13 Apr 2015 Arch Ford Cooperative hosts business partnership

The Arch Ford Education Service Cooperative in Plumerville recently hosted the first Central Arkansas CTE Regional Business Partnership Council Meeting.  

Around 100 business representatives and secondary and post-secondary educators met together to discuss workforce issues including skills gaps in the workplace and issues businesses and industries identify when trying to hire, attract and train their employees.

After a welcome by Phillip Young, director of Arch Ford, Steve Sparks from the Arkansas Economic Development Commission opened and led a discussion panel on how businesses and educators can work together to strengthen the future workforce with Andrew Guffey, assistant director of education and Ag-in-the-Classroom for Arkansas Farm Bureau; Darla McJunkins, First Service Bank, Clinton; Dr. Greg Murry, superintendent, Conway School District; Tamara Wright, registered nurse, Baptist Health Medical Center-Heber Springs; Susan West, hospitality administration, Arkansas Tech University; Jake Nabholz, executive vice president of South Central Operations, Nabholz Construction Services; and Jerry Smith, president and CEO, Morrilton Area Chamber of Commerce.

Following the event, Phyllis Dickey, educator from Danville, stated, “This meeting was very beneficial for me as a career coach at my high school. Everything said was noteworthy of our efforts to build a strong progression of job performance activities with all of our students to better prepare them for the expectations of the real world. Having industry representatives tell me firsthand about what types of people they are expecting to hire was very convincing; who else better could we hear this information from? Excellent, excellent way to spend a day of in-service! I am expected to report this to the board of education, and after this meeting, I feel very equipped to speak to them about industry/education concerns.”

Maynette Stroud, educator from Vilonia, added, “It was important for me to hear that the same skills are needed in nearly every area of employment. As an occupational teacher, the panel reinforced the importance of the soft skills that I teach, and we practice in my classes like communication skills, social media etiquette, time management and taking the initiative/leadership. I’ve always known but was thrilled to hear again that the students who are involved in extracurricular activities and who take on leadership roles in organizations like FCCLA (Family, Career and Community Leaders of America) and FFA (Future Farmers of America) gain the knowledge, skills and abilities that make them excellent employees and leaders within companies and businesses. An important message that I heard in the Education and Training breakout session was that we need to grow our own teachers.”

Lori Mitchell, career and technical coordinator from Arch Ford, was pleased with the success of the day. “It was the right time to bring business representatives and educators together to discuss ways to strengthen the relationship and connections between the two. I just want to thank everyone who attended and helped make the day so successful. I look forward to the continuing work together on the ideas discussed.”