The TechEd Podcast

• How Technical Colleges Are Redefining Learning for the Future of Work - Layla Merrifield, President of the WTCS

  Haven’t been to a technical college in the last 3 years? The transformation is striking, and it’s only a glimpse of the reinvention higher education faces in the next decade.In this episode of The TechEd Podcast, host Matt Kirchner talks with Layla Merrifield, President of the Wisconsin Technical College System, about why the future of higher education depends on bold innovation. Merrifield doesn’t mince words: credit loss should be a thing of the past, neurodivergent inclusion is an imperative, and U.S. colleges can no longer “rest on our laurels” as global competition accelerates.From the arrival of Workforce Pell, to personalized student success plans, to stackable credentials, Merrifield argues that technical and community colleges must evolve—or risk irrelevance. Her perspective offers educators and employers alike a roadmap for building systems that are more inclusive, more responsive, and more essential than ever.Listen to learn:The implications of expanding Pell Grants to short-term, high-demand programs (8–15 weeks) and how this reshapes access to workforce training.How Wisconsin’s technical college system compares to others in terms of state oversight, innovation, and responsiveness—and what models elsewhere might teach WTCS and vice versa.How “credit loss should be a thing of the past”—why stackable credentials and seamless transfer paths are non-negotiable.Why Layla argues for a universal design for learning that accommodates neurodivergent learners (and why it's the best mode for all students).Why Merrifield believes technical colleges must “evolve or be left behind” in a world of AI, disruption, and global competition.3 Big Takeaways from this Episode:1. Higher education must pivot quickly to stay relevant. Layla pointed to campuses closing outdated programs while adding new ones, the arrival of Workforce Pell expanding aid to short-term credentials, and the dramatic transformation of technical college facilities—“if you haven’t been on a campus in three years, you’d be shocked at how different it looks.” Together, these shifts show that technical colleges are reinventing themselves faster than most people realize .2. Credit loss should be a thing of the past. Merrifield highlighted UW–Stout’s automation leadership degree, where students can use industry certifications to transfer 88 of 120 credits toward a bachelor’s. She also emphasized dual credit programs, transferring entire programs, and credit for work experience as essential tools to eliminate wasted time and money.3. Universal design for learning makes inclusion the default. Layla explained that universal design for learning ensures learning is accessible to all from the start rather than relying on retrofitted accommodations. With 20–25% of learners falling into neurodivergent categories, she argued that education must be designed with multiple pathways for receiving and demonstrating knowledge—whether that’s reading, video, hands-on practice, or other modes. In her words, “Why not design our learning so that it is accessible to everyone right from the start?Resources in this Episode:Learn more about the Wisconsin Technical College System: www.wtcsystem.eduWe want to hear from you! Send us a text.Instagram - Facebook - YouTube - TikTok - Twitter - LinkedIn

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• Applied AI in K-12, Higher Ed and Industry - Live Panel from TitletownTech

  What happens when K-12, higher education, manufacturing, and a startup tech company sit around the same table to talk about AI? This episode brings that rare collaboration to life.Recorded live at TitletownTech—the venture studio founded by Microsoft and the Green Bay Packers—this panel features four leaders from distinctly different sectors, all navigating how AI is changing their world. From fault anomaly detection in industrial equipment to generative AI in K-12 classrooms, this episode is a crash course in what applied AI really looks like on the ground.Panelists include:Mike Beighley, Superintendent, Whitehall School DistrictDr. Kate Burns, Provost & Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs, University of Wisconsin–Green BayRick Roeske, Senior Director of Service and Solutions, BW ConvertingAlex Tyink, Founder & CEO, Fork FarmsModerated by Matt Kirchner, Host of The TechEd PodcastThrough stories of innovation, disruption, and surprising lessons, these leaders share how they’re preparing students, supporting workers, and strengthening their communities with artificial intelligence.Listen to learn:How a rural K-12 school is using AI to power personalized learning and student-led schedulingWhat happens when higher ed rethinks writing and assessment in the age of ChatGPTHow manufacturers are using AI to capture tribal knowledge and improve customer relationshipsWhat it’s like to co-develop AI solutions inside the Microsoft AI Co-Innovation LabWhy human connection and relevance still matter more than ever in the AI-powered classroom3 Big Takeaways from this Episode:1. AI is expanding what’s possible in education by unlocking more personalized, student-centered learning. In both K-12 and higher ed, AI is giving educators the tools to meet students where they are—academically, emotionally, and logistically. From adaptive math instruction to AI-driven student support systems, the future of learning is more flexible, scalable, and responsive.2. Manufacturing is using AI not just to fix machines, but to build better relationships. Rick Roeske shares how BW Converting uses AI to detect fault anomalies, preserve expert knowledge, and improve customer support—often solving problems before clients even notice. It’s not just about performance; it’s about trust.3. For startups, AI partnerships can unlock capabilities far beyond their headcount. Alex Tyink explains how Fork Farms built a proprietary AI farm management system with help from the Microsoft AI Co-Innovation Lab—accessing high-level expertise and infrastructure that most early-stage companies could never afford to build in-house.More on the episode page! We want to hear from you! Send us a text.Instagram - Facebook - YouTube - TikTok - Twitter - LinkedIn

