Rappahannock Community College Workforce Development Staff Attend the Hire Education Conference 2025
Several Rappahannock Community College employees joined more than 250 educators, workforce professionals, and industry partners at the Virginia Community College System’s (VCCS) Hire Education Conference 2025, themed “Mission Employable: Agents of Workforce Development.”
“The theme reflects our shared commitment to equipping students with the skills and experiences they need to thrive in an ever-evolving workforce,” said Dr. David Dore, VCCS Chancellor. “It’s a call to action—a reminder that each of us plays a vital role in building pathways to opportunity and prosperity.”
The two-day conference brought together statewide leaders to explore emerging workforce trends, develop collaborative solutions, and strengthen Virginia’s talent pipeline. The goal is to create better economic opportunities and outcomes for students. Sessions focused on AI in the workplace, registered apprenticeships, workplace readiness, and talent-pipeline development. The opening session, Intel Briefings, delivered fresh labor-market data and economic insights. One speaker highlighted the statewide vision, noting that “community colleges are at the center of Virginia’s strategy to grow and retain top talent.”
Sherry Grantham, RCC’s Regional Specialist for Adult Education, and Margie Lampkin, RCC’s Office of Career and Transition Services Coordinator, highlighted progress at Haynesville Correctional Center, where the Advanced SHINE program now provides SHINE Solar Installation Certification, OSHA 10, and the NABCEP PV Associate Certification. They also introduced RCC’s expanded partnerships with Northern Neck Regional Jail and the Middle Peninsula Regional Security Center to offer Customer Service Certification, supporting workforce readiness and reentry. “We’re opening doors to real opportunities,” they shared. “These credentials give students skills they can use on day one of release.”
Dr. David Keel, RCC Dean of Student Development, and Dr. Marlena Jarboe, RCC Vice President of Instruction and Student Success, presented a session exploring statewide collaborations designed to strengthen educational pathways for justice-involved learners. Representatives from the VCCS and the Virginia Consensus for Higher Education at the Virginia Interfaith Center joined Keel and Jarboe in sharing goals focused on expanding high-quality educational opportunities and improving data-driven support systems for incarcerated students.
RCC’s Workforce and Community Development staff were particularly interested in a presentation on a new VCCS pilot program—expected to expand statewide—that will allow students without a diploma or GED to access grant funding to complete their high school equivalency, earn a Fast Forward credential, and enroll in a Career Studies Certificate. “This could be a game-changer for adult learners,” one RCC attendee noted. “It’s a powerful model that removes financial barriers while providing a clear, supported pathway into the workforce.”
While the sessions delivered valuable insights, RCC attendees agreed that the most meaningful part of the conference was the chance to spend time together, network with colleagues from across the Commonwealth, and bring home innovative ideas to strengthen RCC’s workforce and education programs.