'A new level of expertise and education' - #lakewoodnews

When I sat down for an interview with Northglenn Economic Development Manager Debbie Tuttle last month for my weekly "Coffee with..." column, she seemingly couldn't say enough about workforce development --; in her home city of Northglenn, throughout North Metro and all across the state of Colorado.

Here's what she had to say:

So Northglenn announced recently the electrician apprenticeship program coming to the city in August, and just last week Adams 12 Five Star Schools launched the P-TECH, or Pathways in Technology Early College High School program, at Northglenn High School. And, of course, NHS is a Science, Technology, Engineering and Math Magnet Lab School. What do you think all of that says about the focus of workforce development in Northglenn?

During my career the most important thing I've focused on is workforce development --; I've sat on workforce development boards ... I've sat on the governor's panel for workforce development. And the reason I support workforce development is because there won't be any economic development if you don't have an educated workforce.

I mean, your workforce is the most important thing you have for a business, and you won't be able to attract new businesses here and more importantly you won't be able to retain them here against the competition if you don't have it.

In Northglenn, I believe that's where we're growing. When you talk about the entrepreneurial spirit here in Northglenn, behind some of those manufacturing doors, you'd be amazed. They're working on aerospace and medical device and biotechnology and you'd never know it by looking from outside the building.

And then, the opportunity for our kiddos to be at a school like Northglenn High School or any of our STEM --; all those schools not only educate kids but prepare them for the future workforce. We're doing all that here in Northglenn, and I'm so proud of it.

We want to grow our own, because there's this thing called the 'Colorado paradox,' and that means we're importing in our educated workforce. We're second highest in the nation in bachelor degree population per residents, second in the nation! However, we're importing the majority of our educated bachelor degree people from other states. The lesson learned from the Colorado paradox is that we need to grow our own so our kids will stay here and be part of the next generation of our workforce.

Do you think Northglenn is setting the pace in terms of workforce development?

There's two parts to that: First of all, I think Colorado as a whole is trying to set an example. This, it's not all about us, it's the state of Colorado, as well as the Metro Denver area. Regionalism is very, very important and the bottom line is everybody is going to win if we educate our workforce.

Where I believe Northglenn has taken a step above them is through the STEM schools, because those aren't available in every community. I think they have a very creative and strategic plan heading into the future that I have not seen in other schools ... They've got aerospace programs and biotechnology, bioscience, engineering and information technology --; that's amazing! And could you imagine getting a two-year associate's degree in high school? Paid for?

I think what we're doing is setting a new level of expertise and education in Northglenn and throughout Colorado.

from Lakewood Sentinel - Latest Stories http://lakewoodsentinel.com/stories/A-new-level-of-expertise-and-education,211260