Montgomery County Community College’s Workforce Development Division is committed to helping businesses strengthen their workforce and enhance their competitive advantage by connecting them with valuable resources.

To share these opportunities, MCCC invites businesses to attend its annual Workforce Development Business Roundtable on Wednesday, June 25, from 10 to 11:45 a.m. The event will be held via Zoom. To register, visit mc3.edu/calendar.

This year’s keynote speaker is Anna Brown, Economist and the Vice President of Education Professional Services at Lightcast, a leading global organization in labor market analytics. Brown’s experience includes regional and labor economics, econometrics, economic impact analysis and benefit/cost analysis. She holds a master’s degree in applied economics from the University of Idaho. Brown will be speaking about the national and regional economies.

Following the keynote presentation, MCCC’s Director of Workforce Development Bernadette DeBias and Administrative Director for Academic Initiatives Katina Faulk will discuss the advantages of the Workforce and Economic Development Network of Pennsylvania (WEDnetPA), as well as significant changes surrounding eligibility and deadlines.

Created by the Pennsylvania Department of Community & Economic Development, WEDnetPA is an alliance of higher educational providers across Pennsylvania, with MCCC serving as the Montgomery County partner. Through WEDnetPA, companies can receive state grants for training new and existing employees. DeBias and Faulk will cover program eligibility, application timelines, ranking criteria, funding availability, and best practices for the new fiscal year of July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026.

Jennifer Butler, Deputy Director/Executive Director of MontcoWorks, will represent the Montgomery County Commerce Department to share the results from a recent countywide business needs assessment and highlight programs designed to help businesses retain employees and grow in Montgomery County and the region.

Dennis Noble, MCCC’s Workforce Leadership Trainer, will lead a mini-training session on “Crucial Conversations” to help leaders and managers navigate difficult discussions that significantly impact those involved. While challenging, crucial conversations can offer significant benefits by fostering open dialogue, building trust, improving teamwork, enhancing decision-making, and problem-solving. This mini-training session is offered as a customized training opportunity for companies through MCCC’s Workforce Development Division.

Noble, a Philadelphia native, is a seasoned learning and development professional specializing in leadership coaching, communication and team building. He holds an MBA in project management from Strayer University and brings experience in strategic planning, performance consulting, and change management.

MCCC’s Workforce Development Division can customize training for area companies and deliver the training onsite or virtually. For more information, contact Bernadette DeBias at [email protected].