Episode 5 – “Lights, Camera, Careers” with Justin Siler

With the proliferation of movies and TV series, studios are turning from Hollywood to the heartland. This means filming in different locations and using a different workforce.

We speak with Justin Siler, adult and career development coordinator at CareerTech, about what his division is doing to prepare Oklahoma’s workforce for the big screen.

You can view a video of this conversation here:

 

Episode 4 – “All The Trades, Under One Roof” with John Day

From welding to carpentry, from plumbing to electrical work, trade and industrial education is one of the most diverse divisions at Oklahoma CareerTech.

Until recently, that division was led by John Day, who joined us in the studio to give an overview of this wide-reaching division, as well as his insight on where it goes from here.

You can view a video of our conversation here:

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Episode 2 – “Helping Small Business Grow” with Carter Merkle

Have you started a small business? Do you know someone who has?

The challenges of starting out from scratch are well known, but what you may not know is that CareerTech has resources to help make growing a small business easier.

Carter Merkle of Oklahoma’s Procurement Technical Assistance Center sat down with us to talk about the ways in which OkPTAC connects small businesses in the state with government agencies.

You can view a video of our conversation with Carter Merkle here:

You can view videos of the business leaders we talked to at ICBSSHOW here:

Additional links:

ICBSSHOW

OkPTAC

 

Episode 1 – “A Time Of Transition” with Dr. Lee Denney

How do you lead in a time of transition?

CareerTech’s Interim State Director Dr. Lee Denney sat down with Russell Ray to tell us about her unique role at the agency.

She also shares her thoughts about the CareerTech student organizations and the many ways the system delivers on its promises to students and businesses across the state.

You can view the video version of this conversation here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hIRLsErd3e8

 

CareerTech Horizon 2-2: “Here’s the Beef”

Do you remember last year when meat was difficult to find?

When the lockdowns went into effect, and major meat producers had to scale back production in the fight against COVID-19, many Oklahomans sought out local sources of meat. However, that highlighted a new problem: workforce shortages.

In this episode, we examine Oklahoma’s meat shortage and how teamwork from all over the state seeks to train more meat processors to prevent another shortage.

  • We’ll examine how Oklahoma lawmakers responded to the initial meat shortage  and began to expand the state’s local processing capacity.
  • We’ll look into how CareerTech teamed up with the Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry to train a new workforce in a partnership that paid dividends.
  • We’ll hit the road to check out high schools and tech centers adding meat processing to their curriculum.
  • Check out the new Mobile Meat Processing Lab – a refrigerated semi-trailer converted into a classroom on wheels.
  • A new Oklahoma-certified beef standard seeks to help farmers and ranchers market their meat directly to consumers.

You can subscribe to our podcast on Apple, Spotify, Google, TuneIn or Stitcher or ask your smart speaker to play “CareerTech Horizon.”

Also, don’t forget to follow us on Twitter @CT_Horizon, or on Facebook to stay up to date with this ongoing project. Visit our website for show notes, episode trailers and bonus content “Beyond Your Horizon” at http://cthorizon.org

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TRAILER — CTH 2-1: “Challenges and Opportunities”

Host and producer Blane Singletary on the set of CareerTech Horizon

Head over to our Facebook or Twitter to see the video version of this trailer!

In the lead-up to CareerTech Horizon’s Season 2 debut, producer Blane Singletary takes you behind the scenes, onto the set of the show, to talk about how the pandemic changed the way the shows were put together.

We also talk about our next episode about how Oklahoma’s agriculture industry went through its own trials, as many in the state faced a food shortage. Through these difficult times, however, new opportunities have emerged, and a variety of jobs are available for those willing to step up.

Subscribe to the show with your favorite podcast app or platform. Or, ask your smart speaker to “Play CareerTech Horizon.”

 

CareerTech Horizon 1-10: “Showing You Care”

medical students tend to a mannequin to learn proper patient care

2020 has been called a lot of things, and most of them aren’t very nice. But at least one positive situation has emerged from this challenging year – a profound appreciation of our frontline health care workers.

