FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 28, 2008
Media Contact: Michael Corby 904.632.3310

Florida Community College at Jacksonville Downtown Campus president named to Manufacturing Institute’s Education Council

Edythe Abdullah will help shape national strategies to create more manufacturing jobs

Edythe Abdullah, president of Florida Community College at Jacksonville Downtown Campus, is one of more than 25 education leaders from across the country named to the first-ever national Education Council focused on expanding and enhancing the manufacturing workforce. The Council held its inaugural meeting October 29 in Washington, D.C.

The Manufacturing Institute, which established the Education Council, is the research, education and workforce arm of the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM).

“In these difficult economic times, we must create new educational pathways to help more individuals prepare for high-paying manufacturing jobs and, in turn, help our companies compete in world markets,” said Emily DeRocco, president of The Manufacturing Institute and former U.S. assistant secretary of labor for employment and training.

“Dr. Abdullah will help the Education Council provide leadership, counsel and research to ensure America’s manufacturing workforce is properly prepared to compete in the global economy,” DeRocco continued. “This is a big undertaking. Charter members will focus on issues as wide-ranging as identifying solutions to address the adult literacy crisis, designing regional manufacturing talent development systems, creating 21st century career and technical education programs and advancing innovation in the manufacturing economy,” she said.

“As international competition intensifies, U.S. manufacturers are having a difficult time finding qualified people to replace the retiring baby boom generation in increasingly sophisticated high-tech jobs. The skills shortages are having a widespread impact on the ability of manufacturers to achieve production levels, increase productivity and meet customer demands. With more highly skilled and qualified people, manufacturers could create more jobs with family-sustaining wages,” she said.

Representing K-12, community and technical colleges and four-year colleges and universities, the educators and officials were tapped by The Manufacturing Institute to assist in developing national strategies to keep the American manufacturing workforce globally competitive and create more high-paying jobs.

“This is an exciting challenge,” said FCCJ’s Abdullah. “The respected and diverse membership of the Education Council, of which I am honored to be a part, will work diligently to solve the workforce recruitment and retention issues faced by U.S. manufacturers. It’s time to get to work and prepare our citizens for the 21st century manufacturing workplace!”

“The Education Council will help shape major education and workforce development initiatives to close the skills gap, help young people and transitioning workers find new careers in the manufacturing economy and ensure that U.S. manufacturers can continue to lead the world in innovation and productivity. The work of the Education Council is part of a broad strategic agenda to recruit, educate and employ the 21st century manufacturing workforce,” DeRocco concluded.

View the Education Council’s charter members.

About NAM

The National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) is the nation’s largest industrial trade association, representing small and large manufacturers in every industrial sector and in all 50 states. The Manufacturing Institute is the research, education and workforce arm of the NAM.