To enhance outreach and collaboration efforts, Golden LEAF President, Chief Executive Officer Scott T. Hamilton started a video series called Critical Conversations. In the video series, Scott talks with professionals about increasing economic advancement in North Carolina, including workforce preparedness challenges and opportunities.
Watch these approximately 15-minute videos to learn more about how various entities are supporting workforce preparedness in North Carolina:
North Carolina State Superintendent, Catherine Truitt
Truitt discusses ways the public K-12 schools are working to build the workforce including Workforce Ready Goals, a Workforce Toolkit, internships and apprenticeships, and Career and College Promise.
John M. Belk Endowment President & Board Chair, MC Belk Pilon
Pilon discusses the talent gap and the innovative strategies to solve this issue, including the College Advising Corp, MyFutureNC, EdNC, FAFSA completion campaign, and an impact study on North Carolina Community Colleges.
President of the University of North Carolina System, Peter Hans
Hans discusses programs to help increase the post-secondary attainment of North Carolinians, including agreements between the North Carolina Community College System and the UNC System.
Executive Director of the N.C. Plant Sciences Initiative, Adrian Percy
Percy discusses the hands-on education that will be delivered to farmers through extension agents, the training of new agribusiness professionals, and interdisciplinary research that will occur at the Plant Sciences Building.
President and Chief Executive Officer of the Carolina Small Business Development Fund, Kevin Dick
Dick discusses resources available to business owners. He also discusses the common challenge of recruiting, retaining, and hiring of new employees as a result of the pandemic.
State Director of the Small Business and Technology Development Center (SBTDC) Byron Hicks
Hicks discusses services available to small businesses, a record number of business startups, and challenges such as hiring and retaining employees.