Craig Lamb - 2023 PRESIDENT
Vice President - Corporate & Continuing Education
Rowan-Cabarrus Community College
P.O. Box 1595
Salisbury, NC 28146
DR. SCOTT LUCAS - PRESIDENT-ELECT
Vice President - Aviation, Manufacturing & Institutional Effectiveness
WSU Tech
Wichita, Kansas
Education
Emporia State University, Emporia, KS; Ph.D, Library and Information Management, 2008.
The University of Tulsa, Tulsa, OK; Master of Arts in Education, May 2001.
Emporia State University, Bachelor of Arts in History, May 1996.
Work Experience
Vice President-Aviation, Manufacturing, and Institutional Effectiveness (formerly WATC), Wichita, KS, August 2015-Present
- Provide policy, strategic direction, process change, and leadership across college as member of President’s Leadership Team and Academic Affairs Leadership for college that oversees over 30 academic programs in the areas of Aviation and Manufacturing
- Directly supervise college’s Instructional Technology and Academic Support, Institutional Research, Registrar, Assessment, and Accreditation efforts
- Coordinate with Deans and director academic activities on one campus and two locations as well as concurrent enrollment at over thirty-area high schools
- Assist Finance with the development of all budgetary aspects for the academic programs and activities and related funds for the National Center for Aviation Training
- HLC Liaison Officer
- Provided leadership that lead to 58% increase in college enrollment from 2016 thru 2020 that was named the 2nd fastest growing college in the nation.
- Assisted with successful implementation of Wichita Promise, Wichita Promise Move, and Metallica scholarship programs in aviation and manufacturing
- Supported and coordinated increase in dual credit and high school block students in CTE—the largest growth in the state of Kansas
- Directly supervised launch of programs in Professional Pilot, Tooling, UAS, Cloud Computing, Alternative Fuel and Electrical Systems, and Construction
- Served on college’s Wichita State University Affiliation joint committee—that lead to successful affiliation between WSU and WSU Tech
- 2020 NC3 Enterprise Award Winner and Three-time Dennis Iudice Award winner (2017, 2018, 2019) for number of NC3 certifications earned by students.
- Advanced Robotics in Manufacturing Institute Education and Workforce Development Committee member
- City of Wichita District 6 Advisory Board Member
- Wichita Manufacturers Association Executive Board Member
- Kansas Council on Workforce Education Board Member
- Regional Manufacturing Career and Technical Education Member
Director, Institutional Research, Wichita Area Technical College
July 2007-July 2015
Assistant Director, Institutional Effectiveness, Wichita Area Technical College
October 2005-June 2007
Amanda Sizemore - IMMEDIATE PAST-PRESIDENT
Dean, Corporate & Community Development
St. Charles Community College
4601 Mid Rivers Mall Drive
Cottleville, MO 63376-2865
Phone: 636.922.8474
Amanda is the Dean of Corporate & Community Development at St. Charles Community College (SCC). She has managed and implemented workforce and community development programming and consulting projects for over 25 years, prior to her time with she spent 13 years with St. Louis Community College’s Center for Business, Industry & Labor. Amanda strives to serve the community by supporting initiatives, which promote workforce and community development opportunities in the region. She has advanced those projects by procuring in excess of $40,000,000 in funding through federal, state and private sources. Her clients represent a broad range of business and industry including: manufacturing, aerospace, technology, publishing, healthcare, service, financial, distribution, government and education. She is currently working on SCC’s initiative to strategically expand programming to support its Healthy and Sustainable Living initiative – Healthcare & Emergency Preparedness, Agriculture & Food Science, Science & Natural Resources, and Technology & Engineering.
She serves as a liaison with the Missouri Department of Economic Development/Division of Workforce Development, the current Chair of the Missouri Community College Association Workforce Liaison Group and as SCC’s lead representative for the United States Department of Labor - TAACCT statewide MoWins Grants. Amanda is a board member of the St. Charles County Workforce Investment Board and of the O’Fallon Chamber of Commerce. In addition to these roles, she serves as a member of the Missouri Economic Development Council, Missouri Association of Customized Training and the Missouri Community College Association. She is the past president and current Committee Chair of the Missouri Association of Customized Training.