As COVID-19 fills hospitals with critically ill patients, nursing homes battle the virus among its patients and staff, and front line nurses give countless COVID tests and now…vaccines…now, more than ever, Oklahomans owe a debt of gratitude to workers in the health care industry and those who train health care workers.

In this season finale episode:

  • We talk about the worldwide nursing shortage and its effect on Oklahoma’s health care system.
  • Connie Romans tells us about a generous gift from a CareerTech grad that’s benefitting health care educators and students across the state.
  • We hear about some of the challenges of training students for health careers – in the middle of a pandemic.
  • We’re reminded that men and women can follow whatever career path they choose…especially in health care!

You can subscribe to our podcast on Apple, Spotify, Google, TuneIn, Stitcher, or ask your smart speaker to “Play CareerTech Horizon.”

Also, don’t forget to follow us on Twitter @CT_Horizon, or on Facebook to stay up to date with this ongoing project. Visit our website for show notes, episode trailers, and bonus content “Beyond Your Horizon” at http://cthorizon.org

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CareerTech Horizon 1-9: “Power Up!”

student stands in a classroom filled with energy training equipment explaining how career has changed her life

Francis Tuttle Tech Center Student Toni Lochrie talks about how she found a new career and new purpose in the energy industry.

When is the last time you thought about what goes into keeping power going to your home, uninterrupted?

Oklahoma’s thriving and evolving energy industry can be found in many forms. Whether it’s oil, gas, hydroelectricric, wind, or solar energy, careers in this field can be lucrative and rewarding, but with a growing gap for skilled labor around the state, energy leaders hope more students sign on to technical programs to keep things going.

In this episode:

  • We travel the state to hear from energy leaders on the challenges they are facing, and the new programs in place to help alleviate the energy skills gap.
  • We profile two students from very different backgrounds, and who are training for two very different jobs, but are ultimately working for the same goal.
  • We climb hundreds of feet to get a good view of the wind energy industry, and learn about the technical and safety demands of the job.
  • Listen in on a panel discussion, as Oklahoma’s energy experts discuss what the industry will change in the coming years, while other parts stay the same.

You can follow us on Twitter @CT_Horizon, or find us on Facebook.

You can also visit our website, cthorizon.org, for show notes, discussion and bonus content, “Beyond Your Horizon.”

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1 Year of CareerTech Horizon! + Episode 9 Trailer

HAPPY FIRST BIRTHDAY TO CAREERTECH HORIZON!

It’s hard to believe, but it’s been a full year since we started this podcast! We’ve loved the opportunities to tell great stories from around the state, and we could’nt have done it without the support of you, our listeners. Thank you!

two students work in energy program at technical schoolNEXT TIME: EPISODE 9 — “Power Up!”

We may sometimes take it for granted, but energy is a critical resource in keeping our lives going. Oklahomans have been doing their best to capture and harness energy in many forms, and new statewide initiatives seek to further the Sooner State’s energy workforce.

On the next episode of CareerTech Horizon, we bring you the stories from the evolving world of energy, and the students and workers ready to ride its wave.

 

Subscribe today on your favorite podcast app to be the first to hear our episode when it comes out, next week!

CareerTech Horizon 1-7: “Feels Like Home”

While you were at home during the coronavirus lockdown, did you find yourself trying to learn new “home skills?”

With people turning to things like baking and sewing, some for the first time, Family and Consumer Science teachers have suddenly found their subject in high demand. In this episode, we sit down with Terri Hollarn, a longtime FCS educator and state administrator, on how an elective class is becoming essential learning.

We also highlight the shortage of FCS teachers across the country, and the hope that this crisis may encourage more people to become teachers.

You can follow us on Twitter @CT_Horizon, or find us on Facebook.

You can also visit our website, cthorizon.org for show notes, discussion, and bonus content, “Beyond Your Horizon.”

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