Topic: Manufacturing and Workforce Development- From Concept to Implementation

The Westerly Education Center has developed and implemented a successful model to train employees for General Dynamic Electric Boat in three trades. WEC is also developing a program with eleven employers for the Process Technologist of the Future. What has Rhode Island done to allow for this collaboration? How has this been successful? What are the lessons learned? This presentation will show a brief overview of both programs, the collaboration during the planning process, and how the programs are implemented.

Biography

Amy Grzybowski is the inaugural executive director of the new Westerly Education Center, an innovative facility uniting higher education, business, industry, government and community partners in the provision of workforce development and job training in Rhode Island. Amy was a key partner in the construction and opening of the $5.1 million PPP facility, which was completed on time and within budget; manages a 5-6-week training program in three trades for General Dynamics Electric Boat, the primary builder of submarines for the United States Navy; cultivated the participation of five public and private universities as well as quickened the growth of their educational courses with over 1,000 participants in the first year; and successfully procured $400,000 in grants.

Amy is currently managing the groundwork activities for the establishment of second workforce development center in R.I., modeled upon the highly successful Westerly Education Center. A graduate of Salve Regina University, she is an adjunct faculty member of Roger Williams University and Community College of Rhode Island. Amy also serves as the Emergency Management Director for the Town of Westerly and president of the Rhode Island Association of Emergency Managers as well as vice chairman of the Washington County Local Emergency Planning Committee.