NEWS & UPDATES

Five months after stepping into the CEO role at The Attainment Network, I’ve been reflecting on the lessons that have mattered most – not the ones I expected, but the ones I’ve experienced. Leading through uncertainty, shaping vision, and building trust require more than strategy. They demand presence, honesty, and the courage to stay grounded in who you are. As CEO of an intermediary organization driving cross-sector systems change – connecting K–12 education, higher education, and workforce partners – my leadership must balance diverse perspectives, shifting priorities, and complex stakeholder dynamics across the education-to-workforce ecosystem. These five lessons are shaping how I lead today. I offer them not as a formula, but as a reflection, in case you, too, are navigating change, building something new, or wondering if you’re doing it “right.” Lesson 1: You Still Get to Be You – Whew! I didn’t know exactly how my leadership style might need to change as CEO, but I expected the role would call for some significant adjustments. I imagined myself drawing harder lines, becoming more serious, focusing on tasks I didn’t necessarily enjoy, or stepping away from the work I love: the creative, connective parts of leading that have always energized me and my teams. I imagined I’d need to keep more distance to manage the pressure and pace. But that image didn’t bring me joy or satisfaction. After some reflection, I chose a different approach. Instead of accepting a preconceived and superficial notion of leadership, I decided to be different – to invite more people in, leading authentically with humility and humor. I found that it softens the ground and opens up connections. One of my favorite ways of leaning into this approach has been to host a no-work-talk-allowed gathering at my house for women leaders across our education-to-workforce ecosystem (The Creative Crew), where we share our creative sides – hobbies, art, and passions – over wine. The first gathering was joyful and surprisingly deep. In this role as the leader of an intermediary, I’ve learned that authentic connection is foundational to our success. It’s how we build trusted partnerships that span education and workforce systems, and it allows us to have an impact through influence rather than power. On several occasions, I’ve reached out to others in the ecosystem with whom there have been perceived or real barriers to partnership in the past. I said: Let’s start again and see what we can do together. These have been some of the most valuable and productive conversations I’ve had. It doesn’t always reshape the relationship, but it sets a tone for what’s possible and signals the type of leader that I want to be – one who is brave enough to initiate a potentially uncomfortable conversation in the hope of shaping a stronger partnership. I don’t expect instant results from a single exchange, but I'll keep trying. I truly believe that if I leave the door open, I’ll build trust that will, over time, make progress possible. Lesson 2: Titles Grant Access, but Trust Builds Influence Having “CEO” in my title has undeniably changed how some people see me. My ideas are received differently, and my calendar fills more quickly. In our field, the title may open doors to funders and partners, but lasting influence depends on credibility, follow-through, and authentic relationships – especially when working across sectors with different goals, needs, and motivations. If you don’t bring people along, nothing changes. I’ve learned to slow down, share more, and co-create the path forward with the people I want to move with. When we open up space for listening and collaboration, we build the trust that motivates people to show up and support the vision. I’ve seen this in action in our partnerships across the state. I try not to leave a meeting without asking, in some form, “What can I do for you?” Lesson 3: Decision-Making Requires Clarity – and Flexibility As I stepped into the role, very quickly we had to decide where to place our big bets in an uncertain ecosystem where anything could happen – or nothing at all. With input from the team, signals on the horizon, and a mix of educated guesses and calculated risks, we got clear on our strategic priorities. At the same time, we held onto a vision expansive enough to shift and pivot as new opportunities emerged. But clarity alone wasn’t enough. Even after aligning around our direction, it requires ongoing collaboration, dialogue, and patience to bring it to life. Staying open to feedback, listening closely to our partners, and creating space for iteration is helping to ensure our decisions will lead to the impact we are seeking. Lesson 4: You Can’t Skip the Inner Work I’m unlearning manufactured urgency, self-doubt, and the belief that I always have to be “on.” Clear thinking and creative ideas need calm moments, reflection, and time to process out loud with others. I’ve stopped sitting back in rooms out of worry that my ideas aren’t polished enough, because my leadership and our work deserve a seat at the table. That shift didn’t come from the strategic plan – it came from a somewhat uncomfortable self-awareness that it was necessary. Recently, I invited feedback from a longtime partner, even though I wasn’t sure I wanted to hear it. But I knew they were looking out for our best interests. If I hadn’t created space for that feedback in a moment of openness and reflective confidence, we would have missed an opportunity to move important work forward. Lesson 5: Communication Is Culture One of the smallest but most meaningful practices has been my weekly CEO updates to the team. These weekly emails help keep communication open, make space for feedback, and support shared ownership across the team. The updates are just one of several ways I’m striving to live our values. I believe each action – whether it’s changing team members’ titles to better reflect their roles, inviting the whole team into fundraising conversations, and being transparent about our direction – reinforces a simple truth: culture isn’t just what we say, it’s what we practice. I also now reserve time every Friday to process and follow up. I used to rush to respond in the small gaps between meetings during the week, but slowing down has made the work better. I’ve found that if something isn’t time-sensitive, it’s often more productive to let it breathe a bit before responding. I call it “percolating.” Open communication is especially critical in our intermediary role, where shared ownership and transparency keep diverse teams aligned and engaged. These practices ensure I don’t miss opportunities that simply need space to surface – like program improvement ideas, new partnerships, and funding leads. And since we’re a fully remote team, this kind of intentional communication matters even more internally. I’m proud that our team is close-knit and well-coordinated, even though we’re spread across the state. We bring diversity of thought and experience to our work, and by keeping lines of communication open and transparent, we’re ready for the hard days and able to make the most of the good ones. There’s still much I don’t know, and I’m really okay with that – maybe even grateful. These first five months have reminded me that leadership isn’t about conforming to a fixed idea of what a leader “should” be, following a strict playbook, or adopting someone else’s style. Instead, it’s about showing up authentically, inviting others in, and creating the conditions for people and partnerships to thrive in the space I’m shaping. Making the internal transition from COO to CEO has given me a unique perspective on continuity and growth – on honoring what’s been built while steering toward what’s next. Leadership, I’m learning, is something I define for myself every day by meeting the moment. It’s a process, a practice, and a path of becoming more fully who I am. And I’m grateful for every step of the journey.

