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ĢƵ Launches Center for Innovation and Workforce Development Initiative to Meet Growing Workforce Demands in Piedmont Triad Region

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 21, 2022

ĢƵ Launches Center for Innovation and Workforce Development Initiative to Meet Growing Workforce Demands in Piedmont Triad Region

ĢƵ, NC – Today, ĢƵ announced its launch of their new initiative to help prepare individuals to advance and succeed in their careers, while meeting the growing employer workforce demands in the Piedmont Triad area. The area, known for being one of the primary manufacturing and transportation hubs in the southeastern United States, is projected to grow 3.5% over the next five years and bring more than 50,000 jobs to the region over the next ten years. As part of the initiative, non-credit online certification programs will initially be offered in two growth sectors and occupations in the region including healthcare and information technology. In the coming months, other programs will be rolled-out in additional growth areas including manufacturing, professional/technical, and supply chain and logistics.

“ĢƵ has been a part of the Piedmont Triad community for more than 180 years and is committed to the economic expansion happening today,” said ĢƵ President Lawrence D. Czarda, Ph.D. “The Center for Innovation and Workforce Development was created to deliver critical workforce programs to meet the needs of companies and individuals, looking to fill the skills gap for in-demand jobs, advance employee skills and competencies and develop a high-performing talent pool. This is an exciting time for our region, and we are proud to provide educational value to the people who live and work here.”

The new Center for Innovation and Workforce Development at ĢƵ will offer the following industry non-credit certifications online:

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  • Medical Assistant
  • Dental Assistant
  • Pharmacy Technician Professional
  • Phlebotomy Technician
  • Patient Care Technician
  • Sterile Processing Technician
  • EKG Technician
  • Health Unit Coordinator
  • Healthcare Administrative Professional
  • Physical Therapy Aide and Administration Specialist
  • Healthcare IT Technician

Information Technology:

  • Cyber Security
  • Data Science
  • Software Development

“I am excited for ĢƵ’snew Center for Innovation and Workforce Development. As we prepare ourworkforce to meet the changing needs of our area’s employers, this will be an importantaddition,” said Tim Rice, Healthcare Consultant and retired CEO of Cone Health.“I applaud the College for being proactive and moving into this endeavor. This has the potential for being another big step forward for our economy.”

“With the thousands of jobs that will be created in the ĢƵ-High Point area in the coming years, preparing a workforce to meet the skills needs of those positions will be paramount,” said ĢƵ Chamber of Commerce President and CEO, Brent Christensen. “To keep pace, we will continue to depend on our community’s educational institutions to develop programs that meet growing employer and industry demand. We are excited that ĢƵ is stepping up to provide such comprehensive programming through its new Center for Innovation and Workforce Development, enabling students to achieve job-specific credentials online.”

About ĢƵ

ĢƵ, located in ĢƵ, North Carolina, is a private institution founded in 1838 that provides undergraduates with a liberal arts education grounded in the traditions of the United Methodist Church. It fosters the intellectual, social, and spiritual development of all students, while supporting their individual needs. For more information about the Center for Innovation and Workforce Development at ĢƵ, please visit

Media Contact:

Tom Saitta – Senior Director of Marketing & Communication

ĢƵ

thomas.saitta@greensboro.edu

Cell: 336-254-1831

www.greensboro.edu

Dr. Josh Fitzgerald, ĢƵ class of 2019

“I loved the GC Honors program and ĢƵ. I felt safe and a sense of genuine belonging at the college. I worked closely with my thesis advisor and professors who helped inspire me to define my path and passion of interest. That path has led me to complete my doctoral studies in Engineering Mechanics.”

- Dr. Josh Fitzgerald, Class of ’19, Mathematics Major

Dr. Josh Fitzgerald earned his master's from Virginia Tech University (studied astrodynamics) as well as earning an Engineering Mechanics Ph.D. He joined the NASA Johnson Space Center in Houston, TX as an Advanced Mission Design Engineer, optimizing trajectories for the Artemis II and III missions to return humans to the moon.