Reflecting on the Past, Embracing the Future: Celebrating 30 Years of Valley Vision
The following is a transcript of CEO Evan Schmidt’s speech given at Valley Vision’s 30th Anniversary Celebration on September 12, 2024 at The California Museum. The speech reflects on Valley Vision’s history while offering commitments for the future.
“As our team at Valley Vision embarks on a new year, I am reminded of the phenomenal body of work our team accomplished in 2024. I also reminisce on the progress Valley Vision has made since our humble beginnings in 1994. In 2024, we celebrated our 30th Anniversary and hosted an event to celebrate in tandem with a 30-year impact report. I am thankful for the many individuals who contributed to both the report and our event – our sponsors, speakers, movie stars, interviewees, Valley Vision staff, board members, and many more for joining us in this celebration of our achievements.
Harkening back to my own beginnings, I wanted to share my own story with Valley Vision, which began in the early 2000s when I was a grad student in the Community Development Group at UC Davis. A part of my program included a “lunch and learn” series that featured professional community development practitioners in the region. Staff from Valley Vision came to our session to talk about their work, specifically the 2004 Sacramento Region Blueprint. That presentation was a lightbulb moment for me; I heard about community engagement, research, and collaborative problem-solving to make our region a better place. It was a perfect fit for my values and talents, and my path was clarified. From the first few years I landed in Northern California, I held Valley Vision as a north star for my career. It took another 10 years, a couple of graduate degrees, a couple of kids, and some other career opportunities before I landed at Valley Vision. I’ve been here ever since and personally celebrated my own 10-year anniversary last year.
Valley Vision wouldn’t be what it is today without visionaries building its foundation and impact. Founders like Gordon Schaber, Dean of the University of the Pacific’s McGeorge School of Law; James McClatchy, Chairman and Publisher of the McClatchy newspaper chain; and Len McCandliss, then CEO of the Sierra Health Foundation, who saw a problem, knew it needed to be addressed for the good of the region, and created an enduring vision. I had the opportunity to get coffee with our surviving founder, Len McCandliss, a couple of weeks ago. He remembered those early days of Valley Vision well and noted that its founding was one of his most proud professional accomplishments. We are grateful for it. Early CEO Susan Frazier, who brought me into the fold, set Valley Vision’s path and coined the phrase “radical collaboration” to articulate what Valley Vision does—maximizing “collisions” both inside and outside the organization to use collaboration to drive innovation and new ideas. Bill Mueller, our longest-serving CEO, steered Valley Vision through a recession and built many of the structures of modern Valley Vision. He is also a mentor to me, and I am grateful for his contributions.
So many dynamic civic leaders from our region have sat on the Valley Vision Board. Their contributions have made it what it is. I’d like to especially call out the current and all the past Board Chairs—it is a big job and a huge commitment to the region. We couldn’t do what we do without community partnerships, and we have too many to name. Some particularly long-standing relationships that have been fundamental to our work are SACOG, our regional workforce Boards, Sacramento Metro Air District, and the California Emerging Technology Fund, among many others. Thank you for trusting us.
The work of Valley Vision rests on all the staff over the years, and Valley Vision staff are some of the most talented and passionate people you will find. I’d like to recognize our current staff who are excelling on a regular basis. I’d like to call out our leadership, Trish Kelly, Alan Lange, and Renee John, and congratulate Adrian Rehn on his 10-year anniversary with Valley Vision this year. Alan and Trish are right behind him.
To provide clarity about who we are and what we do, we created a retrospective report and a video that showcased our initiatives over the past 30 years. Our 30th Anniversary video highlights our history, accomplishments, and vision for the future. Additionally, our 30-Year Impact Report offers a comprehensive overview of Valley Vision’s contributions to the well-being of our region, focusing on areas such as healthcare, air quality, workforce training, economic development, and support for vulnerable populations. These resources reflect not only Valley Vision’s history but also the broader history of our region, serving as a testament to the vision and impact of many individuals.
Valley Vision works on systemic solutions to long-term issues, often within systems that aren’t plainly visible or by supporting partners through indirect means. This can make our work challenging to communicate and sometimes difficult to understand. Boiled down, Valley Vision leads a shared vision for ensuring the quality of life for everyone within the Capital Region. We use the values of community equity, economic prosperity, and environmental sustainability in all that we do to drive that shared vision. We achieve this by facilitating collaborative problem-solving, working with community, business, and government partners to improve the lives of people in our region, creating and guiding actionable research, aligning regional systems and advocating for system change when needed, and mobilizing partners for community change by engaging and co-designing solutions with those most impacted. This is our shared agenda for quality of life through collaboration, actionable research, system alignment, and community impact—always driving toward sustainable, inclusive, thriving communities.
