Amy Lasack: Welcome to our podcast The Catalyst at NICC. We have a great episode today doubly exciting because we have 2 guests. We have Nic Hockenberry, Director of Workforce Programming for the Greater Dubuque Development Corp in Dubuque and Amy Green, Director of Program Sales, contract training and outreach services for NICC Business and Community Solutions. Welcome Nic and Amy.
Amy Green - NICC: Thank you, Amy.
Nicolas Hockenberry: Having us.
Amy Lasack: We're excited to talk to you because there's so many cool things that are happening with the work that we do in the space of workforce in the Dubuque area and NICC's role in it. Nic, let's start with you a little bit. Just tell a little bit about your background in economic development. And
Amy Lasack: why did you get into this arena? And to begin with.
Nicolas Hockenberry: Well, that that could be a very long conversation. Amy.
Nicolas Hockenberry: yeah. So I I started in economic development in Jackson County. So in a rural county just south of the Dubuque County line.
Nicolas Hockenberry: Jackson County Economic Alliance is where I learned a lot of what economic development in Iowa entails, and over the 8 years I was there.
Nicolas Hockenberry: or I think, just over 7 years that I was there. I learned that
Nicolas Hockenberry: no matter what business. You're talking to the thing that often is the challenge or or opportunity is related to workforce.
Amy Lasack: Interesting.
Nicolas Hockenberry: Yeah. And so so when I moved up to Dubuque, when I moved to Greater Dubuque Development Corporation, my role changed a little bit. I was no longer handling all things economic development, but I was able to focus in on
Nicolas Hockenberry: sort of creating or enhancing, or just having conversations around what those workforce opportunities were in this market. And the Tri-state area.
Amy Lasack: That's great.
Amy Lasack: And Amy, your role within contract training. First, st maybe maybe explain what contract training is because a lot of folks don't know about that. And then how did you get here?
Amy Green - NICC: Yeah, sure. So my road here was a little unusual because I did not start out in education. I was in media working for the local telegraph Herald th media here in Dubuque for many years, but working with businesses like, I always say it's a need that need was advertising and audience reach
Amy Green - NICC: coming to NICC, same thing need for workforce development. So business and community solutions is just what our name is. We work with businesses and community partners to find solutions.
Amy Green - NICC: And when I talk about contract training, people say, what's contract training, it's really just meeting with the business, talking about workforce challenges and needs oftentimes that can be solved with some kind of training, whether that's upskilling their existing work.
Amy Green - NICC: their existing workforce, or connecting them with the college to help build a pipeline of talent. And that's where coming working with greater duke development and the economic development world. And we've formed a great partnership to help streamline some of the challenges that our businesses have and figure out solutions together, so appreciate that partnership. Nic.
Nicolas Hockenberry: Same.
Amy Lasack: But let's let's talk partnerships. What? What makes the partnership between GDDC. Greater Dubuque Development Corp and NICC. So strong because I know I've I've had the opportunity to work in other areas within Iowa. And what we have here is pretty unique.
Nicolas Hockenberry: Yeah, well, I'll go first, st and I I will say, because I wasn't always up here. And not always the beneficiary of such a close partnership between economic development and our Community College and Icc. Here. When I was down in Jackson County.
Nicolas Hockenberry: Oftentimes we would use the example of NICC. And greater Dubuque to push our partners to do more collaborate more closely because of what had transpired up here. And I think now that I am at Greater Dubuque. I've learned that relationship has developed over many years. The program which is most notable
Nicolas Hockenberry: and the most direct partnership
Nicolas Hockenberry: between Greater Dubuque Development and NICC. The opportunity Dubuque program. That's been going on since 2011, I think, was the 1st year that we really employed it. And you know, we're almost 15 years in, and it has changed a ton
Nicolas Hockenberry: either, the improvements to the coaching side of things on the community college side. The certificates that are needed by our employers. But I think the reason why the partnerships been strong is because every every person can bring something to the table and say, Hey, this could work better, and everyone's working together to enhance the program year after year.
