Great Oaks Career Campuses: Adult Skills Training for Personal Success and the Future Economy
Alternate pathways to a successful career are essential. For adults who find that college isn’t in the cards or who realize that they need more training to reach their goals, adult education programs at area career centers can be the answer.
Gen Z at Work: Advancing the Conversation
Partner Feature: Cincinnati State Workforce Development Center | Employer Tours: The Christ Hospital Health Network – Healthcare in a Day | From the Blog: What is Fair Chance Hiring & How Great Oaks Prepares Career-Ready Graduates | In the News: Movers & Makers Magazine – Workforce Development | Talent Collaborative of Greater Cincinnati: TCGC Website – Request for Bids
Workforce Partner Tour: Workforce Development Center at Cincinnati State
On January 23, 2026, our Employer Tour Program visited the Workforce Development Center (WDC) at Cincinnati State Technical and Community College. Attendees received an engaging, wide-ranging tour of the Evendale facility led by Cheryl Brackman, Emily Helmers, and Amy Waldbillig. The visit highlighted how the center connects training directly to employer needs and career pathways in the region.
Building STARs in Southwest Ohio: How Great Oaks Prepares Career-Ready Graduates
Great Oaks Career Campuses, one of the largest public career-technical school districts in the country, offers STAR opportunities for students in southwest Ohio. This includes training and education in information technology, dental assisting, manufacturing engineering, surgical sterile processing, construction, automotive and EV technology, aviation maintenance, exercise science and sports medicine, digital arts and design, equine and livestock management, and more
Fair Chance Blog Series: What is Fair Chance Hiring?
This post kicks off our Fair Chance blog series; a collection of stories, information, and practical examples about what it means to build a more honest, effective, and humane hiring system here in Cincinnati and Hamilton County. “Fair Chance” or “justice-impacted” individuals are those whose lives have intersected with the criminal legal system, whether through arrest, conviction, or incarceration.
Great Oaks Career Campuses: How Ohio’s Career-Technical Education Creates Job Ready Talent
The American workforce is filled with STARs. That is, the workforce is filled with individuals who are Skilled Through Alternative Routes—those whose career path didn’t include a bachelor’s degree. Public CTE districts like Great Oaks are designed to give students the opportunity to receive advanced training and earn professional certifications at no cost to be ready for their chosen career the day they graduate from high school.
From Resolutions to Results in 2026
Gen Z at Work: Building the Future Workplace | Employer Tours | Connect With Our Partners | From the Blog – The Cincinnati State Experience & The Competitive Advantage of Hiring People with Diverse Abilities
Employer Tours: Brent Spence Bridge Corridor Project
The Brent Spence Bridge project is expected to generate 700-800 union jobs, as well as additional professional and subcontracted roles. With major hiring beginning in 2026 and early 2027, the project is expected to total roughly 6 million work hours and require a skilled, job-ready labor force across various trades.
The Competitive Advantage of Hiring People With Diverse Abilities and Neurodivergent Talent
In today’s competitive marketplace, employers are seeking every edge they can find to attract, retain, and engage top talent. One of the most overlooked opportunities lies in hiring individuals with diverse abilities and those who are neurodivergent.
Finding Your Place: The Cincinnati State Experience
When people think of community colleges, they often envision a stepping stone, a brief stop on the way to something bigger. However, at Cincinnati State Technical and Community College, we believe our institution is more than a mere waypoint; it is a thriving community where students not only lay the groundwork for their careers but also find a sense of belonging that extends beyond the classroom and into the workplace.
A Region of Resources
Fifth Third Leadership Symposium | Employer Tours – Get Caught Up | From the Blog – Beacon of Hope Business Alliance & Skills First Hiring | Partner Spotlight – The Community Builders | Workforce Innovation Center – At a Glance
Skills-Based Practices: Building a Talent Pipeline for the Future
Skills-based practices, also called skills-first practices, flips the script. Instead of asking “What degree do you have?” it asks, “What can you do?” It’s a simple but transformative idea: if someone has the skills, they should have the opportunity.
