Pasco-Hernando State College Volume XIV, Issue I Spring 2020 | Page 12

FOUNDATION
NEWS
A
BUSINESS COMMUNITY, EDUCATORS, CONNECT AT
WORKFORCE SUMMIT
pproximately 100 guests attended PHSC’s first
Workforce Stakeholders Engagement Summit,
held at the Rao Musunuru, M.D. Conference
Center at PHSC’s Spring Hill Campus last September.
Featured speakers included Chancellor for Innovation
Eric Hall, Ed.D., Florida Department of Education, and
Frank Morsani, retired chair of Automotive Investments,
philanthropist and champion of the arts and education.
Chancellor Hall presented compelling industry and
education data and outlined Governor Ron DeSantis’
priorities, including distinguishing Florida’s workforce
education as among the best in the nation—ensuring
that students secure the skills needed to meet the
demands of Florida employers. A product of Pasco
County schools and the son of Pasco and Hernando
county teachers, Hall attended PHSC and earned
degrees in educational leadership and policy from the
University of South Florida.
Morsani, a Brooksville resident, relayed business
advice in an interview-style session conducted
by PHSC President Timothy L. Beard. Morsani,
former Chairman of the Board of the United States
Chamber of Commerce, relayed how his life and work
experiences shaped his success. The philanthropist
also emphasized the importance of collaboration
between educators and the business community.
Moderated by Stan Giannet, Ph.D., PHSC’s
Vice President of Academic Affairs and Faculty
Development/College Provost, the event featured
presentations by Hernando County Superintendent of
Schools John Stratton; PHSC Trustee Marilyn Pearson-
10
PHSC
Adams; and Hernando County Officials Jeffrey Rogers
and Valerie Pianta.
Pamela Baldwin, Ed.D., Micro-Matic, moderated a
panel that featured PHSC alumni Nicholaos Gigintzis,
Memorial Hospital of Tampa; Keith Jarman, AME
International; David Lambert, Withlacoochee River
Electric Cooperative; and Sam Wagoner, Sunrise
Consulting Group as well as Meclina Priestley, a winter
2019 PHSC graduate and owner of Meclina Art.
“The Summit provided a forum for business leaders
and educators to review industry training and skill
sets,” said President Beard. “With manufacturing
and business technologies evolving, more than ever,
stakeholders need to share resources and collaborate
more closely.”
The Greater Hernando Chamber of Commerce,
CareerSource Pasco Hernando, and Chick-fil-A
of Hernando County sponsored the Workforce
Stakeholders Engagement Summit.
Courtesy of the author, guests received autographed
copies of Morsani’s biography To Be Frank: Building
the American Dream in Business and Life. Event
proceeds will establish a new PHSC Foundation
workforce scholarship, reserved for Hernando County
residents and/or employees of Hernando-based
businesses.
SAVE THE DATE!
Workforce Stakeholders Engagement Summit
Porter Campus at Wiregrass Ranch
MAY 13, 2020