Spotlight

In a groundbreaking effort to address the region’s future workforce needs, Nassau BOCES, in collaboration with The Cradle of Aviation Museum, held the first-ever Long Island Workforce Development Summit. The event brought together more than 150 school district administrators, educators, business leaders and government officials to develop strategies for aligning education with the evolving demands of industries such as advanced manufacturing, trades and renewable energy. The summit served as a platform to strengthen partnerships, spark collaboration and chart actionable steps to prepare students for high-demand careers.

From left, James Widmer, Judith Hynes and Larry J. Leaven

"We are here to celebrate the dynamic world of manufacturing and the trades, and to explore how we can shape the future of opportunity for our students and ultimately for Long Island. We seek to build programs that resonate with the needs of our economy and inspire the next generation of innovators. Let's work together to make the most of today and beyond, ensuring that our students are equipped with the skills and knowledge they need to thrive."

Larry J. Leaven, Nassau BOCES District Superintendent

"The manufacturing industry is probably one of the best-kept secrets on Long Island. It’s time to reignite that passion and open doors for students who might not see higher education as a priority or who want to combine higher education with manufacturing."

Bob Vecchio, Executive Director, Nassau-Suffolk School Boards Association

Advanced manufacturing plays a critical role in the region's economy and the growing opportunities for students. "Manufacturing's not dead; it's just different," said Andrew Parton, President, Cradle of Aviation Museum. Manufacturing has evolved, now incorporating advanced technology and smaller companies with sectors like aerospace, defense and renewable energy leading the way.

There is a lack of awareness about manufacturing as a career option, especially for students and young professionals. Speakers emphasized the need to plant the seed early among students with career fairs and direct outreach, and to provide real-world connections through internships, apprenticeships and co-op programs. Dimitrios Bletsos, Manufacturing Engineer, Oerlikon Metco, started as an intern before transitioning to a full-time position. "Manufacturing is a real powerhouse on Long Island, but it’s hidden,” Bletsos said. “Not a lot of people put it out there that manufacturing is one of your options."

"Workforce development is exactly the right term. Our job is not to create jobs; ours is to create careers."

Matthew Aracich, President, Building and Construction Trades Council for Nassau and Suffolk Counties

From left, Anne Shybunko-Moore and Dr. Susan Poser

"The way the timing is right now and for me, specifically, owing a defense company, workforce development is imperative so that we are putting people in the right places to protect our nation. It's national security that we do this."

Anne Shybunko-Moore, CEO and Owner, GSE Dynamics

From left, Terri Alessi-Miceli and Retha Fernandez

"A really important aspect of workforce development for us is removing the barriers, like access to transportation, language access, business attire and childcare services."

Retha Fernandez, Manager, Strategic Engagement, National Grid Ventures and Manager, Workforce Development and Equity, Community Offshore Wind

Shital Patel, Principal Economist, Division of Policy Strategy and Research, NYS Department of Labor, emphasized there is a growing mismatch on Long Island between available jobs and the skills of the local workforce. She projected that as industries like advanced manufacturing and clean energy grow, the demand for skilled workers will only increase, putting further pressure on the region to develop a pipeline of talent to fill these roles. “By 2034, we expect to need millions of new manufacturing jobs across the U.S., and Long Island is no exception,” Patel said. “Manufacturing today isn’t the same as it was 30 years ago. It is now a tech-driven, high-skill field. Offshore wind alone will require thousands of skilled workers in the coming years. This is an area where Long Island can lead, but we need to make sure we’re training workers now to meet this demand.”

From left, Dr. Peter J. Dalton and Ryan Burnett

"We've been doing the same thing for the last 30-40 years. If we could connect education and industry, that would solve a lot of the issues we have."

Ryan A. Burnett, President, Ryan Anthony’s Heating Service, Inc. and President, Ryan Anthony's Head Start Fund Inc.

From left, Jed Herman and Charles Collica

"It's okay to say things like 'college is not for everyone.' There are many ways to be successful, and we have to get out of this idea that it’s just college or nothing."

Jed Herman, Principal, Farmingdale High School, Farmingdale UFSD

From left, Laura Galletta, Amy Erickson, Dr. Peter Dalton and Brad Slepian

"Our job is to connect the dots between students, schools and employers. If we do that well, we will create a strong, adaptable workforce that will sustain Long Island's economy for years to come."

Amy Erickson, Long Island Manufacturing Extension Partnership, Director, Stony Brook University

Terri Alessi-Miceli, President, HIA-LI, emphasized that strategic planning, and alignment between education and industry will be crucial to filling the thousands of jobs expected to open in the next decade, particularly with young professionals making up 75% of the workforce by 2025. Philip Coniglio, Assistant Dean of Co-op and Experiential Learning, Hofstra University, described how Hofstra’s co-op program has been a game changer for students entering industries like engineering and manufacturing. “We’ve had over 200 students go through the program, and more than 60% have been employed by the companies they interned with.” Laura Galletta, Program Director, Advanced Manufacturing Training Center, Suffolk County Community College, highlighted Suffolk’s partnerships with local manufacturing companies and how the training center offers certification programs that are directly tied to industry needs. "Everything we do is relevant to what's happening in manufacturing right now," Galletta said. "As things change, we adapt by working closely with industry partners to keep our training up to date."

For more information on Workforce Development, please contact Dr. Peter J. Dalton, Nassau BOCES Workforce Development Administrator at pdalton@nasboces.org.

Nassau County Board of Cooperative Educational Services

Deborah Coates, President; Michael Weinick, Vice President

Susan Bergtraum; Ronald Ellerbe; Lawrence Greenstein; Martin R. Kaye;

Fran N. Langsner; Robert "B.A." Schoen; Eric B. Schultz

Larry J. Leaven, District Superintendent/Chief Executive Officer

James Widmer, Deputy Superintendent/Chief Operating Officer

Anthony N. Fierro, Chief Administrator of Facilities Services and Capital Projects

Colleen Lipponer, Assistant Superintendent for Business Services

Thomas McGrath, Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources/RSIP

Susan McNulty, Assistant Superintendent for Special Education/Curriculum & Instruction