Building STEM Pathways in the Kent Valley

Description

Building STEM Pathways in the Kent Valley

The talent pipeline has a beginning and a destination. On November 5, we build the middle.

The Kent Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with STEM Paths Innovation Network (SPIN), invites employers, educators, workforce organizations, colleges, community partners, and civic leaders to come together for a focused conversation about building stronger STEM career pathways in the Kent Valley.

At the Business Expo on July 16, employers identified challenges including hiring, retention, economic uncertainty, and AI disruption. These issues point toward a common need: a strong local talent pipeline.

The front end of that pipeline already exists. Young people throughout South King County are participating in STEM programming and developing STEM and AI-adjacent skills.

The destination is also clear: meaningful STEM careers in South King County filled by people who live in our region.

The missing piece is the middle — the internships, apprenticeships, mentorships, employer relationships, and hiring commitments that connect education and workforce programs directly to employment.

This roundtable brings the entire pipeline into one room.

The Conversation

The moderated discussion will examine three critical segments of the workforce pipeline:

The Front End — Education & Skills

Are students learning the skills employers need?

What gaps are employers seeing in entry-level candidates?

How can K-12, college, and STEM programming better prepare students for local career opportunities?

The Middle — Connections & Career Pathways

How do we bridge the divide between programs and employers?

What should meaningful internship, apprenticeship, mentorship, and employer partnerships look like?

How do we create relationships and systems that continue beyond one program cycle or hiring season?

The Destination — Employment

What does hiring local actually take?

How can employers increase recruitment and accessibility of local STEM jobs?

What barriers keep South King County talent from landing South King County careers?

The program will conclude with audience Q&A and a discussion of potential next steps.

Who Should Attend

This conversation is designed for:

• STEM and technology employers
• Aerospace and advanced manufacturing companies
• Airlines and transportation employers
• Healthcare and STEM-adjacent employers
• HR and talent acquisition professionals
• Workforce development organizations
• Internship and apprenticeship providers
• K-12 educators and administrators
• Colleges and technical schools
• Youth-serving organizations
• Economic development professionals
• Local elected officials and civic partners
• Kent Chamber members interested in workforce development

Employers are especially encouraged to send someone with hiring or workforce decision-making responsibility.

Why Attend?

The goal is not simply to have another conversation about workforce development.

We want participants to leave with stronger connections and concrete opportunities to move from conversation to action — including internships, job shadows, mentorships, employer partnerships, and local hiring connections.

The goal is simple:

Connect programs to payrolls and create stronger pathways for South King County talent to build careers in South King County.