She was the recipient of the Beyond the Best Top 50 in Business Awards 2013, O’Fallon Chamber of Commerce 2015 Community Servant Award – Co Recipient, Partners for Progress 2015 Education Progress Award for Initiatives with Midwest Machine Tool Training Center – Co Recipient, International Society for Performance Improvement 2001 Award of Excellence – Co Recipient and United Way 2001 All-Star Award Winner Marketing & Communication – Co Recipient Awards. She is a graduate of the University of Missouri – Columbia and holds a degree in Business Administration.
Becky Epps - SECRETARY
Manager, Center for Workforce Innovation
St. Louis Community College
Workforce Solutions Group
3221 McKelvey Road
Bridgeton, MO 63044
PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY
- Twenty years of experience working with/managing MO Customized Training, New Jobs and Quality Jobs grants as well as DOL grants.
- STLCC Chancellor’s Leadership Academy, Spring 2012
- Recipient of Innovation of the Year 2009-2010 Accelerated Job Training Program for work on the Boeing Pre-employment Training Program
- Member of the National Coalition of Advanced Technology Centers
WORK EXPERIENCE
St. Louis Community College Workforce Solutions Group Manager, Center for Workforce Innovation
Focus on Advanced Manufacturing, Technical Training & Aerospace Manager of Boeing Pre-employment Training Program (2017 – Present)
- Women in Aerospace Manufacturing Program (established 2018)
- Boeing Pre-employment High School Program (piloted 2019)
Manager of Aviation Programs for Mississippi River Transportation, Distribution & Logistics Grant (2012 – 2016)
Grant Lead, MoManufacturingWINS (2011 – 2015) Manager, CBIL Technical Training (2009 – 2018)
Manager, Customized Training and Direct Pay Contracts (2004 – 2009) Project Coordinator, Advanced Manufacturing (1999 – 2006)
EDUCATION:
Lindenwood University
Bachelor of Arts, December 1998 Human Service Agencies - Management
St. Charles County Community College
Associates Degree, Accounting May 1996
ALICIA UHDE - TREASURER
Polytechnic Outreach Director
Bismarck State College
Bismarck, North Dakota
Professional Experience
Director, Polytechnic Outreach, Bismarck State College (2020 – present)
• Execute the expansion and maintenance of BSC public and private partnerships (local, regional, international) to support the Polytechnic mission.
• Direct experiential learning opportunities and facilitates a comprehensive programming plan connected to student learning outcomes resulting from these experiences.
• Provide oversight and administrative leadership for two Polytechnic Outreach Coordinators who support and enhance student success programming, including outreach, student experiential learning, and industry and educational partnership development.
• Organize development of BSC’s Polytechnic Business and Industry Leadership Teams (BILT).
• Initiate and support regional workforce and community development opportunities through credit programming and non-credit training in the areas of manufacturing/automation, energy, health science, cybersecurity, agriculture and finance.
• Identify and pursue opportunities related to adult education, expansion of career technical education in K-12, expanded career pathway options through stackable certificates and workforce development programs.
Contractor, National Power Academy Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (2018-2020)
• Provided remote oversight and administrative leadership of the National Power Academy Student Services Division including admissions, enrollment and records, advising, retention, student incident, student clubs, student communication, and student policy.
• Developed, implemented, and led ongoing management of the student information system.
Manager, Energy Technology Programs Bismarck State College (2011 – 2020)
• Served as program manager for Bachelor of Applied Science (BAS), Associate in Applied Science (AAS) and Certificate Programs in the areas of Energy Management, Electric Power Technology, Electric Transmission System Technology, and Instrumentation and Control programs, to include supervising 50+ adjunct and full-time faculty members, identifying needed programming changes, re-developing degree plans, and facilitating partnership development to support student outcomes
• Led initiatives to position BSC as provider of choice for Industry and Apprenticeship Training Programs.
• Strengthened industry partnerships to support flexible, customized education pathways through the blending of credit and non-credit programming, execution of credit for prior learning, and integration of industry recognized skills and credentials throughout programming.
