We’ve been busy this month! So busy, in fact, that we’re a tiny bit late in sharing all the places and spaces our team will be visiting. As 2025 winds down, we are looking forward to learning, sharing, and connecting with partners across the state and the nation who share our commitment to education-to-career transformation. 🗓️ December 2–5 🔹 CivicLab Convening – Savannah, GA Libby joined this national gathering hosted by CivicLab, focused on strengthening civic infrastructure, collaboration, and systems change. 🗓️ December 5 🔹 Young Invincibles Policy Shark Tank – Denver Katherine and Michelle attended this exciting event to hear young leaders pitch their policy ideas across education, workforce, and health. 🔹 Prosperity and Progress Celebration – Denver Rana, Michelle, and Katherine joined partners and Prosperity Denver Fund to celebrate the impact of collective investments in student success and economic mobility and to celebrate the unveiling of their new logo and branding campaign 🗓️ December 10 🔹 Cañon City ICAP in Action Tour – Cañon City Ashley and SLV partners will tour Cañon City High School’s Innovation Center to learn from their success with ICAP implementation and career exploration programming. 🔹 Release of Talent Development Recommendations – Denver Rana will join other state, education and workforce leaders for the release of the state agency recommendations required by Governor Polis’ Executive Order to reimagine Colorado’s talent development systems. 🗓️ December 11 🔹 Emily Griffith Foundation Holiday Party – Denver Rana is joining partners and friends for this annual celebration of Emily Griffith Foundation’s work and impact. 🗓️ December 16 🔹 Talent Pipeline Report Release – Virtual We’re all tuning into as the Colorado Workforce Development council releases the 2025 Colorado Talent Pipeline Report . We’re excited to see the data on workforce supply and demand, hear about the most in-demand occupations, and explore policy recommendations to strengthen Colorado’s talent ecosystem.  🔹 Introduction to Workforce Pell Webinar – Virtual Michelle will attend this national webinar exploring the rollout of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act and expanded Pell Grant access for short-term workforce programs. 🗓️ December 24 - January 2 Our team will be slowing down over the holidays, reflecting on a year of growth, learning, and collaboration – and refueling for a new year full of partnership and progress.

This has been a difficult year for Colorado’s educators and system leaders, who have carried the weight of economic uncertainty, public pressure, and shifting demands on both K-12 and higher education. Their challenges prompted us to pause and consider what it truly means to serve as an intermediary and a supportive partner. We found ourselves acting with intention to clarify where we can add the most value and ensure that our work meets the moment At the same time, 2025 has been one of transition and transformation for The Attainment Network. A leadership transition, the launch of new learning opportunities for our partners, and the addition of new areas of consulting engagements have required much from our team and reaffirmed our commitment to equitable career-connected learning opportunities in Colorado. Through it all I’ve been reminded how systems change happens – not in giant leaps, but in the steady steps of people with a shared purpose. Stepping into the role of CEO last April was both centering and energizing. Over the course of my career, I’ve focused on helping learners and earners succeed – creating opportunities, removing barriers, and supporting growth – and taking on this leadership role at this moment underscored the importance of our work and the commitment it requires. The stakes feel higher, the opportunities more profound, and what gives me the greatest optimism isn’t just what we accomplished this year, but how we showed up: with authenticity, humility, and a solution-oriented mindset; by supporting each other to meet a high bar of excellence; and by staying centered on the learners and earners who rely on us. I’m deeply grateful to lead alongside a team and partners who approach this work with care, clarity, and unwavering commitment, especially at a time when it matters so much. One of the most tangible demonstrations of this commitment was the launch of our professional learning series. What began as a simple question – How can we continue to support and foster our community of professionals who are dedicated to reshaping education-to-workforce systems? – evolved into a statewide learning series for more than a thousand people. Our Professional Learning Series became a space where partners could share promising practices as well as wrestle with challenges. And our annual Learner Voice Symposium lifted up the perspectives of learners and earners as we think about the career advising systems we’ll need to realize the promise of our state’s Big Three priorities around postsecondary credit, industry-recognized credentials, and work-based learning. Our events affirmed what we’ve long believed: when people have a strong community of professional support, systems get stronger. This spirit of focus and alignment also led us to elevate career advising as a priority area. Colorado has made significant investments in career-connected learning and workforce development – from CTE and concurrent enrollment to industry-recognized credentials, work-based learning, skills-based hiring, career-connected campuses, apprenticeships, and the substantial Opportunity Now grants. Yet our 2025 Colorado Career Advising Report shows that learners still face a fragmented advising landscape. By focusing more deeply on career advising, we are addressing the connective tissue of the system – the personalized, holistic guidance that helps learners make sense of their experiences, purpose, and possibilities – and ensuring Colorado’s investments translate into clear, attainable pathways for every learner and earner. And this year, we saw what’s possible when communities rally around a shared vision. In the San Luis Valley, we celebrated one year of partnership and reached major milestones in workforce development – including expanding pathways to high-value, in-demand healthcare careers at 11 high schools in the Valley. This partnership showed what local leaders can accomplish when supported by an intermediary focused on aligning systems, building capacity, and maintaining momentum towards outcomes. This year also marked the continued evolution of our consulting work, as new and existing partners turned to The Attainment Network for strategic guidance and implementation support. We partnered with Apprenticeship Colorado to host a statewide webinar that helped employers and practitioners better understand the underpinnings of effective apprenticeships. We stepped into new terrain with Elevate Quantum, being selected to develop a strategic communications plan for an emerging career pathways that can feel intimidating – even mysterious – but which holds extraordinary promise for Colorado’s economic future. And with Colorado Workforce Development Council, we gathered stakeholder feedback to inform the state’s interests in developing a system for learning and employment records (LERs) that would make comprehensive, portable, digital records of learners’ skills, achievements, and education that they can easily access and control. ……. Across all of this work, one theme kept resurfacing: Colorado’s future will be built through intentional partnership. When community and industry leaders, educators, funders, and policymakers – with the support of intermediaries – work in partnership, something powerful happens. The barriers start falling away as we take steady steps together to build an education-to-workforce system that supports learners and earners and meets critical workforce needs. To everyone who partnered with us this year – thank you. Your dedication, your curiosity, and your belief in what’s possible are what strengthens our communities. Here’s to our momentum-building partnership in 2025 – and the future we’re creating together. — Rana Tarkenton, CEO The Attainment Network