There are several opportunities that I am particularly excited about. Despite national challenges, the Sacramento region’s economy is stronger than ever. According to the Brookings Metro Monitor analysis of the top 54 metro areas, we’ve launched into the top 20 across metrics in job growth, inclusion, and prosperity, with standout progress in closing inclusion gaps. There is still plenty to do, but this reflects significant improvement from prior years, as recent as 2023 when we trailed outside of the top 34 in some categories. I am excited about building on that momentum through We Prosper Together, a collaborative regional effort (of eight counties and more than 150 partners) supported by the State of California, bringing more than $19M to our region to reimagine our economy and workforce to meet community needs. I see an opportunity to truly align key strategies, bring about new investments, and create inclusive opportunities and livable wages, especially for those often excluded. I am also excited about the ways we are knitting climate resilience and economic growth closer together in our economic, workforce, and community development work. The Sacramento region has the opportunity to become a shining star in this space by amplifying climate-smart food innovation, clean mobility, and sustainable infrastructure that supports a low-carbon economy. This progress reflects the efforts and robust leadership of many of our partners and stakeholders. We have the opportunity to align and amplify these themes by creating climate-resilient infrastructure and workforce and economic opportunities that support it. Furthermore, I am excited about a new generation of leadership and a focus on inclusivity. Organizational and institutional cultures are becoming more adaptive and inclusive, which is a good thing. We can harness these changing sensibilities to build new, more inclusive systems for our region. This is a call to action for everyone, new or old, to civic spaces: make room at your table for new voices and champion and support new leadership.
In order to seize these opportunities, I want to share Valley Vision’s commitments for the future. These commitments reflect the energy and leadership of our Board and staff. Valley Vision will continue to serve as your trusted community partner, build our regional capacity to drive economic inclusion, climate resilience, and community well-being, and challenge our communities to collaborate and address tough issues through hard conversations, shared accountability, and courage to try new things, demonstrate our commitment to moving collaborative thought and data analysis toward clear action and community change, and work in service of improving the lives of the people of this region.
Reflecting on the strength of our team and the dedication of our board members, I am energized by what’s possible at Valley Vision and for our region and state. As we move into 2025, we are committed to building on our successes, deepening our community partnerships, and continuing to drive positive change. We look to the future with optimism and excitement, knowing that together, we can achieve a sustainable, inclusive, and thriving community for everyone. Thank you for being a part of this journey and for your support.”
MEATing the Moment: Valley Vision Attends 3rd Regenerative Meat Summit
By Grace Kaufman & Ethan Mermell
On November 18th, Trish Kelly, Grace Kaufman, and Ethan Mermell of Valley Vision’s Food and Agriculture team attended the 3rd California Regional Regenerative Meat Event hosted by Roots of Change, UC Davis Institute of the Environment, and IC-FOODS, in collaboration with Mulvaney’s B&L and Cream Co. This event was a celebration of three-years of USDA-funded work to develop high-value regional meat supply chains in Northern California. As the lead for coordination and communication for USDA’s Southwest Regional Food Business Center, Valley Vision has participated in this effort to learn about supply chain and market challenges and opportunities for regenerative ranchers in California and support the project through a variety of ways. This includes facilitating connections with several of our food and agriculture partners who work across the region and throughout the state; sharing information about the resources of the Center and the state-funded California Jobs First Initiative which Valley Vision manages for the region – We Prosper Together; and coordinating on institutional procurement activities led by the University of California and the California Dept. of Food and Agriculture (CDFA).
The event kicked off with a panel discussion about the launch of the University of California Market, emphasizing the outcomes of launching system-wide purchasing of regional and regenerative meat for the UC system’s schools and hospitals. Marilyn Biscotti, UC Office of President; Clifford Pollard, Cream Co Meats, and Kathy Webster, TomKat Ranch and Beef2Institution Collaborative spoke on their experiences procuring regenerative meat in University and K-12 school districts. Major barriers include long-term contracts to meet demand of conventional food suppliers, processing and aggregation, as well as market channels for whole animal usage. As an aggregation and distribution hub for ranchers throughout the state, Cream Co Meats provides the “missing middle” in supply chain infrastructure for institutional procurement. Cream Co Meats has purchased 1.3 million pounds of regenerative, West Coast meat from ranchers in the past year, and plans to procure an additional 30 percent annually, serving as an aggregator for resale to institutions. The panel ended with an exciting announcement – starting in 2025, the University of California will purchase 400,000 pounds of regenerative meat from Cream Co Meats.
Following a delicious lunch of local produce and regenerative meat from PT Ranch, Sarah Keiser, Wild Oat Hollow, Jim Kleinschmit, Other Half Processing and Growing GRASS, Nick Anicich, CDFA Farm to School, and Steve Schwartz, Interfaith Sustainable Food Collaborative, spoke of new market opportunities for regenerative growers. Steve Schwartz’s presentation highlighted new policies such as AB 888 that support on-farm harvesting for cultural practices. Nick shared a list of CDFA’s funding opportunities and encouraged ranchers to get involved in farm to school and institutional procurement. Sarah discussed the market opportunities, and ecosystem services that cows, sheep, and goats provide through fire management grazing. Jim discussed new market opportunities for ranchers, such as regenerative leather products.
IC Foods then presented a demo on their Regional Regenerative Meat Resource Portal which provides a directory of the regional regenerative meat community, such as contact information and resources on markets and opportunities.
