As the days grow longer and the world outside bursts into color, I’m reminded how spring is nature’s way of saying, “Let’s get things growing!” Here at NOCTI, we’ve taken that advice to heart—our first quarter has been full of momentum, new opportunities, and a strong start to the year.
A Season of Activity and Achievement
Spring is always a busy time in education and industry, and this year is no exception. Across the country, our testing environments are abuzz with learners demonstrating their skills, proving, once again, that the future workforce is in very capable hands. Whether in classrooms, on shop floors, or out on the newly-developed bike trails in Arkansas (yes, we’re literally blazing new paths with Northwest Arkansas Community College!), the spirit of learning and achievement is alive and well.
Cultivating New Partnerships and Opportunities
We’re thrilled to announce new partnerships, like our collaboration with SEMI, and to explore possibilities in the rapidly-expanding electric vehicle sector. These alliances not only broaden our reach but also deepen the impact of our mission: to develop and deliver career-ready technical certifications that matter.
And speaking of innovation, we’re honored to work with FANUC America to host our NOCTI Board of Trustees and NBS Board of Directors Spring meeting. There’s nothing like gathering in a space brimming with the latest technologies to remind us that the future is now—and it’s pretty exciting (and possibly run by robots).
Celebrating Excellence and Collaboration
We’re delighted to announce the first awardee of the inaugural John Foster Excellence Award, recognizing a student who exemplifies the very best in Career and Technical Education (CTE). These achievements remind us why we do what we do: to empower learners and celebrate their journeys.
Our collaboration with CTE leaders across our Consortium of States network continues to flourish. Together, we’re spotlighting partnerships that work to build talent pipelines and how Advance CTE’s modernized Career Clusters Framework is guiding the way. Our partnership with NACTEi, celebrated at their annual conference in Tucson earlier in May, underscores our shared commitment to supporting CTE data professionals and advancing and advocating the importance of measuring program quality and celebrating learner outcomes.
Strengthening Our Foundation and Looking Ahead
Behind the scenes, we’ve upgraded power to our data center-because nothing says “spring cleaning” like a few extra kilowatts! More importantly, we remain steadfast in our commitment to quality. As an ISO-accredited provider, we ensure our certifications are legally defensible, industry-developed, and always focused on the needs of our customers. We’re gearing up for a busy conference/meeting season, with events in Georgia, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Nevada, North Carolina, New York, Texas, Wisconsin, Rhode Island, and Colorado. We’re especially excited to support the upcoming Aviation Summit in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, sponsored by Aerium, to promote aviation learning opportunities.
A Heartfelt Thank You
None of this would be possible without you—our dedicated educators, industry partners, and workforce stakeholders. Your passion, expertise, and commitment are the roots from which our organization grows. Together, we are verifying skills that matter, supporting learners who will shape the future, and ensuring that our workforce is ready to meet tomorrow’s challenges. We value the trust you place in our collaborations. As we move through this vibrant season, let’s continue to nurture innovation, celebrate achievement, and, above all, keep growing—one certification, one partnership, and one learner at a time.
With appreciation and optimism,
Kathleen
CEO, NOCTI