• Directed multiple Energy Technology Student Advisors in management and support of 1,000+ student education plans and enrollment related processes for individuals entering into 11 Associate and one Bachelor Degree Programs.
• Supervised and supported the Energy Technology Outreach Coordinator in coordinating and attending educational and outreach events, hosting events to promote awareness around programs, and distributing timely communication through program specific websites, print materials, social media channels, and other outlets as needed.
• Served as founding member of and BSC liaison with the Energy Providers Coalition for Education (EPCE). EPCE is a national coalition of 3,500+ energy members who develop, sponsor, and promote industry-driven, standardized, quality online learning programs to meet the workforce needs of the energy industry.
• Responsible for multiple division grant activities including budget, reporting, curriculum development and outreach activities.
• Ensured compliance with reporting requirements for local, state, and federal government and numerous grant agencies as related to energy division activities
Jon Beck - Director
Executive Director and PI
National Center for Autonomous Technologies
National Science Foundation ATE Program
UAS Technology Instructor
Northland Community & Technical College
13892 Airport Drive
Thief River Falls, MN 56701
Phone: 218.683.8831
jonathan.beck@northlandcollege.edu
Jonathan Beck is the Executive Director and Principal Investigator (PI) for the National Center for Autonomous Technologies (NCAT). His career in Aerospace, Geospatial and Autonomous technologies has involved creating unmanned aircraft system (UAS) programs across state and federal organizations and higher education. In 2011, he supported Northland Community and Technical College in Thief River Falls, MN in launching the nation’s first UAS Maintenance program. NCAT and NCTC are positioned in the hub of the Red River Valley Region, known as the Silicon Valley for UAS technology advancements. It hosts the Federal Aviation Administration FAA UAS Northern Plains Test Site, the Nation’s first UAS Business Development Park “Grand Sky”, the Grand Forks Air Force Base with military, and Customs and Border Protection large scale UAS (Global Hawks and Predators) operations, the University of North Dakota (UND) Professional Pilot and UAS Certificate Programs, and the Research Institute for Autonomous Systems as well as a large number of start-up companies.
He serves on National Visiting Committees for the NSF GeoTech Center and Micro and Nano Technology Education Center, the Board of Directors for the National Coalition of Advanced Technology Centers, a Mentor for the NSF Mentor-Connect program and a Principal Investigator for multiple NSF awards working with a dedicated team to create professional development workshops, STEM engagement opportunities, educational pathways, and industry partnerships, expanding educational resources.
ANTHONY M. PONDER, ED.D. - Director
Provost and Chief Academic Officer (CAO) of the Division of Instruction
Sinclair Community College
444 W. Third Street
Dayton, OH 45402
HARRIET HAPPEL, MBA - Director
Dean, Career Education, Integrative Learning and the Employment Center
College of the Canyons
26455 Rockwell Canyon Road
Santa Clarita, CA
Phone: 661.362.3653
Harriet Happel serves in the role of Dean of Career Education, Integrative Learning and the Employment Center at College of the Canyons in Santa Clarita, California. She is also an instructor in the disciplines of Advanced Manufacturing, Business, and Career Skills. Currently, Harriet serves on the executive board for the California Community College Association of Occupational Education as the Communications Officer. Prior to coming to College of the Canyons, Harriet served as the Director of Perkins Grant Operations and Career and Technical Education Coordinator at Elgin Community College in Elgin, Illinois.
Ms. Happel is a California Community College student who transferred to the University of California at San Diego where she completed her undergraduate work in Political Science. Harriet worked as a Project Manager and Managing Business Partner at Management Resource Group, a San Diego based business consulting firm specializing in performance management for non-profit organizations. After moving to the mid-west, she worked with Camcraft, Inc., a manufacturer of high precision component parts for the automotive industry, as the Program Manager for New Product Introduction. While in the mid-west she completed her Master of Business Administration degree at Keller Graduate School of Management with specializations in Project Management and Sustainability. Harriet also holds a certification from the University of Vermont in Campus Sustainability Leadership and is a certified instructor in Phi Theta Kappa’s Leadership Development Studies Program and the International Public Safety Leadership and Ethics Institute Leadership Development Program. Since being back in California, she has completed both level 1 and 2 of the California Community College Association of Occupational Education’s Leadership Academy.