Nicolas Hockenberry: So it's really that trust and long standing sort of freedom to.
Amy Lasack: To talk.
Nicolas Hockenberry: Talk about what's needed in the market.
Amy Lasack: Yeah, and I think.
Amy Green - NICC: And I would just add to that.
Amy Green - NICC: we look at greater Duke Development and your team as an extension of our team. Right? We're all out meeting with businesses talking workforce. So the more we can collaborate and partner and work together to find solutions the better off. All of our businesses are going to be.
Nicolas Hockenberry: Yes.
Nicolas Hockenberry: yeah. I think that's 1 of the cool things that I see as being a part of this team is.
Amy Lasack: We want the best for other folks, and it's not so much taking the recognition on. Oh, we did this right. It's it's figuring out what's best. What's the easiest path to get there? And how do we work together to make that happen for everyone.
Amy Green - NICC: Agree.
Nicolas Hockenberry: Yes, yeah, yeah, I would. I'd love to say that. Our office of, you know, 7 people was able to create the impact. That opportunity, Dubuque or any of the other programs related to workforce. But that's just it's not reality. You need to have. You know, organizations like a community, college, economic development, the city, the county, and the business community, all working together to make things happen.
Amy Lasack: Yeah.
Amy Lasack: how do? How do you guys make that happen? You think I know you have regular meetings, and there's a lot of conversations back and forth. But how do you? How do you make that happen?
Nicolas Hockenberry: Well, I think it starts with the people. You know Nacc has a great team. And welcome to that team, Amy Lasik, though you've been here for a couple of years now.
Nicolas Hockenberry: But it it really is that having the people who have the trust and sort of expertise and knowledge to bring to the table is where everything starts. But I think from there you know, a lot of it is
Nicolas Hockenberry: understanding the challenges or opportunities. And as it relates to the business community, that's where we at Greater Dubuque really feel like we can start the conversation, add the most value because of the relationship our team our business services team
Nicolas Hockenberry: has with employers. It's not just on workforce, but oftentimes we can zoom out to the bigger more. You know, community wide or regional, wide economic opportunities or challenges that we're seeing in the market.
Amy Lasack: and Amy, I assume it goes both ways that as your team is out hearing things, how do you share that back.
Amy Green - NICC: Yeah, we are in regular communication with Nic and the team at greater development, and I appreciate when they're out meeting with the company, good or bad, they always bring that back to us to do some follow up work.
Amy Green - NICC: And then there's no idea that we don't ever consider right. Not everything comes to fruition, but it's nice to have a team that we can collaborate and brainstorm with, and see if there is a possibility to help fill the request or the demand that we see in front of us, and our numbers speak for themselves. We've trained hundreds of individuals over the years. With our opportunity to be program.
Amy Lasack: Yeah, can we unpack that a little bit? A lot of folks might hear the term opportunity to buke? What exactly does that mean?
Nicolas Hockenberry: Yeah. So the opportunity Dubuque program is, you know, a branded version of your NICC's career pathway certificates. And the way that it's different is that
Nicolas Hockenberry: as the economic development partner, we are elevating a certain set of those certificates that are meant to meet demand that we're hearing directly from employers on.
Nicolas Hockenberry: So right now, I think we're just so just under 20 different certificates that we've identified through a data effort that we partner with NICC on called our skills gap analysis, where we can see in the market
Nicolas Hockenberry: who were graduating through programs
Nicolas Hockenberry: that are directly related to the growing or high demand positions in our market. So it's really targeted and based on that data. But it comes down to
Nicolas Hockenberry: quality instruction at our community college. In short term certificate programs. And I think the last thing that makes it unique is the way that we've built out the supports for students going into that program. So our office helps support tuition assistance for those who don't qualify for many of the other program. Tuition programs out there. But we also support
Nicolas Hockenberry: the coaches. The success team that supports students not only in learning about the opportunities, but also successfully completing. And then finding that that job at the end of that. And I think that's really where NICC's expertise in that model. That success team model has
Nicolas Hockenberry: grown. Opportunity Dubuque from, you know. Maybe a very simple or targeted effort to really what it is now, which is, you know, game changing in the workforce development realm.
