In this episode of the Ohio Technical Centers (OTCs) podcast, host Rachael Mann chats with Michelle Rodewald, Director of Adult Workforce Education at Auburn Career Center. Michelle discusses her journey in educational leadership, detailing Auburn's adult education programs designed to meet the workforce needs of Northeast Ohio. Key topics include the center's partnerships with local businesses, high job placement rates exceeding 85%, and the customized training solutions addressing regional skills gaps. The conversation touches on the broad range of programs offered—from HVAC and healthcare to machining and public safety—and how Auburn's individualized support services, state-of-the-art facilities, and passionate instructors prepare students for successful careers.

00:00 Introduction to the OTCs Podcast

00:13 Meet Michelle Rodewald: Director of Adult Workforce Education

00:41 Michelle's Journey to Auburn Career Center

02:01 Auburn Career Center's Mission and Community Impact

03:41 Job Placement Success and Key Strategies

06:48 Customized Training Solutions for Local Employers

08:11 Innovative Custom Training Programs

10:37 Support Services for Adult Students

11:34 Success in Health and Public Safety Programs

12:41 Trades and Industry Programs at Auburn

13:56 Aspire, GED, and Adult Diploma Pathways

15:11 Creating a Supportive Environment for Adult Learners

16:22 Exciting Expansions at Auburn Career Center

17:23 Advice for Prospective Students and Final Thoughts

In the first episode of Series 2 of the OTCs Podcast, host Rachael Mann speaks with Derek Brown of the Scioto County Career & Technical Center (SCCTC) to examine how one of Ohio’s most robust OTCs is meeting workforce needs, expanding training opportunities, and transforming the lives of learners across the region.

Derek discusses SCCTC’s rapid program expansion, shaped by close collaboration with employer advisory committees and responsive program design. Listeners will learn how SCCTC has strengthened healthcare pathways, launched new high-demand programs in industrial and technical fields, and created innovative training opportunities for residents of the STAR Community Justice Center. Through this partnership, adult learners earn valuable industry credentials, develop essential employability skills, and gain access to adult diploma pathways that support successful reentry.

Topics covered include:

 • How advisory committees directly influence new program development

 • Healthcare pathways including LPN, LPN-to-RN Bridge, Medical Assisting, Surgical Technology, Phlebotomy, and more

 • High-demand industrial programs such as electricity, industrial maintenance, welding, and power line mechanics

 • The new Fiber Optic Technician program, aligned with Ohio’s statewide broadband expansion

 • SCCTC’s role in supporting reentry at the STAR Community Justice Center, including awarding more than 120 adult diplomas in one year

 • Customized training options, including ServSafe, OSHA 10, CEUs, Excel, and TechCred-approved credentials

 • Future program development in behavioral and rehabilitation services

This episode highlights the critical role Ohio Technical Centers play in workforce development, second-chance pathways, employer partnerships, and community advancement.

Derek Brown is the Director of Post-secondary and Continuing Education at the Scioto County Career Technical Center, where he is now in his ninth year leading adult education programming. With sixteen years of experience in education—all within the career-technical field—Derek brings deep knowledge of workforce development, program design, and learner success pathways.

He began his career as a high school science teacher before transitioning into administration, where he has since focused on expanding access to high-quality technical training for adult learners. Derek earned his B.S. in Natural Science Education from Shawnee State University and his M.Ed. in Educational Leadership from the University of Cincinnati.

Derek is an active member of the Ohio Association for Career and Technical Education and the Post-Secondary Adult Career-Technical Education (PACTE) network. He also serves on the Board of Directors for the Portsmouth Kiwanis and is a 2019 graduate of the Byrl R. Shoemaker CTE Leadership Institute.

He is a frequent presenter at statewide professional events, including the Ohio Career Technical Education Professionals Conference, the Ohio ACTE Annual Conference, and the Ohio Technical Center New Director Seminar.

