Susan Jacobs, vice president, Human Resources & Administration, served as the keynote speaker for Mississippi Technical National Honor Society’s “Lighting Up the Workforce” gala and awards ceremony. The event was hosted by Long Beach High School and celebrated the achievements and futures of the district’s career technical education (CTE) students.
More than 150 CTE students attended, as well as school faculty and administration from throughout the state.
During the keynote, Susan shared with the audience her perspective on the importance of CTE programs and of a highly skilled technical workforce, as well as the opportunity to build a long-lasting career with industrial manufacturing companies like Ingalls.
“The skills you are working hard to learn and master are the keys to your future. Your career options are endless and you are in high demand,” said Susan. “In fact, Ingalls is looking to hire thousands of skilled workers today and the need for a well-trained workforce is not exclusive to us. The lack of a skilled workforce is the single greatest threat to the manufacturing industry. That’s why the industry looks different now, and we talk about it differently than we ever have before. It is why your skills will afford you well-paying jobs and lifelong career options.”
Long Beach High School touts one of the highest graduation rates in the state of Mississippi, far exceeding the national average. The district is currently in the process of building a new CTE facility that will feature cutting-edge space and equipment. In preparation, the school’s CTE staff have visited the shipyard, welcomed Ingalls staff into their classrooms and even participated in the Ingalls Shipbuilding Externship Program, where teachers are educated on how to prepare their students for careers at Ingalls after graduation.
Susan Jacobs, vice president, Human Resources & Administration, pictured front left, and Lisa Bradley, manager, Corporate Stewardship & Community Relations, pictured center, attended the Light Up the Workforce gala along with several other community representatives and Long Beach School District faculty.