Ask anyone on the street what they know about the nascent quantum industry, and after the initial blank stare, they’re likely to mention the Quantum Realm from The Avengers . But the coming quantum revolution isn’t fiction. It’s real, and it’s poised to power next-generation quantum computers, sensors, and secure communication systems that will transform industries across Colorado and the world. Colorado Governor Jared Polis has made quantum technology a top statewide priority, calling it a once-in-a-generation opportunity to position Colorado as a national hub for innovation and high-value careers. Leaders in Arizona and New Mexico are also on the leading edge of this emerging industry. Through the Elevate Quantum Tech Hub , education, industry, and government partners across the region are working together to define and build the talent pipeline needed to fuel this fast-growing field. To support the effort, they selected The Attainment Network to provide guidance on engaging and communicating with key stakeholders in the K-12, postsecondary, and workforce sectors. The first assignment? Craft a messaging strategy that demystifies quantum , explaining it in simple terms that don’t require a Ph.D. in physics to understand. Easy, right?

Beyond Data: Using Evidence for Informed Decision Making

The Attainment Network is excited to announce two new opportunities to join our team! We’re hiring two Program Coordinators to support our work advancing equitable education-to-career systems across Colorado - including one position dedicated to serving the Southern Colorado / San Luis Valley region. Our Program Coordinators play a key role in connecting partners, supporting professional learning events, and ensuring smooth implementation across multiple statewide initiatives. These positions offer a chance to work collaboratively with educators, employers, and community partners who are driving meaningful systems change. If you’re an organized, mission-driven professional who thrives in a fast-paced, collaborative environment — we’d love to hear from you! 📄 Learn more and apply Join us in shaping the future of education and workforce development in Colorado!

