Contact: Katryn Conlin, Communications Director
651-385-6364, [email protected]

Minnesota State College Southeast holding virtual Workforce Summits in October and November

Workforce Summits designed to gather critical feedback from business, manufacturing, healthcare, transportation industry partners

Red Wing and Winona (October 9, 2023) - Officials at Minnesota State College Southeast have announced four online Workforce Summits to give the public an opportunity to share trends and ideas with college leadership.

Each of the four Workforce Summits is dedicated to a specific sector of the regional economy and will be held online via Zoom. The topics, dates, and times are as follows:

• Advanced Manufacturing Workforce Summit - Thursday, October 26, 2023 (8 to 10 am)
• Business & Information Technology Workforce Summit - Wednesday, November 1, 2023 (8 to 10 am)
• Transportation Workforce Summit - Thursday, November 2, 2023 (8 to 10 am)
• Health Sciences Workforce Summit - Tuesday, November 7, 2023 (8 to 10 am)

To participate, please email Lisa Furan at [email protected] or call 507-453-1463.

In Fall 2021, the college held online Workforce Summits in three sectors: Business, Health Sciences, and Advanced Manufacturing. This year, a fourth summit for the Transportation industry was added to highlight the college's Auto Body Collision Technology, Automotive Technology, Transportation Management, and Truck Driving programs.

"The goal of the Workforce Summits is to ensure that curriculum development in our programs is keeping current with the needs of area employers," said Dr. Marsha Danielson, President of Minnesota State College Southeast. "Engaging with business, industry, and area employers is one of the most effective ways for MSC Southeast to gain insights into local workforce needs."

College faculty and staff will also participate in the Workforce Summits, with the objective of identifying possible partnerships, better understanding local workforce needs, and determining potential areas for program modification or development.

Dr. Danielson encourages business and industry partners to participate. "For your company, participating in the Workforce Summit and building relationships with local educators will help create a pipeline of skilled employees 12-36 months into the future," she said. "MSC Southeast must be proactive in understanding and addressing local workforce needs to ensure that our students graduate ready-to-work."

For more information, agendas, and Zoom links, please email Lisa Furan at [email protected] or call 507-453-1463.

About Minnesota State College Southeast

Located in the historic river towns of Red Wing and Winona, Minnesota State College Southeast is a two-year technical and community college offering small class sizes, state-of-the-art facilities, and a friendly and supportive environment. In 2023-2024, the college is celebrating its 50 & 75 Anniversary Year: 50 years of service in Red Wing and 75 years of service in Winona. Minnesota State College Southeast is a member of Minnesota State. For more information, visit www.southeastmn.one.