Amy Green - NICC: And I'll just add a little bit of context on what a career pathway search.
Amy Green - NICC: Yes, thank you.
Amy Green - NICC: Yeah. Sorry.
Amy Green - NICC: As Nic said, we have almost 20 some now, and it really started in our advanced manufacturing world. So as we're meeting with businesses, they all had a need for employees, but they didn't want to wait for a 2 year student to complete a credit program.
Amy Green - NICC: They just needed individuals to come in with some basic skill sets that they could start employment sooner. So our career pathway certificates, most of them are a non-credit certificate with the opportunity to crosswalk into a credit program. So if someone's interested in continuing on to that degree. But it's getting them through the programs quicker in some cases 6 months that we can get individuals through the training
Amy Green - NICC: out into employment and working with our businesses to fill that need.
Amy Lasack: I think that's such a key part of it, because we know the economy as it currently is, and for folks to try to take off work
Amy Lasack: for a 2 year degree or a 1 year degree. That's almost impossible. They still need to pay rent. They still need to put food on the table. So this opportunity Dubuque branded program that we have in collaboration with GDDC. Is such a difference maker in the lives of folks.
Nicolas Hockenberry: I think so. You know, we just recently had some conversations with graduates to to talk about their impact. I mean one that I remember was Joe Lewis, and he
Nicolas Hockenberry: he was. He has a family here. He's in the Dubuque area. He'd been working for a number of years, but was really trying to find that pathway to provide more for his family. But just like you, said Amy, you can't put life on. Pause
Nicolas Hockenberry: to take that long term approach. You have to be able to do it at the same time. And so that's why he was drawn to the CDL certificate.
Nicolas Hockenberry: it's a quick program
Nicolas Hockenberry: and really opens up the doors to employment that can be family sustaining. And we were. We're excited. That education, and NICC. Was able to provide that pathway to his goals, his personal goals. But importantly, he found a job
Nicolas Hockenberry: very quickly afterwards, and found a job that allows him to be paid. Well, frankly, because he's over the road trucking, but he gets to come home to his family every night, which was the other priority he had, and he found a local employer here in Dubuque and prairie farms that was able to make that happen. And so that's where I'm like, you know, you design the best program
Nicolas Hockenberry: at any community, college or any economic development firm. But really, when it
Nicolas Hockenberry: is making an impact is in those individual lives and in those families here, in in the tri-state area.
Amy Lasack: And that's such a great story to tell, because outside of Joe there are dozens, others over the years that have found a great path forward because of that. And I think a big part of that is the employer feedback piece of it and the content of our CPCs. The career pathway certificates, and being able to align that for what the employers are needing.
Nicolas Hockenberry: Great.
Amy Green - NICC: For sure.
Nicolas Hockenberry: Yeah. And I think Amy can probably talk about this more. Carefully. Or succinctly. But the the community college does an incredible job.
Nicolas Hockenberry: When when we get feedback as Amy Green said. From employers, we're always bringing it good, bad, indifferent on workforce development training experiences in this market, and a lot of that is, you know.
Nicolas Hockenberry: hey, this this sort of system is coming into our manufacturing firm, and we need folks now. And we put that challenge to the community college. And in some cases it's an existing program where they're saying it's changed.
Nicolas Hockenberry: We're we're working in a different way. We need the curriculum to train to change, and the advisory committees and the engagement that the community college does to adjust curriculum is so important.