The last panel of the event focused on remaining challenges and solutions for regenerative meat. This panel’s speakers, Michael Delbar, CA Rangeland Trust and Loren Poncia, Stemple Creek Ranch discussed marketing and how the community’s awareness of regeneratively grown meat is growing. Challenges discussed included the dwindling amount of processors and the need to increase producer awareness of available grants, as economic feasibility persists as a challenge across the board faced by ranchers. It is important for these businesses to be viable given that regenerative grazing differs from conventional meat production through practices that improve soil structure and build soil organic matter, leading to carbon sequestration.
Jenny Lester Moffitt, USDA Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs, discussed a broad range of funding opportunities from USDA and new initiatives that support small and mid-sized farmers and ranchers, such as the USDA Regional Food Business Centers- 12 multi-state centers across the country providing new resources to support farmers, ranchers and food producers and more resilient regional food systems. As part of this effort, USDA has hired 40 fellows to support food system transformation, including programs to support regenerative agriculture. Jenny noted that supply chain infrastructure such as processing facilities are a major challenge for small to mid sized ranchers. As part of Valley Vision’s role in the USDA Southwest Regional Food Business Center, we actively share information about upcoming funding opportunities and resources for supply chain infrastructure and new market channels, and the Center’s network of partners provide capacity building support to access these resources. We also include the Regional Regenerative Meat Portal in Center resources.
The event ended with CDFA Secretary Karen Ross, who provided an optimistic and forward-looking view of regenerative agriculture in California. Secretary Ross discussed the future of regenerative agriculture, which planted the seed for creative networking discussions that were paired with regenerative meats, including goat from Neuman Family Ranch, and local, seasonal produce prepared by Chef Mulvaney and staff.
To learn more about Roots Of Change and the regenerative meat project, visit: https://www.rootsofchange.org/projects/transformation-of-californias-meat-processing-capacity/
To learn more about the USDA Southwest Regional Food Business Center, visit www.swfoodbiz.org and sign up for the newsletter here: http://bit.ly/SWRFBC-Newsletter
Valley Vision Uplifts Manufacturing in the Region
On September 24th, Valley Vision, in partnership with the Greater Sacramento Economic Council, Los Rios Community College District, and the Sacramento Valley Manufacturers Association, hosted an Advanced Manufacturing Sector Advisory focused on Precision Manufacturing. Precision manufacturing emerged as a key priority industry sector in our region’s California Job’s First research assessment. This advisory event brought together industry leaders, educators, and regional stakeholders to discuss workforce challenges and strategies for economic growth in the sector. Discussions highlighted manufacturing’s critical role in the regional economy and the urgent need to adapt to advancing technologies.
One key issue identified was the shortage of candidates with the specialized skills needed in roles such as electrical and mechanical technicians, CNC operators, and automation specialists. Panelists emphasized the importance of dual enrollment programs and apprenticeships that offer students hands-on experience, aligning education with industry needs to build a sustainable talent pipeline.
Participants explored how AI and automation are reshaping manufacturing, not by eliminating jobs but by transforming them. As diagnostics and machine operations increasingly rely on AI, workers must enhance their troubleshooting skills and continuously upskill. The group highlighted that automation offers growth opportunities, provided there is a commitment to ongoing education and technical training, which will ensure that the workforce stays adaptable and aligned with technological advancements.
Collaboration between manufacturers and educational institutions was underscored as essential for aligning training programs with industry needs. Panelists highlighted successful strategies, including dual enrollment, company-sponsored apprenticeships, and active engagement with schools. Adult education programs were also praised for enabling career changers to transition into manufacturing roles.
One specific program highlighted by several employers was the Mechatronics program at Sierra College, which has been a frontrunner in advanced manufacturing skills training with key employer partnerships including Siemens, Bosch, and others. Sierra College was also the location of a recent tour highlighting regional opportunities in precision manufacturing during the recent California Economic Summit. This event included a panel discussion with employer and education partners and a tour of the college’s programs and facilities. In response to questions about how Sierra College has been able to be so responsive to industry, CTE Dean Amy Schulz shared, “We do our best to respond to employers’ immediate workforce needs while also listening to our economic development partners’ signals of what is to come.”
The Precision Manufacturing Advisory reinforced the urgent need for a skilled workforce and the value of collaboration to meet this demand. By strengthening partnerships among industry, education, and community organizations, the region can build a robust talent pipeline that keeps pace with rapid advancements in AI and automation. Programs like Sierra College’s Mechatronics and initiatives like dual enrollment, apprenticeships, and targeted adult education programs, drive forward accessible, innovative training that will strengthen the region’s manufacturing sector. Sustained attention and investment in precision manufacturing can help expand accessible quality jobs for our region’s residents for years to come.
Valley Vision Helps Showcase Sacramento As Co-Host of California Economic Summit
Valley Vision helped co-host this year’s California Economic Summit, organized by California Forward and held for the first time in Sacramento since 2016. Held October 8-10, 2024, the latest iteration of the annual Summit proved to be an incredible showcase for the Sacramento region’s leadership on inclusive economic development, workforce, innovation, and more.