In her tenure at College of the Canyons, Harriet has been very involved in new program introduction for career education. Currently, she is the project manager for the Advanced Technology Center that will open in spring 2023 and the regional Fire Academy that is targeted to open at the Del Valle Training center in fall of 2023. She also manages the Strong Workforce Partnership funding, California Apprenticeship Initiative grants, and the Perkins V grant allocations. Most recently, she secured an additional $300,000.00 in funding through the Perkins Reserve Grant for the Network Technologies Improvement and Innovation.
When not working, Harriet enjoys organic gardening and spending time traveling with her family.
LINDA HEAD - DIRECTOR
Senior Associate Vice Chancellor of the Division of External and Employer Relations
Lone Star College
Houston, TX 77070
DR. RICHARD AMMON - Director
Dean of Engineering, Mathematics, and Physical Sciences
College of Lake County
19351 W. Washington Street
Grayslake, IL 60030-1198
Phone: 847.543.2499
Richard Ammon has more than 25 years of higher education workforce experience. He currently is the Dean of Engineering, Mathematics, and Physical Sciences at the College of Lake County. He leads the academic areas of engineering and computer transfer programs, mathematics, physical sciences as well as the following career and technical education programs: automation, robotics and mechatronics, automotive collision repair, automotive technology, computer aided design drafting technology, computerized numerical control programming, electrical engineering technology, HVAC (Heating Ventilation Air Conditioner) engineering technology, industrial technology, laser/photonics/optics, machine tool trades, mechanical engineering technology, and welding and fabrication.
The College of Lake County is developing a state-of-the-art advanced technology center. He is the co-project leader on the development of the 182,000 sq. ft. advanced technology center and will oversee the management of the facility once opened in the fall of 2022.
His relevant previous positions include coordinator of career and technical education programs at Madison Metropolitan School District and the dean of business, management, and general studies at Southwest Technical College in Wisconsin. In those roles, he worked closely with local employers to develop career pathways for students transitioning from college to the workforce.
Prior to working at Madison Metropolitan School District and Southwest Technical College, Ammon worked as the coordinator of manufacturing programs at Hagerstown Community College. He worked in the College’s advanced technology center. In that role, he worked closely with area employers to ensure that college manufacturing programs aligned with workforce and industry needs.
Ammon holds an Ed.D. in educational leadership studies from West Virginia University. He also earned an M.Ed. in education, with an emphasis on business administration, from Frostburg State University. Additionally, Ammon earned a B.S. in agronomy from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. A U.S. Army veteran, he served as a combat medic during Operation Desert Storm.
Hope Cotner - Director
President and CEO
CORD
601 Lake Air Drive
Waco, TX 76710
Phone: 254-741-8309
Fax: 254-772-8972
Email: hcotner@cord.org
Hope Cotner is President and CEO CORD. She manages faculty development projects such as the Texas Collaborative for Teaching Excellence and the North Carolina Network for Excellence in Teaching as well as the AT&T Professional Development Academy for Community College Faculty. She also directs curriculum and professional development efforts for college systems in several states.
Hope joined CORD in 1991 and has led a wide variety of initiatives at both the secondary and postsecondary levels. She managed CORD’s communications department for eight years, including directing marketing efforts for NCATC until 1998, and continues to lend her marketing and public relations expertise to the projects she serves in the community college arena.
Hope is past chairman of the Women’s Resource Center Advisory Council at Texas State Technical College in Waco, Texas and has served on the advisory committee for the Texas State Leadership Consortium for Professional Development. She is a member of the American Association for Community Colleges and Texas Association of College Technical Educators. In her community, Hope is actively involved in the Junior League of Waco, Public Relations Society of America-Central Texas chapter, and the Waco Symphony Orchestra.
