While colleges across the U.S. are worried about declining enrollment, Lake Area Technical College in South Dakota is expanding.

President Tiffany Sanderson sees the value in building a vision so big, so bold that other organizations can't help but want to get involved. And in a state like South Dakota that is seeing faster than average population growth, now is the time for expansion!

In this episode, you'll discover how expanding an organization can energize the staff, customers, students and community partners. You'll learn what it takes to build enthusiasm around expansion projects, measure the right metrics, and attract key stakeholders to join the movement.

Quotable Moments:
"The number one way to get everybody excited about the future is to expand the organization."

"My gift and my passion is about helping to grow people to do their very best work in the world."

"There are tons of opportunities and not enough bodies to fill all those spots in the workforce."

3 Big Takeaways from this episode:

1. Population expansion in a region is both a challenge and an opportunity for the workforce: There is a mismatch in our world between the skills employers need (now and in the future) and the skills people currently have. In a growing population, this gap can become exacerbated without the educational support to align skills with workforce demand. Expansion necessitates an intentional plan to develop the workforce to sustain that growth.
2. How do you measure success? Enrollment vs Graduation rates in education: Most colleges use enrollment rates as their measurement for success. Tiffany Sanderson sees it differently: the college measures success in terms of graduation rates. That makes a lot of sense in a world where the workforce doesn't benefit unless it's getting a stream of graduates with competent skills. Over the next 7 years, Lake Area Tech's goal is to increase graduate production by 20+%. That's the kind of metric that will get partners on board with an expansion project.
3. Want to build excitement around your vision? Share stories: Strategic goals, impact studies, and data are fine...but nothing gets people fired up like personal success stories. Tiffany shares her secrets to getting industry partners, community partners and faculty on board with an expansion project, and a key part of that is sharing the stories of students being impacted by the college. Let the students share their perspective, and others will want to get involved.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• Visit Lake Area Technical College's website
• See all the expansions taking place at Lake Area Tech
• Learn more about the Build Dakota Scholarship

Connect with Lake Area Tech:
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Are you a budding entrepreneur with a great business idea? Have you always wanted to start a company in the tech space, but don't know where to start?

Get great advice on launching your own tech company as you listen to our conversation with Amber Busuttil Mullen, partner at Bowen Tax Law. Amber has spent her career helping executives in their businesses and knows that tech is everywhere! From cosmetics to fabrics, ice cream to athletics, there's an application for every technology idea.

So if you'd like to learn how to be a successful entrepreneur, listen to this episode to discover:

• What qualities make entrepreneurs successful in their business ventures
• How to build a product that people will buy
• The two things to do when first starting a company (creating an entity + opening a bank account) and how to do them
• Finding funding - from friends & family, angel investors, incubator programs and venture capital
• Understanding stock and stock options
• How to sell your company!

Get ready to take notes, because this episode is packed with actionable ideas!

3 Big Takeaways from this episode:

1. You CAN do it! Have the courage to get started and resilience to keep going: Believe it or not, you don't have to have the next "it" technology to start a company. With the right product and business plan, you CAN be a successful entrepreneur! Amber breaks down the first steps you need to take to make your business a reality into simple, actionable tasks you can get started on today.
2. There are tons of options to fund your startup - learn about the most popular options and what's right for you: You don't necessarily need to fund your startup alone. From friends & family, to teachers and mentors, angel investors, incubator programs and venture capital, there are a number of funding options you can choose from. Amber helps us understand each option in detail and will give you an idea of what the right path might be for your business.
3. Start with the end in mind - selling your company: If you've got a great business idea - your goal should be to start, scale and eventually sell that business. Learn about what you'll need to implement in your business at the beginning to make selling the business easier later on. You'll also learn about stock and stock options and how these can attract new team members, scale the business and enable you to sell when the time is right.

Resources mentioned in this episode:
Learn more about Bowen Tax Law: https://www.bowentaxlaw.com/

Connect with Amber
LinkedIn

View episode page: https://techedpodcast.com/amber/

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Funding, filling programs, and finding partners in industry - these are three challenges facing technical colleges across the country. And a great solution to all these challenges: industry-sponsored programs.

