2023 State of STEAM Panel
Ashley Sellers, our CEO, was recently invited to participate in the esteemed 2023 State of STEAM panel at the Will Rogers Theatre in Oklahoma City, alongside Mr. Lee Copeland from Greater OKC Chamber and Ms. Marissa Lightsey from Oklahoma State Department of Education. Hosted by Guernsey and The STEAM Engine, the event provided Ashley with a platform to address the need for employers to explore untapped labor sources, including individuals with disabilities and formerly incarcerated citizens. During her presentation, Ashley shed light on Oklahoma’s low workforce participation rate, which is attributed to an aging population, high incarceration rates, limited job opportunities in rural areas, low educational attainment levels, high disability rates, and subpar health compared to national standards. The panel also discussed the challenges of inadequate childcare options, hindering potential workforce re-entry. Ashley and her Board staff are actively collaborating with a range of stakeholders, including child care providers, child care training providers, local civic organizations, state agencies, and employers to address the child care crisis in Oklahoma. Together, they are working to identify and implement solutions that will alleviate the challenges faced by families in accessing affordable and high-quality child care services. Ashley emphasized the commitment of the six local workforce boards, including the Central Oklahoma Workforce Innovation Board, to work collaboratively with employers in bridging the labor gap by connecting them with qualified and skilled workers.