The Attainment Network team is joining partners statewide and nationally to advance student success, community collaboration, and bold pathways to economic mobility and opportunity. Here’s where you can find us in September: 🗓️ September 11–12 🔹 Pathways to Success: Celebrating a Decade of Impact – Washington, D.C. Michelle will join education and workforce leaders to celebrate a decade of JPMorganChase investments driving innovation in career-connected pathways. 🔹 Colorado HSI Summit – Glenwood Springs Katherine will travel to Colorado Mountain College, joining education leaders and students from across the state to advance equity, connection, and student success at Colorado’s Hispanic-Serving Institutions. 🗓️ September 16–18 🔹 StriveTogether Cradle to Career Conference – Atlanta, GA Rana and Michelle are excited to join Rocky Mountain Partnership and leaders from across the country to explore strategies that put every learner on a path to economic mobility. 🔹 Chronicle Festival – Online Libby and Michelle are tapping into to this virtual event to learn about the challenges facing higher education and explore the innovations shaping the future. 🗓️ September 18 🔹 Aurora Public Schools Foundation Relentless Gala – Aurora Stefan will attend the 13th annual gala at the Gaylord Rockies Resort, celebrating APS students and raising funds to expand opportunities for learners. 🔹 San Luis Valley Harvest Connections – Alamosa Ashley will connect with employers, workforce partners, and community organizations to strengthen relationships, share opportunities, and support learners and earners in the Valley.  🗓️ September 25 🔹 The Attainment Network’s Case Study on the San Luis Valley Career Connected Pathways Partnership – Virtual Explore how rural communities are coming together to meet employer needs and expand opportunities for learners and earners in healthcare careers. Register Here for the latest session in The Attainment Network’s Professional Learning Series. 🔹 Young Invincibles Student Voice Coalition Kickoff – Virtual Michelle and Katherine will join the new members of the YI Student Voice Coalition to prepare for the 2026 legislative session and discuss opportunities for student-led advocacy at the state and federal levels. And a sneak peek at October... 🗓️ October 2 🔹 L/Earner Voice Symposium – Virtual Join learners, earners, educators, employers, and policymakers as we work to reimagine career advising systems that meet the needs of Colorado’s future workforce. Register today for this free online event.

More than 100 stakeholders from across Colorado joined The Attainment Network on August 27 for our State of the Data meeting. The meeting was the third session in our series highlighting the progress being made to build Colorado’s Statewide Longitudinal Data System – a dynamic, agile, and usable resource designed to help learners, families, educators, program managers, and policymakers make informed decisions about education and training. We are especially grateful to our colleagues at the Office of Information Technology – Dr. Heather MacGillivary, manager of the SLDS, and Brandi Wildfang, chief communications officer – for sharing updates on both the development of the system and the communications strategy to promote awareness and use. We also appreciate the participation of CEI and Colorado Succeeds, our partners in the Better Data for Better Decisions Coalition. Key Milestones Completed Legal framework established to ensure privacy, security, and appropriate use—while allowing the system to evolve with new data elements and use cases. Technical vendor selected after a rigorous process. Key staff leadership hired, and additional positions posted for a data engineer and data analyst . Phase I use cases , co-constructed with the advisory group, formally approved. 