Scioto County Career & Technical Center  https://www.sciototech.org/

STAR Community Justice Center http://www.starcjc.com/

Ohio Technical Centers – Find Your Local OTC  https://www.ohtechcenters.com/

Ohio Association for Career and Technical Superintendents (OACTS) https://www.oacts.com/

TechCred Program (State of Ohio) https://techcred.ohio.gov/

SCCTC Adult Diploma Program Information https://www.sciototech.org/post-secondary/

SCCTC Customized Training Offerings  https://www.sciototech.org/adult-education/customized-training

Special thanks to OACTS for its support in advancing this effort. OACTS continues to champion the work of Ohio Technical Centers, strengthening workforce development, adult education, and community-based career pathways across the state.

In the final episode of Season One of the OTCs Podcast, Kim Gates, Director of Adult Education at Warren County Career Center, discusses the center's initiatives and programs with host, Rachael Mann.

Situated uniquely between Cincinnati and Dayton, Ohio, the center offers seven comprehensive program pathways, including manufacturing, HVAC, welding, electrical power lines, cosmetology, EMS, and IT. Gates elaborates on a noteworthy program for incarcerated students, providing them with advanced manufacturing and robotics training to ease their reentry into the workforce. She emphasizes collaboration with local businesses to create customized training programs and discusses the center's upcoming cybersecurity, cloud computing, and industrial electrical technician programs. Gates encourages individuals from high school seniors to mid-career professionals to explore career and technical education opportunities for robust, high-demand career paths.

To learn more about Warren County Career Center, visit https://www.mywccc.org/. For Ohio Technical Centers in your area, visit  www.oacts.com or https://ohiotechnicalcenters.com/ for more information.

In this episode of the OTCs podcast, explore how Upper Valley Career Center’s Adult Technology Center is shaping career pathways for adult learners in Ohio. Guest Duane Caudill shares insights into the center’s short-term training programs, focusing on high-demand fields like healthcare, advanced manufacturing, HVAC, welding, and automation. Key topics include the OTC Plus program, which allows high school students to enroll in technical education programs unavailable at their schools, and the center’s strong partnerships with business and industry to develop customized training solutions. Duane discusses the center’s International Apprenticeship Exchange Program, which connects students with Germany’s apprenticeship model and highlights the role of emerging technologies such as AI and automation in workforce preparation. Success stories of students advancing their careers through stackable credentials are shared, along with strategies for supporting adult learners balancing education with work and family responsibilities. The episode also covers the center’s approach to addressing skill gaps and the importance of industry collaboration in developing future-ready training programs.

To learn more about Ohio Technical Centers in your area, visit  www.oacts.com or https://ohiotechnicalcenters.com/. Special thanks to the support of OACTS and its role in advancing this effort.

In this episode of the OTC's podcast, learn about the critical role of Ohio Technical Centers in workforce development, focusing on the EHOVE Career Center. Guest Laura Dowdell, the Adult Education Director at EHOVE, shares insights from her 26 years of experience in education, particularly highlighting EHOVE's innovative programs and strong partnerships. Key topics include the center's LPN-RN diploma program, the collaboration with Fisher-Titus Medical Center, and the unique marine trades technician program. Laura underscores the importance of customizing training to meet local workforce needs, ensuring program alignment with job market trends, and creating flexible and engaging educational opportunities for adult learners. The podcast also highlights success stories, including a student who transitioned from earning her high school diploma to becoming a paramedic. Additionally, upcoming expansions at EHOVI, such as a CDL program and a new dental hygiene program in partnership with the local community college, are discussed.

To learn more about Ohio Technical Centers in your area, visit  www.oacts.com or https://ohiotechnicalcenters.com/ for more information. 

In this episode of the OTC podcast, host Rachael Mann converses with Stephanie Jury, Manager of Clinical Learning and Development at Adena Health, about the impactful collaboration with the Ohio Technical Center (OTC), Pickaway Ross Career Technical Center (PRCTC). This partnership provides hands-on clinical placements for students, addressing staffing needs and fostering workforce development through programs like STNA, LPN, and MA training. The initiative allows students to gain real-world experience in specialty clinics and has led to career advancements from roles in environmental services and nutrition to medical assistants, supported by fully-funded educational programs. Additionally, the partnership facilitates LPN to RN transitions and hires high school students as Patient Care Associates. Stephanie discusses future goals, including enhancing educational programs and establishing new services such as an ambulance service. The collaboration is highlighted as a model for aligning educational programs with healthcare workforce needs.