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• A Finance Pioneer’s Take on Education, Inclusion and Opportunity - Mary Ellen Stanek, Founder and Chief Investment Officer Emeritus of Baird Asset Management

  Building tomorrow’s workforce starts with more than just technical skills—it requires access, mentorship, and leaders willing to invest in students long before they enter the job market.In this episode of The TechEd Podcast, Mary Ellen Stanek, Co-Founder and CIO Emeritus of Baird Asset Management, shares how one of the nation’s most respected investment firms thinks about talent, education, and inclusion. She reflects on being the first woman to chair a major civic leadership group, the creation of the award that now bears her name for advancing diversity in corporate governance, and how internships are shaping the next generation of professionals.Mary Ellen also unpacks how AI is changing finance while elevating the need for human judgment, and why Baird invests millions into education initiatives that expand opportunity—programs like Cristo Rey’s work-study model, All-In Milwaukee’s 90% college graduation rate, Aug Prep’s innovative K-12 approach, and major scholarship funds at Marquette.For educators, employers, and community leaders, this conversation is a roadmap for how business and education can work together to prepare students for meaningful careers and stronger communities anywhere.Listen to learn:How Baird selects 300 interns out of 32,000 applicants each yearWhat it meant to be the first woman to chair the Greater Milwaukee CommitteeThe story behind the Mary Ellen Stanek Award for Diversity in Corporate GovernanceWhy AI boosts productivity in finance but can’t replace human judgmentHow All-In Milwaukee achieves a 90% graduation rate with 84% of students debt-free3 Big Takeaways from this Episode:1. Internships are one of the most effective ways to build a talent pipeline. Baird received over 32,000 applications for internships this year and hired just 1%, bringing in 300 students across the firm. About 40% of those rising seniors secure full-time roles, proving the long-term workforce impact of investing in student opportunities.2. Inclusion in leadership transforms organizations and opens doors for others. Mary Ellen began her career as one of the only women in the room, later becoming the first woman to chair the Greater Milwaukee Committee. Today, Baird counts nearly 100 female managing directors, and the Mary Ellen Stanek Award continues to honor leaders driving diversity in corporate governance.3. Education investments create measurable results for students and communities. All-In Milwaukee reports a 90% six-year college graduation rate, with 84% of scholars leaving school debt-free and 91% employed or in graduate programs. Similar investments in Cristo Rey, Aug Prep, and Marquette scholarships demonstrate how targeted support leads to stronger career pathways and local economic growth.Resources:Learn more about Mary Ellen StanekInternships at BairdCristo Rey Jesuit High SchoolSt. Augustine Preparatory AcademyAll-in MilwaukeeBoys aWe want to hear from you! Send us a text.Instagram - Facebook - YouTube - TikTok - Twitter - LinkedIn

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• Could We Really Make Anything, Anywhere, Anytime? - Dr. Charles Johnson-Bey, ERVA Co-Principal Investigator