This November, The Attainment Network team is showing up in spaces that reflect our mission as we seek to strengthen connections and amplify our mission to evolve school-to-career systems across Colorado and beyond. Whether it’s supporting rural partners in the San Luis Valley, engaging with students and employers at a career fair, or presenting on systems transformation at a national convening, we’re excited to keep learning and leading alongside our partners and collaborators. Here’s where you can find us this November: 🗓️ November 3–5 🔹 Purpose Jam – Denver Katherine and Michelle will attend this multi-day gathering hosted by The Purpose Commons, bringing together young people, educators, funders, and researchers around one big idea: that every young person deserves a life filled with purpose and possibility. 🗓️ November 4 🔹 MSU Denver 60th Anniversary Presidential Luncheon – Denver Rana will join University leaders, alumni, faculty, and friends to celebrate six decades of innovation and inclusion at MSU Denver and its enduring impact on higher education in Colorado. 🗓️ November 10 🔹 SLV All-Partner Meeting – Alamosa Ashley will connect with regional leaders to share updates and coordinate efforts across education, workforce, and healthcare initiatives in the San Luis Valley. 🗓️ November 12 🔹 SLV Career Fair – Alamosa Ashley is working with our partners in the Valley to connect high school and college learners with local employers, training providers, and work-based learning opportunities in high-demand fields. 🔹 CDE Postsecondary and Workforce Readiness (PWR) Regional Training – Denver Michelle will attend this training to support districts and schools in navigating recent PWR updates resulting from the 2025 legislative session – including new funding, changes to school and district accountability, and tools aligned with “The Big Three.” 🔹 Colorado CTE Data Summit – Denver Stefan will join CTE leaders and data professionals for two days of insights, skill-building, and updates on statewide data initiatives, including the Colorado Longitudinal Data System. 🔹 ECMC Foundation Rural Impact Initiative Reception – Denver Stefan and Rana will attend this reception at the Association for the Study of Higher Education (ASHE) Annual Conference . The event will bring together leaders, researchers, and practitioners committed to strengthening postsecondary access and success in rural communities. 🗓️ November 17–19 🔹 Next: The 2025 Complete College America Annual Convening – Baltimore Katherine and Michelle will present on how to use design thinking and cross-sector collaboration protocols to drive consensus and action in career-connected learning systems. They’ll join leaders from across the country to share strategies that position higher education as a force for transformation. We hope to see you at one of these events or hear from you if you're working on similar efforts. As always, we’re eager to connect, collaborate, and amplify what’s working.

Highlights from the 2025 Learner Voice Symposium

Reanna Werner, Co-Founder of Savvion HQ in Colorado Springs, brings a unique blend of experience across human resources, workforce development, and small business leadership to her role on The Attainment Network Board. Reanna is deeply committed to building resilient talent pathways that support both learner success and business growth. In this Board Spotlight , she shares the motivation behind her involvement, a piece of advice that still shapes her leadership, and why aligning education and workforce systems is critical to Colorado’s economic future. 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 joined The Attainment Network because I believe education and workforce development are the engines of economic vitality. Ensuring we have a skilled workforce not only opens doors for learners and earners, it strengthens businesses and communities alike. My background in HR, apprenticeships, and workforce partnerships has shown me that when people are equipped with skills and pathways to grow, entire regions thrive. 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? My career has given me a 360-degree view of the education-to-workforce pipeline. From leading corporate HR to running my own business, to advising small businesses, and working directly within workforce systems, I’ve been able to see both sides of the equation—what employers truly need and what learners are prepared to bring. That perspective has shown me the importance of aligning education with the rapidly changing demands of industry, especially as technology, skills, and business models evolve. I’ve also seen how critical it is to support learners with not only technical skills, but also pathways, mentorship, and access to real-world experiences like apprenticeships. Meeting industry needs isn’t just about filling jobs—it’s about building adaptable, resilient talent pipelines that benefit both employers and communities. Q: What’s a piece of career advice you’ve received that still sticks with you, and who offered you that advice? A piece of advice that has always stayed with me came from my former boss and mentor, who told me to “always sit in the front row.” It’s simple but powerful—by sitting up front, you stay more engaged, retain more, and position yourself to be noticed. Over time, I’ve seen how true this is, not just in classrooms or meetings, but in every professional setting. Those who lean in, take the front row, and fully engage often find more opportunities for growth and advancement. 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? What excites me most about the future of The Attainment Network is its ability to directly strengthen Colorado’s economic vitality. By aligning education and workforce systems, we can ensure employers have access to the skilled talent they need to innovate and grow. That not only fuels business competitiveness but also creates more resilient career pathways for learners and earners. The result is a stronger, more adaptable workforce that drives prosperity for entire communities across the state. Q: What book is on your bedside table? Would you recommend it? Why or why not? It’s hard for me to pick just one book—I usually have four to six going at a time. Right now, I’m reading $100M Leads by Alex Hormozi as part of an office book club, A More Beautiful Question by Warren Berger, and re-reading Traction by Gino Wickman. Each one challenges me to think differently about growth, leadership, and problem-solving. And alongside those, I always keep my Bible close as a source of grounding and perspective.  I’d recommend all of them for different reasons: Hormozi for entrepreneurial strategy, Berger for cultivating curiosity, Wickman for business discipline, and the Bible for timeless wisdom and reflection.

Catalysts for Connection: The Critical Role of Intermediaries in Education-to-Career Pathways