To learn more about Ohio Technical Centers in your area, visit  www.oacts.com or https://ohiotechnicalcenters.com/ for more information.

Empowering Transformation: The STAR Community Justice Center and Ohio Technical Centers Partnership

In this episode of the Ohio Technical Centers podcast, host Rachael Mann welcomes Josh Dylan from the STAR Community Justice Center. They discuss the Center's mission as a community-based correctional facility aimed at providing felony offenders with cognitive behavioral therapy, CTE programs, and reentry resources. Josh explains the impactful partnerships with local career technical centers, such as Collins Career Technical Center, Scioto County Career Technical Center, and Tri-County Career Technical Center, which offer residents trade-based education and industry-recognized certifications. Success stories, the importance of community service, educational services like GED preparation, and advice for business leaders on hiring STAR program graduates are also highlighted. The episode emphasizes the role of cognitive behavioral therapy and the reentry department’s efforts in ensuring successful reintegration into society.

00:00 Introduction to the Podcast and Guest

00:54 Overview of STAR Community Justice Center

01:34 Partnerships with Local Career Technical Centers

03:26 CTE Programs and Success Stories

05:51 Resident Selection and Rehabilitation Process

08:34 Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Reentry Support

11:54 Community Service and Educational Services

17:42 Advice for Business Leaders and Industry Partners

20:09 Josh's Journey and Conclusion

Listeners are encouraged to visit the STAR Community Justice Center website, http://www.starcjc.com/. To learn more about Ohio Technical Centers in your area, visit  www.oacts.com or https://ohiotechnicalcenters.com/ for more information. 

In this episode of the Ohio Technical Center's podcast, Rachael Mann interviews Frank Polen, the award-winning assistant superintendent and director of curriculum at Buckeye Career Center in New Philadelphia, Ohio. Frank discusses the wide range of adult education programs offered at Buckeye Career Center, including full-time and part-time courses in fields like welding, healthcare, and firefighting. He highlights the unique opportunities provided by the Adult Diploma Program, which allows adults to earn high school diplomas and acquire valuable skills. Frank also emphasizes the importance of community and employer partnerships, institutional advisory councils, and workforce summits in shaping the programs to meet local workforce needs. Additionally, he underscores the center's approach to short-term, customized training to address immediate workforce demands. Throughout the conversation, Frank shares inspiring success stories of how these programs have transformed lives and positively impacted the community. Listeners are encouraged to visit Buckeye Career Center's website,https://www.buckeyecareercenter.org/. To learn more about Ohio Technical Centers in your area, visit  www.oacts.com or https://ohiotechnicalcenters.com/ for more information. 

In this episode, Lori Smith from the Washington County Career Center discusses her role in transforming community outreach efforts for adult technical training. The podcast explores the center's collaboration with the Ohio Means Job Center, which aims to increase young people's awareness about career opportunities that don't require a four-year degree. Notable initiatives include interactive training trailers and events like the Manufacturing in Action and Discover Healthcare Careers fairs, which connect students with local employers and diverse career pathways. For more information about the career center in your area, visit www.oacts.com or https://ohiotechnicalcenters.com/.

In this podcast episode, Keith Horner, superintendent of Apollo Career Center and president of OACTS, discusses his career transition from teaching to administration. He highlights the transformative impact of career technical education and the role of Ohio Technical Centers (OTCs) in workforce development. Horner shares insights on the strong community and industry partnerships that Apollo has fostered, tailored training programs, and the successful integration of education and business needs to enhance student career readiness. For more information about the career center in your area, visit www.oacts.com or https://ohiotechnicalcenters.com/.