Education-to-career pathways in Denver are stronger and more accessible thanks to a five-year collaboration across education, industry, and policy sectors fueled by the New Skills ready network, an initiative launched by JPMorgan Chase & Co. in 2020. Rooted in a shared belief that every learner should have opportunities to acquire the skills and real-world experiences needed to thrive in a high-value, in-demand career, the results of our partnership speak for themselves: 52% increase in participation in industry-aligned career pathways 5x increase in completion of industry-recognized credentials 15% increase in participation in industry-aligned work-based learning experiences At the heart of this progress was our partners’ shared commitment to collaboration, with The Attainment Network serving as a neutral intermediary to support our K–12 , higher education, and workforce partners’ strategic alignment on shared goals. Acting as a bridge between priorities, we helped translate across sectors, navigate competing demands, and sustain the focus needed to drive meaningful change. Our work didn't happen in isolation. Throughout this journey we have been grateful for the opportunity to explore innovative ideas, share breakthrough strategies, and troubleshoot challenges between all our partners and with our New Skills ready network peers in five other cities. We are proud to have helped shepherd this work – and grateful to our partners who are dedicated to ensuring every learner can build a career that supports their family and leads to lasting economic mobility and success. Our momentum is strong and our work continues. We look forward to working with our partners to continue building opportunities for learners to access pathways to meaningful, high-value careers. Read more about Denver’s progress

We’re feeling the August energy – and it’s not just from the sunshine and farmers market bounty. As we get ready for the start of a new school year, we’re excited about the growing momentum across our beautiful state to reimagine education-to-workforce systems that truly work for learners and earners. This month, The Attainment Network team is heading into forums, learning tours, and convenings that focus on community collaboration, leadership, and future-facing innovation. We’re excited to listen, learn, and celebrate the incredible work happening across the state. Here’s where you can find us this month: 🗓️ Thursday, August 8 🔹 Community Impact Forum: State of Education – Arvada Michelle is joining this annual conversation hosted by the Greater Arvada Chamber of Commerce, where leaders will explore topics shaping the future of K–12 and postsecondary education in Jeffco – including school start time equity, mental health, career pathways, and business partnerships.  🗓️ Tuesday, August 12 🔹 HA.HA. (High Action. High Alignment.) Sisterhood Gathering – Denver Rana is honored to join this bold panel of women leaders committed to solving complex challenges through collective action, shared leadership, and true alignment. This evening will spotlight what’s possible when Colorado’s women leaders lead together – not in parallel. 🗓️ Tuesday, August 12 🔹 Quantum Workforce Collaborative meeting – Online Rana and Michelle will join Elevate Quantum, NVIDIA, Spark Photonics, and the Colorado Governor’s Office for updates on quantum education initiatives. 🗓️ August 13–15 🔹 CO Project 2.0 Learning Tour – San Luis Valley Ashley was invited to participate in this exciting initiative – led by the Scrivner Institute and the Josef Korbel School of Global and Public Affairs – to uncover and scale the most promising economic, workforce, and sustainability solutions emerging from Colorado’s rural communities. Ashley is excited to elevate the career-connected pathways partnership as a national model of innovation and resilience. 🗓️ Wednesday, August 21 🔹 Colorado Talent Academy – Vail Valley Libby and Michelle will join a statewide cohort of talent leaders to explore regional solutions and strategies for employer engagement, as part of a larger effort to align talent development across Colorado. 🗓️ Tuesday, August 27 🔹 State of the Data: Longitudinal Data System Convening – Virtual Join us at 10 a.m. for a virtual session featuring state leaders sharing milestones and next steps for Colorado’s Longitudinal Data System. This is a key moment to learn more and engage with the future of education-to-workforce data. Register Here . 🗓️ Wednesday, August 28 🔹 Quantum Commons Open House – Boulder Rana, Michelle and Katherine are looking forward to celebrating the grand opening of the first major building on the Quantum Commons campus an emerging hub for innovation and workforce collaboration. This open house will bring together partners and community leaders from across the growing quantum ecosystem. We hope to see you at one of these events—or hear from you if you’re working on similar efforts in your region. We’re always looking to share ideas, elevate stories, and support the progress that’s already underway.

