FutureMakers Talent Talk

William Stewart is the owner of Stewart & Sons Electric, an all-inclusive electrical contracting company. A Southwest Florida native, William graduated from the Tri-County Apprenticeship Program after being formerly incarcerated. He went on to start his own business and now serves as the third-year teacher at Tri-County, educating the next generation of electricians. On this episode of Talent Talk, we talk about what employers can do to create opportunities for formerly incarcerated individuals, as well as what makes a great employee and lifelong learner. William is building a business and family legacy that will last for generations, and we discuss how other people who have faced similar challenges can do the same thing.

Dakota Pawlicki is the Director of Talent Hubs with CivicLab. Talent Hubs are designated exemplars that stand out for their efforts to ensure that residents of all backgrounds receive education and training after high school. On this episode of Talent Talk, we discuss rural work, the importance of developing expertise in rural communities, and the future of Talent Hubs. In his role as Director, Dakota brings expertise in postsecondary education, collective impact, stakeholder engagement, and change management to a network of nearly 100 cross-sector partnerships, supporting their efforts to improve the human condition. He also hosts Lumina Foundation's podcast Today's Students, Tomorrow's Talent which features conversations with newsmakers and leaders in the field of learning after high school.

Jamaree Jones and Quay Longs are co-founders of Strive Hall, a non-profit organization dedicated to empowering under-resourced youth. On this episode of Talent Talk, Jamaree (President) and Quay (CEO) share about their work as it relates to building the local workforce. Recent graduates of FGCU’s Master of Entrepreneurship program and driven by a passion for transformative experiences, these leaders have created an opportunity for under-resourced youth to immerse themselves in university life for a full weekend, experiencing the excitement and value of college firsthand. Strive Hall exposes students to new opportunities and instills in them the belief that they can achieve their dreams, regardless of their background, thus strengthening the next generation of workers and leaders. Read more about it here: https://www.strivehall.org/

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.