Workforce Development Students and Leaders Honored at Innovation Day 2019

By Emily McGrath, Deputy Director of Workforce Development, NextFlex

On August 8, California State Senator Bob Wieckowski and California State Assembly Member Kansen Chu recognized FlexFactor^® students and champions at Innovation Day, highlighting creativity, forward-thinking, and making an impact.

Anurag Pal, District Director for CA State Assembly Member Kansen Chu, Leland High School FlexFactor Team “SmokeScreen,” Cyris Leonard, Jacqueline Pham, and Kylie Roberts, and Rocky Fernandez, District Director for CA State Senator Wieckowski at NextFlex Innovation Day 2019.

During the 2018-2019 academic year, NextFlex partnered with Leland High School (San Jose, CA) to deliver FlexFactor, NextFlex’s marquee workforce development program, for a class of English students led by instructor, Annie Larks. The team was recognized for a creative FlexFactor product concept designed to combat wildfires in California, called “SmokeScreen.”

Evergreen Valley College was also recognized for partnering with NextFlex and local manufacturers to develop an innovative manufacturing curriculum called, “Advanced Manufacturing Technology (AMT).” The AMT program is a creative approach to education based on the highly successful cooperative learning model embraced by education and industry members across the high-tech sector. This approach actively engages industry partners to help co-create future talent through a range of activities including guest lectures, labs, and facility tours. The AMT program will have a pilot launch this fall at Evergreen Valley College.

Anurag Pal, District Director for Assembly Member Kansen Chu, Evergreen Valley College Dean of Business and Workforce Development Dr. Maniphone Dickerson and President Keith Aytch, Rocky Fernandez, District Director for Senator Wieckowski, at NextFlex Innovation Day 2019.

Also recognized was Carole Ng, Santa Teresa High School Computer Science Instructor and a long-time supporter of FlexFactor.

Through the combined efforts of these awardees, NextFlex is helping to address critical talent shortages that the advanced manufacturing sector is facing. We are proud to partner with future-thinking individuals and organizations to develop and deliver comprehensive workforce development strategies needed by community members and industry partners.

NextFlex is proud to work with forward-thinking partners that can visualize and create the future of advanced manufacturing. For more information about how you can bring FlexFactor to your community, visit the FlexFactor webpage.