Andrea Stiles Pullas on Building a More Connected Ecosystem

The Attainment Network was founded on a simple belief: partnership drives progress . Even so, we are amazed by what the San Luis Valley Career-Connected Partnership has accomplished in just one year. Last week we gathered in Alamosa at Trinidad State College – Valley Campus with all of our partners to celebrate our accomplishments over the last year. Our colleagues from Adams State University, Trinidad State College, San Luis Valley Health, Valley Wide Health Systems, Boys & Girls Club, the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade, the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment and many others heard firsthand from learners and earners whose education and career journeys are being transformed through this collaboration. Meet a few of those learners and earners: Sunny Garcia – mother of a five-week-old infant – received support for books and nursing supplies while attending Adams State University to obtain her bachelor of science degree in nursing. She now works as a registered nurse at San Luis Valley Health and plans to start a doctorate program in nursing this fall. Nicole Peyer faced a major setback when her car broke down during her first semester in the nursing program at Adams State University. With help from partners, she secured reliable transportation to continue school and work. Today, she holds a bachelor’s degree in nursing and is working as a registered nurse in the Medical/Surgical unit at San Luis Valley Health. Ronny Herrera , a father of two, received resources and support from partners while completing a master’s degree in clinical mental health. He plans to serve the youth in the Valley as a mental health counselor. These stories are powerful, but they represent just a fraction of what this partnership has achieved. In its first year, the collaboration has: Expanded CNA and Medical Assistant training programs into 13 of the 14 school districts in the valley , with 9 of those offering full, standalone programs. Empowered more than 24 students with hands-on experience through internships, training in the mobile lab, and other work-based learning programs. Equipped 73 learners with an industry-recognized credential Supported 15 adult learners in advancing their education – 6 of whom have already graduated from their programs. And the momentum continues! A mobile lab donated by SLV Health will travel the Valley this fall, giving students insight into careers in healthcare and other high-value careers as well as providing CNA and MA students with access to a clinic for hands-on training. And thanks to virtual reality headsets from Transfr – donated by the LOR Foundation and the Colorado Department of Housing and Finance – students across the valley can explore healthcare and other in-demand careers right in their own classrooms. What the San Luis Valley Career-Connected Partnership has accomplished is the future of rural workforce development. This framework for cross-sector collaboration can be used to meet critical workforce needs across rural Colorado – and that’s exactly what you’ll see in the future.

Dr. Sarah Heath on elevating learner voice and expanding early access to careers

We’re energized by the growing momentum across Colorado to create meaningful opportunities for learners and earners to step into high-value, in-demand careers. The Attainment Network team will be on the move this month – connecting with partners across the state, celebrating the progress we’re making together, and enjoying the mountains and the wildflowers during this beautiful season. 🗓️ Tuesday, July 15 🔹 SLV All Partners Meeting – San Luis Valley 🎉 The Attainment Network Team is celebrating one year of partnership in the San Luis Valley with a panel of learners and earners sharing their experiences. Join us and check out the virtual reality headsets that are bringing career exploration activities to rural students and the mobile health clinic we’re using for CNA and MA training! 🔹 Tech Talent Partnership – Education Task Force – Denver 💡 Exploring collaborative strategies to grow Colorado’s tech talent pipeline. 🗓️ July 21–23 🔹 Badge Summit – CU Boulder Stefan is participating in this national convening on the future of digital credentials in K–12, higher ed, industry, and more. 🗓️ Tuesday, July 29 🔹 Behavioral Health Sector Partnership Action Group Meeting – Online Michelle is excited to collaborate on solutions to strengthen behavioral health career pathways across Colorado. 