Valley Vision organized a set of regional tours on the first day of the Summit, which gave participants an on-the-ground perspective of how local communities are tackling some of our biggest economic and environmental challenges. By showcasing everything from sustainable food systems to novel workforce training programs, these tours highlighted the solutions that are helping to build a more resilient, inclusive future for California. See below for photos highlighting the tours:
The welcome reception followed the tours, and served as a kickoff for both the California Economic Summit and the Growth Factory’s GFX Summit. In addition to showcasing our region’s topline facility for advancing clean mobility, attendees could taste several gourmet foods created with plant-based, lab grown meat alternatives. Innovative!
The main days of the Summit (October 9 and 10) featured plenary sessions, action-packed workshops, networking events, and more. See below for a few highlights:
Finally, the Summit ended with a “handoff” from Valley Vision’s Evan Schmidt to leaders in Stockton, California, which is hosting next year’s Summit the week of October 20th, 2025. We wish Stockton the best and look forward to learning how they are building a vibrant economy. Subscribe to California Forward’s email newsletter for more updates! Thank you to California Forward, its staff, and partners for a fantastic showcase of Sacramento.
Adrian Rehn is a Senior Project Manager overseeing air quality and environmental projects as well as Valley Vision’s communications.
Valley Vision Takes On Longstanding Regional Climate Collaborative
We are thrilled to announce that the Capital Region Climate Readiness Collaborative (CRC) has officially transitioned from CivicWell to Valley Vision. CRC was established in 2014 to improve collaboration and coordination between government, business, and community as it relates to climate change adaptation and mitigation. Valley Vision joined the Collaborative in 2015 and has had leadership roles in the Collaborative since.
This transition marks a new and exciting chapter for CRC, as Valley Vision is already working to advance climate resilience and collaboration in the greater Sacramento region through several programs such as the Cleaner Air Partnership and We Prosper Together, a California Jobs First Initiative.
As CRC’s new home, Valley Vision will continue to facilitate regional conversations to improve coordination and take action on climate adaptation and mitigation. The Capital Region Climate Readiness Collaborative has long been a crucial platform for bringing together a diverse set of stakeholders, including local governments, businesses, nonprofits, and community groups, to address climate challenges facing the region, such as warming air and water temperatures, risk of wildfire, more extreme heat waves, variable precipitation and seasonal shifts, and loss of ecosystem habitat, to name a few. Now, with Valley Vision’s leadership, we are positioned to build on these efforts and bring even greater capacity to support regional resilience and collaboration.
We invite Valley Vision’s partners to learn more about the Capital Region Climate Readiness Collaborative and consider joining the Collaborative as a member. Whether you are a business leader, government agency, academic institution, or community organization, your participation will help strengthen our collective ability to build a climate-resilient future for all.
Upcoming Events You Don’t Want to Miss
To kick off this new chapter, we’re excited to host/cohost a series of events designed to engage our community and provide opportunities for learning, networking, and collaboration.
November 20th, 10:30 AM – 2:30 PM, Biomass Workshop, Folsom Community Center
- Join for an in-depth workshop focused on the role of biomass in climate resilience. This event is in collaboration with the Cleaner Air Partnership, the Los Rios Community College District, and CRC. With over 100 attendees expected, this workshop will establish a shared understanding of biomass utilization, explore the future of forest management and agricultural careers in our region, and mobilize leaders and decision-makers for action. It’s an incredible opportunity to connect with regional experts, researchers, and policymakers. Registration link.
December 12, 12:30 PM – 4:00 PM – CRC Members-Only Meeting, Sierra 2 Center – 2791 24th Street, Sacramento CA 95818 (Room 10)
- This meeting, exclusively for CRC members, will feature presentations on the state of climate adaptation in the Capital Region. Attendees will have the opportunity to engage in roundtable discussions, identify collaboration opportunities, and explore how CRC can better support members’ efforts in addressing climate challenges. If you are already a member, this is your chance to help shape the future of climate action in the region. If not, consider joining to be part of this important conversation! Registration link
Join the Capital Region Climate Readiness Collaborative
There has never been a more critical time to take action on climate resilience. CRC is a diverse and growing collaborative, and with Valley Vision’s leadership, we are ready to take CRC’s impact to the next level. We invite you to join us as a member and be part of the solution as we work together to create a more climate-resilient Capital Region.
To learn more about membership opportunities, visit https://climatereadiness.info/about-us/join-the-collaborative or contact Grace.Kaufman@valleyvision.org.
Catalyzing the Future of Biotechnology Talent
The biotechnology sector is teeming with opportunity amid rapid innovation, but it also faces significant workforce challenges. To stay competitive, the industry must be responsive to the evolving skills gap and ensure that its workforce pipelines are strong, inclusive, and aligned with regional growth strategies. This challenge led to the initiative of the Talent Pipeline Management (TPM) Biotechnology employer collaborative, led by Valley Vision and Capitol Impact, in collaboration with the Sacramento Employment and Training Agency and the City of Sacramento.
