The main goal of his visit was to discuss Intel’s interest in workforce development in the central Oho region. He was keenly interested in the activities of the educational institutions to attract and develop students in STEM programs.
Present at the meeting were John Berry, PhD, president of COTC; Joyce L. Malainy, EdD, superintendent of C-TEC, based in Licking County; and Sandy Furterer, PhD, professor of practice at Ohio State. Intel executives discussed the importance of high schools, technical colleges and universities in the development of different levels and types of workforce that they will need in the years to come.
The infrastructure in central Ohio, the history of manufacturing and private-public partnership, and the potential for workforce development, Esfarjani emphasized, are the things that make Ohio attractive to Intel as well as other advanced manufacturing organizations.
Intel executives were also keenly interested in the efforts made by the educational institutions to attract women and under-represented minorities to STEM programs. They were very impressed with the program offerings and strategy developed by the institutions and promised to fully support any marketing activity to showcase and highlight the career opportunities available at Intel.
The meeting concluded with reaffirming our mutual commitment to work collaboratively to build a robust and sustainable workforce pipeline for both the semiconductor industry and the larger advanced manufacturing sector for the central Ohio region.