Amy Green - NICC: And
Amy Green - NICC: yeah, you touched on a lot. There, Nic, is. What businesses. How can businesses be a part of this program? Right? And it's stepping up and saying, I support what NICC is doing. I've reviewed the curriculum it meets the needs that I have. I'm going to engage with the students. I'm going to be part of the Advisory Board meeting
Amy Green - NICC: and other ways right? But it's really the business committing to supporting the program to fill that workforce pipeline, and any business can come to the table and do that. So in all of the programs that we offer.
Amy Lasack: Yeah, Amy, you mentioned something right there about the businesses connecting with the students and having playing a role that is such a key part of this I'm not sure everybody understands.
Amy Lasack: Piece of it is.
Amy Green - NICC: Yeah. And we have. If you go out to our website and look at our career pathway, certificate, sponsored or programs, you're going to see business logos, and those are businesses that say, Hey, I support this program, and I will consider hiring someone with this career pathway, certificate or degree program or apprenticeship. There's lots of other ways, too. But then that helps us with our students that says, Hey.
Amy Green - NICC: this is a viable career. And here's the businesses that are ready to take a look at you when you have this skill set.
Amy Lasack: I have a colleague that used to say all the time that we we could offer at a community college free training.
Amy Lasack: and no one will show up. But once we attach employers to that, and and students can see the value that that education and that training provides them. Then we'll get a bunch of phone calls.
Amy Green - NICC: Yeah.
Amy Lasack: So what about
Amy Lasack: trends that you're seeing in the future? What are employers? You guys have your ear to the the pulse of everything that's happening in the community. What are you hearing is is the missing link right now, for some of our employers.
Amy Green - NICC: We.
Nicolas Hockenberry: Yeah, I can talk about.
Nicolas Hockenberry: Go ahead, Amy.
Amy Green - NICC: Okay, I was just gonna say I can talk a little bit from the training side.
Amy Green - NICC: you know, just as companies have a difficult time finding employees. We also sometimes have a difficulty finding people to get into our programs right? So we have to think a little creative and kind of outside the box on how we can help those individuals and help the businesses. And one of those is looking at upskilling their existing staff. So we're seeing a lot of businesses hiring, moving, promoting individuals within their organization to fill some of the gaps within their community.
Amy Green - NICC: And that's great. But usually those individuals are really good at one thing. They might be really good at a technical skill, but they're not good at leading people. And suddenly, I'm in a leadership role at this organization. So we're seeing kind of a shift from technical training where businesses can do a little more of that on site. But really that leadership, professional development. We're seeing
Amy Green - NICC: a great need for that within our businesses now, more than ever especially as they're kind of maneuvering and and changing the chess pieces a little bit as to how they're structured within their organization.
Nicolas Hockenberry: Yeah. Well, and I'll piggyback off of that. I I think we're in. We're in a period where you know. Maybe 3 years ago it was
Nicolas Hockenberry: large, large add additions to workforce at many different employers across industry sectors, we're we're not there. We're at kind of a a stable, a steady stable state, as it relates to overall head counts at our at our employers. But where we are seeing movement is technology investment.
Nicolas Hockenberry: and with that comes a need for new skills within their existing workforce. So exactly what Amy is saying, where it is.
Nicolas Hockenberry: looking at your your assets as as your workforce and your employees and saying, How can we continue to grow their skills here so that they see their progression in our business? They see their value grow
Nicolas Hockenberry: and the business sees greater productivity. And that is, that is, you know, where we're coming into frontier areas like
Nicolas Hockenberry: AI, whether it's more sophisticated. CNC machining plcs, all of these sort of additive technologies, and even some bleeding edge ones when we're talking about AI and now that that is a challenge not only for the workforce and the employers to figure out how best
Nicolas Hockenberry: to integrate those new technologies. And what's the best return on investment, but how to grow, that workforce.
Amy Lasack: Right.
Nicolas Hockenberry: From now and moving forward in into the future. And that is a challenge for all of our higher ed and industry our partners in the in the market.
