Community Colleges Announce Partnership to Address Workforce Shortage

September 14, 2018

Center for Economic Growth Identified Shortage from State and Regional Labor Data and Local Colleges are Taking Action

Recent State and Regional Labor data analyzed by the Center for Economic Growth has indicated that a low unemployment rate, combined with a continued increase in job creation, has resulted in a shortage of qualified workers trained to fill emerging jobs. Referred to as a "skills gap," Columbia-Greene Community College, Fulton-Montgomery Community College, Hudson Valley Community College, SUNY Adirondack and SUNY Schenectady are working together to address this issue and the workforce demand throughout the Capital Region.

What:

Presidents of five SUNY community colleges will announce a new partnership and plans to address the skills gap in the region. More details on the partnership and research will be shared at the event.

When:

Tuesday, Sept. 18, 2018 at 10 a.m.

Where:

Bulmer Telecommunications Center, Atrium
Hudson Valley Community College, 80 Vandenburgh Ave., Troy, NY 12180
Campus map
Parking: B1 lot

Who:

Presidents from the five partner colleges:

• James Campion, Columbia-Greene Community College
• Kristine Duffy, SUNY Adirondack
• Steady Moono, SUNY Schenectady
• Roger Ramsammy, Hudson Valley Community College
• Dusty Swanger, Fulton-Montgomery Community College

As well as:

• Andrew Kennedy, President and CEO, Center for Economic Growth
• Johanna Duncan-Poitier, Senior Vice Chancellor for Community Colleges and the Education Pipeline for the State University of New York (SUNY)

And workforce partners and industry representatives, including:

• Timothy Beckett, COO, Townsend Leather Co. Inc.
• David Fingar, Chief Engineer, Mid-Hudson Cablevision
• Bill Hart, Vice President, U.S. Business Operations, Irving Consumer Products
• Jake Kolar, Senior Controls Engineer for Beech Nut, in Amsterdam
• John Zayhowski, Chief of Manufacturing for Watervliet Arsenal

Remarks will be given by President Roger Ramsammy, Hudson Valley Community College; Andrew Kennedy, President and CEO, Center for Economic Growth; President Dusty Swanger, Fulton-Montgomery Community College; Bill Hart, Vice President, U.S. Business Operations, Irving Consumer Products; and Johanna Duncan-Poitier, Senior Vice Chancellor for Community Colleges and the Education Pipeline for the State University of New York (SUNY).

Media Contact: Dennis Kennedy, (518) 629-8071