Far North Region
1409 Market Street Promenade
Redding, California
John Schmidt
Regional Director, Employer Engagement
Advanced Manufacturing, Far North Region
T (530) 242-7632
Email: joschmidt@shastacollege.edu
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Industry Focus
The Far North Regional Director, Employer Engagement works with manufacturing companies within the 14 county Far North region to understand and meet local and regional workforce development needs. This includes assisting industry in connecting with the seven community colleges within the region, along with K-12 schools, workforce development boards, and other business and government resources in support of manufacturing. The Regional Director also serves as a subject matter expert within the advanced manufacturing sector by understanding data and trends, along with sector best practices and emerging technologies to help guide industry and education toward meeting future workforce needs. They works to ensure this is aligned with the statewide sector strategy defined by the other Regional Directors and the Statewide Director, Advanced Manufacturing for California. The Regional Director, Industry Engagement role also includes:
- Connecting industry with relevant community college programs for job placements, program development, and training programs.
- Assisting the development of new curriculum and programs to improve workforce training.
- Supporting and assisting K-12 and community colleges with career pathways in manufacturing and the skilled trades.
- Marketing and outreach activities to inform students, parents, teachers, counselors, and others about the well-paying careers in manufacturing.
- Developing work-based learning opportunities for students in the manufacturing industry.
Current Projects
- Shasta GMI– The Far North Regional Director and Shasta College are direct supporters of the Shasta GMI (Grow Manufacturing Initiative) since its inception in 2017. Shasta GMI supports Shasta County and other regional manufacturers by providing a forum and platform to exchange ideas, best practices, tackle local challenges such as hiring recruitment, supply chain efficiencies, continuous improvement and customized training. www.shastagmi.com
- Shasta College Business Training Center (BTC)– In May 2019, the Shasta College Contract Education Office has successfully rebranded itself as the Shasta College Business Training Center (BTC) serving the community as a one-stop shop for customized workforce training solutions, such as Lean Processes and Professional Development Workshops. In addition to the excellent curriculum offered, companies participating in the Employment Training Panel Program (ETP) are eligible in offsetting the costs of these valuable customized training courses. For more information about the Shasta College BTC click here.
- College of the Siskiyous MakerSpace– The Far North Regional Directors are energized to collaborate across other priority industry sectors to maximize efforts toward promoting regional economic prosperity. One example is the current development of a makerspace on the College of the Siskiyous Yreka campus. The Advanced Manufacturing Regional Director, in collaboration with the Business and Entrepreneurship Regional Directors and the College of the Siskiyous, are working on the development and launch of a student makerspace to foster technical, manufacturing, business and entrepreneurial skills in the rural far north region of California.
For more information about the Far North Region and other college programs, click here.
For more information about the North Region (Greater Sacramento) and other college programs, click here.
For more information about the Far North Region Consortia and other college programs, click here.
Shasta College Spring Preview Day showcasing Advanced Manufacturing and Welding curriculum to over 60 high school students representing at least 8 regional high schools. – K-12 Career Pathways
Success Story
