Building the Workforce Behind the American Dream

Central Ohio is attracting historic levels of investment in advanced manufacturing, semiconductors, bioscience, and other rapidly expanding industries. But landing new facilities is just the beginning. Our region's economic future depends on its ability to build and sustain the right workforce. We explore whether Central Ohio can create a workforce development system that's equal to its ambitions—one that connects people to opportunity, gives employers the talent they need, and brings the American Dream within reach for more Central Ohioans.

Featuring:

Dr. David Harrison, President, Columbus State Community College

Kyle Koehler, State Senator, 10th Ohio Senate District

Sandra Rodriguez-Toledo, Vice President of Site Operations, Amgen Ohio

David White, Vice President, Talent Strategy, One Columbus

Your host is Angela An, WBNS-10TV News Anchor and Host of 10TV's "Boomtown" series.

This forum was sponsored by The Columbus Partnership, JPMorgan Chase & Co., Ohio Life Sciences, and Roeztel & Andress.

The presenting sponsor of the CMC livestream was The Center for Human Kindness at the Columbus Foundation. CMC's livestream partner was The Columbus Dispatch.

This forum was also supported by Downtown Columbus, Inc. and The National Veterans Memorial and Museum.

CMC's theme music was composed by Jeffrey Ciampa.

If you would like to keep exploring this week's forum topic, our fantastic partners at The Columbus Metropolitan Library recommend reading Trade Up: Why the Future Belongs to Skilled Trades and How Career Education Is Transforming the Workforce, by Jason Altmire (2026).

This forum was recorded before a live audience at The National Veterans Memorial and Museum in Columbus, Ohio on September 16, 2026.