Chamber luncheon talks AI, micro-credentials, more
A panel of local education leaders brought the SanCap Chamber, Greater Fort Myers Chamber of Commerce (GFMCC) and Florida Restaurant & Lodging Association (FRLA) up to date on what their are accomplishing in the field of workforce development and what event attendees could do to help.
They spoke at the joint, monthly business luncheon on July 15 at the Marriott Sanibel Harbour Resort & Spa in Fort Myers, with the program moderated by Lee County Economic Development Office (EDO) Senior Business Developer Tatum Walker.
The panelists included: The Heights Foundation founder, President and Chief Executive Officer Kathryn Kelly, which is opening The Heights CareerTech Institute in Fort Myers; Florida SouthWestern State College Entrepreneurship and Innovation Director Peter Ocsody; Fort Myers Technical College Director John Roszell; and Florida Gulf Coast University Micro-Credential & Workforce Programs, Continuing Education & Skills Academy Coordinator Kelly Thawley.
Questions and answers addressed pressing workforce needs, trades training, keeping workers, needed legislative support, meeting the needs of a fast-changing world, and partnerships with the business community and high schools.
“We know that Hurricane Ian shined a spotlight on the lack of the trades that were available to us today,” Kelly said. “It’s not just practical skills, even though that’s in part my work, but learning customer service and the culture of a company. That’s why learning the soft skills, as we call them, or the wraparounds, those are so important, too. We know that when someone goes to apply for a job, you want to know that they can actually do the job, but how do they fit in with your company?”
Ocsody hit hard on the importance of artificial intelligence (AI) and technical skills.
“I cannot over-emphasize how important AI is for every one of you,” he said. “Every one of you should pay significantly more attention to this, unless you are already paying that attention to it. It’s like electricity that everything gets plugged into.”
Ocsody also likened AI to a puzzle pieces one must figure out how to fit together.
Roszell called it “a co-pilot for a career… how to get where you’re going.”
Thawley pointed out the importance of teaching how to use AI ethically and as an enhancement to a career.
However, the panelists emphasized that skills come first and demonstrated programs their institutions have developed for making training more accessible, including “earn while you learn” curricula, job shadowing, internships, having a presence in high school classrooms and short-term options, such as micro-credentials.
They said learning and “stacking” niche workplace skills can improve hire-ability, build a career and possibly provide a pipeline to college education. Many of these programs depend upon industry partners’ participation.
Besides healthcare and automotive mechanics, the panel mentioned manufacturing, construction and marine mechanics as high skill priorities.
Roszell said attracting and keeping workers in Southwest Florida is a community effort. It’s not just about starting a career; it’s about starting a life here.
“Thanks to our speakers for demonstrating that strengthening the local workforce goes beyond the doors of our fine learning institutions,” chambers and FRLA President and Chief Executive Officer John Lai said. “They are doing so much to keep up with today’s demand, but they need the support of the entire business community. We can all work together to create an ecosystem that welcomes and nurtures workers and their families.”
The meeting was supported by annual luncheon sponsor HBKS, along with Quantum Fiber and Trailways Camps.