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NEWN Conference Program

March 14, 2025

Morning Agenda

8:00 - 8:30 a.m. Registration and Continental Breakfast

  • Exhibitors Open
  • Platinum and Gold Sponsor Introductions

Location: Building #7, Grossman Commons

8:30 - 8:35 a.m. Opening Remarks

  • Introduction of Dr. John L. Cox, President, Cape Cod Community College, by Tammi Jacobsen, Director and Chief Workforce Development Officer

Location: Building #6, FMW Room G06 Lecture Hall          

8:35 - 8:40 a.m. Host College Welcome

  • Dr. John L. Cox, President, Cape Cod Community College 

8:50 - 8:55 a.m. NEWN Welcome, Agenda Overview and Recognition of Sponsors

  • Tammi Jacobsen, Director and Chief Workforce Development Officer
  • Mary Breeding, NEWN Consultant

8:50 - 8:55 a.m. Introduction of Keynote Speaker

  • Dr. Liza Talusan by Tammi Jacobsen, Director and Chief Workforce Development Officer

8:55 - 9:25 a.m. Keynote Presentation

  • Dr. Liza Talusan

Ready or Not, Here I Come! Creating Structures to Support Diversity and Innovation
Research shows that diverse and inclusive teams can be more innovative than homogeneous teams. Diverse teams bring a variety of perspectives, ideas, skills, and experiences which can help teams solve complex problems. However, these processes are not always easy. Leaders need to be strategic and prepared for the work. Join Dr Liza Talusan in this keynote address to explore how we can prepare for the benefits of diverse teams. 

Location: Building #6, FMW Room G06 Lecture Hall     

9:30 - 9:45 a.m. Coffee Break and Visits with Sponsors

Location: Building #7, Grossman Commons

9:45 - 10:30 a.m. Breakout Sessions

Breakout Session 1: Embrace the Squiggle: Using an Entrepreneurial Mindset to Thrive Through Workplace Change
Presenter: Colleen DelVecchio, Chief Maximizer, Maxady LLC                

Change is the only constant in today's fast- paced work environment. This compelling session explores how to successfully adapt to change using an entrepreneurial mindset. This session will equip you with the tools and mindset needed to navigate organizational shifts, technological advancements, and evolving job roles.

Location: Building #6, Room FMW G06, Lecture Hall


Breakout Session 2: Cross Sector Partnerships and Capacity Building
Facilitator: Judy Burke, Middlesex Community College
Presenters: 

  • Bonnie Carr, Director of Workforce Development & Adult Education, Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School
  • Kathryn Mannes, Senior Advisor, Jobs for the Future (JFF)
  • Kijah Gordon, Assistant Vice President LLL/WFD, Mount Wachusett Community College
  • Peter Gowac Jr., Senior Director, US Operations, Insulet Corporation
  • Jeanne LeClair, Chief Business Officer, Massachusetts Life Sciences Center (substitution if needed: Vidhartha Deonarain)

Presenter Discussion Highlights:

  • Showcasing a regional cross-sector partnership model for workforce training.
  • Inspiring bold and creative collaboration with companies and organizations.
  • Successful collaboration between Middlesex and Mount Wachusett Community Colleges, MassHire Career Centers, and industry partners to train workers for advanced manufacturing and robotics careers.

Location: Building #6, FMW Room G05    


Breakout Session 3: Innovative Workforce Development: Actionable Strategies for ESOL Challenges
Facilitator: Michelle Constantino, Cape Cod Community College
Presenters: 

  • Adam Cutler, Director of Workforce Competitiveness Trust Fund, Commonwealth Corporation
  • Robert Duncan, Director of Workforce Training Fund, Commonwealth Corporation
  • Mary-Ann Roberts, Senior Program Manager Workforce Competitiveness Trust Fund, Commonwealth Corporation

This presentation highlights Workplace ESOL programs, including ESOL for Employment, enhanced collaborations between Community Colleges, quasi-public organizations like Commonwealth Corporation (CommCorp), and community-based organizations, and a Community College/CommCorp partnership to develop a train-the-trainer model, with key examples and suggested approaches.

Location: Building #6, FMW Room G08 

10:30 - 10:45 a.m. Coffee Break and Visits with Sponsors  

Location: Building #7, Grossman Commons 

10:45 - 11:30 a.m. Breakout Sessions

Breakout Session 4: Building and Sustaining Employer Relationships for Registered Apprenticeship Programs
Presenter: Jeff Richmond, Director of Apprenticeship and Workforce Innovation, Howard Community College

Registered apprenticeship programs provide a valuable opportunity for individuals to gain hands-on training and experience in a particular field while also earning a salary. To ensure the success of these programs, it is essential to cultivate strong employer partnerships. This presentation will walk through the success of apprenticeship at Howard Community College through the lessons learned of building and sustaining employer partnerships.

