Tomorrow’s Talent: Education remains key for upskilling employees

ASHLAND — Amy Daubenspeck said she approached North Central State College with an idea late last year. 

Daubenspeck, the president of the Ashland Area Chamber of Commerce, said the chamber is always looking for ways to add value for its members. She heard about a partnership between another chamber and a local university. The school was offering chamber members’ employees certificate programs. 

Daubenspeck suggested to Chris Copper, the head of North Central State College’s foundation, they could partner to do something similar.

“It just kind of evolved from there very quickly,” Daubenspeck said. 

“It” is a new partnership, where Ashland chamber members’ employees can earn four different certificates — free of charge — from North Central State College. Copper announced the partnership at the chamber’s annual meeting. 

The program is an example of education and business coming together to “upskill” local employees.

Upskilling, Copper said, happens when employees are given opportunities to earn new skills they can apply in their workplace. It can look like certificate or credential programs, training modules from a community college or even leadership training. 

The practice of upskilling can help with employee recruitment and retention, which Copper said local businesses describe as a challenge.

The chamber and North Central State College aren’t alone in their efforts to upskill employees. 

Individual businesses and the state government have also stepped into the breach, offering opportunities for their employees to gain new skills.

Those opportunities run the gamut from internal training programs to TechCred, the state’s program to reimburse employees for their employers’ credentials. 

But traditional education institutions, from colleges to adult education centers, continue to play a key role in upskilling and reskilling employees. Plus, those institutions say they’re increasingly partnering with businesses and chambers of commerce to help fill their employment needs.

Building a partnership

Copper, with North Central State College, agreed that the partnership between the school and the Ashland Chamber came together quickly. 

“We tried to identify with her leadership, and knowing the community and the area businesses, what kinds of programming (they needed) so that we could have something well-rounded,” Copper said. 

In the end, North Central State had four certificate programs eligible for the program, along with one workshop. The selections are: 

• Supervision and leadership workshop
• Operations management certificate program
• Substance abuse certificate
• Microsoft application certificate
• Certified bookkeeping certificate

To participate in the program, employers must agree for their employee to attend. The student must apply to North Central State College and register for the Selective Service. 

Tuition for applicants is covered through grant funding, according to the college’s website. The North Central State College Foundation, along with other area donors, covers the cost of books and students’ other needs.

Copper added the college did a “blitz” when the partnership launched, visiting several local businesses to tell them about the opportunity. 

According to Copper, nine people have signed up for the certificate programs. 

A larger number — more than 50 people — have taken the supervision and leadership workshop. The workshop, Copper said, helps prepare people in administrative positions, for example, prepare to step up into a supervisory role. The program will last throughout the year before grant funding dries up.

Impacts and infrastructure

Keith Stoner, North Central State College’s director of marketing and public relations, added the university’s goal in working with the Ashland Area Chamber is to be seen as a resource to provide educational opportunities.

“We’re not here just looking for the one-off, one-year, one-time partnership,” Stoner said. “We’re really here looking for long-term connections that can have a meaningful impact on the community businesses.” 

North Central State College isn’t the only institution working to offer those types of upskilling programs and partnerships. 

Ashland University’s office of workforce development, for example, has taken on efforts to help provide 5G readiness certifications locally, regionally and statewide. 

Stephanie Donofe-Meeks, the head of that office, said the program AU uses runs through the Wireless Infrastructure Association.

“Ohio has a long history… of broadband expansion in Ohio, and bringing broadband to all its citizens,” Donofe-Meeks said. “Ohio was actually ahead of the game in the country in doing this. And so in order to do this, you need to have infrastructure in place.

“In order to have infrastructure in place, you need people to learn what that means, people trained in positions to do everything…”  

She added 5G readiness impacts multiple industries, from healthcare to agriculture. That makes 5G readiness a valuable skill for employees to possess.

Back-to-school

Still, the efforts to upskill employees with education don’t come without challenges. 

Stoner and Copper both said returning to school is a potential struggle for adult students. 

At NCSC, they’ve tried to make certificates accessible to combat that challenge. Several of the certificates in the Ashland chamber partnership are being offered online, too. 

Local career centers can also be a valuable resource when it comes to adults looking to gain new skills, take next steps in their career or return to school. 

Nancy Hall, Ashland County-West Holmes Career Center’s adult education director, agreed. 

Hall and Mary Bruno, the adult education business services coordinator, said the adult education program is on the same playing field as colleges and universities. It’s governed by the Ohio Department of Higher Education. That department also governs the state’s universities.

Students in ACWHCC’s adult education programs receive Pell grants or take out loans to attend. 

The adult education program at the ACWHCC offers seven programs, which range from dental assistance to welding. Attendees can also earn their high school diploma while completing a credential program. 

But, Hall said the longest program offered runs for 900 hours — the equivalent of about nine months. Then, students leave with certifications and sometimes job placements. 

“We are directly putting students into the pipeline in a relatively short amount of time,” Hall said.

They also work to be as flexible as possible with students. Their courses are typically offered at night to accommodate work schedules.

The adult education program also allows students to check out Chromebooks and mobile WiFi hotspots so they have access to the technology they may need to complete assignments.  

Hall added the ACWHCC’s adult education is constantly seeking feedback about its offerings. The school may also tweak programs to better meet the community’s needs. 

Offering chances to continue education through career centers or certificate programs, Stoner said, offers employees a stronger chance to succeed. 

That success may be a next step up the career ladder, the ability to better provide for their families or it can simply be a personal win. 

“These are wonderful little dominoes. When people see that they can do it, it’s empowering,” Stoner said.