The Power of Predictive Analytics and Partnerships
According to LightCast, Indiana had nearly 750,000 unique job postings in 2024, with almost 25% falling in the advanced industries’ economy.
High School Redesign: An Invitation for Employers to Co-create Talent
the Indiana State Board of Education unanimously approved new requirements for high school graduation.
Continuous Improvement Leads to Work-Based Learning as a Talent Development Solution
Many of you who have read my CEO letters have undoubtedly noticed that I draw a great deal of my inspiration from my 30+-year career in manufacturing for a Japanese automotive manufacturer. That, coupled with nearly 12 months of partnership with Ascend’s stakeholders from industry, education and the public sector, has led me to recognize a common theme for 2024. It was a year focused on “kaizen,” also known as continuous improvement.
“Pathways to Progress” Reveals Ascend’s Vision and Roadmap for the Future
When I first joined Ascend Indiana in early 2024, I pledged to begin my tenure by listening to our stakeholders, asking them to honestly assess what Ascend does well and what gaps we could fill as an Indiana workforce development intermediary.
Funding Available to Help Employers Become Co-creators of Talent
The momentum in Indiana for scaling work-based learning is real. Youth apprenticeship took center stage last week at the National Youth Apprenticeship Summit in Indianapolis. A consortium of nearly 200 Indiana leaders released the iLab strategic plan, outlining key steps to make available apprenticeship opportunities for Hoosier students. And work-based learning is a hallmark of the Indiana Department of Education’s high school redesign proposal.
Back to School and Back to Business
As a parent, you hear “Back to School” and you immediately make a to-do list of what’s needed to get your child ready for another year of learning. But “Back to School” could take on new meaning if you think about it from a business perspective. What ‘to-dos’ should businesses identify to effectively engage with their local schools and build their future workforce?
The Foundation of our Work: Data, Insights and Collaboration
When I learned that Ivy Tech Community College’s ninth President, Sue Ellspermann, was retiring, the first thing I thought was this: Regardless of the positions Sue held over her career, it’s clear that meaningful opportunities for all Hoosiers were always top of mind.
Building on What’s Working
When I think about how Ascend Indiana can best support Indiana’s talent development efforts, I reflect on lessons I learned in my earlier manufacturing career. As human resources senior manager at a global automotive manufacturer, I quickly saw that employees hired as production associates who rose to team leader then group leader stayed with our company much longer than employees who were hired directly into a group leader role.
A Commitment to Listen
Last month, Ascend Indiana’s President and CEO, Brad Rhorer, described the organization’s plans to grow its footprint and statewide impact with a commitment to moving forward with three tenets: Listen, Lean-In and Leverage.
A Letter from Brad Rhorer, Ascend Indiana’s New President and CEO
I joined Ascend Indiana as President and CEO three months ago with a personal passion for and long-time career dedicated to workforce development. As a proud 50-year Indiana resident, I couldn’t think of a better way to serve my state than by championing Ascend’s mission to connect Hoosier employers with Hoosier talent.
