In this episode host Marc Goldberg interviews Linn-Benton Community College (LBCC) Machine Tool Technology program graduate and past NC3 Linn-Benton National Signing Day participant, Kolton Wolfe, Linn-Benton Community College president Dr Lisa Avery, and then both Roger Tadajewski, the Executive Director of NC3, the National Coalition of Certification Centers, and Sama Shagaga in Partnerships and Government Relations from NW Natural - both strong partner organization to the college.

Kolton describes his entry into Linn-Benton Community College via the NC3 National Signing Day annual event where he and other new students were celebrated for choosing an LBCC Career Technical Education path for the future through the Machine Tool Technology program. Kolton elaborates on the tremendous support he received from his high school, Sweet Home High School, along with Linn-Benton Community College, as part of National Signing Day -- registering for college classes and in his case receiving a significant college scholarship from NW Natural.

Dr. Avery reflects on Kolton’s interview and highlights the importance of both comprehensive student supports offered to students and clear and accelerated pathways to good jobs and careers through workforce, CTE and transfer programs.

Roger and Sama both share more about their organizations’ partnerships with Linn-Benton Community College for NC3 National Signing Day and the overall power of strong college and industry partnerships needed to create a skilled current and future workforce in key industry sectors.

The All In: Student Pathways Forward podcast is a part of Oregon’s participation in the National Skills Coalition SkillSPAN network.

This special All In episode is part II of a mini series following the National Council for Workforce Education’s annual conference in Norfolk, Virginia in fall 2025. It includes engaging interviews with three charismatic higher education and workforce executive leaders from the Hampton Roads region: Dr. Marcia Conston, the president of Tidewater Community College, Dr. Porter Brannon, the president of Virginia Peninsula Community College and Dr. Latitia McCane, the Director of Education for The Apprentice School at Newport News Shipbuilding/HII.

Dr. Conston, Dr. Brannon and Dr. McCane each share reflections from the NCWE 2025 annual conference plenary student panel discussion that included learners from each of their institutions recorded and published in the last All In podcast episode. These executives also offer their perspectives and insights on what it means to meet the moment for workforce education, the theme of the NCWE conference, such as developing nimble and responsive programs in collaboration with regional employers and other partners that create economic prosperity in the region.

Lastly, Dr. Conston, Dr. Brannon and Dr. McCane all describe the power and importance of listening to students each highlighting examples of programmatic and policy improvements made at their respective institutions as a result of student input.

This special All In episode was recorded live at the National Council for Workforce Education’s annual conference in Norfolk, Virginia in October 2025 and features a dynamic community college student panel that set the stage for this gathering of college workforce leaders and those from partner organizations from around the country. Three standout students—Jasmine Canty of Tidewater Community College, April Langhorne of Virginia Peninsula Community College, and Evan Hernandez of the Apprentice School at Newport News Shipbuilding—share their perspectives, insights and recommendations on important topics such as: stackable credentials, student financial supports, work-based learning, effective advising, flexible scheduling, and the value of recognizing prior learning. The student panel concludes with questions and answers from the conference attendees.

The episode follows with a short conversation with NCWE Executive Director Kate Kinder, who reflects on key themes from the conference, and discusses how NCWE elevates student voices alongside those of practitioners—and why that focus is essential in their collaborative work with colleges and partners nationwide.