Yavapai College invests in Pipeline AZ’s technology to pave regional career pathways for its students
Yavapai College (YC) and the YC Regional Economic Development Center announced a new partnership with Pipeline AZ, an Arizona career development and jobs skills exploration platform, to provide an innovative regional solution to advancing economic opportunities and developments. The career development and job skills platform called Yavapai Pipeline will help YC students and Yavapai County job seekers explore in-demand careers that align with their passions, skills, and the region’s economic demands.
“The Yavapai Pipeline will develop the region’s current and future workforce helping Yavapai County businesses and job seekers navigate the everchanging career and education landscapes as a result of the pandemic,” said Karen Jones, Director for the Regional Economic Development Center at Yavapai College.
“As existing and potential employers throughout Yavapai County in many growing industries like information technology, construction, manufacturing, transportation, education and more continue to expand, having a strong talent pool will be critical to the region’s economic development.”
Yavapai Pipeline uses Pipeline AZ’s white-labelled platform and services to act as a career exploration and talent development infrastructure for all YC students. The platform gives students and job seekers advanced insights about the exact skills, education, or certificates they need to reach their career goals. Upon completion of their profile, users will then have access to a variety of career exploration opportunities and information, including job shadowing, service learning, field experience, research, apprenticeship, further education, and other opportunities specific to Yavapai County.
“Yavapai College and all of its campuses and centers throughout central Arizona play a pivotal role in the economic development of the region,” said Katherine Pappas, Director of Workforce Strategy at Pipeline AZ. “Pipeline AZ’s partnership with Yavapai College and the Regional Economic Development Center will provide a workforce solution that will create more pathways to in-demand careers. The platform’s skills mapping technology helps job seekers begin a new path, level-up in their existing careers, explore work or work-based learning opportunities and discover new passions that change their career trajectory.”
Every YC student will have access to customized career exploration tools and support through the Pipeline AZ platform, which showcases statewide and Yavapai County-specific career opportunities. Yavapai County job seekers who are not enrolled in a YC degree program, will also be able to set up a profile to explore careers and discover local training programs to help them reach their career goals. Regional employers will be able to post jobs. The listings will include skills, certifications and degrees needed.
“Working with Pipeline AZ, Yavapai College is able to help our students identify their skills and interests and connect that information to in-demand careers. Yavapai Pipeline connects students’ career aspirations to appropriate programs offered at Yavapai College,” said Tania Sheldahl, Associate Vice President of Student Affairs and Dean of Students at Yavapai College. “This new program will put our students on track to completing their program from day one. The ultimate goal is employment within our community that fits our students’ passions.”
Pipeline AZ is an initiative of the Partnership for Economic Innovation, a passionate collective of business and community leaders dedicated to accelerating Arizona’s economic opportunities. The work of Pipeline AZ is made possible in part by the Maricopa County Industrial Development Authority. Job seekers of any age and experience can connect with employers at pipelineaz.com.
ABOUT YAVAPAI COLLEGE
Yavapai College operates six campuses and centers throughout Yavapai County and offers over 100 degrees and certificates in the areas of arts and humanities, business and computer systems, social sciences, health and wellness, science and engineering, and career and technical education. In addition, YC offers many student and community services, and cultural events and activities.
ABOUT PIPELINE AZ
Pipeline AZ is a career development and exploration platform that creates pathways to in-demand careers by connecting the dots between industry and education. It uses skills mapping technology to help job seekers discover new paths or level up in their existing careers while also serving as a valuable recruiting tool for employers. Pipeline AZ is an initiative of the Partnership for Economic Innovation. Learn more at pipelineaz.com.
ABOUT PARTNERSHIP FOR ECONOMIC INNOVATION
Partnership for Economic Innovation is a passionate collective of business and community leaders dedicated to accelerating Arizona’s economic opportunities. We believe innovators are problem solvers who come from anywhere, if they have access to pathways to do so — which is why PEI is investing in community-building technology and R&D designed to make Arizona more resilient and empower innovators to bring world-changing ideas to market. PEI initiatives include:
• Pipeline AZ, a career exploration platform creating more transparent pathways to advanced industry jobs and connecting Arizona workers to any training they might need to get there.
• The Connective, Greater Phoenix’s internationally acclaimed Smart Region collaborative, convening cities, industries, and entrepreneurs to lay the open innovation groundwork to solve regional challenges.
• WearTech and Blockchain Applied Research Centers are accelerating the development of emerging technology products with the potential to radically transform healthcare, keep us safer and more secure.