Amy Lasack: And that can be really scary
Amy Lasack: for not only employers, but for employees that maybe have done the same job for many, many years. And this radical change is happening. And now we have all these AI type machines that are are needing some learning to do. And, Amy, I know you have done some work within the AI realm, and providing that training as well.
Amy Green - NICC: We have. We've done a business summit last spring, and then we're going to be doing a workshop again this fall. But one thing that really sticks out in all of the AI trainings that I've attended, or individuals that we've brought in for training. You know people are scared of it because they think their jobs are going to be replaced by it, and while some very well could be
Amy Green - NICC: Susan, through the expert that we use for our business summit says it best. She's like the individuals that don't learn how to use AI and make themselves valuable in that area are probably the ones that are going to lose their jobs, the ones that say they're too old to learn it, or it's too hard to learn it. That's going to become a skill set that I think people are going to have to adopt, to be relevant within their organizations in the future.
Amy Green - NICC: And the same with robotics. Right. You know, robots are going to change, change the workforce. You still need individuals and humans to work on robots. There's still errors and and defaults. So it's just changing the skills that individuals need within the workforce to be relevant.
Nicolas Hockenberry: I just think about when I've when I've talked with employers who say brought on a robot or a new system, or integrating a new
Nicolas Hockenberry: you know, at a healthcare facility integrating a new electronic medical records. Software.
Nicolas Hockenberry: Inevitably, you need people who are experts in that system in that technology, and they become the most important people to your workforce. In that moment.
Amy Lasack: So true.
Nicolas Hockenberry: So I think that what Amy saying is exactly right, that the opportunity here for for all of us, frankly but everyone in the in the workforce now is to see how these new technologies can enhance what they do.
Amy Lasack: Yeah, and it's happening so fast.
Nicolas Hockenberry: Right, like.
Amy Lasack: I think, back to 15 months ago, and I wasn't using Chat gpt at all. And now I use it every day.
Amy Green - NICC: Yes. Yeah.
Nicolas Hockenberry: It is. It is that that I think, is what scares a lot of people is. It's sort of the the exponential growth in in kind of the prevalence of this in all of our lives. But I think that's usually what happens early on
Nicolas Hockenberry: and then there's a new normal, that kind that we kind of fall in around. Now there's there's a potential for more applications for AI in more different sectors. And so the sooner we can kind of feel those out which takes trying and playing around with them. And I know that's what a lot of our employers are doing right now.
Nicolas Hockenberry: and even even the ethics side of things. That's that's another area where our education institutions like Nacc can really help
Nicolas Hockenberry: folks who are utilizing these new technologies, too.
Amy Lasack: That's a big P.
Amy Lasack: I know we're dealing with internally as well.
Nicolas Hockenberry: Yeah.
Amy Green - NICC: Sure, yeah, with students.
Nicolas Hockenberry: Right.
Amy Green - NICC: When you talk partnerships. You know, we have partnerships outside of NICC that we can fall on for these areas, the industry 4.0. And there's an advisory committee that meets regularly on that, but also our community college network. We collaborate a lot to tackle these types of trainings and the resources that we can put behind it and find talent that can help train it. And so that's
Amy Green - NICC: it's fun. Puts us on the cutting edge of of new things all the time.
Amy Lasack: Yeah, I think what I'm hearing from you, Amy, is that if there's an employer out there that has a gap of some sort, whether it's a workforce. I need to hire some individual, or I've got some folks on staff that
Amy Lasack: we would encourage them 1st call to be to NICC. Let's see what we can connect you with.
Amy Green - NICC: Absolutely.
Amy Green - NICC: Yeah, we will do what we can to help any business with any problem.
Amy Green - NICC: And sometimes that may be referring them on to a community partner, too. So, but that's what's nice about NICC is that we are connected within our community to many nonprofit organizations, economic development organizations throughout northeast Iowa. So.