On September 17, 2024, Valley Vision hosted the Biotech TPM Employer Collaborative Kickoff event, which brought together industry leaders and featured remarks from Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg. This initiative aims to identify and address workforce challenges to improve the pipeline of opportunity to quality jobs in this sector. The TPM process helps employers build a pool of qualified candidates, reduce hiring time and costs, and create high-quality job opportunities in biomedicine. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation developed TPM to help employers build high-performing talent pipelines.
During the event, leaders from companies like Jackson Laboratory, Thermogenesis, UC Davis, and Thermo Fisher Scientific shared common challenges in recruiting and retaining talent within the rapidly evolving biotech landscape. Retention remains a critical issue, particularly with competition from nearby regions. High turnover rates in entry-level roles highlight the need to create stable and attractive career pathways that appeal to a diverse workforce.
Employers expressed concerns about the time and resources required to train new hires. In specialized fields like medical device engineering, where highly specific skills are in demand, onboarding can be a lengthy process. As the pace of innovation accelerates, companies must also adapt quickly to changing skill demands, adding complexity to workforce development efforts.
The TPM model recognizes the role educational institutions and nonprofits can play in addressing these challenges. Partnerships with organizations like UC Davis Aggie Square, regional community colleges, and nonprofit groups are critical to creating more accessible and inclusive pathways into the biotech workforce. By aligning education and training providers with employer needs, the initiative is focused on building a diverse, skilled workforce that is prepared for the demands of the industry.
The TPM approach emphasizes collaboration and data-driven decision-making. It brings employers together to identify key roles, analyze skills gaps, and customize workforce solutions to address talent shortages. This structured methodology has already been adopted statewide in Kentucky and in North Carolina community colleges. Twenty-eight industry collaboratives, involving over 200 industry leaders, are working together to build stronger talent pipelines. Thirteen of these collaboratives are well into implementation and pipeline building. Sacramento’s biotech sector is poised to benefit from its application.
The Biotech TPM model is the result of collaborative efforts by Valley Vision, Capitol Impact, SETA, the City of Sacramento, and key industry partners. It aims to create sustainable, high-quality career pathways in the biotech sector in the Sacramento region. Through ongoing commitment, the initiative will drive innovation, economic growth, and job creation, laying the groundwork for a future-ready biotech workforce.
Learn more about the Talent Pipeline Management Academy by clicking here. You can also find information on our most recent workforce development efforts by clicking here. Stay updated on our events by watching the newsletter for upcoming advisory information or checking Valley Vision’s events page!
Advancing Telecommunications and Construction Pathways
As our region undertakes the ambitious task of expanding broadband infrastructure, it is important to prepare the workforce to meet the needs of this important undertaking. Valley Vision hosted a cross-sector regional advisory to explore the critical intersection between telecommunications and construction pathways, gathering key industry leaders to discuss the future of broadband development in California. The event was facilitated by Trish Kelly, Managing Director overseeing Valley Vision’s Broadband and Digital Equity Impact area, and included industry leaders who shared their perspectives on the future of broadband development.
Karen Eckersley from the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) delivered an informative keynote on the state’s ambitious broadband infrastructure investments. She highlighted the CPUC’s efforts to empower tribal nations, public agencies, and new internet service providers with the tools and grants necessary to enhance internet service across California. Eckersley detailed the CPUC’s broadband programs, each tailored with specific rules, eligibility criteria, and supporting maps. Central to her message was the BEAD Program—a landmark $42.45 billion federal investment designed to expand high-speed internet nationwide. She emphasized that workforce development is the linchpin of successful broadband and telecommunications projects, particularly as California embarks on developing 719 miles of infrastructure in Northern California alone through the Statewide Middle Mile and Last Mile Networks.
Valley Vision’s advisory also featured an engaging employer panel, with information from leading telecommunications companies and agencies. Adam Mohler of AT&T, Alex Velazquez of MasTec North America, Ernesto Fermin of the California Department of Transportation, and Kenny Blakeslee of Apex Site Solutions shared their perspectives on recruitment challenges and strategies within both the telecommunications and construction sectors.
Panelists expressed the urgent need for skilled technicians and engineers. AT&T’s Mohler spoke on the growing demand for outside plant engineers and sales representatives, stressing the importance of staying ahead of technological advancements. Velazquez from MasTec North America highlighted their commitment to developing talent in aerial linemen and entry-level technicians to meet infrastructure demands. Fermin from the Department of Transportation emphasized opportunities in electrical engineering and technician inspector roles being vital for telecommunications oversight. Blakeslee of Apex Site Solutions provided insights into the rising need for electrical engineers specializing in fiber infrastructure and fixed wireless networks.
In addition to the employer panel, the advisory highlighted local educational programming connected to this sector.. Ryan Connelly, Cosumnes River College’s (CRC) Construction Program Faculty & Department Chair, showcased CRC’s construction program. Connelly emphasized the necessity of continuous collaboration between educational institutions and industry partners to keep the program aligned with workforce needs. He credited CRC’s strong partnerships with organizations like the Building Industry Association for driving the program’s evolution and success.
