2023 Workforce Summit

Speakers

Tara Adornetto

Ohio College Tech Prep was launched in 1991 by the Ohio Department of Education and the Ohio Department of Higher Education to focus on three goals: to build and foster relationships between education and business, to assist education partners in the region in developing career technical education pathways, and to provide universal technical assistance on related career-education topics. There are 6 Tech Prep Regional Centers and today you will meet the Southeast Tech Prep Region. The Southeast Region is led by Chief Administer, Katie Good. Katie works closely with 6 coordinators who are housed at 7 different community colleges. The Tech Prep Coordinators serve 25 counties assisting their area schools and business to meet the three goals.  

Eric L. Burkland

Mr. Burkland, a native of Wheeling, West Virginia, is a 1974 honors graduate of Miami University, where he received a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science.  During 1972 and 1973 he studied at the European Study Center in Luxembourg.  Later, he returned to Miami University to pursue post-graduate studies in political science.

Mr. Burkland assumed the presidency of The Ohio Manufacturers’ Association in 1989.  He has served on numerous panels and participated in initiatives in a variety of public policy areas, including taxation, education, workers’ compensation, transportation, environmental management, and energy during the terms of six Ohio governors.

Janell Comstock

Janell Comstock is the Grants Coordinator for the Ohio Valley Employment Resource for the Workforce Development Board Area 15 of Ohio.  An agency that supports Monroe, Morgan, Noble and Washington Counties area’s economic and workforce expansion. As the Grants coordinator, she manages the oversight and monitoring of Title I Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) grant programs, and the Department of Labor Workforce Opportunity for Rural Communities grant. Janell has a vast knowledge of workforce programming and the ecosystem within the Southeastern area of the state. Her previous 12 years’ experience in workforce and post-secondary education enables her to take an innovative approach to the area’s programming.

Don Dean

Don currently works for Ariel Corporation in Mt. Vernon, Ohio, where he coordinates and manages technical training for the company.  Don is a graduate of Miami University, and has worked at manufacturing facilities in Ohio and Indiana as a Manufacturing Engineer and in Operations Management.  He also owned and managed a small business in Ohio that did custom machining and metal fabrication.  Don also has taught and managed programs in adult education for one of the Ohio Technical Centers.

Matt Dudas

Matthew Dudas has spent 32 years as a career-technical educator. 29 years at Mid-East Career and Technology Centers. Teaching electronics, computer hardware, and networking.

Barb Hansen

Dr. Hansen is a graduate of OSU where she earned her BS and MA, and she earned her  PhD from Ohio University.  Barb taught high school English and gifted courses for middle level students.  She also has served as an elementary principal, assistant superintendent and superintendent.  Barb currently teaches at Muskingum University in the Education Department, as well as Graduate courses in Educational Leadership.

Mike Jacoby

Mike Jacoby is the president of Ohio Southeast Economic Development or Ohio Southeast (OhioSE).   OhioSE is the JobsOhio regional non-profit affiliate organization charged with supporting and coordinating economic development across 25 counties in southern and eastern Ohio as the regional JobsOhio Network Partner and working closely with local economic development organizations.  OhioSE is a subsidiary of the Appalachian Partnership Inc.
Before becoming president of OhioSE in April of 2018, he served as Director of Shale Energy and Vice President at OhioSE.   Before that he was the executive director of the Zanesville-Muskingum County Port Authority.      
Mike has 29 years of economic development experience in Ohio at the local, regional and state level.  Professional highlights include leading the fantastic team of professionals at OhioSE and from previous jobs: the recruitment of Halliburton to Zanesville and the recruitment of Fanatics to Frazeysburg.   
He is a Certified Economic Developer and certified Economic Development Finance Professional.  He has a Masters’ Degree in Public Administration from Ohio University and a Bachelor of Arts in newspaper journalism from Kent State University.  He and his family live north of Zanesville, Ohio. 

Shannon Kenily

Shannon Kenily has spent 35 years in the career-technical education field. Her passion for connecting students with the business community drives her to match the right student with the right employer so they may pursue a fulfilling career in their respective field of study at Mid-East Career and Technology Centers. Her current role as a Workforce Development Coordinator for both high school and adult students allows her to focus on this passion. She says there is nothing more rewarding than seeing a student or graduate find success in their chosen career field. Shannon holds an Associate Degree in Applied Business from the former Muskingum Area Technical College (MATC) and a Bachelor of Arts in Organizational Leadership and Development from Wheeling University. She's also a member of the Muskingum Valley Human Resource Management Association (MVHRMA) where she serves as the Education/Workforce Readiness Chair. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her husband Kevin, and their two boys Kadin and Koltin. 

Lindsay Rayner

Lindsay Rayner is Director of Curriculum and Learning at Muskingum Valley Educational Service Center. She received her bachelor's degree in education from Ohio University and her master's degree in educational leadership from Muskingum University. With two decades of experience in the education field, Lindsay has worked as a classroom teacher, community college adjunct instructor, middle school reading interventionist, and school administrator before assuming her current role. She is passionate about designing and implementing effective curriculum and instructional practices that support student learning and success.