Location: Building #6, FMW Room G06, Lecture Hall


Breakout Session 5: AI-Powered Innovations in Workforce Training
Facilitator: Katy Acheson, Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce       
Presenters:

  • David Ferreira, Provost, Charter Oak State College
  • Jack Spanierman, Workforce Education Specialist, Brattleboro Development Credit Corporation                

Presenter Discussion Highlights: 

  • The transformation of workforce development through Charter Oak’s AI Academy that provides 
    industry-driven, online training that equips participants with skills needed to excel in today’s job market.
  • Lessons learned through implementing Vermont Employment Pathfinder, an AI-driven employment and education tool for new, dislocated and/or traditionally marginalized jobseekers.

Location: Building #6, Room FMW G08


Breakout Session 6: Empowering Careers with Entrepreneurial Thinking
Facilitator: Danielle Dupuis Rose, Interplay Learning
Presenters:           

  • Maureen Znoj, Associate VP for Academic and Student Affairs, River Valley Community College
  • Michael Keogh, Director of Workforce Development, Community College of Vermont

Panel Discussion Highlights: 

  • The importance of an entrepreneurial mindset to being productive in the workspace and your personal space.
  • How the Community College of Vermont flips the traditional higher education model by prioritizing  work first and lifelong education. 

Location: Building #6, Room FMW G05

11:30 a.m. - 12:20 p.m. Luncheon

  • Sponsor Videos
  • Platinum and Gold Sponsor Introductions                   

Location: Building #7, Grossman Commons

Afternoon Agenda

12:25 - 12:45 p.m. Visits with Sponsors

Location: Building #7, Grossman Commons

12:50 - 1:35 p.m. Breakout Sessions

Breakout Session 7: Workforce Development Before, During and After Economic Development Initiatives
Presenter: Dr. Tiffany Howard, Interim Vice President of Economic & Workforce Development and Continuing Education, South Louisiana Community College

This presentation will explore how to build workforce partnerships before, during, and after economic development initiatives. Participants will learn how to align training with economic goals, adapt to industry changes, and sustain workforce growth. Louisiana's Broadband and Energy Transition statewide workforce projects will be review as examples.

Location: Building #6, Room FMW G06, Lecture Hall


Breakout Session 8: Innovative Approaches to ESOL and Workforce Integration
Facilitator: Jennifer Price, North Shore Community College
Presenters: 

  • Pesha Black, Director, English for Speakers of Other Languages, Holyoke Community College
  • Kermit Dunkelberg, Assistant Vice President for Adult Education and Workforce Development, Holyoke 
    Community College
  • Sonia Lindop, Senior Project Director, Career Ladder Program, UMass Amherst
  • Tadd Wamester, Director of Partnerships, EnGen          

Panel Discussion Highlights:

  • Design and implementation of high-quality ESOL training programs for a variety of career pathways.
  • ESOL programs for the culinary workforce to ensure initial training and employee retention and the use of AI tools to overcome challenges.
  • Adult educators leveraging EnGen in models including bridge, IETs, workplace literacy, and pre-apprenticeship.

Location: Building #6, Room FMW G05


Breakout Session 9: Overlooked But Not Untapped: Justice-based Talent at CommCorp
Facilitator: Marie Murphy, Cape Cod Community College
Presenters:

  • Jennifer Javier, Associate Director of Justice-Based Initiatives, Commonwealth Corporation
  • Danielle Brazeau, Associate Director of the DYS Skill Up Initiative, Commonwealth Corporation
  • Nafeeza Castro, Workforce Development Manager, Community Action Pioneer Valley

Staff from Commonwealth Corporation, alongside featured partner Community Action Pioneer Valley, will share innovative approaches and success stories in workforce development, highlighting efforts to support justice-impacted communities while showcasing resourcefulness, adaptability, and persistence in the field.

Location: Building #6, Room FMW G08

1:40 - 1:55 p.m. Cookie/Coffee Break and Visits with Sponsors

Location: Building #7, Grossman Commons                                                                                     

2:00 - 2:25 p.m. Impact Exchange
Facilitator: Tammi Jacobsen, Cape Cod Community College

Get ready for a fast-paced and interactive session designed to spark fresh ideas and connections! In this "lightening round" exchange, participants will rotate through tables to share and discover best practices, innovative strategies, and actionable insights from workforce development leaders. 

Location: Building #7, Grossman Commons 

2:25 - 2:50 p.m. Sponsor Gift Drawing

Location: Building #7, Grossman Commons 

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