  Distributed manufacturing allows goods to be produced closer to where they’re needed — but enabling that future requires a complete rethink of infrastructure, systems, and workforce development.In this episode of The TechEd Podcast, Dr. Charles Johnson-Bey joins host Matt Kirchner for a deep dive into Engineering the Future of Distributed Manufacturing — the new national report from the Engineering Research Visioning Alliance (ERVA). Charles, a former professor and recently retired Senior Vice President at Booz Allen Hamilton, brings decades of experience in defense, systems engineering, and academia to this conversation.Together, they break down ERVA’s five priority areas for enabling distributed manufacturing: modular and reconfigurable infrastructure, digital design tools, edge-to-cloud data systems, workforce education, and new performance metrics. Charles also shares how these priorities came from input across industry, academia, and government — and how they’ll guide research, funding, and education in the years ahead.Listen to learn: What distributed manufacturing actually looks like in practice — and why it matters nowWhy “digital twins + AI” are critical for linking design, production, and data-driven decision-makingThe essential role of public infrastructure in enabling connectivity and access for all communitiesWhy proximity to advanced tools like a digital twin or a cyber-physical testbed is essential for scaling distributed manufacturing3 Big Takeaways from this Episode:1. Distributed manufacturing is a modular approach to resilient, tech-enabled production. Charles defines distributed manufacturing as a system where production assets can be easily moved, reconfigured, and localized closer to the point of need. He describes how smaller, agile, and digitally connected systems—like reconfigurable machines and regional testbeds—enable manufacturing to respond to disruptions, like the ones exposed during COVID-19.2. The workforce of the future needs digital fluency—and systems thinking. Students must be prepared not only to operate new technologies, but to understand how those technologies interact within broader systems. Charles highlights the importance of human-machine teaming, digital twins, and cyber-physical testbeds, and calls for education that helps learners “fall in love with the rigor” of complex technical work.3. America’s manufacturing strategy must include small and mid-sized firms. Charles points out that most manufacturers in the U.S. are small to mid-sized, yet lack access to advanced infrastructure and scalable tools. He argues that national strategies must focus on democratizing technology—making AI, automation, and data systems affordable and available to all levels of the manufacturing sector.Resources in this Episode:Read the ERVA Report: Engineering the Future of Distributed ManufacturingLearn more about ERVAFollow Charles on LinkedInVisit the episode page for more!We want to hear from you! Send us a text.Instagram - Facebook - YouTube - TikTok - Twitter - LinkedIn

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• The $10 Million Workforce Experiment That Could Redefine Apprenticeships in America - Lindsay Blumer, CEO of WRTP | BIG STEP

  Workforce systems are often fragmented—built around short-term funding, disconnected programs, and a lack of coordination between industry, education, and community.But a different model is taking shape - one that’s not only working in practice, but has the potential to scale across states and regions. In this episode of The TechEd Podcast, host Matt Kirchner sits down with Lindsay Blumer, President & CEO of WRTP | BIG STEP, to explore how her organization is building a future-ready, industry-led, and worker-centered workforce ecosystem.Backed by a $10 million grant, Lindsay and her team are launching the Apprenticeship Pathway Coalition Initiative (APCI)—a five-year effort to expand apprenticeship pathways into emerging industries, strengthen regional partnerships, and create a scalable blueprint for workforce development in both urban and rural communities. From infrastructure and manufacturing to healthcare and IT, this episode explores how WRTP is aligning training, policy, and industry needs to meet the challenges of today’s labor market—and what other states can learn from it.Listen to learn:What it takes to design a workforce model that can be replicated across states and sectorsWhy modern apprenticeships are expanding beyond the trades to include fields like healthcare, IT, marketing, and educationHow WRTP balances short-term upskilling needs with long-term career pathways for workers and employersThe role of intermediaries in navigating funding, aligning stakeholders, and simplifying workforce systemsWhat educators, employers, and workforce leaders can do today to become more effective partners in building talent pipelines3 Big Takeaways from this Episode:1. A scalable workforce model starts with alignment, not duplication. WRTP | BIG STEP acts as a “workforce intermediary,” connecting education, labor, employers, and community organizations to create coordinated talent pipelines across regions. Their funding model blends federal, state, philanthropic, and employer-based sources—like the cents-per-hour contribution from union contractors—to sustain long-term collaboration and flexibility.2. Modern apprenticeships go far beyond the trades. Lindsay explains that apprenticeships now exist in fields like healthcare, IT, agriculture, marketing, and education, expanding far beyond traditional construction roles. She points out that 55% of new jobs in the next decade won’t require a college degree—making earn-and-learn models more relevant than ever.3. If you want to replicate success, start by listening. WRTP’s statewide initiative begins with asset mapping and community conversations, not pre-built solutions—because what works in one region may not work in another. Lindsay emphasizes that local lived experience must inform system design, and that conveners should be flexible enough to lead, support, or step back depending on the context.Resources in this Episode:Visit WRTP | BIG STEP's website: wrtp.orgOther resources:Read about the $10 million grant programConnect with We want to hear from you! Send us a text.Instagram - Facebook - YouTube - TikTok - Twitter - LinkedIn

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