North Dakota State College of Science has an incredible Diesel Technology program that partners with the biggest brands in agricultural equipment like John Deere, Case, Komatsu and Caterpillar to offer hands-on, career-relevant learning on the latest equipment being used in the workforce today. Through this program, students are sponsored by a dealer to work through the courses on brand-specific equipment, ensuring a pipeline of skilled talent that's experienced on the right technology for those dealerships.

In this episode, we sat down with NDSCS president Dr. Rod Flanigan to dive into this program and how successful it's been.

Discover the power of industry partnerships in building a technical program that benefits the college, learners and employers alike, and get advice for how to launch a similar program in your own institution!

3 Big Takeaways from this episode:

1. Industry-sponsored programs benefit students with career-relevant skills and experiences:The industry-sponsored diesel program benefits students by providing them with valuable hands-on experience, access to state-of-the-art equipment, and opportunities for professional development through internships and sponsorships, ultimately preparing them for successful careers in the field. They get access to the same equipment from the biggest brands they'll encounter in the workforce, and they get assistance from their sponsor while going through their education.
2. Industry-sponsored programs benefit the college with funding, filling programs, and finding friends in industry: With these strong partnerships with industry, colleges can get access to the latest equipment, a pipeline of dedicated students, and the added benefit of having a reputation for career-relevant programming.
3. Industry-sponsored programs benefit employers with a pipeline of skilled workers: When a student is required to be sponsored by a company in order to be admitted into a program, and when they're supported through the program financially and otherwise by that company, and when they're confident in finding employment upon completion of that program, there's a fostering of brand loyalty that just can't be beat. These companies will benefit by having a pipeline of skilled technicians who learned on their specific equipment and are work-ready to add value to the organization.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• Learn more about NDSCS's Diesel Technology Program
• Learn more about North Dakota State College of Science

Connect with NDSCS
Facebook | LinkedIn  |  Instagram  |  Twitter  |  YouTube

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Peter Rathmann is an advocate for neurodiversity in the manufacturing workforce. As CEO of Allis Manufacturing, he's built a culture that gives these individuals the tools for a successful career. As a father, he's seen his own daughter Emma, who has Asperger's Syndrome, find passion in a manufacturing job.

Now, Peter joins us on the podcast to shed light on the great value these individuals can bring to the manufacturing workforce.

If you're a manufacturer who can't find people to fill your open positions, you'll learn about a whole segment of our population that could be a perfect match for your company. 

If you're a parent or educator, you'll learn all about the career opportunities in manufacturing for neurodiverse individuals, and why this industry has an environment that could be a great match for them.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• What is neurodiversity? Understanding a term that covers a wide spectrum
• The misconceptions of autism and what you should know about it
• Why neurodiverse individuals may be perfectly wired for manufacturing jobs
• How to build a work culture and environment that sets these individuals up for success
• Advice for educators to help raise awareness and pathways into manufacturing careers

3 Big Takeaways from this episode:

1. Neurodiverse individuals can bring unique strengths to the workplace: The characteristics manufacturing leaders say they want from their workforce (showing up every day, timeliness, paying attention to their work, efficiency, accuracy) are the same qualities that those with autism can bring to the table. Peter shares the success stories of his own neurodiverse daughter and employees and how their unique approach to the world makes them excellent manufacturing employees.
2. Manufacturers must build a supportive work environment that values neurodiversity and creates space for growth and autonomy: There are certainly challenges to hiring neurodiverse individuals, and Peter shares insights into how to build a work environment that enables these people to succeed at their role. He also shares how to create support and awareness for the rest of your workforce and management to lead and work alongside these individuals.
3. There are training programs and support organizations dedicated to helping neurodiverse individuals get the skills they need to work in manufacturing: Hear about The Uniquely Abled Project and the Uniquely Abled Academy at Milwaukee Area Technical College (MATC), which is currently helping those with autism learn to become machinists. Listen to hear about a number of other organizations that provide services to neurodiverse individuals and their families, as well as employers, that help bring more people into successful employment.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• To learn more about Allis Manufacturing, visit their website
• The Uniquely Abled Project
• Uniquely Abled Academy at Milwaukee Area Technical College (MATC)
• Think Ability Wisconsin

More links and res

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What if your company had a digital library of every single drawing, from the newest designs to 100-year-old hand-drawn copies for parts still in use? What if this digital file system was powered by artificial intelligence and could read not just the text on each drawing, but could actually understand all the data (material types, revisions, even identify similar drawings)?