The connections and insights shared at this convening demonstrate a need for educational programs and industry partnerships that are responsive to shifts in the labor market. By aligning training and education with market demands, we can equip individuals with the skills necessary to thrive in expanding fields like telecommunications and construction.
Alongside this advisory, Valley Vision’s ongoing initiatives, such as the Connected Capital Area Broadband Consortium are a testament to a steadfast commitment to fostering partnerships that champion digital equity and community development through expanded broadband access. As impact partners unite under Valley Vision’s collaborative efforts, the future of California’s broadband infrastructure looks brighter and more equitable than ever.
Forging Stronger Ties Between Hospital Systems and Education
The Healthcare Summit, held on June 28th at Folsom Lake College in partnership with Valley Vision and Choose Folsom, was a testament to the commitment of top leaders from Kaiser Permanente, Dignity Health/CommonSpirit, Marshall Medical, Sutter Health, and UC Davis Health. This gathering marked a pivotal moment in enhancing the college’s healthcare programs, with a direct focus on addressing the critical needs outlined by local hospital systems. The collaboration of these prominent healthcare providers showcased a unified commitment to developing a strong talent pipeline, a key factor in meeting the growing labor demands of the healthcare industry. Notably, several of these hospitals are expanding into Folsom and beyond, underscoring the urgency of developing a skilled local healthcare workforce.
During the summit, each organization shared distinct insights and priorities, fostering a collaborative discussion to refine Folsom Lake College’s healthcare career technical programs. Kaiser Permanente emphasized the role of training students in the latest healthcare technologies, while Dignity Health unveiled plans to transition to a centralized electronic medical record (EMR) program, illustrating the need for students to be proficient in these systems. Marshall Medical and Sutter Health highlighted the importance of people-centered care and innovation, underlining the necessity for interpersonal skills and critical thinking in the healthcare workforce. UC Davis Health focuses on providing comprehensive support for students, including job shadowing and specialized programs to ensure they are well-prepared for the industry’s demands.
Most employers at the event, including Kaiser Permanente, Dignity Health, Sutter Health, UC Davis Health, and Raley’s, have been a part of the Talent Pipeline Management (TPM) Employer Collaborative. This collaborative, hosted by the Roseville Chamber of Commerce and utilizing the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation’s TPM methodology, focuses on aligning educational outcomes with industry needs to ensure the workforce is equipped with the skills necessary to meet current employer demands. By participating in the TPM Employer Collaborative, these healthcare organizations have demonstrated their dedication to educational providers to resolve challenges in talent acquisition.
Discussions at the summit centered on creating clear pathways for students from education to employment to equip graduates with the necessary skills and certifications to excel in their careers. By addressing certification gaps and aligning job descriptions with the academic curriculum, the hospital systems and Folsom Lake College aim to train a diverse pool of candidates and effectively meet the region’s healthcare needs. The summit also discussed the importance of mentorship programs, clinical placements, and early high-school-level investment to support student growth and professional development.
The collaboration between Folsom Lake College and the healthcare systems is a testimony to the power of partnership in driving educational excellence and workforce readiness. Through this joint effort, these institutions are elevating the quality of healthcare education and ensuring that the future workforce has the skills and competencies to readily meet the healthcare industry’s staffing needs.
Learn more about Valley Vision’s regional industry advisories by clicking here. You can also find information on our most recent Health and Life Sciences workforce advisory on Mental and Behavioral Health Careers by clicking here. Stay updated by watching the newsletter for upcoming advisory information or checking Valley Vision’s events page.
Liz Kilkenny is a Valley Vision Project Coordinator staffing the 21st Century Workforce Impact Area.
Hilary Tellesen is a Valley Vision Senior Project Manager leading the 21st Century Workforce Impact Area.
Event recap – Leading With Equity: Tribal Food Sovereignty & Inclusive Engagement
On July 17th, the USDA Southwest Regional Food Business Center hosted an informative webinar titled “Leading With Equity: Tribal Food Sovereignty & Inclusive Engagement.” This event featured Center partners, including the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) and Local First Arizona. Speakers Kimber Lanning and Rafael F. Tapia, Jr., of Local First Arizona, and Thea Rittenhouse of CDFA, discussed equity-centered initiatives and strategies to bolster food sovereignty for Tribal Nations and other underinvested communities. The webinar is part of the Center’s quarterly webinar series, where Center partners share best practices and innovative projects on essential topics related to business development and capacity assistance for local producers, farmers, and ranchers.
Over 60 participants from across the nation attended the webinar, including representatives from other USDA Regional Food Business Centers. Attendees were actively engaged throughout the webinar and speakers were able to address dozens of questions throughout the session.