Amy Lasack: Well, looking back at all the work that GDDC has done, NICC has done what's been something that
Amy Lasack: has been a moment. That kind of sticks out something that you're very proud of, or something that has made a difference in. How you look at
Amy Lasack: the work that you do.
Nicolas Hockenberry: Well, I'll go first.st I you know it's sort of top of mind right now, because we're coming into a new class. But one of the other things that we partner with and I, CC. On is our newcomer program called distinctively Dubuque.
Nicolas Hockenberry: and
Nicolas Hockenberry: it grew out of an effort with our employers in the community to to say, Hey, we brought in, you know, and
Nicolas Hockenberry: 12 new workers over the last few months. And they're new to the community. They're really trying to find a way to navigate it, build their con, their connections here.
Nicolas Hockenberry: What's something we could do? And this program, which is 5 weeks, one day a week, where we give them kind of a taste of different parts of the community. But the we held an alumni event for the 1st time. Really, a few months ago. And having all those people from who have gone through the the program.
Nicolas Hockenberry: come back and talk about what it meant for them, and how they were able to really
Nicolas Hockenberry: get their roots in the community or make connections, you know. Either they were looking for a new job, or they wanted to go back
Nicolas Hockenberry: to school
Nicolas Hockenberry: to develop new skills. They were able to reconnect with the resources that were presented to them, and having NICC. And and our office work on that program over almost as many years as opportunity, Dubuque as well. That's been one of those very impactful programs that
Nicolas Hockenberry: not just impactful to us like we feel like it. It's making a difference. But we're hearing participants come back and say, this is unique. This doesn't happen in every community. I've lived all over the Midwest. It's it's hard to see a community that comes
Nicolas Hockenberry: or it's hard to find a community that comes around its newcomers and families that are coming into this region in a more comprehensive way. And that's that's great to hear. Because you would like to think all of this work in partnership. That takes a lot of effort is resulting in some, some positive impacts. And we're hearing it again.
Amy Lasack: And I had a chance to go through that just to reiterate what you were saying, Nic. Last year I went through the opportunity Dubuque program, and it is one of the best things. If you're new to the Dubuque area, you should definitely consider it, and it doesn't cost anything for an individual to be a part of the program. So if nothing else, you really get
Amy Lasack: chance
Amy Lasack: network with individuals in the community and learn a lot more so highly encourage that not just because NICC. Is involved.
Nicolas Hockenberry: See here.
Nicolas Hockenberry: and what a great place to learn how to play euchre and have a turkey dressing sandwich right.
Amy Green - NICC: Dubuque, icons.
Nicolas Hockenberry: That's right.
Amy Green - NICC: So, Amy, the thing that I am most proud of, and this is in partnership with greater development. 5 years ago, Covid, right when Covid hit us, our businesses scrambled, there was so much uncertainty, and the college closed. We all were sent home to go work remote. We could have just
Amy Green - NICC: sat there with nothing to do but we partnered up with all of our economic developers in Northeast Iowa, our small business development office, and we created a small business, Helpline.
Amy Green - NICC: and we fielded thousands of calls during those really uncertain times, navigating our businesses to resources. How can they get all of the loans that are being offered Federal loans, State loans, how can they find Ppe? We it was. It was an amazing partnership, and
Amy Green - NICC: I learned so much during that timeframe that I would never, ever have had the opportunity to do. But we really couldn't have done it without community partnership, and that was with greater Duke Development.
Amy Green - NICC: our friends at Ecia, Small Business Development Office, and we met daily there for a while to just give each other updates. Where are we at what's new? What's happening today? How can we field these calls and get businesses resources? So just a true testament to how NICC is here.
Nicolas Hockenberry: Whenever a business is in need, and that was.
Amy Green - NICC: Some challenging times, but I think, had we not done the work that we did? I don't know. Many of our businesses may not be around today because they weren't able to access resources to help them stay financially stable and to keep their workforce working, too, right.
