Governor Pence Meets with Educators, Workforce Leaders in Lafayette

Press Release

Today, teachers, career and technical educators, guidance counselors and employers gathered at Subaru of Indiana Automotive, Inc. (SIA) in Lafayette with a shared goal of connecting Hoosier students with the education and careers that fit their skills and interests. This afternoon, Governor Mike Pence offered his appreciation and words of praise to the mentors of Indiana's skilled workers of the future.

The day-long Postsecondary Pathways event offered panel discussions with area employers, keynote presentations and group networking to connect local educators and workforce leaders with resources to enhance their ability to educate and train students to successfully pursue the postsecondary careers that exist within the region and the state.

"I offer my heartfelt gratitude to these men and women who instill pride in Hoosier students' educational and professional endeavors by providing career-focused learning opportunities," said Governor Pence. "The future of Indiana's workforce is enhanced whenever we bring dedicated educators and job creators together to gain a better understanding of industry needs, design training opportunities, and proactively encourage our young people to learn through real-world experiences."

Representatives of Caterpillar, Kirby Risk, Wabash National and Nanshan America shared company goals and programs, all noting their businesses offer internships, and advised educators to build awareness of the different employment sectors and growing industries in the region and the associated training and educational options needed to pursue these fields. GE Aviation, Duke Energy and Chrysler also outlined existing opportunities and encouraged attendees to network with organizations and companies to better understand their needs and promote student success.

Following the discussion, the event offered an inside look at Subaru's high-tech manufacturing plant, the types of jobs available at the facility, and how students can best prepare for them.

"We hope today is the first of many opportunities to come in engaging educators and employers, and Subaru is pleased to be a convener in this effort," said Brad Rhorer, Manager of Associate Development at SIA and a member of the Region 4 Indiana Works Council. "We want you to know as counselors your work is important to us, and this is just a first step for our engagement."

With more than 130 attendees, the program exceeded planners' expectations, with schools from 23 counties in attendance.

The second statewide gathering in this series, the Indiana Youth Institute developed Postsecondary Pathways in partnership with Indiana employers, the Center for Education & Career Innovation (CECI), the Center for Excellence in Leadership of Learning (CELL), the Educational Workforce Innovation Network (EWIN), and the Indiana Chamber of Commerce. The next Postsecondary Pathways event will be held October 2nd in Odon.

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