MATT JANISIN - DIRECTOR
Vice President - Business & Workforce Solutions
Gateway Technical College
Kenosha, WI
(262) 564-3942
Matt Janisin has been the Vice President of the Business & Workforce Solutions (BWS) division at Gateway Technical College in Kenosha, Wisconsin since October 2017. His primary role is to oversee outreach to business and industry, apprenticeship, customized contract training, Fab Lab activities, business partnerships, and specialized collaborative training initiatives working with organizations including Department of Corrections, local workforce agencies, and private donors. The work done in BWS connects many aspects of the college and its mission to local business and industry which facilitates deeper relationships. Businesses are served though short term customized training to fill their immediate needs, but then connected to the academic programs to ensure they have a pipeline of talent to grow and prosper. Through our customized training relationship with local employers BWS also serves to connect them with current students and alumni using placement services at the college. Through the Fab Lab BWS provides local employers prototyping services and engages our public and private K12 schools, homeschooling groups, and other community organizations with the college using STEM related programming. We are very proud of our K8 outreach to give students an early STEM experience and connect elementary and middle school teachers with Gateway. Gateway is proud to serve as the connection point between the local K12 schools, community organizations, and area businesses to help forge a stronger, higher skilled, and vibrant community.
Starting 2011, Matt served as Gateway’s NC3 Instructor/Coordinator and responsible for coordinating with local, state, and national industry partners to design, develop, and implement industry credentials to help students fill the skills gap found in many industry sectors including transportation, manufacturing, and construction. He developed and delivered a number of the certification courses available through NC3 and its partners, including the Snap-on Diagnostics, Torque, Wheel Service, and Meter certifications, to current Gateway students, local incumbent workers, and fellow instructors from across the world whose colleges have joined the NC3 team. He was a lead instructor on a project in Oujda, Morocco to build a new college level automotive technology program anchored by NC3 industry certifications. Matt continues to support Snap-on and other NC3 industry partners with these initiatives at an administrative level within Gateway.
Matt holds Bachelor (2002) and Master of Science (2007) degrees in Industrial & Technology Education and a doctorate in Career and Technical Education (2016); all from the University of Wisconsin-Stout. He taught a variety of CTE related courses, including PLTW engineering, manufacturing, automotive and power sport technologies at the high school level since 2003 while also adjunct teaching in automotive at Gateway since 2007 before joining Gateway fulltime in 2011. His background is in automotive and he is an ASE Certified Master Technician with a number of other ASE endorsements. He has also authored a textbook, Guide to Diagnostic Product Certification.
GRANT MATTHEWS - Director
Interim Vice President for Academic Affairs
Lane Community College
4000 E. 30th Avenue
Eugene, OR 97405-0640
Email: matthewsg@lanecc.edu
Bio coming soon!
Greg Jones
Vice President, Smartforce Development
Association for Manufacturing Technology
7901 Jones Branch Dr., Suite 900
McLean, VA 22102-4206
Phone: 440.463.1586
Email: gjones@amtonline.org
Greg Jones is Vice President, Smartforce Development at AMT, The Association for Manufacturing Technology. For AMT, its member companies and the discrete parts manufacturing industry, the term “Smartforce” is used to convey that solving the skills gap is not simply a workforce development issue, but to convey that the current and next generation of manufacturing requires smarter workers who are capability of working with and keeping pace with new innovations and advancements in technology.
Greg began his career in manufacturing in the publishing industry in 1985. In 1996, when the Internet began to have an impact in business-to-business media, Greg formed a joint venture with Techspex, the machine tool database which enables manufacturers to begin their initial research on machine tools that meet their applications. Techspex is operating today under the ownership of Gardner Business Media.
In 2001, Greg was part of the executive team that launched ToolingU an online training business which is owned today by SME. The original intent of ToolingU was to help companies manage the skilled labor gap by training employees in-house, and it quickly became clear that ToolingU provided content for career and vocational schools and community colleges as well.
In 2002, Greg formed a partnership with NIMS to map all ToolingU classes to the national industry standards for credentialing machinists and service technicians, and in his current role at AMT, he completed a project to update the NIMS Standards for Field Service Techs.
In 2009, Greg joined AMTDA, the American Machine Tool Distributors Association as Director of Education and Training. AMTDA merged with AMT in early 2012. That same year, Greg was elected to the Board of Directors of NIMS. Through NIMS, Greg is currently working with policy-makers in Washington and educators to increase the number of apprenticeship programs in the U.S.
Greg is a graduate of Miami University in Oxford, Ohio.
