotlight
3:15 pm

FVCC - Kalispell Dual Enrollment Student Panel

Facilitator

  • Beth Romain, FVCC, Program Director Running Start

Panelists

  • Margo Alexander, Whitefish HS, CNA and Biotech
  • Emaline Whithed, Whitefish HS, Engineering, Surveying, and CAD
  • Braelyn Gee, Columbia Falls HS, Welding
  • Greyson Pfeifle, Columbia Falls HS, Welding, SolidWorks
  • Nolan Rosenthal, Glacier HS, Electrical/HVAC
4:15 pm FVCC Campus Tour
5:30-8:00 pm

Night of the Trades at FVCC Trades Institute

  • Business Exhibit
  • Healthcare Trauma Simulation at Rebecca Chaney Broussard Center for Nursing and Health Science
6:00 pm

Reception

Sponsored by Education Design Labs
7:00 pm Dinner on your own

Friday, October 3


Time Session
8:00 am Networking, Coffee & Light Breakfast
8:30 am Review of Day 1
8:45 am

2025-26 Montana Future at Work Spotlight
9:45 am

State of Montana Workforce Initiatives

  • Joe Thiel, Deputy Commissioner of Academics, Research and Student Affairs, OCHE
10:30 am Break
10:45 am

406 Jobs

  • Tammie Hickey, Executive Director, State Workforce Innovation Board
11:15 am

Closing Keynote: Building the Workforce for Tomorrow - Vision, Grace, and Teamwork

  • Regent Heather Hoyer, Montana University System
12:00 pm

Summit Summary and Lunch to Go

 

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