Nicolas Hockenberry: Right.
Amy Green - NICC: Don't!
Amy Lasack: That's a really it brings us back to the beginning of this conversation on the importance of partnerships and collaborations. And and really how Dubuque has it has it together.
Amy Lasack: and a big part of that is the work NICC and GDDC does together. So I know I can speak. I'm very grateful for the partnership that we have with GDDC.
Nicolas Hockenberry: And and we appreciate NICC as a sort of steadfast partner in all things.
Nicolas Hockenberry: Yeah, can everybody feel the love right now?
Nicolas Hockenberry: Group, hug, group, hug, cool, hug.
Amy Lasack: Well, Amy, we did talk about opportunity, Dubuque and the different programs we have out there. Just briefly, can you give some examples of the different CPCs or career pathway certificates that we have. And if somebody's interested in, maybe going through those, what would be their 1st step.
Amy Green - NICC: Sure. So, as I mentioned advanced manufacturing, we have several. So we have our welding industrial maintenance CNC program. But we also have childcare. Our culinary certificate. Gosh! You put me on the spot here, Amy, I'm not going to be able to name all 20 of them. CDL, Nic had mentioned our CDL program.
Amy Green - NICC: We have sales, sales, CPC for businesses that are looking to hire individuals in sales positions. And then also in our healthcare, we have some our CNA program, of course.
Amy Lasack: Yeah.
Nicolas Hockenberry: Which ones am I missing, Amy? I know I'm missing a few.
Amy Green - NICC: Phlebotomy. There you go!
Nicolas Hockenberry: Customer service as well, but.
Amy Lasack: Yeah. And somebody doesn't really need to know exactly what they want to do. That's what those coaches are for, Nic that you had mentioned earlier is to help.
Amy Green - NICC: Yeah.
Amy Lasack: That.
Amy Green - NICC: Yeah.
Nicolas Hockenberry: Yes, yeah, we have. We have one coach right now. With W with hopefully. One more coming soon. But Chris Weaver can really help anyone who's interested in getting skills. Like, I, I told that story of Joe Lewis, you know.
Nicolas Hockenberry: express what your personal goals are, and start having that conversation about what certificate or what skills program is gonna help you get there? And they can talk about again because of the work. And Icc is done to connect employers to certain programs. They can see where that employer where that end goal will be
Nicolas Hockenberry: and develop a plan and and get support all along the way.
Amy Green - NICC: Yeah, so for any business listening to our podcast that's interested in learning more about how to become a sponsor of our programs, they can reach out to me directly, or Amy Lasik or any member of our NICC team, really, and we will get more information to them on how to become a sponsor
Amy Green - NICC: or go to our website as well. But we prefer to have a conversation first.st
Amy Lasack: Right, and it doesn't necessarily have to cost a company anything other than their time. We.
Amy Green - NICC: No, no, it's just a time. Commitment. Yeah, exactly.
Amy Lasack: And I would also encourage anybody out there who might be listening. That wants to learn more about going through a career pathway certificate with the opportunity. Dubuque program is to visit our website and take a look at career pathway certificates. There's a form you could submit, or you can also call (833) 642-2338, and we'll connect you with one of our coaches.
Amy Lasack: Well, we are out of time, Nic and Amy, thank you so much for joining us and talking about the collaboration between GDDC. And NICC.
Amy Lasack: Nic, I know GDDC. Has a very special tagline that they use all the time. You want to throw that out there.
Nicolas Hockenberry: Well, yeah. And it harkens back to the message of this of this, podcast which is really partnerships. But we feel like wherever you're coming from whether you've been in Dubuque or this tri-state area, your entire life, or whether you're new here. We have partners and programs that can truly deliver on the promise that you can be great here.
Amy Lasack: Great. Thank you so much, and thank you both.
Nicolas Hockenberry: Thank you.
Amy Green - NICC: Thank you, Amy.