One of the key takeaways from the webinar was the emphasis on food security, traditional food practices, sovereignty, and self-determination. Speakers discussed best practices for incorporating Indigenous knowledge and highlighted the unintended consequences of policies and funding that do not consider Tribal interests or approaches. They suggested pathways to build communication, develop partnerships, and establish trust. Additionally, the speakers addressed the critical infrastructure needed for Tribal communities, such as new wells, aggregating and distributing facilities, food-to-market distribution, and technical assistance, including business and market development skills.
The next webinar will take place on October 16th and will focus on farm-to-school partnerships.
About Valley Vision and the Southwest Regional Food Business Center
Valley Vision leads coordination, communication, and network development efforts for the Southwest Regional Food Business Center. The quarterly webinar series is part of Valley Vision’s efforts to share best practices and to foster a collaborative network among Center partners and other participants.
The Southwest Regional Food Business Center, representing Arizona, California, Nevada, and Utah, is one of twelve USDA Regional Food Business Centers nationwide developed in 2023 to provide coordination, technical assistance, and capacity building to help farmers, ranchers, and other food businesses access new markets and initiatives, as well as navigate federal, state and local funding and resources. With an extensive network of partners from academic, government, and community-based organizations, the Southwest RFBC is dedicated to prioritizing historically underrepresented communities and small to mid-tier businesses.
For more information about the USDA Southwest Regional Food Business Center and its initiatives, visit www.swfoodbiz.org. To stay updated on future webinars and events, be sure to subscribe to the Center’s newsletter: http://bit.ly/SWRFBC-Newsletter.
USDA disclosures and guidance can be found at https://bit.ly/USDAdisclosures.
Visit the Center’s socials here.
Preparing Tomorrow’s AgTech Workforce
As technology advances and industries undergo transformations, our region must equip job seekers with the skills and knowledge needed to thrive in the workforce of tomorrow. On April 26th, Valley Vision hosted an advisory on AgTech careers, exploring the technical skills needed to meet the evolving needs of the agriculture and manufacturing industries. The event featured labor market information and an employer panel including Jose Alvarez of Del Monte Foods, Greg Ahart of Superior Farms, Trudi Hughes of the California League of Food Producers, Diane Robinson of TOMRA Foods, and Amy Vedmore of Blue Diamond Growers. Key takeaways from the event were the importance of using data to inform promising career pathways in the field, the need to adapt to technological advancements, and collaboration as key to accomplishing both.
The agricultural industry in the Greater Sacramento region offers numerous opportunities, with over 15,500 available jobs and an average annual wage of $60,763. However, the sector has faced reductions in some positions, including an 8% decline in overall employment from 2017 to 2022 and a projected continued 1% decrease by 2027. Biological technicians offer an opportunity with the largest increase in job postings, indicating a growing demand for roles that combine life sciences and agriculture. Additionally, positions supporting IT or technical functions are projected to grow.
Trudi Hughes from the California League of Food Producers led the panel discussion on the importance of adapting to technological advancements, particularly within the food processing industry. She emphasized that in addition to AI and automation becoming increasingly prevalent, there is also a critical need for skilled workers who can install, maintain, and repair equipment, as well as ensure compliance with complex regulatory environments. Integrating modules on AI-driven agricultural technologies, such as electronic sorting and grading equipment, into the curriculum can provide students with a comprehensive understanding of their applications. Panelists explained that these technologies require human oversight to ensure accurate machine learning, making it essential for educators to teach students how to manage and maintain them.
The industry panel also emphasized the need for customized courses to address the specialized skills evolving in the industry. They seek candidates with expertise in electrical, mechanical, welding, refrigeration, and boiler operation. Recommendations were made for training programs to cover compliance, regulatory requirements, automation control, instrumentation, in addition to emerging technologies like robotics, AI, and machine learning. Furthermore, they indicated specialized skills in electronics, software engineering, and cybersecurity are also desired. Diane Robinson recommended a dual focus on technical skills and “behavioral competencies,” such as adaptability, acquired through team-based learning, to prepare for evolving job requirements. Panelists agreed, for careers in agriculture and manufacturing, individuals need to not only gain technical skills but also develop essential soft skills such as critical thinking, adaptability, and teamwork.
Collaboration was a focal point during the advisory, with panelists emphasizing the importance of partnerships between educational institutions and industry. Jose Alvarez from Del Monte Foods emphasized the importance of continuing conversations between industry and training partners on a regular basis, not just once a year. He felt strongly it is important to define skills needed as an industry cohort to help training partners clearly understand in order to make progress in closing the skills gap. These types of collaboration would not only address the current demands but could also foster a culture of continuous learning with local employers that have first-hand knowledge of the industry.
The advisory concluded with breakout rooms to encourage collaboration between employers, education, and workforce training partners. By developing and maintaining strong partnerships between educational institutions and industry, there is a unique opportunity to shape a talent pipeline that not only meets today’s workforce needs but also anticipates and adapts to future challenges and opportunities.
This advisory was funded by Los Rios Community College District through Strong Workforce Program funds and the Capitol Region Workforce Boards through Regional Planning Implementation funds.
