The Fayette Chamber of Commerce will host a Workforce and Education Forum featuring local and state education and industry leaders on November 15 at McIntosh High School. The forum will kick off with the “State of the Schools” address from Fayette School Superintendent Dr. Joseph Barrow, followed by a program on opportunities for Fayette County students to identify, prepare and pursue exciting, high-demand careers. The event will be held on Tuesday, November 15 from 5:00-7:00 p.m. at the McIntosh High School Auditorium, 201 Walt Banks Road, Peachtree City. Admission is free.

“We are excited to provide a unique and collaborative forum for attendance by both parents and the business community,” said Kimberly Schnoes, incoming 2017 Fayette Chamber Board chair and chair of the Fayette Visioning Education Committee. “Fayette County, like all communities in the state of Georgia, benefits when students are given the opportunity to learn future career skills while still in public school. By highlighting the collaboration between public education, state and local partners, workforce leaders and parents, we hope to foster conversations and share information to prepare Fayette students to succeed after high school.”

In addition to Dr. Barrow’s address, the Workforce and Education Forum will feature a presentation by Jamie Jordan, program manager of Georgia’s High Demand Career Initiative. Launched by Governor Nathan Deal in 2014, HDCI is a targeted effort by the state to gain a clear picture of the workforce needs of Georgia businesses and, with the commitment of state partners such as the University System of Georgia and the Technical College System of Georgia, train a strong and reliable workforce for high demand careers of today and in the future.

To present a picture of the workforce needs in our community, Jordan will also moderate a panel of Fayette County industry leaders to discuss their specific workforce needs. This panel will provide an opportunity for parents and students to hear directly from top-level industry executives about the types of candidates and skills for which they are searching.