“I heard the cry loud and clear”

Dr. Lisa Rhine

Yavapai Community College president Dr. Lisa Rhine commented to reporter Jon Hecht in the May 1 Cottonwood Journal Extra about the outpouring of citizens who attended the April 23 Governing Board meeting and spoke passionately about the need for a centralized Career and Technical Education Center in the east region of the County. According to the article, the following was her response:

“I am pleased that so many community leaders and members are passionate about the educational needs of our community and rightfully see the college as the entity that can fulfill those needs.

“I listened intently, and I heard the cry loud and clear from the Valley.”  [A CTE facility] “is possible.  My next step is to engage a few key stakeholders to explore the possibility and see how we can partner to meet the needs of the community.”

Mr. Hecht’s complete article about the meeting can be found on page 1 of the May 1 Cottonwood Journal Extra or online at http://www.journalaz.com/news.html. 

Says although promises were not specific, point was in meeting with former president years ago that Verde Valley would be given much greater consideration than it had in the past; however, promises went largely unfulfilled; hopes for brighter future with the new president

Former Sedona Vice Mayor Ernie Strauch, who has spent years working for Sedona in a number of positions (many of which were volunteer), reflected to the District Governing Board at its April 23 meeting on a gathering between a group of citizens (including Mr. Strauch) and the former Yavapai Community College president.  He said that during that meeting that while promises from the former president were not necessarily specific, he came away from the meeting believing that the Verde Valley would be receiving much greater consideration from her than it had in the past.

He said that “I’m here today sorry to indicate that I feel those promises have been largely unfulfilled.” 

Strauch thanked the College for the culinary effort at the Sedona Center. However, he begged the Governing Board and new president  “to give additional consideration [to the Verde Valley.]”  He also said that he had heard “wonderful things” about the new president and hoped “this time around we’ll get a little more consideration.” He made it clear he was talking about CTE in the Verde Valley.

You may view all of Mr. Strauch’s short speech to the Governing Board in the clip below.

Laments loss of Campus vibrancy; sees CTE as critical to future success in the Verde Valley

Jane Russell-Winiecki, Chair Yavapai-Apache Nation, warmly welcomed Yavapai Community College’s new president, Dr. Lisa Rhine, to the Verde Valley at the Governing Board’s April 23 meeting.  In her presentation, Chair Russell-Winiecki provided the Board with a short history of the Nation and recalled a time when she visited the Verde Campus and described it as “vibrant” with a great deal going on.

She said that on her recent visits to the Campus she often saw only one or two people.  She hoped that could change.

She also said that in the past the Yavapai-Apache Nation had sent “many many” students to Yavapai Community College.  This includes her son, who is now a professor at Dartmouth College.  She noted that the Nation supports its children with hundreds of thousands of dollars in scholarships.  However, because of reduced classes being offered at Yavapai, most of that money is being spent elsewhere.

With 38 percent of the Nation’s population under 21, Ms. Russell-Winiecki expressed the hope that a way could be found for those youngsters to attend Yavapai Community College.

You may view her entire presentation in the video clip below.

Lauds College for the Culinary Arts and Hospitality programs at the Sedona Center 

Mayor Sandy Moriarty

Sedona Mayor Sandy Moriarty delivered a letter written by her on behalf of the Sedona City Council at the April 23 Governing Board meeting. In the letter she urged the College to consider developing a dedicated Career and Technical Education Center in the Verde Valley.

The mayor wrote that the educational opportunities provided by the  Community College  plays a “significant role in creating and sustaining healthy and vibrant communities.”   She said that the Culinary Arts and hospitality programs at the Sedona Center are excellent examples of “supporting our local economy by providing career and technical education skills.” 

She also emphasized that there are other opportunities in the Verde Valley that would be “greatly enhanced” by a dedicated CTE facility. 

You may view her presentation and reading of the letter to the Governing Board in the video clip below.

Lauds Community College efforts in renovating Building “L” but urges greater focus on the “trades”

Cottonwood Mayor Tim Elinski

Cottonwood Mayor Tim Elinski spoke to the Governing Board at its April 23 meeting on the Verde Valley Campus and offered his full cooperation to the College in developing Career and Technical Education in the east region of the County. 

He commented that the City had a “lot of projects that are kicking off soon” including housing projects but the area does not have a sufficient workforce.  But “we’re doing all we can to be sure that we have workforce ready kids” for those projects.

He said there was a real shortage of trained trades men and women and that “we’re reaching a crisis.”  He said that he wanted to extend whatever he could do to the Board and the President to provide opportunities for students and to the extent possible partner with the  College.