Transforming Food Systems Across the Southwest Region
At the beginning of May, leadership of the USDA Southwest Regional Food Business Center convened in Reno, Nevada, providing the opportunity to further advance the Center’s mission, objectives, and programmatic activities, as well as share insights and best practices across emerging opportunities for food system transformation.
During the two-day convening, hosted by the University of Nevada, Reno (UNR), leadership representing the Southwest Region (Arizona, California, Nevada, and Utah) discussed the unique assets, needs, and activities within each state, and solidified the Center’s workplan. Day one featured collaborative working sessions oriented towards internal Center values, capacity, and timeline, as well as a tour hosted by the UNR Desert Farming Initiative (DFI), showcasing climate-smart crops and farming practices, local food-to-market successes, and active research initiatives.
USDA Marketing and Regulatory Programs Senior Advisor, Kate Fitzgerald, joined Day 2 for an interactive brainstorming session regarding opportunities for collaboration between the USDA and the 12 Regional Food Business Centers nationally. Leadership from each state also provided teach-ins across emerging opportunities, such as equity in technical assistance, market access structures such as institutional procurement and food hubs, and microloan funding development.
This gathering provided Center Leadership with solutions, insight, and connections to drive the Center forward in its mission to transform the region’s food system through investment in small and mid-sized food and farm businesses by providing coordination, technical assistance, and capacity-building for the Southwest Region.
About the Center:
The Southwest Regional Food Business Center is a five-year $35 million program funded by the USDA Regional Food Business Centers Program, connecting Food and Agriculture Initiatives across Arizona, California, Nevada, and Utah. As part of the network of USDA Regional Food Business Centers, the Southwest Center is a hub for the region’s small and mid-tier food and farm businesses and local and regional food sector development initiatives.
In collaboration with University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources (UC ANR), Valley Vision supports the Center as part of the Center Management Team, leading communications, partnership development and programmatic operations.
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Accessing Dispatcher Jobs in Greater Sacramento: Opportunities Unlocked
On April 4th, Valley Vision, in collaboration with the region’s community colleges, hosted a virtual discussion to address the critical need for public safety dispatchers in the Greater Sacramento region. The conversation explored training opportunities, recruitment strategies, and the challenges individuals face in entering this high-paying, middle-skill profession. Labor market data indicates a 12% project job change rate for public safety dispatchers in the Greater Sacramento region. The profession offers not only job security but also competitive wages, with entry-level dispatcher wages in Sacramento exceeding $59,000 annually, while the median salary for dispatchers is $72,758.
The advisory’s keynote speaker, Jennifer Dwyer, Staff Services Manager from the Commission of Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST), explained the required curriculum for peace officer dispatchers in a keynote address at the employer advisory. She explained that the current curriculum is under review by the Office of Administrative Law for needed updates. After approval, there will be an increase in the Basic Training requirement from 120 to 160 hours, and Continued Professional Training (CPT) will be introduced, ensuring ongoing professional development for dispatchers during their careers.
Despite the demand for skilled dispatchers, entering the field can be confusing. While the minimum education qualification is a high school diploma, in order to take most courses to become a dispatcher, individuals must be hired by a public safety agency to be admitted into a program. Many individuals want to take the POST course before being hired, however most agencies send employees to training only after placement. Presently, the only community college program offering POST training to non-affiliated individuals relatively near the Greater Sacramento Area is the South Bay Regional Training Consortium, with a staggering four-year waitlist.
In addition to the certificate training required, the role of a public safety dispatcher requires a unique combination of human-centered, and tech-forward skills. As we learned from our panel including Sacramento Police Department, City of Roseville Police Department, Placer County Sheriff, and Sacramento Regional Fire and EMS, dispatchers must be proficient in traditional methods such as map reading and report writing, while also being adept at using modern technologies such as GPS programs and coding. One common skills gap identified among all employer panelists was the ability to multitask efficiently. Dispatchers are required to handle a variety of tasks simultaneously, including answering phone calls, managing radio transmissions, operating computer systems, and more, all while remaining calm and focused. The panelists agreed, that effective communication skills are essential for dispatchers to handle stressful conversations with callers and quickly gather important information. In addition, dispatchers must be able to make logical and quick decisions in high-pressure situations. A combination of excellent communication skills, the ability to be emotionally supportive, and technological competency are necessary to excel in these positions.
Historically, the public safety dispatcher profession has been predominantly female, with women making up 71% of the workforce. While this reflects the profession’s accessibility and appeal to women, efforts are underway to broaden marketing strategies to encourage a more diverse representation of talent to apply for these positions. By diversifying the talent pool, we can ensure that the profession more accurately reflects the communities it serves.
Increasing access to training and promoting diversity within the public safety dispatcher profession are essential steps in meeting the critical demand for skilled dispatchers in the Greater Sacramento region to address our emergency response needs. By working collaboratively with education and industry partners, we can ensure that individuals from all backgrounds have the opportunity to pursue and excel in this rewarding career path.
This advisory was funded by Los Rios Community College District through Strong Workforce Program funds and the Capitol Region Workforce Boards through Regional Planning Implementation funds.