2021 marks Greg’s 36th year in manufacturing; he is passionate about his work in bringing the next generation of young people into careers in manufacturing, and he considers his current role in Smartforce Development not only the culmination of his career, but the best job he’s ever had.
Tony ORAN
Tony Oran
Festo Didactic - North America
Knoxville, TN
Email: tony.oran@festo.com
For 25 years, Tony has worked at the convergence of Industry and Education. He is dedicated to finding ways to bring employers together with leaders in career and technical education (CTE) to co-develop real-time solutions to issues around manufacturing technologies and the skills gap. Tony thrives on helping leaders in Education and Industry understand the changing nature of manufacturing, including the skills needed for the jobs of the future and advancements brought about by Industry 4.0-related technologies.
J. Craig McAtee - EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR & CEO
CEO & Executive Director
NCATC
33607 Seneca Drive
Cleveland, Ohio 44139
Phone: 440.600.7749
Email: craig@ncatc.org
J. Craig McAtee is the CEO and Executive Director for the National Coalition of Advanced Technology Centers (NCATC) and a Workforce Development Executive for Tooling U-SME. Between 2013-16 he served as Director of Additive Manufacturing (DOL) for Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C) and Executive Director of the Workforce and Economic Development Division of Tri-C 2000-2007. Before that - he spent over twenty-five (25) years in engineering and senior leadership positions for Swagelok Company, an international manufacturing organization, based in Solon, Ohio.
While at Tri-C, he provided Dean level management of all new and existing applied technologies related credit and non-credit curriculum development, apprenticeships, articulation, and deployment with over $5.5 million-dollar annual budgets. He was responsible for all of the advanced and applied technologies related programs including Manufacturing, Apprenticeships, CAD/CAM, CNC, Integrated Maintenance, Industrial Distribution, Construction, and the Lean Six Sigma Institute. McAtee also provided leadership for special projects directed by the College President and Executive Vice Presidents, as needed.
In addition to his role at NCATC, he provides direction, technical support, and external evaluation for several national grants including the Automotive Manufacturing Technical Education Collaborative (AMTEC), Weld-Ed (OH), Smart Grid Technicians (HI), Necessary Skills Now (TX), RCBI/Marshall Apprenticeship Works (WV), and others. He also is an active member of the Workforce & Economic Development Commission for the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) in Washington, DC, past Chair of AACC’s Council of Affiliated Councils (COAC), Co-Chair of the Workforce Industry Experience Working Group at America Makes, Director on the NextFlex Board for Workforce & Education in San Jose, CA and Member of the ARM Institute Education & Workforce Advisory Council (EWAC) in Pittsburg, PA.
McAtee received an Associate of Arts degree from Cuyahoga Community College, an Industrial Engineering degree from Kent State University, a Bachelor’s degree in International Management from Malone College, and an Executive MBA from Cleveland State University. He is actively involved with SME, SkillsUSA, FIRST Robotics, MSSC, NIMS, AWS, SACA, NC3, Manufacturing Foresight/LIFT, Arconic Foundation, and several other ManufacturingUSA workforce collaborations - including MxD, ReMADE, AIM Photonics, CESMII, CYMANII, and NIMBLE.
McAtee is also a member of the newly formed National Skills Coalition | BLU led “Manufacturing Recovery Panel” for the Biden Administration, a Business & Industry Leadership Team (BILT) Academy Coach for 2020-2024 cohorts, an adjunct professor at Cleveland State University, Keynote Speaker on “The Future of Work and Demystifying Industry 4.0” across the nation, as time permits.
Holly H. McAtee - OPERATIONS MANAGER
Operations Manager
NCATC
33607 Seneca Drive
Cleveland, Ohio 44139
Phone: 440-667-6297
Email: holly@ncatc.org
Holly McAtee is currently the Operations Manager for NCATC. She maintains NCATC's web site, handles registration for the yearly Fall Conference and Summer Workshop as well as all accounting and membership functions.
Holly began working with NCATC at the end of 2007, primarily to do invoicing of membership dues and accounting; she continues to manage more of the daily operations.
In 2005, Holly started her own accounting business and today has over 10 clients. NCATC is her largest, national client to date.