Our Partners
Introduction
In mid-September 2019, we announced the selection of our regional partners who will make Career Connect Washington happen. Business, education, and government leaders in nine regions teamed up to create over 29,000 career connected learning experiences. After a rigorous application process, a cohort of regional networks and intermediary organizations have been named to expand career-connected learning programs across Washington.
Regional networks, learning coordinators and intermediary organizations all play important roles in ensuring our young people have the opportunities they deserve to build the careers they want.
This work is coordinated by the Employment Security Department and Washington STEM and funded through federal WIOA dollars, JP Morgan Chase, and local private funds.
We are grateful to the many organizations who have contributed time and insight to this work. Labor leaders and the Business and Philanthropy Leadership group are also listed below.
For information on grantees, read the Governor’s announcement and for contact information for individual projects or any other information, contact Anna Nikolaeva at the Employment Security Department or Gilda Wheeler at Washington STEM.
Regional Networks and CCL Coordinators
Regional Networks
Regional Networks are the key to scaling career connected learning statewide and will play an integral role in convening and managing regional, cross-industry partnerships that will lead to expansion of opportunities for Washington youth.
Each Network also has a Career Connected Learning Coordinator, who is also listed. CCL Coordinators help regional networks work with the K-12 system.
In fall of 2019, the following organizations were named Career Connect Regional Networks.
Capital Region Educational Service District 113
Website
Counties: Thurston, Mason, Lewis, Grays Harbor and Pacific
Contact: Lorie Thompson, lthompson@esd113.org
CCL Coordinator: Pat Lange, plange@esd113.org
Greater Spokane Incorporated/Spokane STEM Network
Website
Counties: Adams, Ferry, Lincoln, Pend Oreille, Spokane, Stevens and Whitman
Contact: Cassidy Peterson, cpeterson@greaterspokane.org
CCL Coordinator: Dennis Conger, NEWESD 101, dconger@esd101.net
Educational Service District 105 / South Central Washington STEM Network
Website
Counties: Kittitas, Yakima, Grant and Klickitat
Mark Cheney, mark.Cheney@esd105.org
CCL Coordinator: Hugo Moreno, ESD 105, Hugo.moreno@esd105.org
Educational Service District 112 / Southwest Washington STEM Network
Website
Counties: Clark, Cowlitz, Klickitat, Pacific, Skamania and Wahkiakum
Contact and CCL Coordinator: Vickei Hrdina, vickei.hrdina@esd112.org
North Central ESD 171 / Apple STEM Network
Website
Counties: Chelan, Douglas, Grant and Okanogan
Contact and CCL Coordinator: Sue Kane, suek@ncesd.org
South Kitsap School District # 402 / West Sound STEM Network
Website
Counties: Kitsap, Jefferson and Clallam
Contact: Kareen Borders, borders@skschools.org
CCL Coordinator: Kimberly Hetrick, Olympic Region ESD 114, khetrick@oesd114.org
Washington Alliance for Better Schools
Website
Counties: King and Pierce
Contact: Phyllis Harvey-Buschel, phyllis@wabsalliance.org
CCL Coordinator: Walter Jackson, Puget Sound ESD 121, wjackson@psesd.org
Washington State STEM Education Foundation / Mid-Columbia STEM Network
Website
Counties: Walla Walla, Benton, Franklin, Columbia, Garfield and Asotin
Contact: Debra Bowen, deb@STEMlearning.org
CCL Coordinator: Greg Fancher, ESD 123, gfancher@esd123.org
Workforce Snohomish
Website
Counties: Island, San Juan, Skagit, Snohomish and Whatcom
Contact: Joy Emory, joy.emory@workforcesnohomish.org
CCL Coordinator: Bre Urness-Straight, NW ESD 189, burnessstraight@nwesd.org
Intermediaries
Career Connect intermediaries bridge connections between industry and educators to create and scale Career Launch, Preparation, and Awareness/Exploration programs.