Keri Rosser

Keri Rosser is the Career Connected Learning Coordinator for the East Central Ohio Educational Service Center.  Keri specializes in career-based education options and is responsible for educating school districts, community members, and students about these options including pre-apprenticeships, credentialing, internships, etc.  Keri assists in implementation and completion of these programs by helping schools make connections with businesses in the area.  Working with school districts to help prepare the future workforce is something that Keri aspires to grow the program in the region.  Keri earned a BA in Business from Muskingum University and an MBA from Chadron State College.  She is also a certified Career Development Specialist through the A.S.C.A. Keri lives in Cambridge with her husband, Chase, and their two daughters, Annabelle and Aliza. 

Stephanie Schott

Stephanie Schott is the Program Liaison for the Ohio Valley Employment Resource for the Workforce Development Board Area 15 of Ohio. An agency that supports Monroe, Morgan, Noble and Washington Counties area’s economic and workforce expansion. As the Program Liaison she provides outreach and coordination with the area school districts in implementing the Department of Labor Workforce Opportunity for Rural Communities grant. Stephanie has a winning personality and vast understanding of the educational system in our area. Her previous experience has aided her in the understanding of our Youth program. 
Reality One Stop
The Workforce Development Board Area 15 has been using Virtual Reality Headsets for Career Exploration and Training in our OhioMeansJobs Centers and local school districts. Our area currently has a loan out program geared towards local school districts and area organizations. These groups are able to borrow the headsets for a brief period of time to allow students and members to complete training and/or explore careers. 

Timothy Slekar

Timothy Slekar is the Director of Educator Preparation Programs and Chair of the Education Department at Muskingum University.  Prior to coming to Muskingum, Dr. Slekar was the Dean of the School of Education at Edgewood College in Madison, WI.  He has a PhD from the University of Maryland at College Park, He received his undergraduate degree in Elementary Education from Edinboro University of Pennsylvania.

Bryn Stepp

Bryn Stepp holds a dual role as the Manager of Regional Affairs and the Southeast Regional Representative for Lt. Governor Jon Husted. Lt. Governor Husted has made workforce and economic development central to his work in the administration, focusing on programs that help equip Ohioans with the skills they need to be successful in today’s changing economy. As his representative, Bryn acts as a liaison between the Lt. Governor’s Office and the 22 counties in her region. She has 3 grown children, and is mimsy to a 17 month old grandson and 5 month old granddaughter. She resides in Jackson with her husband.

Andy West

Andy has worked 10 years in the Career-Technical Education field with nine of those as the Heavy Equipment Operator instructor and Skilled Trades Coordinator for Mid-East Career and Technology Centers - Adult Education. In his new district role as a Workforce Development Coordinator,  Andy continues to bring a wide range of experience in the commercial and residential excavating industry from the central and southeastern Ohio regions to the Adult Education and high school programs. With more than 22 years of project management experience, Andy has managed all types of projects, ranging from site preparation, municipal utility installation, and underground storage tank installs and removals to road construction and repair. Andy began his career in equipment operations with the J.M. West Construction Company, his family’s incorporated excavating business. In addition to his experience as an operator, he attended and completed the Hobart Welding School Program and holds a Class A Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) from the State of Ohio. Andy also is certified in OSHA 30 for Construction Safety and Health, Safeland USA International Association of Drilling Contractors, and National Center for Construction Education and Research. 

Joy Wolfel

Joy Wolfel was raised in Steubenville, Ohio. She completed her undergraduate degree in Sociology from Muskingum University. She met her husband, Ed, at Muskingum University and they decided to make Zanesville their home. Joy worked for Child Protective Services for five years, in both Franklin and Muskingum County Children’s Services.

In 2004 Joy earned her Master of Arts in Teaching from Muskingum University, and began her teaching career at Bishop Fenwick Elementary in Zanesville. During that time she taught second grade, kindergarten, and pre-school and was the Director of the Early Childhood Center. After many years in the classroom Joy accepted a position at Muskingum Valley Educational Service Center as a 21st Century Grant Coordinator. She spent five years at Crooksville Exempted Village School District coordinating a before and after school program for students in grades K-12. In 2021, Joy obtained her second Master’s degree in Educational Administration from Grand Canyon University.

In June of last year, Joy accepted a position at Ohio Valley Educational Service Center as a Career Exploration Instructor and Grant Manager located at Mid-East Career and Technology Center. She has worked closely with MECTC and AOP-20 to create “Careers in My Community” for students in grades Kindergarten-6th grade. This is a great opportunity for students to focus on career exploration and awareness. 

When Joy is not working, she spends time with her friends and family. Joy, Ed and their son Ethan, as well as their two dogs enjoy time outdoors and are always looking for new adventures. She is involved with Muskingum Valley Council, as well as Boy Scouts of America.  Joy has a passion for working with children and inspiring them to learn and have a positive mindset.