Governor names President Kavalhuna to 21st Century Talent Creation Subcommittee
Photo: Former Governor Rick Snyder, left, with HFC President Russ Kavalhuna
In late 2018, prior to leaving office, Gov. Rick Snyder appointed HFC President Russell Kavalhuna to a two-year term on Michigan's 21st Century Talent Creation Subcommittee.
The subcommittee will work with the governor’s Talent Investment Board, which includes industry executives, labor leaders, educators, lawmakers, and representatives of various state agencies. It will focus on changing demands for skills and how collaboration with educators can quickly prepare students for rapidly changing workplaces.
In addition to President Kavalhuna, the following individuals were also appointed to the subcommittee:
• Grand Rapids Community College President Dr. Bill Pink (three-year term)
• Alpena Public Schools Supt. Dr. John VanWagoner (three-year term)
• Dr. Joseph Lubig, Associate Dean, School of Education, Northern Michigan University (three-year term)
• Megan Schrauben, executive director of the MiSTEM Network for the Michigan Department of Technology, Management, and Budget (three-year term)
• Alycia Meriweather, Deputy Superintendent of External Partnerships, Enrollment & Specialty Programming, Detroit Public Schools Community District (two-year term)
• Dr. Mark Pogliano, principal at the Jackson Area Career Center (two-year term)
811,000 job openings in high-demand fields by 2024
Through 2024, Michigan is projected to have more than 811,000 career openings in fields that facing a critical talent shortage. Enter the Marshall Plan, another Snyder initiative in which HFC is a core partner in Southeast Michigan.
The Marshall Plan is an additional $100 million investment to revolutionize Michigan’s talent and education system. It supports schools that want to transform education through programs like competency-based certifications, world-class curricula and classroom equipment, scholarships and stipends, and support for career navigators and teachers. The Marshall Plan funding complements more than $225 million in existing talent development efforts in the state.
HFC is part of two consortia that received funding as part of the Marshall Plan in December:
- A partnership with the University of Detroit Mercy (UDM) and Melvindale Public Schools for education and training in robotics and technical illustration. Other partners in this project include Detroit Public Schools, the City of Detroit Workforce Development, and Detroit Employment Solutions.
- A consortium led by Detroit Public Schools consortium that includes HFC and the Wayne County Community College District (WC3D).
Created by former Gov. Rick Snyder in 2018, the Marshall Plan is a statewide $100 million effort to revolutionize talent development in Michigan. It provides innovation grants for curriculum, equipment, software, cybersecurity, and teacher shortage relief. The goal is to provide the skillsets for high-growth, high-demand occupations.
On July 26, 2018, HFC and the Department of Talent & Economic Development (TED) hosted 100 business and educational leaders from around Michigan at the Marshall Plan for Talent Workshop to build partnerships that will move the region – and state – forward.
HFC is positioned to make the Marshall Plan a success by collaborating with K-12 school districts and the College’s industry partners to prepare students for careers in the fields of nursing, cybersecurity, and the skilled trades, according to Kavalhuna.
“I am honored and humbled to have been chosen to serve on the subcommittee with these fine educational leaders,” said Kavalhuna. “I am truly excited about this opportunity to work with my fellow educators from across the state of Michigan to improve Michigan’s future workforce.”