October 2, 2025
On Sept. 18-19, Council members gathered in Montrose, Colo., for two days focused on planning, learning, and engagement. Key decisions made during the Council meeting include:
- To move forward with a Think Tank and Action Lab technical assistance offering,
- Confirming project management specialist and electrician as future career pathways to be built out,
- That the Executive Committee would come back with a yes or no vote for a Strategically Aligned approach within two weeks, and
- Confirming dates and locations for 2026 Council meetings.
The time together in Western Colorado started with a pre-meeting tour of the Collbran Job Corps Civilian Conservation Center on Wednesday, Sept. 17. The tour highlighted their 48-acre campus situated on a national forest, which provides hands-on training for those 16-24 years old in various fields such as welding, carpentry, facilities management, and wildland firefighting.
On Thursday, Sept. 18, the Council members convened at the Ute Indian Museum and Chair Jonathan Liebert officially opened the Council meeting. The morning included a community overview from Sandy Head, executive director, Montrose Economic Development Corporation; an update on national insights; and discussion of the Council Initiatives proposals that rose to the top of those submitted; an update on the WIOA State Plan implementation; an overview of the final phases of the Stimulus work; discussion around DVR Order of Selection, feedback on business engagement in CDE’s Big 3; and a decision to confirm project management specialist and electrician as career pathways to build out.
Thursday afternoon's session started with the announcement of Weld County Workforce Board as the winner of the Skills-first Workforce Board Challenge. Then the Council discussed technical assistance options and voted to move forward with a Think Tank and Action Lab. Then the meeting shifted to Colorado Outdoors - Mayfly Headquarters for a panel discussion spotlighting the outdoor recreation industry, a growing force in the region’s economy. The Thursday meeting ended with a tour Mayfly Manufacturing.
On Friday, Sept. 19, the Council convened at Colorado Mesa University - Montrose. The meeting started with further discussion of the Council Initiatives concepts for consideration, followed by a presentation from Jeff Mengenhausen, CEO, Montrose Regional Health. Next, Jess Kostelnik and Katherine Keegan from the Governor’s Office discussed and gathered feedback on the work around Gov. Polis’ Executive Order on Reimagining the Future of the Postsecondary Talent Development System in Colorado. The morning closed with a decision on the Council Initiatives, where members voted that the Executive Committee would come back with a yes or no vote for a Strategically Aligned approach within two weeks. After lunch, the group shifted to a dialogue around the Opportunity Now Regional Talent Summits next steps. The Council voted to select the following meeting dates and locations for 2026: January 29 - 30 in Adams County, May 28 - 29 in Larimer County, and September 17 - 18 in Eagle County.
Thank you to the Ute Indian Museum, Colorado Mesa University - Montrose, Mayfly Outdoors, Shelter Distilling, the Colbran Job Corps Civilian Conservation Center, and all of the speakers and presenters. Thank you also to the Council members for their expertise, time, and engagement throughout the meeting.