That's exactly what Yushiro Kato and the team at CADDi have done with their groundbreaking software.

This AI-enabled platform revolutionizes how manufacturing drawings are managed and accessed, offering a centralized, format-agnostic solution with advanced image-analysis algorithms, significantly reducing procurement costs for manufacturers.

In this episode, you'll hear about the technology that's revolutionizing procurement in manufacturing, with special insights around the importance of digitizing institutional knowledge.

3 Big Takeaways from this episode:

1. Digitization isn't just about storing data, it's about leveraging data:  Even if you were to digitize every drawing and centralize the storage location, it would still take procurement specialists hours to find the right drawings and the correct revision, and would require knowing the drawing ID. Digitizing assets is more than storing data in digital files. It's about being able to leverage that data to optimize processes. That's why CADDi's technology is truly an Industry 4.0 tool. Learn about the difference between storing and leveraging data, and consider how the latter could impact your organization.
2. CADDi Manufacturing enables companies to source the best supplier for their parts: The application of this AI-enabled technology extends beyond your own company. Hear how CADDi has leveraged their own AI platform to build a network of OEMs and suppliers, connecting companies with the part-maker who can manufacture the part they need at the best possible price.
3. Digitization can turn individual knowledge into company assets: Every manufacturer has employees that have been there for decades, knows every process, every part. What happens when they exit the workforce and take all that wisdom with them? Digitization can help capture the knowledge of these individuals and save it in a way that can be used by future generations of the workforce for years to come.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• To learn more about CADDi Drawer, visit their website
• Discover more insights on CADDi's blog

Connect with CADDi:
YouTube | LinkedIn  |  Connect with Yushiro on LinkedIn

View more on the episode page: https://techedpodcast.com/caddi/

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What does the future of disease research look like? How can artificial intelligence help researchers make new discoveries faster? How can medical professionals synthesize the vast amounts of patient data to offer the best, most personalized care possible

These are some of the questions we explore with Dr. Julie Panepinto, who leads the National Institutes of Health's Division of Blood Diseases and Resources

In this episode, we dive deep in to the Science part of STEM to learn about the latest advances in medical research, how data analytics and AI are accelerating these efforts, and how education can inspire the next generation of medical researchers

Hear all about:

• What scientists around the country are researching in the areas of blood diseases
• Why medicine must maximize quantitative and qualitative data together to best serve patients
• How AI will impact clinician's ability to detect and diagnose - especially in medical imaging
• Predictive risk modeling and the future of precision healthcare
• The human aspect of medicine, the importance of face-to-face care, and how data can help doctors develop more customized treatment plans for each individual

3 Big Takeaways from this episode:

1. Medical research needs quantitative and qualitative data to produce the best results: The healthcare industry has billions of quantitative datasets from millions of patients. Additionally, patient reported outcomes help turn qualitative information about the patient's personal experience into quantitative data. When healthcare providers have access to both quantitative and qualitative data, they can create personalized treatment plans for each individual, a practice called precision healthcare.
2. Data analytics and artificial intelligence enable predictive risk modeling in medical research: All the data just mentioned can be used in predicting and preventing diseases in individuals based on their unique risk factors. Listen as we discuss the generation of algorithms for predictive healthcare, genomic and curative treatments, and why the quality and structure of the data matters when training AI models.
3. The future of healthcare will be data-driven, but it will never lose the human factor: Expect tele-health visits, chatbots, AI helping clinicians detect and diagnose individuals, and automated health plans based on data-driven models. But also know that the face-to-face connection will always remain a key factor to healthcare; for nothing can replace the doctor-patient relationship.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• To learn more about Dr. Panepinto, visit her page
• Learn more about the research being done by the NIH Division of Blood Diseases and Resources

Connect with the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute:
Facebook |  YouTube | LinkedIn  |  X

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Higher education is facing an enrollment cliff. Or, as Augustana University President Stephanie Herseth Sandlin puts it, a "consumption cliff." Not only are there fewer students for universities to recruit, there are also fewer students even considering enrolling in post-secondary education.

