Local Industry Leaders Attend Career & Technical Education Dinner at Grays Harbor College

Posted on: Oct, 30, 2024

Last week, the Career and Technical Education (CTE) Department at Grays Harbor College hosted a working dinner to recognize and engage with the members of GHC’s CTE advisory committees.

Representatives from more than 40 local employers attended the dinner alongside GHC faculty and staff in the A.J. Hillier Event Center in GHC’s new tulalW Student Center.  

GHC President Dr. Carli Schiffner addressed the advisory committee members. “Your insights and impacts have shaped our programs, and your insights and impacts have helped our students become workforce-ready upon graduation. I can’t think of anything else more important that we do. Workforce really is our future. I can’t thank you enough for helping our students be workforce ready.”

Next, Dr. Schiffner expressed gratitude to GHC faculty. “Thank you to our incredible faculty. Your excitement and passion are what brought me to the College, and your excitement and passion are what helped me as a first-generation student be retained and feel like I had value. Thank you for making GHC such a great place to be and a great place to cultivate the future of our community.”

Dr. Schiffner also recognized the GHC staff who were involved in organizing the event. “I know that Ariel Finfrock, Dr. Paulette Lopez, Cathy LeCompte, Candi Bachtell, Roxa Banks, Lisa Smith from the Foundation, and our Campus Operations team all pulled together over the past few months to make this event happen. The spirit of collaboration strengthens the communities we live in and sets us up for a real vibrant future.”

Cathy LeCompte, who recently joined GHC as the Dean of Workforce Education, echoed Dr. Schiffner’s sentiments. “I know this community is generous. I’ve lived here almost all my life. I was the United Way Executive Director, and I know, we just rise to the occasion. When there’s a problem, an issue, a tragedy, we rise to that occasion and we rise to support each other.”

Members of advisory committees support program development, generate new ideas, and advocate for quality career and technical education. Committee members have expertise in the skills and competencies needed for specific occupations and play a valuable role in preparing students for employment upon graduation.

Volunteers from the following employers participate on the advisory committees and attended last week’s dinner: Andy’s Automotive, Twin Harbors Branch Skills Center, Napa Auto Parts, Left Coast Garage (Automotive Technology); Miller Jr. High School, Willapa Valley Elementary School, Aberdeen School District (Bachelor of Applied Science in Teacher Education); Harbor Regional Health, Washington State office of Financial Management, Greater Grays Harbor, Inc., Seabrook Land Trust, Grays Harbor Youth Works (Business); Grays Harbor Therapeutic Court; Grays Harbor Juvenile Facility (Criminal Justice); Willapa Behavioral Health, Pacific County (Human Services); Grays Harbor Community Hospital, Aberdeen High School, Harbor Medical Group, Summit Pacific Medical Center (Medical Assisting); Port Blakely Tree Farms, Washington Department of Natural Resources, Rayonier, Inc., Weyerhaeuser Company (Natural Resources-Forestry); Summit Pacific Medical Center, Harbor Regional Health, Harbors Home Health & Hospice, Grays Harbor Community Hospital, Harbor Regional Health (Nursing); Malcom Drilling, Central Welding Supply, Precision Pipe, J.H. Kelly (Field), United Association Local Union 26 (Welding); Willapa Harbor Chamber of Commerce, Worksource (Worker Retraining).