CTE Month: PCC hosts Advancing Diversity in Manufacturing industry panel at OMIC R&D
Photos and story by James Hill
Portland Community College is hosting an informative panel discussion on Thursday, Feb. 19 at the OMIC R&D facility.
PCC’s OMIC Training Center is hosting an industry roundtable and panel discussion as part of the Advancing Diversity in Manufacturing event, spotlighting how inclusive workplace cultures strengthen innovation, workforce sustainability, and long-term business success in Oregon’s manufacturing sector. The panel discussion is free and open to the public.
It is CTE Month!
Community colleges like PCC are committed to filling high-demand jobs in their communities with the skills and training necessary for success in industries. Community colleges are strong partners to local business and industry, utilizing workforce professionals to guide programs through advisory committees.
The panel will bring together leaders from labor, industry, and workforce development to share practical strategies for expanding access to manufacturing careers, developing local talent pipelines, and fostering inclusive growth across the region. Designed for employers, educators, policymakers, and community members, the discussion will focus on actionable approaches that organizations can implement to build stronger, more resilient teams.
The discussion will be moderated by Amy James Neel, PCC Capital Construction Workforce and Contracting Equity Manager.
The panel follows an event designed to introduce students to high-wage, high-demand manufacturing and skilled trades pathways through live demonstrations and interactive stations featuring technologies such as machining, automation, welding, robotics and digital design.
The industry panel and roundtable discussion will take place:
- 1-2 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 19
- OMIC R&D Conference Room (33701 Charles T. Parker Way)
- Advance registration can be completed online at:
https://www.pcc.edu/events/advancing-diversity-in-manufacturing/
The event comes at a time when the Oregon Legislature is making mid-biennium cuts to the budgets of higher ed, including community colleges. PCC’s economic impact analysis reports $2.3 billion in added income and 25,314 jobs supported in PCC’s primary economic region. The same study found students see about $5.10 in higher future earnings for every $1 invested in their education.
Community colleges are where Oregon trains the people employers cannot do without, especially in the field of advanced manufacturing. PCC’s OMIC Training Center is located at the Columbia County Center in Scappoose and is part of the Oregon Manufacturing Innovation Center (OMIC) initiative to build that strong workforce pipeline for Oregon’s economy. This is a partnership model that brings together industry, academia, and government to support applied R&D and workforce training for Oregon manufacturers.
About James Hill
James G. Hill, an award-winning journalist and public relations writer, is the Director of Public Relations at Portland Community College. A graduate of Portland State University, James has worked as a section editor for the Newberg Graphic... more »