Shining a Spotlight on Our Board
Aaron Miltenberger on Skills, Opportunity, and Rural Innovation
At The Attainment Network, our board members bring diverse experiences that help guide our mission to expand pathways from learning to earning for all Coloradans.
Aaron Miltenberger has spent more than three decades working with young people and families, particularly outside traditional classroom settings. His work in higher education and out-of-school-time learning has focused on helping learners develop transferable skills that support both personal fulfillment and workforce success.
We spoke with Aaron about what drew him to The Attainment Network, the changes he believes are needed in education-to-workforce systems, and what continues to inspire him in his work.
Q: What inspired you to get involved with The Attainment Network, and why is expanding education and career opportunities for learners and earners so important to you?
I believe that building transferrable life and workforce skills is the differentiator for youth and families in building pathways towards happiness. The way that The Attainment Network has shown up in and supported that work in the San Luis Valley has demonstrated a commitment to leading with and supporting the vision of those persons most impacted by decision-making
Q: How have your personal or professional experiences shaped your understanding of the shifts needed in our education-to-workforce systems to better support learners and meet industry needs?
I have been working with young people and families outside of formal teaching and learning systems for over 30 years, most relevantly in higher education, establishing a need to align co-curricular programs with academic outcomes. This led me to see that the ability to describe skills in terms of learning outcomes and not the ability or skill itself was a differentiator of job attainment, and that many systems of credentials were not learner centered and portable. Further, in my role with Out-of-School-Time, I have seen rural learners systemically marginalized in opportunities to determine policy and processes, yet these learners often exhibit the innovation mindset crucial to solving the problems of tomorrow.
Q: What’s a piece of career advice you’ve received that still sticks with you, and who offered you that advice?
Shepherd Book's advice to Mal in Serenity, "I don't care what you believe. Just believe in it."
Q: Looking ahead, what excites you most about the future of The Attainment Network and its impact on learners, earners, and entire communities across the state?
I am excited to see how The Attainment Network will continue to serve as the state’s priorities evolve.
Q: What book is on your bedside table? Would you recommend it? Why or why not?
The Bhagavad Gita—Yes, because it is the foundational story of so much human experience.
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