Edition: November 1, 2024

Gulf Coast Challenge College & Career Fair Survey Winners

Thank you to all who participated in the

Gulf Coast Challenge College & Career Fair Student Survey!

Congratulations to the Citronelle High School student who won a CTE Scholarship for 9 credit hours in a technical program from Bishop State Community College (not pictured).
Congratulations to the Davidson High School student who won a CTE Scholarship for 9 credit hours in a technical program from Coastal Alabama Community College.
Congratulations to the $100 Visa Gift Card winners from Blount High School, Satsuma High School, Theodore High School, and Williamson High School.

Workforce Summit:

“Rebuilding Lives: A Multifaceted Approach to Rehabilitation, Veteran Support, & Reentry into the Workforce”

On Wednesday, October 16, partners from across the Southwest Alabama Region gathered at Bishop State Community College for the SAWDC Workforce Summit. Following the positive feedback from their previous presentation in May, we were pleased to welcome back Nick Conway from the Alabama Department of Rehabilitation Services (ADRS), Brendlyn Newman from the Alabama Department of Labor, and Dr. William “Butch” Young from J.F. Ingram State Technical College. They presented valuable resources available for businesses related to rehabilitation, veteran support, and second chance employment.

Mark your calendars for the next Workforce Summit scheduled for April 23, 2025, at Baldwin Preparatory Academy.

STEM Ecosystem Design Studio

On Friday, October 18, 2024, our Regional Workforce Council actively participated in the Region 7 STEM Ecosystem Design Studio at Bishop State Community College. We were thrilled to collaborate with partners from across the region to establish foundational principles and develop ambitious SMART Goals designed to advance STEM education and workforce readiness over the next 18 months. As part of this exciting statewide initiative, each region is working to lay the groundwork and create impactful programs that enhance STEM learning and career opportunities.

Educator Workforce Academy (EWA), is a collaborative initiative hosted by SAWDC AlabamaWorks, that aims to foster relationships between education and industry leaders. EWA highlights the essential role educators play in workforce development. This year's cohort consists of 23 educators. On October 10, 2024, for the Construction, Hospitality & Tourism session, we toured Performance Contractors, Bishop State Culinary Studio, and Renaissance Riverview Hotel. We listened to engaging presentations from Lesleigh Smith and Casey Page of Performance Contractors, Chef Gabi Wilson from Bishop State Culinary College, Dr. Klaus Tenbergen from Bishop State Community College, Tammy Lowe, Marsha Rice, Caroline Seale, and Melissa Hammond of Renaissance Hotels.

November 14th: Educator Workforce Academy
November 21st: Leadership Skills Training 2
December 4th: Building a Student Internship - Meeting 8:30 am
December 12th: Leadership Skills Training 3

CONTACT US

Bridget Wilson, Executive Director | bwilson@sawdc.org

Hayleigh Barlar, Workforce Development Manager | hbarlar@sawdc.org

Bridgette Young, Education and Programs Manager | byoung@sawdc.org