Investing in Tomorrow’s Workforce Capital Campaign seeks to build a workforce development center (Center) in Ashland that trains high school and adult students in central Missouri. We invite you to consider this critical effort through the eyes of our youth exploring career options, and the eyes of adult students dreaming of bettering their lives.
Together, let’s light the spark in these students and prepare them for rewarding careers in our communities.
Today – and projected into the next 20 years – there is a growing need for technically skilled employees on local, state and national levels. As educators and community members, it is incumbent on us to do the utmost possible to provide all students the tools and employers the human capital to succeed.
The fact is that more than half of our region’s high school graduates do not matriculate into college or earn Bachelor’s degrees in non-technical fields. With a shortage of skilled workers in our region, we believe this is the perfect time to change the mindset that all students need college degrees to have successful careers. Integrating workforce skills content into our curriculum will serve all students, in the style they like to learn. This dramatically increases their engagement, career path options and future earning potential.
The Investing in Tomorrow’s Workforce Capital Campaign will build a workforce development center (Center) in Ashland that trains high school and adult students in Boone, Callaway, Cole, Cooper, Howard and Moniteau counties. Serving 6 mid-MO counties, construction is projected to begin in Summer/Fall 2021 and take one year to complete.
Based on the responses received from the Fall 2020 and Winter 2021 surveys and ongoing discussions with industry partners, initially the Center plans to offer skills training in construction, health and medical, information technology and manufacturing. Programs are designed around a 2-year approach to allow for student flexibility.
There are constant complaints from subcontractors about not having young, well trained workers that will replace those ready to retire.
With everything moving online, there is a strong demand for information technology skills.
With a variety of hospitals, medical offices, retirement communities and nursing homes, the six central Missouri counties have an ongoing need for skilled employees.
Billy and Glenda Sapp, Founders
Emery Sapp and Sons
Bill Lloyd, Sr. Vice President
Bell Bank
David Bock, Executive Director
Mid-MO Regional Planning Commission
Shannon Brueggemann, Dean of Academic Affairs
Ranken Technical College
Christopher Felmlee, Superintendent
Southern Boone R-1 School District
Dan Kania, Vice President for Education
Ranken Technical College
Fred Parry, Founder/Publisher Emeritus
Inside Columbia
Tony St. Romaine, City Administrator
City of Ashland
Dave Westhoff, Owner
Westhoff Rentals
Tim Crockett, Partner
Crockett Engineering
Connie Leipard, President
Quality Drywall Construction
Nicholas Orscheln, Real Estate Manager
Orscheln Companies
Nicholas Parks, CEO
Parks Amusement
Ed Scavone, CEO
Central Bank of Boone County
Tamara Tateosian, Executive Director
Callaway Chamber of Commerce
Lonna Trammell, Regional Account Executive
Ameren Missouri
Sara Walsh, State Representative
Missouri House of Representatives
Todd Hoien, President of Columbia Market
Hawthorn Bank
Paul Land, Owner
Plaza Commercial Realty
Daniel Lauder, Director, Training and Workforce Development
QuesTec Mechanical
Joe Miller, Central Missouri Regional President
First State Community Bank
“Having access to trained, qualified employees is an ongoing need for our company. We are pleased to invest in the technical school in Ashland to complement the programs that provide our central Missouri region with a skilled workforce.”
“I graduated from Ranken’s evening classes with a Certificate of Electrical Automation in 18 months and now work for a manufacturing company in Fulton. There are a lot of electrical jobs in the area and having a local campus would help a lot of people.”
Real Estate Manager, Orscheln Companies
“Few gifts, outside of education, can ensure a better future for people-many people, year in and year out. We can change people’s lives through giving, but education is the gift that empowers people to change their own.”
Southern Boone County R-1 School District
5275 W Red Tail Dr.
Ashland, MO 65010
Phone: 573-657-2147
Fax: 833-284-5693