Career Readiness Conference

This session features a data-driven overview of regional workforce trends impacting Healthcare, IT, Construction, Manufacturing, and Agribusiness, followed by an employer panel. Attendees will gain insight into current and emerging talent challenges, in-demand skills, and how employers are adapting workforce strategies to support a career-ready future.

Session Presentation: Keynote Slides – The Workforce Outlook

Alex Andrews, Director of Business Intelligence & Workforce Innovation, TalentFirst—a.andrews@talentfirst.net

Walk through Royal’s journey in building a mutually beneficial work-based learning program designed to strengthen its technical talent pipeline. Gain practical insights and replicable strategies you can apply within your own organization.

Session Presentation: Expanding Your Talent Pipeline_Royal Technologies

Laura Longstreet, Royal Technologies—laura.longstreet@royaltechnologies.com 

Learn how pre-apprenticeships and Registered Apprenticeships are helping Michigan employers address critical talent shortages while expanding high-skill career pathways for students and jobseekers. Designed for employers and educators, this session explores how to build aligned, high-quality training programs that strengthen your long-term talent pipeline.

Session Presentation: West MI Works Apprenticeships and Pre-Apprenticeships

Joel Elsenbroek, West Michigan Works—jelsenbroek@westmiworks.org 

This session offers a practical roadmap for securing grant funding to advance career readiness efforts. Learn how to identify the right opportunities, align proposals with local workforce priorities, and avoid common pitfalls—through real-world examples and actionable strategies you can implement immediately.

Session Presentation: Grant Prospecting & Grant Writing Tips to Support Career Readiness Initiatives

James Hissong, Kent ISD—JamesHissong@kentisd.org 

Explore best practices for building and sustaining strong business partnerships that deepen and scale the impact of your work-based learning efforts over time.

Session Presentation: Opening Doors_ How Educators Build Business Partnerships

Shayna Carlson, Ottawa Area ISD—scarlson@oaisd.org 

Ryan Graham, Kent ISD—ryangraham@kentisd.org 

Explore simple, low-lift ways to engage students—through guest speaking, job shadows, and workplace tours. We’ll dispel common myths, highlight what works, and outline practical next steps to connect with emerging talent—without a long-term commitment.

Session Presentation: Start Small, how employers can engage students

Shayna Carlson, Ottawa Area ISD—scarlson@oaisd.org 

Krista Harmon, Kent ISD—kristaharmon@kentisd.org 

HR plays a critical role in ensuring high-quality, compliant, and secure work-based learning experiences—for both students and employers. This session equips HR leaders with best-practice tools and real-world insights from panelists experienced in partnering with education to build strong, sustainable programs.

Session Presentation: HR in Action_Designing Strong Work-Based Learning Programs

Ryan Graham, Kent ISD—ryangraham@kentisd.org 

Karrie Brown, West Michigan Works!—kbrown@westmiworks.org 

MEERA is a turnkey, competency-based K–12 manufacturing education model designed to inspire and prepare the next generation of talent. This session will cover the program’s core components and provide an update on implementation across Michigan, including Allendale, Caledonia, and Muskegon.

Session Presentation: MEERA Program

Cary Stamas, MEERA Director – Michigan/Midwest—cstamas@technistaconsulting.com 

Jen Soukhome, MEERA Teacher Trainer—jensoukhome@kentisd.org  

Registered Apprenticeship is often misunderstood. This session cuts through the myths, offering a clear, practical look at how Registered Apprenticeship programs are structured, launched, and leveraged to build a reliable, skilled talent pipeline.

Session Presentation: 411 on USDOL Apprenticeships

Bill Rayl, Michigan Manufacturers Association—rayl@mimfg.org 

Get an inside look at the new West Michigan Works! Career Exploration Events platform—a regional hub connecting K–12 students, families, educators, and industry. Walk away with practical strategies to expand real-world career exposure and strengthen West Michigan’s talent pipeline.

Session Presentation: Building Talent Bridges: Career Exploration Events That Connect Students, Families & Industry

Karrie Brown, West Michigan Works!—kbrown@westmiworks.org 

Bill Guest, Metrics Reporting—bill.guest@metricsreporting.com 

Agriculture today is a technology-driven, problem-solving industry with diverse, high-demand career pathways. Hear how Critter Barn and Ottawa Area ISD are leveraging modern agriculture and agritourism—paired with intentional work-based learning—to connect students to this evolving and opportunity-rich field.

Tony McCaul, Executive Director at Critter Barn—tony@critterbarn.org 

Discover how Kentwood Public Schools leverages K–12 STEM pathways as a districtwide strategy for career-connected learning aligned to workforce priorities. Explore the system-level structures driving this work—from pathway design and instructional coherence to a STEM Advisory Committee ensuring alignment with durable skills and regional talent needs.

Session Presentation: STEM Pathways _ Building Durable Skills

Du Bui, Kent ISD—DuBui@kentisd.org  

Dana Meyer, Kentwood Public Schools—dana.meyer@kentwoodps.org  

Learn how the YS Foundations Train-the-Trainer model equips ISDs and RESAs to strengthen career development systems and provide sustained school support. Hear how Muskegon Area ISD is leveraging this approach to build local capacity, scale impact districtwide, and empower leaders to drive lasting change.

Session Presentation: Scaling Career Development_YS Foundations Model

Gretchen Panicucci, Youth Solutions—panicuccig@ouryouthsolutions.org 

Megan Byard-Karaba, Muskegon Area ISD—mbyard@muskegonisd.org