In this episode, we discuss some of the ways private universities can hedge against these upcoming challenges. STEM education - when integrated into a traditional liberal arts model - can play a vital role in attracting students to a university.

You'll learn:

• Why universities who don't embrace STEM may be closing their doors in the next 5 years
• How to incorporate STEM without losing the liberal arts core
• Why tuition shouldn't stop families from considering a private university - and what universities should do to dispel these myths
• How higher education leaders can empower the innovators on their teams to discover ways to integrate STEM into strategic planning
• The importance of "finding a third way"

3 Big Takeaways from this episode:

1. Liberal arts universities should integrate STEM fields into their programs: We shouldn't stop teaching liberal arts, but we should find ways to incorporate STEM concepts, practices and technologies into a liberal arts core to provide a well-rounded education and meet the demands of the job market. Hear how Augustana University is doing just this in their STEM Scholars program, through healthcare education and more.
2. Offer the vitamins of education, not just the calories: To thrive in this new era of higher education, universities have to offer more than just four-year degree programs. Learners are looking for certificates, bootcamps, micro-credentials and other short-term programs that will support their lifelong learning efforts.
3. STEM is everywhere; empower your staff to think outside the traditional academic box and innovate higher education: The STEM world moves quickly, and the strictures of academia don't always enable universities to pivot at the same pace. But university leaders can empower the entrepreneurial thinkers on their staff to embed STEM themes into existing programs. Hear how Augustana's music programs have done just this.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• To learn more about Augustana University, visit their website
• Read The Great Upheaval: Higher Education's Past, Present, and Uncertain Future by Arthur Levine and Scott J. Van Pelt
• Learn more about the STEM Scholars program
• STEM + Music = Multimedia Entrepreneurship program at Augustana University

Connect with Augustana University:
Facebook |  Instagram  | YouTube | LinkedIn  |  X

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Get ready to start your AI journey in manufacturing! We sat down with industry visionary Todd Wanek, CEO of Ashley Furniture Industries, to get his best practices for developing an AI strategy.

According to Wanek, businesses have 3-5 years to figure out AI, or get left behind.  Fortunately for us, Ashley Furniture - the world's largest furniture manufacturer with 35,000 employees globally - has already started their AI journey. Their efforts have resulted in a 20-30% improvement in product forecasting accuracy for their 23,000 global retail stores. And now you can learn from their example in this podcast episode.

In this episode, we'll tell you:

• How AI will impact each business unit, from product forecasting and supply chain to creative services and accounting
• How to know when to use existing AI platforms and when to build your own
• A step-by-step system to get started with AI, from cleaning up your data to leveraging value stream mapping
• Why you should have an AI champion in your organization
• How to identify and enable curious employees and give them space to experiment with AI

3 Big Takeaways:

1. AI doesn't replace the work; it's a tool to make processes more efficient optimized: Think of artificial intelligence as a lean tool - once you identify areas for improvement, these platforms can eliminate waste in your processes, freeing up your people to do more value-added work.
2. Before you can implement AI tools, you need to prepare your data and your team: Before you launch that AI initiative, take these 4 steps to ensure your data and people are ready. (view full show page to get all the details).
3. Curiosity is key to the implementation of AI: It's not always the data scientists or IT experts who will be your AI champions. Todd encourages leaders to look for the curious people. Identify those who are existed about AI and take the initiative to find the tools that can improve their own work - then harness their curiosity as you deploy AI in the organization. At the beginning, it's all about curiosity - reading, researching, experimenting and being okay with failure.

Resources:

• If you're a Microsoft user, check out Microsoft Copilot
• Podcast: Moonshots with Peter Diamandis - "The Rise of Humanoid Robotics w/Brett Adock"
• Video: "Why the Tesla Bot Will Take Over in 2024!"
• Video (Tesla): "Optimus - Gen 2"
• Blog: Peter Diamondis - "Embrace AI or Face Extinction"

Connect with Ashley Furniture online:

Facebook | YouTube | LinkedIn

THERE'S MORE! Access the full list of notes & resources on the official episode page:

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How can we better serve students in a city like Milwaukee, where 50% of students attend mediocre or failing schools, and only 65% of students even graduate high school? This data isn't anomalous; urban regions across the U.S. are failing our students, creating systems lacking in hope and opportunity for our kids.

