Career Education Breakfast

In Florida, for every 100 students who enter high school only 14 will ultimately graduate from college within 6 years. Of those, only 8 will find work in their choose career fields. The other 92 graduates will enter a job market full of potential but more often than not, requiring some advanced technical training other than a college degree.

Few issues are more critical to the economic health of our community than workforce development. As the average age of our skilled tradesperson increases along with a demand for skilled labor, our vocational/technical schools need more support to meet the growing requirements. Technical schools in Pinellas County place approximately 2,000 students in jobs each year, having an additional annual impact on the local economy of more than $50 million. This breakfast allows interested businesses the opportunity to hear from school and community leaders on the topics of economic impact, workforce education and advocacy for technical education. Our purpose for this meeting is to rally support in the corporate community to create effective advocacy for technical/ vocational training in our public schools.

The 2011 Career Education Breakfast brought together more than 100 business, community and educational leaders who heard an inspiring program from a variety of speakers. Jim Myers, COO of The Crown Automotive Group, presenting sponsor for the event, emceed the program which took place in the Achieva Conference Center of the Gus A. Stavros Institute. Highlights of the event include:

Mirzet Babahmetovic, a senior at Northeast High School's IT Academy shared how his hands-on learning there has enabled him to become versatile and prepared to pursue his post-secondary opportunities focused on information technology.
LaShae Copeland, a senior at Pinellas Park High School's Criminal Justice Center of Excellence, shared the philosophy of succes that she learned there: Be prepared & work hard, use your resources and never underestimate your self-worth.
Leah Flores, Community Bank President for Wachovia Wells Fargo and Gerry Hogan, Owner, FirstSource HR and co-chair of the Craeer Education Board, presented Wachovia Wells Fargo Center of Excellence Achievement Awards to Clearwater High School's Career Academy in International Culture & Commerce, Northeast High School's Academy of Finance and Lakewood High School's Center for Advanced Technologies for a total of $26,000 in funding.
Mrs. Frances Stavros was recognized for her contributions to career education with the Career Champion Award, which was renamed the Frances Stavros Career Champion Award in her honor.
A presentation from Director of Technical, Adult & Career Education, Dave Barnes was given on the latest innovations and plans in Pinellas County.

pTEC provided prizes for the chance drawing held at the breakfast and the winner of a deluxe beauty package for four people at the Cosmetology program was Emma Plummer, who is a long-time participant in the Foundation's Seniors & Scholars Program. Mrs. Plummer recently established a Charitable Gift Annuity with the Foundation and also confirmed that she has made a bequest to the Foundation in her will.

Click here to view a video of the event. Proceeds from the event are used to fund Career Education Scholarships and Stavros Institute programs.
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Special thanks to event sponsors: