NCBWJourney.15

Journey of the
National Center for the Biotechnology Workforce

Growing Skilled People for Great Jobs in Biosciences
2004 - 2016

2 NCBW TIMELINE 2004-2016

The Timeline collects and highlights many NCBW achievements in clickable links

Partnerships, programs, publications, presentations, lectures and more are easily Click on image to access
accessed here in this concise collection of highlights and easy-to-find NCBW links

NCBW TIMELINE October 2008 Agreement with the North Carolina Community College System October 2012 NCBW at Forsyth Tech awarded a Department of January 2013 The Trade Adjustment Assistance Community College Career March 26-28, 2014 DOL TAACCCT June 2014 Community College Program at BIO February 2015 c3bc national meeting in
pril 2016 Click dashed-line entries for more info established NCBW as one of seven BioNetwork centers. Labor grant of nearly $15 million to unite twelve high-performing Training (TAACCCT) program c3bc launched at Biotech Place in Winston-Sa- c3bc National Meeting: PowerPoint presentation by Russ Read: Bench to Winston-Salem NC to grow bioscience
colleges into a Community College Consortium for Bioscience lem. Goals - funded by the DOL grant - are to: improve workplace training through • Consensus by hubs reached in Skills Bedside shows many jobs involved in biopharma- training for Trade Adjustment Assistance
BioNetwork supports the mission of the North Carolina Com- Credentials (c3bc) now working with 45 companies, employers recruitment testing, aptitude assessment, course redesigns, better outreach and Standards session to identify, select and ceutical development. Plus PDF report available displaced workers and others.
and shareholders to develop core, industry-recognized skill sets more retention; introduce portable, industry-recognized credentials into training; draft key activities of core critical work here: CCP@BIO 14
Bellevue CC Co-hosted 78 state educators at Washington munity College System aligning world class workforce training in bioscience. High-growth industries require clearly defined skills build community college capacity for education that meets employer needs; add in- functions common to all bioscience indus- March 2015 presentation to NC Acade-
nformatics Community College Summit 2006 and education to biotechnology and life science industries. to keep up with increasing global competition. Working together, frastructure and build internships. Twelve partners are concentrated into four hubs: tries into a single document. Bio-Link has Sept 2014 Tech Council Meeting a PowerPoint my of Science at Wake Forest Biotech
bioscience “industry-recognized” credentials will be created. a page on skills standard work done to presentation by Russ Read & Michael Ayers Place in Winston-Salem, NC on “Innova-
Microsoft designates BCC as Learning Technologies Hub Lab Skills Hub date - “Finding alignment” addresses talents required for biotech jobs, tion in Research.”
including a video about alumni: You Tube Link
Program featured in the industry its second IT Showcase School December 2010 Touring Forsyth Tech, President Barack Obama praised North Carolina’s lead- August 2013 Accelerate completion time through improved prior Develop new courses and credentials in the Bioscienc- • Gardner Carrick of NAM referred to work April 2015 c3bc Medical Device Hub national
journal: BIO-IT World in the nation 2006 ership in renewing American scientific education, training and skilled workforce superiority. Presentation learning assessment, removal of institutional barriers es with revised laboratory skills standards in skills and manufacturing in other indus- Oct 2014 c3bc Medical Device Hub held a meeting to develop core skills for nationally-
to the South- and new, technology enhanced instructional materials tries at the Manufacturing Skills Standards National Meeting with industry to review core
At the IT Convergence Zone: A Rapid Informatics Overview: A Program ern California City College of San Francisco Council web site. skills. recognized, standard education pathways.
Development Model for Skill Standards Building Resource for Community and NCBW hosts President February 2011 report on President’s endorsement Medical Forsyth Technical Rowan Cabarrus Hub lead institution, also home of Madison Area
and Curriculum published 2005 Technical Colleges published 2006 Obama’s Visit to Forsyth Tech of core best training practices, biotech economic Association Alamance • Other topics included: innovative ways to
Hub lead institution, pilots the NSF national Bio-Link center, assess prior learning; strategies for Work- June 2015 Community College Program at
impacts, more a modular learning lab, with force Investment Boards; plus a look at
assessments conducted and addresses lack of industry-recognized the library of modular teaching “granules”
MiraCosta International Society of Pharmaceutical Engineers supports design, February 5- 6, 2008 NCBW hosts nationwide duplicated nationally. credentials, works to harmonize skill Austin being built to share through the new online BIO in Philadelphia including “Faces of Suc
ioprocessing construction of 3500-sq.ft. facility - opens to classes in November DOL bioscience WIRED - Workforce Inno- NTER system.
2005 with more than $1 miillion in state-of-the-art equipment vation in Regional Economic Development October 2013 Report from the Community College standards cess. ”CCP@BIO 15 (PDF report)
- conference in Winston Salem. Program at global BIO convention in Chicago. c3bc June 2014 Biosciences Industry Fellow-
Hub Directors and Russ Read, Executive Director, ship funded by NSF-ATE, selected teachers Oct 2014 Draft Laboratory Bioscience Core
updated participants on coordinated projects underway. gathered for a program with visits to NC
Biogen Idec, Genentech recognize MCC’s Materials Resource Program Biomanufacturing Hub Medical Devices Hub Biosciences enterprises, producing modules Skill Standards posted. October 12-15 2015 c3bc (TAACCCT) Ann
dedicated, immersive environment for training established for biotech compa- New skill standards; stackable, latticed credentials will for use in classrooms. You Tube Link
and support new faculty and remodel of facility nies to donate unused equip- April 2010 MetLife Develop new biomanufacturing courses, credentials help trade-impacted workers get high-wage, high-skill jobs al Meeting, dedicated to common standard
ment for use in high schools recognizes NCBW - and teaching materials in partnership with industry. 2014
March 1, 2007 Piedmont Triad BioNight Forsyth Tech partner- November 2013 TAA c3bc presentation to BIO Ohio on Dec 2014 presentation to the NCBC Piedmont and increased training, held at Forsyth Tec
recognizes NCBW and Russ Read for ship, named finalist in increasing need for workers in new, overlapping spheres
excellence in community service. National Community of emerging technologies. Montgomery County Triad Biotechnology Advisory Committee, including
College Excellence
ndian Hills CC Bio-fuel laboratory techniques and fundamental Pilot facility May 6-9, 2007 NCBW presents “Faces competition, with December 2013 Biosciences Talent Required - a lecture Hub lead institution, also home Bucks County Ivy Tech a Learning Skills Lab video: You Tube Link. October 21-23, 2015 Biosciences Industry Fe
Biofuels, Agbio scientific processes developed for teachers grows with of Success” at Community College $20,000 award. to the Triad Biotech Alliance on community college, work- of NSF biomanufacturing cen-
Cargill Program at BIO 07 Boston; subject for force board and company partnerships working to meet ter NBC2, leading campaign to Los Angeles Hub lead institution coordinates Salt Lake City lows Program presented at NSF ATE Principal
donation Biotech Resource Line publication. industry employment needs stack credentials and access Valley Medical Device companies, trade or- St. Petersburg
Selected as national model for of two new local career paths. ganizations, community colleges and Feb 2015 new IMPACT magazine Investigator’s Meeting in Washington, DC.
community college - industry 80L fermen- more stakeholders to develop skill set focuses on c3bc program Deliverables: You Tube Lin
partnerships in biotechnology by ters. matrices in five functional areas.
Bioreactors purchased through grant, the US Dept of Education upgrades in equipment, training capacity, June 2016 Core Skills Standards for Bioscience
begin to be used for training, pilot and standards in core skills working with Technicians published by c3bc, click box for full repo
projects needed by industry partners in all hubs across the nation.

004 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013

2005 2006 2007 2015 2016

Great Bay CC 2008 final report on first three years of NCBW (pdf ) December 2013 A special edition of Forsyth Tech’s March 2014 Forsyth Tech leads $15M Feb 2015 the c3bc National Advisory Council Meeting held its first June 2016 c3bc Medical Device Skills Stan-
iomanufacturing biotech IMPACT magazine features an illustrated effort to build new biotech learning model. meeting to review accomplishments and progress in upgrading and dards published, click box for full report
First in the nation Biomanufac- Sept. 2007 Harmonized July 11-13, 2006 NCBW team presents at DOL Workforce Innovations March 2012 National Meeting with Manufacturing Institute, Bio-Link, look at the nationwide programs of the TAA c3bc.
Jan. 31, 2005 North- turing Apprenticeship program Biopharmaceutical Conference, Anaheim. Honorable Mention award to NCBW. NBC2, Medical Devices Educational Consortium, industry, college reps (Triad Business Journal report) increasing delivery of career bioscience training in the grant’s third year.
east Biopharmaceutical begins 2005 Manufacturing Industry
Manufacturing Industry Skill Standards at NBC2 March 2006 NCBW team pres- NCBW SciTech Ideas In Action September 2013 Dr. Eric Tomlinson, Chief Innovation February 2014 Dr. Stephen A. Hill, September 2014 Forsyth Tech hosted February 2015 Anthony Atala M.D., September 2015 Barbara A. Pisani, January 2016 NCBW Executive Di- Nov 2015 new SciTech Ideas in
Skill Standards finalized in First BIOMAN 06 national con- working group meeting of ents at League for Innovations Lecture Series: Officer at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center and President and CEO of Targacept, a Fulbright Scholar from Australia - Ray Director, Wake Forest Institute for D.O.; Professor of Cardiology, rector Russ Read, invited to the 103rd Action publication documents the
consensus with industry ference organized by Dr. Sonia industry and educators in conference in Atlanta President of Wake Forest University’s Innovation spoke on “Biotech: Risk and Reward” Cadmore. He compared issues and Regenerative Medicine and Chair Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center Indian Science Congress at Mysore first seven years of the Forsyth Tech
Wallman July 24-28, 2006 Indianapolis September 2012 Doug Drabble, Director of Quarter, shared innovations in downtown Win- - the company’s engagement in the ideas on integrating technologies in com- of the Urology Department at WFU, discussed advanced heart health University, spoke on “A Passage To professional lecture series with links t
April 9, 2006 Community BioNetwork, “Career Success in Life Sciences” ston-Salem, NC, collaborating in medical devices, development of novel treatments of munity college courses. YouTube Link presented, in conjunction with the technologies: You Tube Link Biotech in India.” His visit included an YouTube videos and other resources.
Forsyth Tech Wake Forest Institute of Regenerative Ten short courses devel- College Program at BIO protein drugs and mobile apps. various diseases and disorders of the 2015 National c3bc Meeting, a address by the Prime Minister of India
R&D Medicine recruits three students for oped - delivered on campus, 2006 in Chicago October 2012 Charles W. Calkins, Attorney and nervous system. YouTube Link October 2014 Dr. David McNelis from UNC lecture on “Regenerative Medicine: October 2015 Dr. Norma V. and a welcome reception for his Biosci- January 2016 Russ Read, NCBW
internships and “hands on experience” in the classroom, or in a Partner Kilpatrick, Townsend & Stockton, LLP, October 2013 Dr. Roger Cubicciotti, CEO of Nano- Chapel Hill spoke on the issues and future Current Concepts and Changing Quiñones, Learning Consultant for ence Workforce presentation. Executive Director, gave this pre-
biotech company lab facility October 17-19, 2007 “The Changing Landscape of Intellectual Property Medica, shared expertise on “Chemistry of Teams.” March 2014 Paul Kortenaar, PhD of renewable energy. YouTube Link Trends.” YouTube Link Global Quality Training and Devel- sentation at the 103 Indian Science
Piedmont Triad Fly-In hosts Protection for Biotechnology Inventions” Strong leadership and relationships can evolve in Executive Director of SciWorks, a opment at Biogen, shared her experi- You Tube Link Congress at the University of
March, 2006 North Carolina Governor Michael Easley 24 high school biotech this type of working environment “chemistry.” science museum in Winston-Sa- ences in “My Journey from Higher Mysore, India
opens new technology building at Forsyth Tech, new New Recombinant DNA Technology course teachers from around the November 2012 Adesanmi Ojo, M.D. “From lem, spoke about “Education for November 2014 Biosciences Industry March 2015 Jennifer Bryant pre- Education into the Biopharmaceutical February 2016 Roland Johnson,
biotechnology lab space, state-of-the-art equipment developed for R&D labs experimenting in country, tours of Biogen Forsyth Tech to Medical School and Beyond” January 2014 Gwyn F. Riddick, Executive Advisor Innovation: Preparing Students Fellowship participants reported on their sented “CSI In The Real World” Industry,” starting from her birth in February 2016 c3bc Medical Device
nucleic acids, cloning, stem cell research Idec, Targacept, Tengion, for Strategic Development and Agricultural Biotech- and Their Teachers to Work in a experiences in the June program. Ten fel- contrasting television’s investiga- Puerto Rico to her achievements in a Founder and CEO of Piedmont meeting in at Irvine Valley Community
National Center for the Wake Forest Institute in March 2013 Dr. Christy Shaffer, Venture Partner nology Consultant for the North Carolina Biotechnol- World of Technology Change.” lows from six states, funded by an NSF-ATE tive shows with the real life hours multi-billion dollar industry. College to advance standard credenti
NCBW Biotechnology Workforce June 19, 2005 NCBW presents at BIO 05 partnership with Alamance and Managing Director of Hatteras Discovery ogy Center, spoke on “A Race Against Time: How You Tube Link award, visited NC Bioscience enterprises, involved in searching, document- You Tube Link Pharmaceuticals & Animal Health,
in Philadelphia, Dr. Sonia Wallman co-chair Community College and with Hatteras Venture Partners, spoke about “My Biotechnology is Transforming Our Largest Critical including colleges, labs and research ing, collecting and packaging March 2016. c3bc National Advisory
with Elaine Johnson, NSF Bio-Link director. Bio-Link. Journey as an Entrepreneurial Scientist, CEO Industry.” He emphasized urgency for the Ag June 2014 Celeste Carter, activities. They said it was “life changing,” any and all evidence found at a November 2015 Doug Edgeton, showed how his company is “An Council Meeting in Research Triangle
and Investor” including how entrepreneurial inno- Biotech Initiative’s research in finding new or better National Science Foundation bringing them new ways to teach in their crime scene. She discussed skills MPH, MBA, President & CEO, North Park in North Carolina - Building the
October 2008 Biotech vation creates new products that are transform- crops plus new uses for plants. NC companies pro- Program Director, spoke on own labs and classrooms. required for this high-tech job Carolina Biotechnology Center Innovator in Animal and Human Manufacturing Talent Pipeline”
Student Tracking program ing the practice of medicine and creating value duce innovations such as extractions from soybean funding opportunities for bio- and varied work environments presented initiatives in the Triad for
begins. a series of for investors. seeds to produce an oral vaccine. You Tube Link tech training. January 2015 Ana S. Iltis, Ph.D. Director, Center involved in law enforcement. “Healing, Fueling, and Feeding the Health.” For example, two of only five June 2016 c3bc national meeting in
phases to locate, track, for Bioethics, Health and Society; Associate Pro- You Tube Link World: The Triad’s Role.” San Francisco for skills standards for
analyze and keep gradu- fessor of Philosophy at Wake Forest University. You Tube Link veterinarian products approved in bioscience technicians.
ates connected.
June 28, 2004 President’s High-Growth February, 2006 NCBW presents at symposium on one 2015 category were created by June 2016 Biosciences Industry Fel-
Job Training Initiative grant for Forsyth Bio-processing & Biomanufacturing Training in partner- lowship NSF-ATE teachers program w
Technical CC in partnership with four ship with BioNetwork NC community college biotech Piedmont. You Tube Link visits to NC Biosciences enterprises.
other community colleges around the training system. Focus for first Resource Line -Tracking
nation develop the National Center for Trends in Biotechnology Workforce March 2016 Dr. Travis Russell,
the Biotechnology Workforce (NCBW) Professor, ForsythTech, “A Visit
www.biotechworkforce.org To Chernobyl - Past, Present &
Future.” You Tube Link

NCBW Timeline and Journey publications created by jgrady.com c3bc Core Skill Standards for Bioscience Technicians

c3bc Medical Device Skill Standards Culminating years of cooperative work, Core Skill Stan-
The c3bc Medical Device Skill Standards pro- dards for Bioscience Technicians establish the indus-
vide educators and industry with blueprints for try-verified standards all bioscience technicians must meet
medical device topics they should teach. c3bc’s to work in diverse, ever-growing life science industries.
education partners actively use them to create
new - and revise existing - educational modules, The c3bc Consortium facilitated development of these
courses, certificates, degrees and pathways to stackable and portable credentials in career pathways that
these valuable, industry-recognized credentials. will keep building capacity in our bioscience workforce.

Click on image to access

Click on image to access

rom its inception, the NCBW grew as a facilitator and communicator. 3
We are always working hand-in-hand with industry to make sure work-

Fforce demands are quickly identified and addressed. Many partner-
ships, collaborative agreements, networks, advisory boards, initiatives, annual events
and other grant outcomes were formed and remain actively underway.
Partnerships, people working together to grow a region’s biotechnology industry
cluster, are key. Workforce development must combine worlds of business, educa-
tion, community, economic development, and government. No one can be left out.
Advisory boards of local, private-public partnerships and community groups work
to coordinate federal and state resources and help the workforce develop.
The NCBW succeeded in resolving
crucial workforce issues - especially
Russ Read, executive with industry-validated skill standards -
director of the National by embracing all education, employer
Center for the Biotech- and economic development stakehold-
nology Workforce ers, continuing its initial 2004 strategy.

“The NCBW mandate creates
a lot of synergy - much more is
accomplished through its part-
nerships than can be realized
individually.”

Dr. Gary Green
President of Forsyth Tech

Forsyth Tech Technology building

The Journey of the National Center for the Biotechnology Workforce

Biosciences keep creating new ways to help fight Industry partners were expressing difficulties finding
disease, clean the environment, increase food workers with specific skills in high-tech manufacturing
production, save energy and improve lives around processes, such as quality control, or validation. Plus, for
the world. safety, technicians must be able to follow all Food and
Drug Administration regulations - standard laboratory
Breakthrough bio-pharmaceuticals promise hope to and aseptic practices - always strictly observed.
millions. New bio-engineered processes for innovative
industrial products, such as biodegradable plastics or In response, the President’s High-Growth Job Train-
innovative sources for biofuels, create new jobs. ing Initiative announced a $5 million grant for Forsyth
Technical Community College, on June 28, 2004, in
Once approved, demand for these needed products partnership with four other community colleges around
often trigger massive new manufacturing operations. the nation, to develop the National Center for the Bio-
Industry leaders involved in developing North Caroli- technology Workforce across a three year period (2004-
na’s biotechnology were being faced with more growing 2007). These colleges were designated Centers of Exper-
needs for skilled workers. tise.

Dr. Gary Green, President of Forsyth Tech, and oth- In 2008, the National Center for the Biotechnology
ers, understood that community colleges need constant Workforce (NCBW) became an affiliate of the North
development in order to respond to biotech’s changing Carolina BioNetwork. “The NCBW expands BioNetwork
demands for technician level workers. They knew peo- effectiveness by creating out-of-state relationships and
ple had to get their hands on the exact equipment for partnerships that grow expertise,” said Dr. Green.
training in the emerging, specialized processes. In 2003
Golden LEAF awarded money for buildings and start-up (continued on next page)
of biotech activities.

4 Community colleges and industry can lack The Journey of the NCBW (continued)
connections when it comes to jobs in bio- the Consortium Leader, along with the National Science
tech. A comprehensive set of industry standards Foundation Advanced Technological Education’s BIO-
matched with corresponding educators and training ma- LINK center, the National Science Foundation Advanced
terials, especially at the technician level, did not yet exist. Technological Education’s North East Biomanufacturing
Then, in December, 2012, Forsyth Tech, the home of Consortium, plus other major industry employers, work-
the National Center for the Biotechnology Workforce, force centers and community organizations.
was awarded a three-year, $15 million grant through the
DOL’s Trade Adjustment Assistance Community College “The c3bc brings together experts around nationally
Career Training program. This established the Com- recognized, articulated skills competencies and career
munity College Consortium for Biosciences Credentials ladders,” said Dr. Green. “This will improve American
(c3bc), a national partnership of twelve community competiveness and provide job seekers with clear infor-
colleges from across the nation, including Forsyth Tech, mation about career options in this vital industry sector.”

“Technicians are doing things in labs today that only Ph.D.s did 15 to 20 years ago,” says Russ
Read, executive director of the National Center for the Biotechnology Workforce headquar-
tered at Forsyth Technical Community College in Winston–Salem, North Carolina.

Hank Stern, Genentech’s associate director for manufacturing collaborations in South San
Francisco, agrees. At his company, community-college-trained technicians are operating
25,000-litre cell-culture fermenters producing pharmaceuticals worth tens of millions of
dollars. Stern says: “These are not trivial jobs by any means. A single mistake can have a huge
impact both in terms of the product we supply to our patients and in finances for the company.”

NCBW Invited to give a presentation at the Indian National Congress of Science

Dr. Anu David attends BIFP

The National Center for the Biotech Workforce certainly fit into the “Science The Biosciences Industry
and Technology for Indigenous Development in India” theme of 2016’s Con- Fellowship Project (BIFP)
gress. Speaking at the opening ceremonies, India’s Prime Minister, Shri Narendra is a month-long program
Modi, noted that the 103rd Indian Science Congress coincided with the cente- that brings a diverse group
nary year of the University of Mysore, where it was held. “That was the time of of high-impact bioscience
a new awakening in India. We sought not just freedom, but also human advance- instructors to live and learn
ment. We wanted not just an independent India, but an India that could stand together. Hands-on visits
independently on the strength of its human resources, scientific capabilities and to industry bring deeper
industrial development. Now, we have launched yet another revolution of empow- understanding of principles
erment and opportunities in India. And we are once again turning to our scientists and processes at work.
and innovators to realize our goals of human welfare and economic development.” Awardees typically write
about their experiences, cre-
ating new teaching modules.

A New Home for the NCBW 5

The NCBW moved into its
new home - called “525 at
Vine”- in 2014. The towering
new biotechnology complex
is shown at right, along with
the front door, the interior plus
the spacious atrium hosting a
national meeting of the c3bc.

Journey of the NCBW CONTENTS

»»p.6 PHASE ONE 2004 - 2008
Originally funded by the US Department of Labor, the
»»p.8 »»p.10 NCBW’s innovative and collaborative strategy helped thou-
sands of workers and students learn about - and choose -
Austin Community College careers in biotechnology with good pay and strong poten-
tial for themselves and the nation.
Biomanufacturing companies hire ACC students from required internships PHASE TWO 2008 - 2012
Extending beyond its original grant period, the NCBW
»»p.18 “WE HAVE A MUCH HIGHER continued its work expanding the biotech workforce as an
RETENTION RATE WITH ACC affiliate of BioNetwork, forging more partnerships and pro-
STUDENTS. THEY KNOW WHAT grams, including the successful SciTech Lecture series.
THEY’RE GETTING INTO AND Hosting - and highlighting - President Obama’s commit-
THEY COME BETTER PREPARED.” ment to community college education, the NCBW was
positioned for a new proactive phase.
Josh Combs, Ph.D, Vice President Manufacturing, XBiotech PHASE THREE 2012 - 2016
Forsyth Tech, with the NCBW, was designated leader of the
new Community College Consortium for Biosciences Cre-
dentials (c3bc), created by a $15 million DOL grant in 2012.
This national partnership of twelve community colleges
from across the nation created links with more partners
in education, industry, the community and government to
accomplish numerous goals and advance the biotechnology
workforce, especially by creating industry-validated skill
standards common to specific industry sectors.

6 PHASE ONE 2004 - 2008

Journey of the National Center for the Biotechnology Workforce

Challenge: Addressing the Challenge:
Shortage of skilled workers at the technician
The $5 million High Growth Job Training Initiative
level in the biosciences industry grant created the National Center for the Biotechnology
Community colleges and industry lack Workforce. Five community college partners located in
different regions across the country worked with em-
connections for jobs in biotech. ployers to identify industry skill needs and develop train-
A comprehensive set of industry standards ing curricula for a range of biotech sectors.

and corresponding training material, Each one already a proven “Center of Expertise” in its
particularly at the technician level, own specific area of industry training and geographical
region, all five came together and united to represent
did not yet exist. the whole nation and all spheres of the rapidly growing
industry. Becoming a nationwide enterprise, the NCBW
“Growing Skilled People for started engaging numerous workforce challenges still
Great Jobs in the Biosciences” facing the nation’s growing biotechnology industry today.

Former Assistant Secretary of Labor for Employment and Training Emily Stover DeRocco presented a Recog-

nition of Excellence honor to Russ Read and leaders of the National Center for the Biotechnology Workforce at

the 2006 Workforce Innovations event in Anaheim, recognizing their innovative approaches to preparing the 21st

Century Workforce for biotechnology. Pictured (from left) Janet Paulson, Patricia Dombrowski, Chuck Crabtree,

IRebecca Keith, Sonia Wallman, Read, DeRocco, Ric Mathews, Ron Shelton
n 36 months the NCBW developed a coordinated ployability - like being able to think independently.
network of partners; enhanced training capacity Plus it began delivering distance learning, with more
with hands-on experiences; took responsibility for new media innovations.
skills standards and workforce needs - and met all the NCBW helped create a clearer image in the public’s
NCBW main goals. mind about real opportunities in biotech and the ca-
It created courses, labs, and pathways to biotech jobs reer pathways available. NCBW efforts, so far, resulted
- articulation agreements, high school strategies, on- in thousands of newly trained workers gaining skills
ramps, incumbent worker programs, cooperative pilot and advancing in good paying bioscience industry
projects with industry plus teacher training. Given the jobs. Numbers in the first phase include about 400
industry’s dynamic nature, NCBW partners initiated students graduated, plus training for more than 835
internships and apprenticeships to increase hands-on teachers. The NCBW also reached more than 12,000
experiential learning in upgraded college laboratories. incumbent workers - those already at work in this
NCBW also addressed “soft” skills required for em- always growing industry.

Initially Five Community College Centers of Excellence - 7
One National Center for the Biotechnology Workforce
ocated in strategic regions across the country - each with its own unique industry focus - the five Centers

Lof Excellence formed a comprehensive national program. They all came with strong lists of community,
industry and educational partners, consistent with the NCBW’s overall program of working together. Using
grant funding - while leveraging more resources - infrastructure actively improved with new construction and
upgrades. Up-to-date equipment was purchased, strengthening hands-on training. More qualified faculty were
hired and developed. They all worked with employers to identify needs and respond with training.

Southeast: Forsyth Technical Community College

Biotech Research and Development
Forsyth Technical Community College in Winston-Salem, North Caro-
lina was lead institution, providing administrative oversight of the initial
grant. With a fully-equipped facility in its specially-designed building,
Forsyth Tech’s biotechnology program helps individuals meet increasing
research and development demands for highly-skilled technicians.

Northeast: New Hampshire Community and Technical College
(now Great Bay Community College) Biomanufacturing

Salaries for biomanufacturing technicians are 28% higher than those
in other manufacturing industries. Most of NHCTC’s graduates entered
biomanufacturing; and most of them are still with the biomanufacturing
companies that hired them. The hands-on, in-the-lab training there helps
people move up the ladder in biomanufacturing career paths.

Midwest: Indian Hills Community College
Agriculture bio-processing and renewable fuels
With international agricultural industry partners, IHCC created new
bioprocessing curricula and increased its training infrastructure and ca-
pacity. It added a pilot facility for use by industry and entrepreneurs. Plus
it developed an ethanol plant technician program. A virtual reality (VR)
fermentation model helps educate students and the general public about
biotechnology in Iowa.

Southwest: MiraCosta Community College
Bioprocessing.

MiraCosta College has a recognized, functioning bioprocessing training
program that did not exist before the convergence of the NCBW grant
with enthusiastic industry support and other factors. Outfitting the
MiracCosta bioprocessing program helped benefit the region’s biotech
workforce then, now, and for far into the future.

Northwest: Bellevue Community College
Bioinformatics

Bellevue Community College, like Microsoft - its partner and neigh-
bor in nearby Redmond, is a recognized Information Technology leader.
Forging nearly sixty partnerships with industry, plus conducting high
level focus groups, the BCC bioinformatics team combined forces to cre-
ate the first industry-validated Life Science Informatics Skills Standards.
The model is employed in three areas: Clinical Trials Data Management;
Bioinformatics; and Life Science Software Validation.

8 Faces of Success at the annual BIO Convention
Representatives of the NCBW addressed numerous conferences and meetings across the nation, including

at annual meetings of the League of Innovation in the Community College and at the American Associa-

tion of Community Colleges. One important annual link with industry is the Community College Program (CCP)

held during the annual conventions of the worldwide Biotechnology Industry Organization known as “BIO.” The

Faces of Success panel is always popular - it features current or former students from community college biosci-

ence programs across the nation who work in the industry. Two of these students were graduates of NCBW Cen-

ters: Jim Crawford, a of Forsyth Tech, and Katrice Jalbert from NHCTC.
One of the 2005-2007 Biomanufacturing Apprentices, Katrice Jalbert finished
Katrice Jalbert more than a thousand hours of on-the-job training in biomanufacturing and

graduated with a Biotechnology Associate in Science degree from NHCTC in May
2007. She spoke about her experiences working at Lonza Biologics, Inc. in Ports-
mouth as part of her Biomanufacturing Apprenticeship. “I saw it all from the bottom

up; they rotated me through different positions. I worked a 7-to-7 shift in the summer

and had a lot of days off so I could go to the beach. I worked hard, learned a lot and got
paid for it,” she told the crowd.

“What better way to learn about the re-

sults of our Center’s collaborative efforts

than to hear about them from our success-

ful interns, apprentices, graduates - the
employees themselves?” said Russ Read,
executive director of the National Center
for the Biotechnology Workforce. “We did

outcome studies to follow-up on our gradu-

ates from Forsyth Tech and one key success

factor we found over and over again was

WJim Crawford internship. Students with hands-on experi-

ence are able to jump into jobs ready from
ith an undergraduate degree in day one. Both Katrice and Jim moved right
biology and 20 years in corporate
management, Jim Crawford enrolled in to good jobs with exceptional employers.”

in Forsyth Tech’s biotechnology
program in 2004. He took an unpaid
internship at Anthony Atala’s lab at
the Wake Forest Institute for Regen-
erative Medicine in Winston–Salem
and fell in love with the biotech lab
research environment.

“My AAS degree from Forsyth Tech

established ‘employment relevancy’

for my original bachelor’s in biology. It breathed new life into

my previous education. Forsyth Tech’s training is second to

none. Getting a job isn’t just about the ability to do a job. The

biotech field is constantly evolving you have to evolve with it,”
he told CCP attendees at BIO. After the internship, he was
offered a full-time job. His associate’s degree let him start contributing at once. He has since gained promo-
tions and more advancement in the industry. “I was able to walk in and start culturing cells. It’s a big honor and
I owe it to the Forsyth Tech associate’s degree program,” said Crawford.

NCBW PHASE TWO 2008 - 2012 9

In 2008 the National Center for the Biotechnology Workforce

B became an affiliate of BioNetwork
ioNetwork is North Carolina’s statewide bio-
technology training and educational  initiative,
administered through a cooperative agreement
between the US DOL, Forsyth Technical Community
College and the North Carolina Community College
System.
The National Center for the Biotechnology Work- In 2003 Golden LEAF awarded $60 million for new
force helps create new ways and means for educating buildings and start-up of biotech activities. BioNet-
biotechnology technicians. It cultivates partnerships work was launched as the community college system’s
across the nation that add resources, enhance tech- part of the Biomanufacturing and Pharmaceutical
Training Consortium
niques, raise quality levels initiative.
and improve efficiencies.
The National Center for Back then, leaders
involved in developing
the Biotechnology Work- North Carolina’s bio-
force (NCBW) expands
BioNetwork effectiveness by technology industry
understood that com-
creating out-of-state rela- munity colleges need
tionships and partnerships
to grow expertise. constant curricular
development in order
Among the compatible to respond to industry’s
organizations or institutions
it works with are the Bio- changing demands.
technology International Bob Ingram (left) former Vice Chairman Glaxo These colleges also need
Organization, the NSF-ATE, Wellcome, Nancy Johnston of the NC Biotech specialized process
Bio-Link, US DOL-ETA, Center, and Russ Read (right) Executive Direc- technology equipment
the Bioscience WIRED tor of the NCBW - cooperation among industry, to provide industry-spe-
Initiative, the Biotechnol- education, and government brings training and cific, hands-on training
ogy Institute, the National better jobs in biosciences that benefit many. for biotechnology.

Association for Manufacturers plus the Academy for BioNetwork supports the mission of the North Car-
olina Community College System by aligning world
Education Development. NCBW seeks partnerships class workforce training and education with workforce
via mutual grant opportunities.
The National Center supports students, graduates needs of the biotechnology, pharmaceutical and life
science industries.
and faculty through applied research methods. For BioNetwork trains people at all levels of this industry,
example, a Biotechnology Graduate Tracking Model
was designed to learn more about graduate experienc- including upgrades of incumbent worker skills, from
es and outcomes. Valuable data can now be applied for entry level to management. Its different sites are stra-
success statewide and in other disciplines. tegically and geographically positioned; they develop
The NCBW creates best practice publications on col- curricula - well-designed courses, both short and long
laborative topics to increase and advance training and - to meet the needs of industry. The centers themselves
education of the biotechnology workforce. Plus the are staffed with highly skilled industry-trained experts
NCBW strongly supports the local community college who are constantly improving workforce training pro-
biotechnology programs in the Piedmont Triad. grams that can be delivered, innovatively, anywhere in
North Carolina.

10 NCBW hosts President Obama’s Visit to Forsyth Tech:

P recognizing biotech training innovation and leadership
resident Obama praised North
Carolina’s progress in spurring
biotechnology into an industry
that’s brought 50,000 new jobs and lured
top-notch businesses to relocate here.

As the third largest state in biotech-
nology activity, North Caroina shows
how a biotechnology economy can offset
declines in traditional industries.

“Economic development goals are all

connected with workforce development

and education - biotech is the common
thread,” said Dr. Gary Green, President of
Forsyth Tech.
Biotech-related clean energy and
“green” technology are among the most “It’s alive”” President Barack Obama said looking through a
promising areas for national economic microscope at work being done in a Forsyth Tech student lab.
growth. These fields are complimentary
and focus students on developing the right skill sets and heard their individual stories. The students were
for jobs of the future. “Sustainable energy studies mesh thrilled, and I believe his trip reinforced the idea that
with green technology in the college’s biodiesel effort. they are doing something meaningful,” said Beard.
Sustainable design is reflected in architectural technology
and green or sustainable technology is incorporated into Course offerings go hand-in-hand with biotech
construction, HVAC and weatherization courses,” said training at Forsyth Tech. “President Obama’s visit tar-
Dr. Green. geted the core of what we do - best practices for biotech
workforce training. His visit was a great endorsement
Alan Beard, Chairman of the Biotech Program, wel- of the excellent quality of workforce training we provide
comed President Obama’s visit to the two Forsyth Tech through our community college,” said Russ Read, Execu-
biotech labs, “He shook hands with all twelve students tive Director of the National Center for Biotechnology
Workforce.

Forsyth Tech Student Kathy Proctor meets President
Obama in the lab, and is then invited to attend the State of
the Union address seated next to the First Lady

On January 25, 2011, Kathy Proctor became the most famous stu-
dent at Forsyth Tech – and Forsyth Tech became the most famous
community college in the United States. That was the day President
Barack Obama mentioned her and her school in his State of the Union
address. She was shown on TV sitting in the First Lady’s box. Kathy was
so surprised at the mention of her name that she turned to the people
sitting next to her and said, “That’s me!” This act of genuine emotion
struck a chord. Soon Kathy was all over TV and the Internet, as was
Forsyth Tech. (This was, by the way, the first time any community col-
lege’s name was mentioned in a State of the Union speech.)

Who is Kathy Proctor?
She is a 55-year-old mother of two who, after working in the furniture
industry for more than 30 years (often being laid off when her employ-
ers went out of business), returned to school in (continued on next page)

11

An excerpt from the speech President Barack David Purser
Obama delivered at Forsyth Tech: “I was impressed to meet and shake hands with
President Obama,” said FT student David Purser.
“I will continue to fight for those investments that “I feel that Forsyth Tech fits in with what the Pres-
will help America win the race for the jobs and in- ident was saying in his speech; a better educated
dustries of the future - and that means investments workforce is an investment in the future.”
in education, innovation and infrastructure. In an Purser, then 39, already had an MS in electri-
era where most new jobs will require some kind of cal engineering from UNC-Charlotte. “I wanted
higher education, we have to keep investing in the to study biotech and make it a bridge between
skills and education of our workers. And that’s why my master’s and my future. I entered Forsyth
we are well on our way to meeting the goal I set Tech knowing it would take less than two years to
when I took office two years ago: By 2020, America re-invent my career opportunities. It is one of the
will once again have the highest proportion of college few schools to offer a career pathway that actually
graduates in the world. That’s a commitment we are opens up jobs to students.”
making.  (Applause.)
Kathy Proctor (continued)
“So to get there, we’re making college more afford-
able for millions of students. We’ve made an unprec- 2009 as a biotechnology stu-
edented investment in community colleges just like dent. She met the President
this one. And just like Forsyth Tech, we’ve launched a during his December tour of
nationwide initiative to connect graduates that need Forsyth Tech’s biotech labs
a job with businesses that need their skills.” and impressed him when
she said she was getting her
Paul Street degree not just for a bet-
ter job, but to inspire her
Forsyth Tech Biotech student Paul Street was one of twin daughters, Megan and
the students President Obama spoke with in the Amanda. The President even
Technology Building. Street had the opportunity to ex- quoted that remark in his
plain an extremely complex cell culture experiment in a State of the Union speech.
scant few minutes. “When I was explaining about the cell
culture, he was looking through the microscope and said ‘It’s During Kathy’s once-in-
alive!’” he said. a-lifetime trip, she not only
Street already had a biology degree from Wake Forest met the President, but also North Carolina Sena-
University. He was taking the Forsyth Tech class to gain tor Kay Hagan, First Lady Michelle Obama, and,
more extensive lab experience. “Employers in this field during a reception at the White House, the First
aren’t looking for a lot of experience in the classroom; they’re Dog Bo. But she was back in class by Friday. She
looking for experience in the lab. If you can’t do hands-on told one reporter: “I’m ready to get back to normal.
science, you can’t do science.” I have a test to make up.”

12 SciTech Lecture Series Puts Science Ideas into Action
The SciTech Science Ideas in Action Lec-
ture Series set a goal in 2009 to bring CENTER F OR THE BIOTECHN O L O G Y WORKFORCE
high-profile speakers to Forsyth Tech;
invite experts to present their knowledge and ex- TIONAL www.biotechworkforce.org
pertise in personal ways. The challenge was to find
NA

those with common interest for the student body,
faculty and the community. SciTech finds them
and delivers every year.

“Our SciTech team hosts accomplished scientific Click on image to access

and technical experts who share their passions

and projects in stimulating presentations, always SciTech IDEAS IN ACTION
free and open to the public,” says Russ Read, exec- Lecture Series
utive director of the sponsoring National Center Forsyth Technical Community College
for the Biotechnology Workforce. “We give each 2009-2016
person attending new facts, expanded knowledge of
cutting-edge scientific research, and experiences of Click image to access this online “flip book” publi-
the latest discoveries in advanced technology.” cation that presents materials, information and links
about the SciTech Ideas in Action Lecture Series
Topics - presented from insider points of view - program. Included are more in-depth PDF reports on
range from Steven Burke, former CEO of the Bio- the subjects as well as videos of the talks available
fuels Center of North Carolina (on manufacturing on You Tube.
new biofuel) to the advanced criminal forensics
used in Jennifer Bryant’s biotechnology lab.

Dr. Frank Carver lectured on how his visit to Li-
beria, Africa changed his life and his philosophies,
while giving him a global understanding in his
teaching of environmental issues.

These lectures strengthen Forsyth Tech’s partner-
ships with business, organizations, manufacturing
and biotechnology firms, medical establishments,
and other educational institutions. Most were
recorded and are available on YouTube - you can
find the links in the SciTech flip book publication.

Australian Fulbright scholar Ray Cadmore (holding certifi- Dr. Anthony Atala (right) spoke
cate) gave a well received SciTech Lecture, shown with his on the Wake Forest Institute
spouse Lesa (in white sweater). for Regenerative Medicine’s
groundbreaking work.

His eye-opening lecture high-
lighted Forsyth Tech’s 50th
anniversary theme - “A Legacy
of Learning.”

PHASE THREE 2012 - 2016 13

In December 2012, Forsyth Tech,
home of the National Center for
the Biotechnology Workforce, an
affiliate of BioNetwork, was award-
ed a three-year, $15 million grant
through the DOL’s Trade Adjust-
ment Assistance Community Col-
lege Career Training (TAACCCT) Leaders of the Community College Consortium for Biosciences Credentials
Tprogram to establish the Commu- (c3bc) gather for a meeting at the North Carolina Biotechnology Center
nity College Consortium for Biosci- he c3bc project focused on harmonizing core
ences Credentials (c3bc). This national partnership of biosciences competencies in laboratory skills, bio-
twelve community colleges across the nation, includ- manufacturing and medical devices. Introducing up-
ing Forsyth Tech, the Consortium Leader, began work- dated and new, industry-recognized, stackable, latticed
ing with the National Science Foundation Advanced and portable credentials help trade-impacted workers
Technological Education’s BIO-LINK center, the gain better jobs. Harmonized skills standards advance
National Science Foundation Advanced Technological innovative training and bring better access and path-
Education’s North East Biomanufacturing Consortium ways to valuable certificates in core biosciences skills,
(NBC2), and major industry employers, workforce core laboratory skills, core medical devices skills, bio-
centers and community organizations. medical devices, plus environmental monitoring

In September 2012, Seth Harris, John Balchunas, former Workforce Development
Deputy Secretary of the US De- Director, Education & Training Program of the North
partment of Labor, spoke at For- Carolina Biotechnology Center said: “We are very
syth Tech to formally announce excited that North Carolina is home to this valuable re-
the grant to create the c3bc. source in regional and national bioscience workforce
Harris said: “A capable, sophisticat- development. Bridging the skills gap, developing portable
ed and skilled workforce is the key to credentials and accelerating completion time for academ-
rolling back outsourcing and replac- ic and professional programs is critical to enhancing the
ing jobs that have disappeared with competitiveness of displaced workers seeking in-demand
jobs that will last.” biosciences jobs.”

Community College Consortium for Biosciences Credentials (c3bc) - Partners

Bio-Link is an NSF ATE National Center The Northeast Biomanufacturing
for Biotechnology and Life Sciences. Its mis- Center and Collaborative (NBC2) is
sion is to increase the number and diversity an NSF ATE regional center focused
of well-trained technicians in the workforce on creating curriculum to support
who meet specific and growing needs of education and training of technicians for the biomanufac-
industry. Bio-Link promotes collaboration turing industry since 2005. The lead college, Montgomery
on high-quality education and training concepts, tools, skills, County Community College in Blue Bell, PA, coordinates
and processes, sharing information in its web-based commu- with four other strategically placed hubs in New York,
nity. Bio-Link delivers direct services including consulting North Carolina, Indiana, and California. Curricular
and professional development. It maintains an equipment materials NBC2 develops with industry experts include
depot and an instructional clearinghouse. It runs faculty a biomanufacturing lab manual, the “Introduction to
internships and replicates best practices around the nation. Biomanufacturing” textbook, plus several process specific
Bio-Link expands and improves information for students and short lab manuals. NBC2 offers BIOMAN conferences
life-sciences companies with national survey information, and workshops providing faculty with learning modules
career matrix, and video career scenarios. that can be added to existing courses or programs.

I14n January 2013, at a national meeting of participants and
stakeholders held at Biotech Place in Winston-Salem, NC,
the Community College Consortium for Biosciences Cre-
dentials (c3bc), an organization funded through the Trade Adjust-
ment Assistance Community College Career Training (TAACCCT)
program, officially launched. Its goals:
?? Improve workplace training through recruitment testing, The c3bc is a multistate consortium
aptitude assessment, course redesigns, better outreach and of 12 community colleges engaged
more retention. in an educational and training initia-
?? Introduce portable, industry-recognized credentials tive funded by the U.S. Department
into training.
?? Build community college capacity for education that of Labor under grant TC-
meets employer needs. 23761-12-60-A-37. Under
?? Add infrastructure and build internships. the c3bc, community col-
leges coordinate to support
nationwide strategies to help

“Biosciences offer a bright and shining star; the people obtain employment in
jobs will be here. Bioscience affects everyday liv- high-wage, high-skill occu-
ing: Is your food safe? Are your medicines safe? Is pations, such as biotechnol-
the future going to be more in biofuels? We need to ogy, biomanufacturing, and
care because the bioscience industry needs skilled
medical devices.

workers. In today’s swiftly changing economy, an Hilda Solis, former U.S. La-
ever-changing industry requires hard skills to keep up. bor Secretary, said “nearly
In addition to developing current workforce skills, our con- half of all job openings in the next de-
cept enables those with four-year degrees to quickly gain cade will be ‘middle-skill’ - requiring
industry-recognized credentials - all equipped with hands- less than a four-year degree but more
on knowledge to perform capably on day one,” said Russ than a high school diploma.” She

Read, executive director of the National Center for sees the grant programs as “tickets

Biotechnology Workforce and c3bc Project Director. to employment.”

Twelve Partners Concentrate Work In Four Distinct Hubs

All the schools in the consortium, working with 45 companies and employers, teamed up with other
high-performing colleges. Across the nation, students were learning hands-on with industry partners,
developing core skills in bioscience to obtain “industry-recognized” credentials.

Learning Bioscience
Accelerates completion time with improved prior Develops new courses and credentials in the
learning assessment; removes institutional barriers; Biosciences with revised laboratory skills standards.
adds new, technology enhanced instructional mate- San Francisco City College, lead institution (also
rials. Forsyth Tech, lead institution, works with Ala- home of the NSF national Bio-Link center) working
mance and Rowan Cabarrus community colleges, to with Madison and Austin community colleges, estab-
pilot a new modular learning lab, with assessments lishes industry-recognized credentials and harmo-
conducted and duplicated nationally. nized skill standards

Biomanufacturing Medical Devices
Develops new biomanufacturing courses, credentials New skill standards pus stackable, latticed credentials
and teaching materials in partnership with industry. help trade-impacted workers get high-wage, high-skill
Montgomery County Community Colllege, lead in- jobs. Ivy Tech lead institution coordinates with St.
stitution (also home of NSF biomanufacturing center Petersburg and Salt Lake community colleges to work
NBC2) with Bucks County and Los Angeles Valley with Medical Device companies, trade organizations,
community colleges, works to stack credentials and and more stakeholders to develop skill set matrices in
access local career paths. five functional areas.

15

c3bc Deliverables

?? Bioscience training opportunities were provided to more
than 3,000 displaced workers and others.

?? c3bc colleges created multiple new certificates programs
and degrees to accelerate stident completion.

?? All c3bc materials are uploaded to SkillsCommons.org - Click on image to access
a free, open source repository.

?? Labs at Bucks, City College of San Francisco, Forsytth
Tech, Ivy Tech, Los Angeles Valley, and MCC were upgrad-
ed with new equipment to increase capacity and supprt in-
dustry-relevant credentials and accelerate career pathways.

?? c3bc members made numerous presentations including
visits to CCP Bio, Hi-Tec, NCWE and STEMtech events.

?? c3bc held its third annual meeting in February 2015 and
established a National Advisory Council to provide indus-
try guidance on programs, skill standards and dissemina-
tion of the consortium’s work

?? Thirty c3bc CC students attended Biomanufacturing Click on image for access to the online
boot camp at Capstone in Raleigh, NC. IMPACT magazine that features high-
?? New grants have been awarded by state and federal orga- lights and details of c3bc programs and
nizations to build on c3bc work.

achievements. Located on the NCBW

website: www.biotechworkforce.com

“The consortium worked hard with our many

partners across the spectrum, including part- “Congratulations to the c3bc consor-

ner colleges, workforce colleagues, industry tium for its fine work. The grant funds

partners and associations. The bioscience were used wisely to increase capacity

economy is rapidly growing and c3bc has for bioscience training and skills de-

delivered key tools for helping the workforce velopment through an unprecedented

grow,” said Russ Read, Exec. Director of the collaboration with industry, workforce

National Center for the Biotechnology Work- and instituional partners.” said Dr. Gary

force (NCBW) and Project Director of the c3bc. Green, President, Forsyth Tech

1. Completed expansion of upgrades on equipment and training capacity at multiple colleges across the
consortium particularly in biomanufacturing and biomedical devices.

2. Created the first set of industry validated Medical Device Skill Standards for training entry-level
technicians.

3. Delivered a modular approach to learning the biosciences and a novel Science Skills Laboratory that
reduces barriers of access to learning laboratory science.

4. Developed Core Bioscience Skil Standards assessments with industry input and validation.
5 . Uploaded grant products to the virtual entities of NTER and SkillsCommons.org for universal access.

16 Manufacturing Institute’s “Spotlight” On Successful Partnerships

The Manufacturing Institute produced
five best practice “Spotlight” publica-
tions on community colleges working in the
c3bc. These five colleges and their indus- An advocate for education and job training, the
tryt partners are models for the c3bc’s work Manufacturing Institute studies critical issues
on skills standard and other manufacturing facing industries and workers and then helps to de-
workforce issues. velop and identify solutions. Its resources are shared
with companies, schools, governments, and organi-
The Journey presents excerpts from the zations across the country. One priority: Change the
series. The whole series can be accessed perception of careers in manufacturing to reflect its
by clicking here: true status as the most advanced, high-tech industry
in the country.
Manufacturing Institute Spotlight Series

Forsyth Technical Community College, along
with global nutrition company Herbalife and
the NC Community College System Office, worked
together to develop a Customized Training Project
that would enable Herbalife to hire a highly skilled
workforce. Once employees were hired and initial
training had been received, additional training was
offered to help Herbalife upskill their current work-
force to meet Herbalife’s rigorous standards.

