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THE BLUEPRINT:
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300+ business, labor, and education leaders attended HIA-LI Workforce Summit.
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Focus on connecting Long Island classrooms with employer needs and career pathways.
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Emphasis on apprenticeships, micro-credentials and vocational opportunities.
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Collaboration to expand technical training, internships and workforce readiness.
More than 300 business, labor and education leaders came together at the Suffolk Y Jewish Community Center in Commack Tuesday for the inaugural HIA-LI Workforce Summit, exploring ways to connect Long Island classrooms with employer needs.
Hosted with the Smithtown Central School District, the event centered on the theme “Pipeline: Education-to-Industry.” The theme was inspired by an earlier Workforce Development Institute study with HIA-LI and the Suffolk County Industrial Development Agency. The report emphasized aligning Long Island’s classrooms with employer needs to better prepare students for an evolving workforce.
“This event was an unprecedented dialogue between business and education,” said Terri Alessi-Miceli, president and CEO of Hauppauge-based HIA-LI, said in a news release about the summit.
“The energy in the room showed how much people want to work together,” she added. “Educators and business leaders alike told us they left with new ideas and a renewed sense of possibility.”
State Sen. Mario Mattera shared that sentiment.
“When we work together like this—business, labor, and education—we give our young people real opportunities and strengthen Long Island’s future,” he said in the news release.
Attendees explored pathways to next-generation careers and stressed that closer collaboration between schools and employers is key to preparing students for the workforce.
Employers are looking for graduates who are critical thinkers and strong collaborators, said Rich Humann, president and CEO of Melville-based H2M architects + engineers and co-chair of the HIA-LI’s Workforce Development Task Force.
“Our challenge—and opportunity—is to help schools translate those expectations into classroom experiences that prepare students for success,” he said.
Higher education must become more flexible and responsive, said Ed Bonahue, president of Suffolk County Community College, who co-chairs the HIA-LI’s Workforce Development Task Force.
“We’re expanding micro-credentials and certificate programs so students can enter the workforce faster, equipped with the precise skills that employers need,” he said in the news release.
Business leaders stressed three key priorities: early career exposure, breaking the stigma around vocational paths and promoting apprenticeships as a cost-effective alternative to traditional education.
“You can earn while you learn and build a career that offers both security and pride,” Billy Haugland II, CEO of Melville-based Haugland Group, said in the news release.
Manufacturing has shifted from manual labor to a technology‑ and precision‑driven industry, experts pointed out.
“Modern manufacturing is high-tech, clean, and creative,” Robert Kufner, president and CEO of Hicksville-based Designatronics, said in the news release. “We need to show young people that it’s an exciting, well-paying field—and it’s right here on Long Island.”
Medical careers offer a wide range of well-paying opportunities that many may not realize, experts said.
“Young people often think healthcare means becoming a doctor, but doctors are just one part of the care team,” Dr. Lawrence Eisenstein, vice president and chief public and community health officer at Catholic Health, which is headquartered in Rockville Centre, said in the news release. “There are incredible opportunities as nurses, technologists, EMTs, and administrators. We need to make sure students understand that the healthcare industry welcomes a wide variety of skills and aspirations.”
Keynote speakers included Michael Woods, director of the CTE Technical Assistance Center (CTE TAC) of New York, and Janine Lalia, Long Island/New York City regional field associate for CTE TAC.
During breakout sessions, attendees looked at expanding school-industry advisory boards, strengthening apprenticeship programs and developing new models for technical training.
“When educators and employers sit together, students gain greater options and better access to internships and training,” Phil Como, executive director of the Smithtown Industry Advisory Board, said in the news release. “That’s how we connect education to opportunity.”
Attendees expected the collaboration to continue.
“This summit was not an end but a beginning,” Alessi-Miceli said. “HIA-LI’s Workforce Development Task Force will continue to advance these partnerships, ensuring that Long Island students can learn, work, and build their futures right here at home.”
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Adina Genn
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