Business Advisory Council
Welcome to the Business Advisory Council
Connecting Education and Industry for a Stronger Workforce
The Mid-Ohio ESC Business Advisory Council (BAC) serves as a collaborative partnership between businesses, educators, and community leaders across Richland, Morrow, and Crawford counties. Our mission is to foster a robust relationship between education and the workforce by enhancing communication, fostering strategic partnerships, and emphasizing workforce readiness, leadership development, and civic engagement for all students in our region.
Excellence: Recognized for our high standards and exceptional performance, our Business Advisory Council was honored with a prestigious 3-Star Rating of Excellence by the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce in 2024. This rigorous rating, just shy of the highest 4-star rating, reflects our commitment to excellence in fostering education and business partnerships.
Workforce Development Award: The Mid-Ohio ESC Business Advisory Council is the proud recipient of the Crawford Partnership Workforce Development Award. The Workforce Development Award is presented to individuals, organizations, or collaborative projects that have shown a strong commitment to advancing workforce development and have significantly contributed to preparing a skilled workforce to meet the needs of growing companies.
State of Ohio Senate Outstanding Accomplishment Recognition: The Mid-Ohio ESC Educator Boot Camps were honored by Senator Matt Huffman, President of the Ohio Senate, and Senator Bill Reineke of the 26th Senatorial District for their outstanding contributions to the community. This recognition highlights how the program effectively connects teachers with local businesses, enabling educators to bring valuable real-world insights back to their classrooms. The Ohio Senate commended our program for its positive impact on local quality of life and the widespread respect it has garnered among the business community.
Our Mission
Our goal is to create an education system that is responsive to regional economic needs, providing students with career readiness learning experiences that are locally focused and impactful.
We focus our work on three Quality Practices:
- Develop Professional Skills for Future Careers: We are committed to equipping students with the essential skills required for success in the evolving job market. This includes integrating business insights into curriculum development, offering educator professional development, and directly involving employers in classroom activities.
- Build Strong Partnerships: By cultivating meaningful partnerships with local businesses, industry leaders, workforce boards, and educational institutions, we aim to create opportunities that align with in-demand careers in our region. Our collaborative efforts ensure that students are prepared for diverse career pathways, including college, industry credentials, apprenticeships, and military enlistment.
- Coordinate Experiential Learning Opportunities: The BAC connects students to hands-on learning experiences such as internships, apprenticeships, and job shadowing, allowing them to apply their knowledge in real-world settings and gain valuable insights into their chosen career paths.
Action Teams
Our Action Teams bring together local business and education partners to develop and deliver career activities tailored to the specific needs of each county. These teams organize events like career fairs, workshops, and other experiential learning opportunities, helping students explore various career options and build essential skills. By focusing on community-specific programs, we aim to enhance career readiness and support local workforce development.
Key Initiatives
Educator Bootcamps: We believe in empowering educators to bring real-world industry knowledge into the classroom. Our Teacher Manufacturing & Technology Bootcamps are designed to provide teachers with firsthand experience and training in manufacturing processes, technologies, and career opportunities. Through the summer boot camps, educators gain valuable insights and resources to better prepare students for careers in manufacturing & technology. This program is available to all school districts in Richland, Morrow, and Crawford Counties, and is supported by various local businesses and Ashland University. Enrollment Begins in March of each year. Watch our latest Educator Tour Below!
Superintendent Manufacturing Tour: Working with Workforce and Chamber Partners in Richland, Morrow and Crawford Counties, the BAC organized Manufacturing Tours for all area superintendents. This activity had a profound impact on Superintendents, as they work to expand their vision for career readiness in their school districts. Manufacturers were able to directly advise educators about the jobs and training available in their organizations, and the skills needed to obtain those jobs. Watch our latest Superintendent Tour Below!
TurboCert Program: The TurboCert Program provides high school students the opportunity to earn industry-recognized credentials across multiple career pathways. In collaboration with North Central State College, the program is hosted at the Crawford Success Center and offers students valuable skills and certifications that are highly sought after by employers. This initiative is available to students from all Crawford County schools.
State Recognized Pre-Apprenticeship Programs: Our State Recognized Pre-Apprenticeship Programs offer an alternative pathway to graduation for students interested in vocational training. Through partnerships with skilled trades, North Central State College, local schools and businesses, this program provides hands-on learning experiences and work-based learning opportunities that prepare students for direct entry into the workforce or further apprenticeship programs. This initiative is part of our commitment to offering diverse career pathways that cater to different student needs and aspirations.
Ready for Hire Program: Our Ready for Hire Program is an after-school and summer initiative focused on career readiness for high school students. This comprehensive program includes STEM activities, career readiness curriculum, soft skills training, financial literacy education, paid internships, and opportunities to earn industry-recognized credentials. By participating in this program, students across Richland, Morrow, and Crawford Counties gain valuable skills and experiences that prepare them for the workforce and beyond.
Collaborative Initiatives: Mid-Ohio ESC Business Advisory Council is committed to working with partners across our region to enhance educational and career opportunities for students. Our collaboration includes joint initiatives and shared resources that pool funding, expertise, and manpower, to maximize the impact of our programs.
YOU SCIENCE Career Exploration Tool: Partners are excited to implement YouScience, a comprehensive career exploration tool that connects students with local employment opportunities in Crawford, Richland, Morrow Counties. This platform allows students to explore in-demand career paths and helps educators guide them towards successful futures.
WAGE (Workforce Awareness for Graduates & Educators) Tours: The WAGE Tours aim to increase awareness of local career paths and workforce readiness among students and educators. Through these tours, participants visit various businesses to learn about the employment opportunities and skills required in our local industries. This program primarily targets 9th and 10th graders, providing them with insights into potential career options and fostering an understanding of local workforce needs.
Crawford County CEO (Creating Entrepreneurial Opportunities) Program: The Crawford County CEO Program is designed to introduce students to the world of entrepreneurship and help them develop essential business skills. Through partnerships with local businesses, elected officials, and community organizations, students will gain hands-on experience and mentorship to explore entrepreneurial pathways. This program is set to launch in the 2025-2026 school year, with planning and coordination taking place throughout 2024-2025.
Join Us in Shaping the Future
The success of our students and the future of our community depend on strong collaboration between schools, businesses, and community organizations. By working together, we can ensure that our students are not only prepared for the jobs of today but are also ready to meet the challenges of tomorrow.
We invite you to join us in this endeavor. Whether you are a business leader, educator, parent, or community member, there are numerous ways to get involved and make a difference. Together, we can create a dynamic, career-focused learning ecosystem that empowers our students and strengthens our local economy.
Contact Us
For more information on how you can participate or support the Mid-Ohio ESC Business Advisory Council, please reach out by the form below:
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