Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute has announced a new initiative to help local students connect to work-based learning opportunities that lead to sustainable employment. The initiative, called RISE Caldwell-Watauga (Regional Initiative for Skilled Employment), is a partnership project with the Caldwell County Economic Development Commission, Caldwell County Schools, Watauga County Schools, and the Watauga County Economic Development Commission.
The initiative will allow students to take advantage of on-the-job training with local employers for learning experiences that develop skills and resources necessary to earn sustainable employment and join our area’s workforce. The initiative also promises to have a positive impact on local businesses by helping train and prepare students to enter the workforce.
Modeled after successful work-based learning projects like Surry-Yadkin Works, the initiative will also help remove many of the barriers that prevent high school students and adult learners from attaining postsecondary education and workforce credentials.
Sign up for the EdWeekly, a Friday roundup of the most important education news of the week.
Incentives for students participating in the program include regular advising to ensure successful completion of work-based learning experiences, financial support including stipends for travel and other expenses, and opportunities for students to develop professional and leadership skills that will help them land and retain high-wage jobs in our area.
Local leaders from across both counties, including the superintendents of Caldwell and Watauga county schools, have been involved in the planning and design of the program and have committed their support to ensure its success.
“Preparing students for life after school is and always will be a primary goal of Caldwell County Schools,” said Caldwell County Schools Superintendent Dr. Don Phipps. “The multi-organization partnership of the RISE Caldwell-Watauga initiative will help ensure that students across the region receive high-quality, hands-on learning experiences. These work-based opportunities and experiences will ensure students develop essential skills, collect valuable resources, and accrue competitive credentials. This initiative prepares today’s learners to be tomorrow’s leaders who contribute to the economic vitality and ongoing success of our region.”
Dr. Leslie Alexander, superintendent of Watauga County Schools, agrees.
“Watauga County Schools is proud to partner with Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute through the RISE Caldwell-Watauga initiative,” Alexander said. “By expanding work-based learning opportunities, we’re helping more students gain real-world experience, earn credentials, and prepare for meaningful careers — strengthening both our local workforce and our community’s future.”
Related reads
While RISE is committed to supporting all facets of local industry, its primary areas of focus during the initial phase will include health care, hospitality, manufacturing, and trades. In addition to creating meaningful opportunities for students, RISE offers strong incentives for employers — providing access to a pipeline of skilled, work-ready candidates for high-demand roles, along with support for onboarding and integration. Through this approach, RISE aims to meet the evolving needs of local businesses, cultivate homegrown talent, reduce turnover, and strengthen long-term workforce stability across the region. By helping meet the workforce needs of local employers as well as helping to attract new businesses to the area, the program also promises to have a positive impact on economic development for years to come.
“RISE is about creating real opportunities for students while directly supporting the workforce needs in our region,” said Caldwell County Economic Development Director Ashley Bolick. “By removing barriers and connecting education with hands-on experience, the initiative will help ensure that local talent is prepared, supported, and ready to thrive. We’re excited to be part of this collaborative effort to invest in our community’s future.”
Watauga County Economic Development Director Joe Furman said the potential impact for higher earnings for local students and families is one of the many benefits of the program.
“Young people who wish to stay in the region will be enabled by RISE to gain credentials in locally needed well-paid careers,” said Furman. “The program will be a practical and enduring way to match employers with the capable local workforce they need.”
Watauga County resident Tara Brossa, the newly appointed executive director of RISE, comes to the role with a passion for community college education and apprenticeships based on her own experiences as a student and as an industry leader.
“As a first-generation college student whose life was transformed by the community college experience, I am deeply committed to creating similar opportunities for others,” said Brossa. “My educational journey began at Rowan-Cabarrus Community College and continued at UNC–Chapel Hill, where I earned a B.A. in Psychology. In 2020, I achieved a long-held goal by completing an M.A. in Executive Leadership, further strengthening my dedication to empowering students through access, mentorship, and lifelong learning.”
Brossa’s professional experience includes two decades in hospitality leadership, with stints at the Grove Park Inn Resort and Spa in Asheville, a variety of cruise lines and various other hospitality leadership roles across the Southeast. Brossa has made Boone home for the last nine years, where she served as regional general manager for Hampton Inn & Suites and the Courtyard by Marriot.
“My passion for workforce development goes way back to when we launched apprenticeship and internship programs at our hotels, giving team members the chance to earn and learn simultaneously,” she said.
Hampton’s program serves as a powerful example of success, demonstrating the long-term impact of investing in talent development from within. Through internships and apprenticeships, line-level team members have been given clear pathways to leadership, fostering growth and stability across the organization. For nearly a decade, Hampton has maintained a strong internal pipeline — rarely needing to hire externally — thanks to the program’s effectiveness. Many participants have continued their education through credential programs, CCC&TI, at four-year institutions and now hold leadership roles within Hampton and throughout the industry.
— Tara Brossa, executive director of RISE
In addition to her experience in the hospitality field, Brossa has also served as an adjunct instructor for CCC&TI’s culinary and hospitality management program, sharing her vast knowledge and experiences with local students and also helping students find meaningful learning experiences that prepare them for success in their chosen fields.
Armed with extensive experience in both industry and education, Brossa aims to help connect students to opportunities and connect employers to well-trained, qualified workers. She says her ultimate goal with the program is to build partnerships that have a positive and lasting impact throughout the region for both business and industry and local students and families.
“RISE Caldwell-Watauga celebrates the strength of building strong local partnerships. Our goal is to offer meaningful opportunities to local students through apprenticeships that provide hands-on experience, develop valuable skills, and cultivate an environment that paves the way for a bright professional future right here in our community,” she said. “We’re also committed to supporting our local economy by developing a skilled leadership pipeline that highlights our talented local residents, helping our businesses to thrive and grow. The work is not just about preparing students for the workforce — it’s also about investing in the long-term success and vitality of our region.”
CCC&TI President Dr. Mark Poarch has put his full support behind the initiative and spoke about its vast potential for positive impact in a variety of ways across both counties.
“The RISE initiative will help connect local students with high-wage jobs in high-demand fields while also helping meet critical workforce needs for the employers across the region,” said Poarch. “We want to give local students the skills and experiences they need to be successful and also help provide ready access to local talent for our communities’ leading business and industry partners. This initiative connects all those dots in a way that we think will have a significant and lasting positive impact for Caldwell and Watauga counties. RISE has the potential to be a game-changer on every level — from individual students and families to the largest and most profitable industries in our region, this program can and will change lives.”
Funding for RISE Caldwell-Watauga has been provided through several grants from local, statewide, and national organizations that believe in its mission and its potential for positive impact. These grant funds provide vital resources for employee development, student stipends, and program operations, to help RISE advance it mission to connect education with meaningful career pathways. To ensure sustainability and continued growth of this important work, RISE is actively seeking additional partners committed to strengthening the local workforce and expanding opportunities for local students.
To learn more about RISE Caldwell-Watauga contact Executive Director Tara Brossa at tbrossa@cccti.edu or visit the college’s RISE LinkedIn page.
This was originally published by CCC&TI.
Recommended reading
