Business Breakfast Series

Thursday, May 8, 2025 | 7:30 – 9:30 a.m.
Corporate College® East, Room 130
4400 Richmond Road
Warrensville Heights, Ohio 44128

This business breakfast will bring together local leaders, employers and workforce development experts to explore how apprenticeships and earn-and-learn models can offer powerful solutions to today's talent challenges. Through a dynamic panel discussion and networking opportunities, attendees will learn how structured, work-based learning can help address workforce shortages, build a sustainable talent pipeline, and support business growth. 

Moderator: Cecilia Kaltz, Director, Employer Partnerships and Apprenticeship Programs, Cuyahoga Community College

Panelists:

Ginny Pate
Executive Director, Carmella Rose Health Foundation

Ginny Pate is the executive director of the Carmella Rose Health Foundation and a certified community health worker with nearly two decades of experience improving community health in Cleveland. She was instrumental in introducing and launching the Better Health Pathways HUB, which addresses critical health needs in underserved communities. A 2024 Better Health Partnership Collaborative Champion, Pate mentors care coordination agencies and serves on advisory boards to strengthen Northeast Ohio's community health workforce. Her passion for creating impactful change has made her a respected leader in advancing health equity.

Michelle Rose
CEO, Greater Cleveland Works

Michelle Rose serves as the CEO of Greater Cleveland Works, leading public sector workforce development programming and strategy for employers and job seekers in the city of Cleveland and Cuyahoga County. Mayor Justin M. Bibb appointed Rose to lead this organization in June 2022. Since then, she has shepherded it through the process of operating as a nonprofit and improved the delivery of core services while securing $10 million in American Rescue Plan funds to connect more Clevelanders to good jobs in the skilled trades.

Barry DiJulius, Jr.
Director, Joint Apprenticeship Training Center, Construction Trades Operating, Cuyahoga Community College

Barry Dijulius Jr. has over 25 years of experience in the construction industry, including seven years in trade instruction. He has contributed to significant projects, developed specialized training programs, and promoted the use of innovative technologies in construction. DiJulius' expertise includes project management, workforce education, and curriculum development, highlighting his commitment to advancing the industry and mentoring future professionals.

Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2025 | 7:30 – 9:30 a.m.
Corporate College® East, Room 238
4400 Richmond Road
Warrensville Heights, Ohio 44128

Join us for a panel discussion exploring innovative strategies to address challenges Northeast Ohio businesses face in training, recruiting and retaining top talent. The discussion will feature panelists J. Craig McAtee, a leader in advanced technology, education and manufacturing, Constance Haqq, the chief administrative officer at the Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District, and moderator Jessica Colombi, the executive director of economic development and public policy at Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®). Shana Marbury, the executive vice president of Workforce Innovation at Tri-C, will provide the framework and introduction for the conversation.

Attendees of this dynamic discussion will gain actionable insights and practical ideas to implement within their organizations, driving improvement and growth.

J. Craig McAtee
CEO and Executive Director, National Coalition of Advanced Technology Centers (NCATC)

Prior to becoming the executive director and CEO of the National Coalition of Advanced Technology Centers (NCATC), J. Craig McAtee established an impressive career path. He also serves as the principal of McAtee Ventures, LLC, is the former executive director of Workforce Development in Advanced Manufacturing and Technologies and director of Additive Manufacturing Technology for Tri-C, and has held senior leadership roles at Swagelok. Known for his team-building skills and out-of-the-box problem-solving approaches, he has established himself as a thought leader and futurist in his field. Additionally, McAtee is an active keynote speaker with a focus on “The Future of Work and Industry 4.0.” McAtee holds multiple degrees, including an associate degree from Tri-C and an Executive MBA from Cleveland State University.

Constance T. Haqq
Chief Administrative Officer, Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District (NEORSD)

Constance T. Haqq is the chief administrative officer at the Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District (NEORSD) which treats sanitary sewage and manages regional stormwater for a million customers. Her responsibilities include human resources, administration and external affairs, government and customer relations and diversity, equity, and inclusion. NEORSD employs 750 people and treats 90 billion gallons of water each year. Haqq has been with NEORSD since 2005. She is a native Clevelander, a graduate of Tufts University and Case Western University’s Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences. She has served on numerous nonprofit boards, including Business Volunteers Unlimited, Karamu House, and Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital.

Jessica Colombi
Executive Director of Economic Development and Public Policy, Tri-C

Jessica Colombi, the executive director of economic development and public policy at Tri-C, has over 15 years of experience driving systems change in complex institutions. At Tri-C, she is spearheading the implementation of a Center for the Future of Work, focusing on research and policies that enhance education for social impact. Previously, Colombi played a pivotal role in developing Cleveland’s historic Community Benefits Ordinance and drafted proposals for the administration of federal COVID relief funds. She holds a master’s degree in psychology with a certification in Diversity Management from Cleveland State University and brings her expertise in facilitation, relationship-building, and strategy to every project.

Thursday, Sep. 26, 2024 | 7:30–9:30 a.m.
Corporate College® East
4400 Richmond Road
Warrensville Heights, Ohio 44128

Tri-C is proud to be known as the leading educator of Cleveland’s world-class workforce. On Sep. 26, get a preview of a pilot initiative focused on giving employers even greater access to highly qualified graduates. Tri-C is partnering with an innovative local company to develop strategies to source and match employers with highly skilled candidates.

Business Breakfast attendees will get a sneak peek at the technology that will help students secure the best job for them after earning their degree. Additionally, the technology will help students stay in their positions by solving the life challenges and common barriers that often cause turnover.

We are taking our commitment to providing degrees of value to the next level by precisely matching students with the right skills to succeed in great jobs across Northeast Ohio. We hope you’ll join us on Sep. 26 to learn more.