One school in Milwaukee has found tremendous success by taking a holistic approach to K-12 education - one where the whole student is served, mind, body and soul.

Abby Andrietsch, CEO of St. Augustine Preparatory Academy, joins us to share the unique approaches at Aug Prep that have help students go from failing to 4.0; where graduates have earned over $21 million in scholarships in the 7 years the school has been open.

Discover how Aug Prep has been ranked one of the top K-12 schools in the state for academic success with one of the highest satisfaction ratings for teachers, all while serving low-income students of color from across 43 zip codes in Milwaukee.

3 Big Takeaways from this episode:

1. A holistic approach to education serves the student's mind, body and soul: Aug Prep has built their model on four pillars: faith, family, academics and athletics/arts. Parents are involved in each student's educational journey; academic rigor starts at four years old; students are given opportunities in STEM, the arts and athletics; and faith is the final key to ensuring the entire student is served by the school.
2. Believing in students' potential and setting high expectations can lead to remarkable achievements: You'll be amazed at the success stories Abby shares in the podcast. When students have teachers who believe in them, mentors who lead them, parents who are involved in their education, and a school who sets expectations high, it's incredible what students can accomplish.
3. Exposing students to a variety of career pathways and providing authentic experiences can help them make informed decisions about their future: Aug Prep prides itself on helping students be future-ready. No matter their post-secondary pathway, the school provides 60+ pre-college program opportunities for exposure and exploration for a variety of careers. In an effort to ensure their students are ready for the future workforce, Aug Prep is also investing heavily in STEM and advanced manufacturing curriculum through partnerships with the MMAC and Bucyrus Foundation.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• Visit Aug Prep's website
• Episode: Where Forward-Thinking Manufacturers Invest their Resources (featuring Austin Ramirez, CEO of Husco)
• Aug Prep Exceeds Expectations by Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction

Connect with Aug Prep online:

Facebook | YouTube | LinkedIn |

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Every student should have access to the educational opportunities they need to pursue the careers they're passionate about - and that means removing as many financial barriers as possible.

When it comes to students attending technical and community colleges, often these financial barriers look much different than those faced by a traditional university student. And yet of the 1,500 applications the SME Education Foundation receives each year for their $1 million+ in scholarship funds, only 5% of applicants are community college students.

In this episode, we're joined by Rob Luce, Vice President of the SME Education Foundation and Maria Fernanda, Founder of IOScholarships, to discuss the unique challenges that community college students face, and why scholarships can be a truly life-changing resource for these individuals.

See the episode page for more notes & quick facts about our guests.

3 Big Takeaways from this episode:

1. Community college students often face different financial barriers to education than traditional university students: If we compare the tuition cost alone, it's easy to see why university students benefit from scholarships to save on a tuition that could reach six figures over four years - while affordability is built into the community college model. However, generally speaking, the demographics of community college students are much different than university students: often these individuals are already employed, juggling full-time careers with continuing education. They're often raising families, financially supporting a household while also covering the cost of things like childcare.
2. A debt-free education can make a life-changing difference: For a university student, a scholarship might be the difference between graduating with or without student debt. For a community college student, a scholarship might be the difference between them having to quit school altogether and being able to get a degree that will jumpstart a better career for themselves and their family. Hear Maria Fernanda share some inspiring stories of students she's interviewed on the IOScholarships Superheroes Podcast who have experienced the life-changing benefit of a scholarship.
3. We need to change the misconceptions about who scholarships are for and increase awareness about opportunities for community college students: The SME Education Foundation is committed to increasing the number of diverse individuals applying for and receiving scholarships for engineering and manufacturing programs. IOScholarships exists to provide scholarship and internship resources for underrepresented individuals. Both of these organizations are spearheading the work we should all be part of - advocating for community college education and increasing awareness about the scholarships available for these programs.

Resources:

SME Education Foundation

• Visit the SME Education Foundation website
• Click here to learn about scholarship opportunities and apply online

IOScholarships

• Visit the

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