In the first round of applications, we received applications for twice as much grant funding as available. Applicants who were not selected in Round 1 were able to revise and re-submit their proposals in future rounds.
The list below reflects five rounds of grants.
Aerospace Joint Apprenticeship Committee (AJAC)
Website: https://www.ajactraining.org/
Contact: CPierson@ajactraining.org
Apprenticeship for Nontraditional Employment for Women (ANEW) / Regional Pre-apprenticeship Collaborative (RPAC)
Website
Contact: Karen Dove, karen@anewaop.org
Computing for All
Website
Contact: Ritu Bahl, ritu@computingforall.org
Elements of Education Partners
Website
Contact: Elizabeth Hirschl, liz@elementsofed.org
Independent Technicians Automotive Committee (ITAC)
Website
Contact: Wayne Bridges, asanw.itacapprenticeship@gmail.com; wayne.bridges.auto@gmail.com
Northwest Maritime Center
Website: https://nwmaritime.org/
Contact: lisaw@nwmaritime.org
Olympic Educational Service District 114
Website
Contact: Jeff Allen, jallen@oesd114.org
Seattle Colleges
Website: https://www.seattlecolleges.edu/
Contact: anna.baldwin@seattlecolleges.edu
Seattle Goodwill Industries
Website: https://seattlegoodwill.org/
Huan Do huan.do@seattlegoodwill.org and Lily Istrate lily.istrate@seattlegoodwill.org
Seattle Jobs Initiative
Website: https://www.seattlejobsinitiative.com/
Contact: agoldstein@seattlejobsinit.com
Shoreline Community College
Website: https://www.shoreline.edu/
Contact: ghamilton@shoreline.edu
SkillSource / North Central Workforce Development Council
Website
Contact: Aaron Parrott, aaronp@skillsource.org
South Central Workforce Council
Website
Contact: Amy Martinez, amy.martinez@co.yakima.wa.us
Spokane Workforce Council
Website
Contact: Dawn Karber, dkarber@spokaneworkforce.org
The Training Fund (SEIU Healthcare 1199NW)
Website
Contact: Laura Hopkins, lhopkins@healthcareerfund.org
Thurston County Chamber of Commerce Foundation
Website: http://thurstonchamber.com/
Contact: mfiess@thurstonchamber.com
Washington Alliance for Better Schools (WABS)
Website
Contact: Shereen Henry, shereen@wabsalliance.org
Washington Commission on Hispanic Affairs
Website
Contact: Maria Siguenza, Maria.siguenza@cha.wa.gov
Washington State University – Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine
Website
Contact: Jessica Gerdes, jessica.l.gerdes@wsu.edu
Washington State University Spokane – Health Sciences
Website: https://spokane.wsu.edu/
Contact: katrina.rogers@wsu.edu
Wenatchee Valley College
Website
Contact: Jennifer Hadersberger, jhadersberger@wvc.edu
Western Washington University
Website: https://www.wwu.edu/
Joshua Porter porterj7@wwu.edu
Whatcom Community College
Website: https://www.whatcom.edu/
Contact: twagner@whatcom.edu
Workforce Southwest
Website
Contact: Benton Waterous, bwaterous@workforcesw.org
Partners
We are grateful for the leadership of all the organizations who have been, and continue to be, involved in this effort. Their commitment to Washington state young people is deeply appreciated.
Aerospace Joint Apprenticeship Committee (AJAC)
Associated General Contractors of Washington
Association of Washington Business
Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
Independent Colleges of Washington
Professional Educators Standards Board
The James and Judith K. Dimon Foundation
Washington Hospitality Association Education Foundation
Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges
Washington State Board of Education
Washington State Building and Construction Trades Council
Washington State Commission on Hispanic Affairs
Washington State Department of Labor & Industries
Washington State Department of Social and Health Services
Washington State Department of Transportation
Washington State Employment Security Department
Washington State Hospital Association
Washington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO
Washington State Rehabilitation Council
Washington State Superintendent of Public Instruction
Washington State Tree Fruit Association
Washington State Workforce Training and Education Coordinating Board