News Release

FORT WAYNE — More than 250 community stakeholders, area K-12 and higher education leadership, educators, philanthropists, nonprofits and business leaders joined the Don Wood Foundation and Questa Education Foundation the morning of Wednesday, Oct. 30, for a breakfast event where findings from the recent Advancing Postsecondary Education and Training Study were presented.

The gathering featured strategies to improve postsecondary educational attainment in northeast Indiana and lay the groundwork for a new coalition aimed at tackling the region’s talent shortages.

Held at the Parkview Mirro Center for Research and Innovation, the event provided a platform for dialogue on how to address barriers in postsecondary education. The study revealed that within five years, northeast Indiana will see an increase of more than 5,600 jobs that require postsecondary education, yet the current educational attainment levels fall short of meeting these demands. Employers face a potential deficit of 6,500 to 8,000 bachelor’s degree graduates with the necessary skills and degrees for high-demand, high-wage occupations.

“We’re calling on community stakeholders to come together to improve access to individualized support for education and training opportunities,” said Elizabeth Bushnell, executive director, Questa Education Foundation. “The formation of the Coalition for Advancing Postsecondary Education and Training is the first step in mobilizing our region to take action.”

The coalition will leverage findings and initial opportunities from the Advancing Postsecondary Education and Training Study study to develop and recommend strategies the region can implement to increase educational attainment and build northeast Indiana’s workforce. The Coalition for Advancing Postsecondary Education and Training will include representatives from education, business, nonprofit organizations and community leaders, working collaboratively to increase postsecondary attainment and foster economic growth.

“With a bias for action, our hope is that CAPET becomes a catalyst for a unified approach to improve educational outcomes and fulfill our regional talent needs,” said Patrick Buesching, vice president of strategic initiatives, Don Wood Foundation. “Northeast Indiana’s future prosperity depends on our collective ability to bridge these gaps, particularly for the underserved students. Also, we need to collectively end the debate between college and the trades.”

The three working groups include the Resource Network Group, High School Student Group and the Adult Learners Group. Co-leads for each working group have been identified.

1. Resource Network co-leads: Elizabeth Bushnell, executive director, Questa Education Foundation; JoAnne Alvarez, assistant vice president for diversity, equity and belonging, Ivy Tech Community College; Sarah Strimmenos, president and
chief executive officer, Foellinger Foundation

2. High School Student co-leads: Susan Mendenhall, vice president of programs, Don Wood Foundation; Lisa Smith, program officer for postsecondary attainment, Don Wood Foundation; Lena Yarian, president and CEO, Junior Achievement of Northern Indiana

3. Adult Learners co-leads: Patrick Buesching, vice president of strategic initiatives, Don Wood Foundation; Allyn Decker, vice president of operations and engagement, OrthoWorx; Kim Tempel, senior director of business services and human resources, Northeast Indiana Works.

A Leadership Advisory Group has been established to focus on the bigger systems-level issues that may require state involvement, and to offer feedback to the working groups.