Lee County’s first female welding graduate goes to work
FORT MYERS, Fla. (Aug. 21, 2017) – Janet De La Cruz has always been inspired by the teachers in her life. When she was younger, she first wanted to be an elementary school teacher and later a speech language pathologist. “In elementary school, I had the most amazing music teacher so that was my inspiration for […]
GradApp 2 launches with funding from Wells Fargo
FORT MYERS, Fla. (June 29, 2017) – The FutureMakers Coalition announces the launch of the GradApp2 application. Funded through a grant from Wells Fargo, GradApp2 is a resource for mentors to spark conversations with students around post-secondary education and career planning. Built upon the original GradApp, Naples-based MassiveU has designed an interactive, project-based social learning […]
FutureMakers Coalition releases first baseline report
Goal to transform Southwest Florida’s workforce by 2025 FORT MYERS, Fla. (June 20, 2017) –The FutureMakers Coalition has reached a major milestone by releasing its first baseline report. The full report can be accessed by visiting http://www.futuremakerscoalition.com/reports/. The goal of FutureMakers is to transform Southwest Florida’s workforce by increasing the number of college degrees, certificates or other […]
Foundational skills training launched by Hodges University
FORT MYERS, Fla. June 14, 2017 – The FutureMakers Coalition’s Persistence and Progress Regional Action Team announces the development of a pilot project to address foundational skills, or soft skills, that were identified by local employers as barriers to hiring from the local workforce. After unsuccessful attempts to find examples of programs elsewhere that seem […]
Local high school students participate in annual Regional Student Summit
FORT MYERS, Fla. (May 23, 2017) – Local high school students gathered at Hodges University to participate in the FutureMakers Coalition’s second annual Regional Student Summit earlier this month. The summit engaged and involved students in the progression of Southwest Florida’s regional initiative to develop a more skilled workforce. The annual event was geared toward listening […]
The survey says: Companies need employees with business skills
FORT MYERS, Fla. (May 23, 2017) – Companies throughout Southwest Florida are looking for new employees with business, accounting and Internet technology skills – and nearly 79 percent are willing to pay more for qualified candidates. Despite reports of gaping workforce shortages in the health care industry, a FutureMakers Coalition survey of businesses and nonprofit […]
FutureMakers wins Chrysalis Award
Coalition working to increase post-secondary certification completion in Southwest Florida wins education category FORT MYERS, Fla. (May 2, 2017) – The FutureMakers Coalition was recently presented a Chrysalis Award in the education category at the eighth annual Celebration of Business & Tourism Awards. More than 360 people attended the event at the Sanibel Harbour Marriott […]
Regional workforce study results released
FORT MYERS, Fla. (April 11, 2017) – The fourth annual Southwest Florida workforce overview study has been released and provides key information about industries, occupations, employments gaps and projected job growth. Which Southwest Florida occupations have the largest gaps between the number of workers demanded by employers and the available supply in the labor market? […]
FutureMakers receives $50,000 challenge grant
FORT MYERS, Fla. (March 16, 2017) – The FutureMakers Coalition was recently awarded a $50,000 challenge grant from Florida Philanthropic Network as part of its College Access & Success Initiative (CASI). A $10,000 grant was also awarded for administration costs and backbone support. The goal of the FutureMakers Coalition is to transform the workforce by […]
Weekly blog to focus on post-secondary education
FORT MYERS, Fla. (Feb. 6, 2017) – Amanda Sterk, M.Ed., doctoral candidate, is partnering with the FutureMakers Coalition to dedicate her weekly blog, Unmaze Me (Unmaze.me), to the Coalition partners and their networks in hopes of reaching the Southwest Floridians who need it most. The blog aims to bridge the gap between K-12 and post-secondary education, and […]