The Attainment Network is proud to be a trusted partner in expanding access to high-quality apprenticeships across Colorado. Last week, we were thrilled to facilitate Apprenticeship Colorado’s webinar to help employers and apprenticeship sponsors from across the state design and strengthen programs that connect learners and earners with high-value, in-demand careers. With 75 employers and apprenticeship sponsors attending, the event showcased the energy and commitment around creating effective and inclusive pathways from education to employment. We want to send a special thank you to Apprenticeship Colorado for hosting the webinar as well as our partners at Emily Griffith Technical College, and Greiner Electric for sharing tools, insights, and real-world experience to expand access to apprenticeships statewide. Couldn’t make it? Check out the slide deck , or view a recording of the entire webinar . Key Resources Shared To support new and growing programs, we explored tools and resources developed by The Attainment Network and EGTC to support continuous improvement in apprenticeship programs: Starter Questionnaire – assess your readiness and clarify your goals Resource Guide – curated supports for programs and partners Need support? The Attainment Network is available to provide you with additional support and guidance for creating strategic, effective apprenticeship programs that build your future-ready talent pipeline. Contact Libby Klingsmith, Pathways Director at Libby@attainmentnetwork.org . Additional Information Check out more resources from Apprenticeship Colorado: Apprenticeship Colorado Equal Employment Opportunity in Apprenticeship Colorado Apprenticeship Data Registered Apprenticeship Program Directory Upcoming events Keep learning through upcoming events on apprenticeships and other critical topics for our evolving education-to-workforce ecosystem. Apprenticeship Colorado Events: RAP 101 – 1st & 3rd Tuesdays | Next: July 1 at 3 p.m. Apprenticeship Monthly Exchange – 2nd Tuesdays | Next: July 8 at 1 p.m. Monthly Expansion Call – Last Mondays | Next: July 28 at 9 a.m. 👉 Learn more ®gister 👉 Subscribe to Apprenticeship Colorado’s newsletter s The Attainment Network’s free, online Professional Learning Series: State of Data: Statewide Longitudinal Data System Updates – Aug 27, 10–11 a.m. San Luis Valley Partnership: A Case Study in Employer Engagement – Sept 25, noon to 1 p.m. 2025 L/Earner Voice Symposium – Oct 2, 9–11 a.m. 👉 Register here Contact Information Collaboration between employers, apprenticeship sponsors and education is the key to building high-quality programs that are accessible to everyone. Our presenters invite you to contact them for support or guidance: Bryn Nelson , Access Team Manager, Apprenticeship Colorado bryn.nelson@state.co.us Londell Jackson , Talent Development Strategist, Apprenticeship Colorado londell.jackson@state.co.us Kevin Riebau , Dean of Apprenticeship, EGTC kevin.riebau@emilygriffith.edu Bill Bicket , Training Apprenticeship Manager, Greiner Electric bbicket@greinerelectric.com Daesha Ottem , Project Engineer, Greiner Electric dottem@greinerelectric.com

Kim Poast on Leadership, Learner Voice, and What’s Next

Designing High-Quality Apprenticeships: An Employer Playbook

The Attainment Network is proud to welcome CareerWise as a collaborating sponsor of our 2025 L/Earner Voice Symposium on Oct 2, 2025 – a free virtual event elevating learner and earner perspectives to inform the design of inclusive, future-ready career pathways. CareerWise's Commitment to Learner-Centered Apprenticeship Design CareerWise Colorado is a national leader in building modern youth and adult apprenticeship models that align with workforce needs while supporting diverse learners. We’re grateful for their leadership and partnership over the years, and especially thankful for their support of this year’s L/Earner Voice Symposium! Featured Session: Teacher Degree Apprenticeship Program CareerWise will lead a breakout session featuring learner and earner experiences with their Teacher Degree Apprenticeship -- an innovative pathway that: Prepares future educators through hands-on, paid teaching experience Combines classroom learning with job-embedded mentorship Addresses Colorado’s teacher workforce gap , especially in rural districts Expands access to teaching careers for learners from underrepresented backgrounds Register for this free, virtual event today! Mark your calendar today and plan to join us in the fall for this free, virtual event where learners and earners share insights into how they navigate career exploration, postsecondary transitions, and job preparation in today’s evolving economy. When: Oct. 2 from 9 to 11 a.m. Where: Virtual event Cost: Free Register Today

As we head into summer, The Attainment Network team looks forward to connecting with you. We’re excited to participate in a wide range of events focused on data access, economic development, adult education, and other topics that are critical to our mission of building inclusive and effective education-to-workforce systems. Let us know if you’re planning to join us! Wednesday, June 3 – Eggs and the Economy: Bills, Budgets & Breakfast, Greenwood Village Rana is attending the Common Sense Institute’s legislative Recap. Thursday, June 5, 2025 – Techstars Workforce Development Accelerator Demo Day, Denver Michelle is looking forward to learning about innovative approaches to workforce development. Tuesday, June 10 – Alamosa Economic Development Meeting, Alamosa Ashley looks forward to engaging with regional leaders focused on talent development and economic growth. Monday, June 16 – Kathleen deLaski book signing, Downtown Denver Rana is attending the book signing for Who Needs College Anymore? Imagining a Future Where Degrees Won’t Matter’ hosted by the Donnell-Kay Foundation, Colorado Succeeds, and Willow Education Tuesday, June 17 – San Luis Valley Work Based Learning Coalition, Alamosa Ashley looks forward to continuing the work with local employers to support student internships and career exposure activities. Friday, June 20 – Homegrown Talent Coalition Meeting Rana, Michelle, and Stefan will gather with a network of education and workforce partners working to align strategies for career-connected learning across Colorado. Friday, June 20 – OEDIT’s Colorado for All: Business Showcase & Resource Fair, Denver’s Five Points Neighborhood Rana is excited to celebrate Colorado’s small business community.