Mayor Elinski lauded  the Community College for its efforts in renovating Building “L” for the nursing program but emphasized a need to focus more on “trade specific programs.”

You may view all of his three minute presentation to the Governing Board below.  

Moderate letter from Council generally supporting future centralized facility in addition to Building L consistent with economic development needs most likely to be presented at April Board meeting on the Verde Campus

At its April 9 meeting, the Sedona City Council discussed the future of Career and Technical Education Center in the East Region of the County and the advisability of sending a letter regarding its view to the Community College.  The discussion was triggered by a request from Yavapai Community College Governing Board Representative Paul Chevalier that the Council  share its view on a centralized Career and Technical Education Center in a letter to the College president and Governing Board.

The Council was unanimous in expressing the view that a letter should be drafted and presented to the Community College.  However, because a new administration is in place, most Counselors believed the tone of the letter should be moderate and express the general view that a centralized facility in addition to Building L should be considered along with the economic needs and development in the region. 

A clip of a portion of the Sedona City Council meeting appears below.  You may view all of the meeting by clicking here, which will take you to the City Video containing the entire discussion.

Fair scheduled at the Verde Valley Fairgrounds in Cottonwood from 3 PM to 6 PM

The Yavapai Community College Regional Economic Development Center is one of the sponsors of the Verde Valley job fair to be held April 3 at the Verde Valley Fairgrounds in Cottonwood from 3 PM to 6 PM.

Attendees will learn the latest information about careers and employers that are hiring. Attendees may apply for part-time, full-time, temporary, or seasonal jobs. They may also meet with representatives from business, healthcare, nonprofit, and military organizations. Professional attire is recommended by the Community College.

The Prescott job fair was held March 27 at the Yavapai Community College gymnasium on the Prescott Campus. Exhibitors at that job fair included Yavapai Regional Medical Center, Drake Cement, City of Prescott, Chino Valley, Unified school District, Printpack, Residence Inn by Marriott and Fan Contracting. The Community College has not as yet listed the exhibitors for the Verde Valley Job Fair.

Arizona and Nevada are reported (June 2018) to be among the states with the nation’s highest growth percentage of construction jobs

Yavapai Community College will preview its new construction industry courses in Prescott and Cottonwood  April 2 and 3. The Prescott preview will be held  April 2 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at the Career & Technical Education Center (CTEC Room 181) at 220 Ruger Road (Prescott Airport).

The Cottonwood preview will be held April 3 from  5:30-7:30 p.m. at VACTE Building B, Room 2. The VACTE facility is located at  3405 E. AZ-89-A in Cottonwood.

At the preview, the Community College will provide a host of information for  persons interested in learning about the construction industry. It will describe its  newest basic carpentry courses.  The College will provide an overview of class content and anticipated outcomes, meet with industry employers, learn about paid internships, and encourage questions to faculty about the program and much more.

In a report from the  Associated General Contractors  (AGC) July 30, 2018 that organization claimed  that during the last 12 months (June 2017 to June 2018) states in the Southwest United States  have been gaining jobs at a nation-leading pace.

 “Construction is proving to be a reliable source of employment growth in nearly every state, and contractors are eager to hire even more workers,” according to Associated General Contractors chief economist Ken Simonson in a press release. “But finding qualified workers remains a significant challenge as other industries compete for talent, more workers reach retirement age, and fewer young adults chose to pursue careers in construction.”

 Arizona and Nevada are among the states with the nation’s highest growth percentage of construction jobs.  According to the AGC, Arizona has gained more construction jobs than any other state percentage-wise from June 2017 to June 2018. 

If you are planning to attend, the College requests that you  RSVP to karla.phillips@yc.edu or call 928-717-7720.

Fifteen year-old  block and brick building in need of major internal and external renovation according to architects

Yavapai Community College Vice President Clint Ewell unveiled the cost estimates the Community College is anticipating paying for renovating the inside of building “L,” building a shroud of some sort around it, and improving utilities leading to the facility. According to the college, the total may run to almost $7 million. This was almost double the previous estimates made by the Community College.

Here is a breakdown of the anticipated costs for renovating Building “L” the Community College gave the Governing Board at its March 5 meeting:

Direct cost of connecting to central plant/fan coils:   (work not completed in 2011-13)                            $430,000

Cost of FCA items – LED lighting, signage, Lauren, sprinklers:                                                                            $530,000

Construction including renovation and equipment:                                                                                                $5,341,790 

Additional funding in following year:  $672,210

 Total:  $6,974,000             

A short video clip with Dr. Ewell proving a summary of the costs appears below.