KCTCS President Quarles kicks off Focus on the Future statewide tour

    Published on Mar 12, 2024

    Tour stops set in Hazard and Louisville this week

    Kentucky Community and Technical College System President Ryan Quarles has kicked off his Focus on the Future statewide tour with stops at all 16 community colleges.

    “With current workforce shortages and an enrollment cliff looming, it’s imperative that KCTCS lives up to its promise of being the biggest workforce development tool in Kentucky’s toolbox,” said Quarles.  “A key part of that process is having local conversations about retraining workers, attracting new companies to our state, and making sure we are meeting the regional needs of our current employers.”

    Quarles has completed tours in Owensboro and Madisonville, and he has two stops planned this week. He will visit Hazard Community and Technical College March 12-13 and Jefferson Community and Technical College March 15.

    At Hazard, Quarles will attend a reception sponsored by the Primary Care Centers of Eastern Kentucky, along with KCTCS Chair Barry Martin who is the CEO of Primary Care Centers, and HCTC President Jennifer Lindon. He’ll also attend a meeting with the local chamber board and business leaders, in addition to other stops.

    At JCTC, Quarles will participate in an open forum with faculty and staff, a walking tour of campus, followed by a community luncheon and a meeting with JCTC leadership.

    Additional college visits are listed below, while others are being finalized.

    • Bluegrass Community and Technical College, April 19.
    • Elizabethtown Community and Technical College, April 15.
    • Gateway Community and Technical College, April 1.
    • Henderson Community College, April 9.
    • Hopkinsville Community College, April 25.
    • Jefferson Community and Technical College, March 15.
    • Maysville Community and Technical College, April 26.
    • Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College, April 16.
    • West Kentucky Community and Technical College, April 10-11.

    “I’m really excited with the opportunity to meet with leadership, faculty and staff, business leaders, and most importantly our students. I want to hear their concerns and what we can improve on, but I also want to learn about emerging opportunities that will advance partnerships, innovations and solutions for workforce and economic development across Kentucky,” added Quarles.