Herbalife has struggled to find GMP experience
and get employees to the skill level required.This
is where Forsyth Tech has stepped in. Over a
two-year period, FTCC’s Project Manager Dianne
Mounce developed a close relationship with Patrick
O’Sullivan, Supervisor, Industrial Training, Herbal-
ife together establishing programs which would be
valuable to a new manufacturing facility. “Training
is stressed to the Herbalife team. It’s giving [em-
ployees] the opportunity to grow and think about
what that’s doing for them. It shows we believe in
our people, and we are working together to develop
everyone,” said O’Sullivan.

As part of the c3bc grant, Forsyth Technical Com-
munity College developed online bioscience train-
ing to accelerate learning and make education more
accessible. With Economic Development funds granted from the state, Forsyth Tech gave Herbalife employees
access to a variety of training programs, which Herbalife uses for new and current employees.
Every employee at Herbalife must receive five hours of GMP (Good Man-
ufacturing Practice) and Safety training from Forsyth Tech as introductory
training. This training allows employees to obtain a variety of manufacturing
skills and allows them to begin to move into different career pathways.
As a result of partnership, Herbalife has improved its production, quality, and
retention. Plus Herbalife has seen a reduction in turnover and an increase in promotions

17

Salt Lake Community College developed
its Medical Device Manufacturing program to
build a pipeline of talent and increase the knowledge
and skill set of those in medical device careers.

The program includes four, eight-week long cours-
es that provide individuals with core knowledge and
skills needed to be successful in the medical device
industry. Those courses are Intro to Medical Device
Industry, Basic Manufacturing Skills, Intro to FDA
Regulations, and Intro to Quality Systems.

The course content aligns with national indus-
try-recognized skill standards (c3bc Medical Device
Skill Standards), with emphasis on FDA compliance
with 21 CFR 800 Series and ISO 13485.

St. Petersburg College (SPC) developed its Biomedi-
cal Engineering Technology program, a two year, 62
credit program, to build a pipeline of talent to fill positions
in the biomedical industry.

As part of the Community College Consortium for Bio-
science Credentials (c3bc), St. Petersburg developed this
program to fit the needs of local healthcare organizations,
including BayCare, a leading not-for-profit healthcare sys-
tem that connects individuals and families to a wide range
of services at 15 hospitals and hundreds of other conve-
nient locations throughout the Tampa Bay and central
Florida regions.

The clinical engineers at Bay-
Care reached out to SPC after
accepting one of their engi-
neering technology students as
an intern. They quickly realized
that a traditional Engineering
Technology degree did not ad-
equately equip students with the unique skill set that is re-
quired by the highly specialized environment of a clinical
engineering department. SPC immediately began having
extensive discussions about what core skills are required
by the field, and outlined what a structured internship
would look like.

A18ustin Community College (ACC) offers Austin Community College
a 2-year program with 16-week courses
in which students come out with an Advanced Biomanufacturing companies hire ACC students from required internships
Technician Certificate, an Associate’s Degree, or a
Biotechnology Certificate.
A key asset to this program is the required intern-
ship, which students take at the end of their first year.
The required internship has proven to be extremely
valuable to local companies, where many hire ACC
students straight out of the internship. ACC has devel-
oped relationships with 10-15 companies, including
XBiotech and Bio Scientific. ACC currently has 100+
students enrolled in
their Biotechnolo-
gy Program, with
around 30 graduates
who gained employ- “WE HAVE A MUCH HIGHER
ment in the biosci- RETENTION RATE WITH ACC
ence industry. STUDENTS. THEY KNOW WHAT
“We try to make our students ahead of the curve to THEY’RE GETTING INTO AND
make them more marketable for biomanufacturing,” THEY COME BETTER PREPARED.”
said Linnea Fletcher Ph.D., Department Chair, Bio-
Josh Combs, Ph.D, Vice President Manufacturing, XBiotech

technology, Executive Director, AC2 Bio-Link Region-
al Center, Austin Community College. Since 2012,
XBiotech has hired ten ACC students and have had little to no turnover from these new hires.
XBiotech gives tours, workshops, and works with the ACC professors directly to engage themselves in the
program to find the best candidates for the job. XBiotech also gets customized training out of their partnership
with ACC. ACC will tailor the curriculum for what the company needs, all while considering what the indus-
try as a whole needs and what will benefit other companies.

Los Angeles Valley College developed its Biotech Bridge
Training program to build a pipeline of talent to fill open
manufacturing technician positions. The six-week training
program helps students develop much-needed core skills and
competencies targeted specifically for the bioscience industry.

Students receive employability skills, resume and interview
preparation, contextualized math and science, with a guaran-
teed interview upon completing the courses.

Baxalta, a global biopharmaceutical
company, began its partnership with
LAVC to find qualified employees. In
seven years, Baxalta hired 96 students
from the LAVC Biotech Bridge Pro-
gram.

Grifols Biologicals is a biopharma-
ceutical manufacturing company that
produces life-saving plasma protein therapies. For Grifols, a
partnership with LAVC brings employees with basic training.
That saves money and time - while creating futures. For the 25
students they have hired, the return on investment is priceless.

Biosciences Industry Fellowship Project 19

he Biosciences Industry Fellowship Program is a month-long, observational, fellowship pro-
gram in which selected instructors reside in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. During their stay, they visit

TNC Biosciences industrial facilities, community colleges, university labs and research parks. Working

in pairs, the awardees typically write about their experiences and produce contextualized teaching modules
as grant products. The BIFP is open to interested instructors in good standing with their employers currently
teaching at the high school, community college or uni-
versity level. Travel expenses are paid and a competitive
stipend is available for those who qualify.

For further information please contact Russ Read,
[email protected], or Allison Nestor, anestor@
forsythtech.edu, at the National Center for the Biotech-
nology Workforce. Or please click on the image below
to access the BIFP brochure and application form.

Click on image to access the Teachers from around the na-
BIFP brochue and application tion gather in a live-in fellowship
program that includes visits
The Bioscience Industrial Fellowship to NC Biosciences enterpris-
Project de-mystifies the bioscience es (left) and laboratory work,
industry by developing and imple- producing modules for use in
menting an innovative professional classrooms. (below) BIFP Fel-
development model that utilizes lows Gretchen and Ana Clara
multi-institutional partnerships. It are shown in one of the lab ex-
enables high-impact instructors to ercises during the month-long
further understand industry princi- NSF-sponsored program.
ples and prepare them to guide their
students toward careers in today’s
bioscience workforce.

BIFP 2016 BIFP 2015 BIFP 2014

20 NCBW Photo Gallery
In partnership with BioNetwork, c3bc developed a five day annual Capstone experience that blends
theory and practice and brings promising students together from colleges across the nation to the Biomanu-
facturing Training and Education Center at North Carolina State University.

The 2016 c3bc Capstone students at NC Biotechnology Center with ForsythTech Senior Management

NC BIO delegation at Bio Fly In with Senator Russ Read, NCBW Executive Director (on left) presents
Burr on April 13, 2016 c3bc Capstone students with certificates at NC Biotech
meeting with Richard Boeh, former Director of the Bio-
Network Capstone Center (on right)

Nancy Johnston (left) with Doug Edgeton, CEO Los Angeles Valley College team presenting at NC
of NC Biotechnology Center (center), and Russ Biotech Center during the c3bc national meeting
Read NCBW Executive Director (right)
Acknowledging all the support and efforts given
to the NCBW, we reflect on works being done
in different communities, regions and practices, all
carrying forward our focus to meet the needs of
bioscience employers. Thank you partners.

for more information please click
www.biotechworkforce.org