The annual B.I.E. Luncheon was held Tuesday at the Hastings Performing Arts Center bringing together leaders from the Business, Industry, and Education sectors of Barry County. This collaborative event between the Hastings Area School District and the Barry County Chamber and Economic Development Alliance is held just before the start of each school year.

 

Speakers focused on Career and Technical Education programs in Barry County with new Hastings High School Principal Clayton Powell and new Assistant Principal Ryan Mitchell presenting the expanding CTE pathways at Hastings Area Schools.   

 

Greta Munger, Delton Kellogg High School Principal, presented a look at the many career-focused opportunities available through the DK school district.

 

Peter Hungerford of the Michigan Manufacturing Technology Center West in Grand Rapids spoke about rebuilding the pipeline of skilled trades workers through a joint effort to partner schools with employers, offer internships and apprenticeships, and promote careers through hands-on experience.

 

Jennifer Forell, Chief Operating Officer of Flexfab,  stated the need manufacturers in Barry County and throughout the region face to build tomorrow’s workforce together.

 

Eric Greene presented the history of the KCC Fehsenfeld Center in Hastings and future building expansion the Hastings campus would like to achieve in order to offer more programming for skilled trades.  Julia Faist, Director of the Fehsenfeld Center, said the current building is undergoing some renovations and preparing to offer additional programs including medical programs.

 

Finally, Emily Quiggle, the Workforce Development Coordinator for the Barry County Chamber & EDA covered the downward K-12 school enrollment trend at Hastings, TK, Delton, Lakewood, and Maple Valley Schools.