Community Alliance and Northwestern State partner to bring together Councils

The Natchitoches Community Alliance (NCA) has partnered with Northwestern State University (NSU) to bring together the Northwest Louisiana Manufacturer’s Managers Council with the Central Louisiana Manufacturer’s Managers Council at a Regional Meeting to be held on campus at the Friedman Student Union on Tuesday, May 24, 2016 from 9am until 1pm.

The event will feature notable speakers on the workforce-training theme that include Dennis Epps, Robin Schott, Dennis Parker and Woody Oge. Following presentations, the respective Councils will discuss, along with representatives of the Louisiana Community and Technical College System (LCTCS), next steps in innovative apprenticeships.

Mr. Dennis Epps, Senior Vice President for Workforce Solutions for the LCTCS, will be discussing apprenticeship initiatives; Mrs. Robin Schott is the regional director for Project Lead the Way (PLTW) and will cover K-12 initiatives with internships and apprenticeships. Mr. Dennis Parker, Assistant Manager for the Advanced Manufacturing Career Pathways Development of Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing will discuss Toyota’s model of apprenticeships. Lastly, Woody Oge, retired Director of Business Affairs for Ingalls Shipbuilding-Avondale and current member of the Board of Supervisors for LCTCS will explain the model used by Ingalls-Avondale.

The Natchitoches Community Alliance works to ensure a coordinated, proactive approach to growing the economy of the entire parish through business retention, expansion, recruitment, and entrepreneurship; workforce development; and marketing of the assets of Natchitoches parish to local, regional, and statewide partners. Learn more at http://www.NCA-La.com.