Questar III launches Career Pathways in the Capital Region virtual tour series

ALBANY, N.Y. » The Office of School Improvement at Questar III is set to launch an ongoing virtual series for school counselors, teachers and administrators meant to introduce them to various local businesses and educate them about the related skill sets and career paths available to students in the Capital Region.

The effort aims to foster ties between education and local industry and help educators point students towards greater opportunities.

Virtual tours, keynote addresses and Q& A sessions will be utilized to provide a chance to learn how industry and higher education are partnering to address workforce development needs and seek insights on how K-12 education can support this effort.

David William Davis, president and chief operating officer of Simmons Machine Tool Corporation (SMTC), based in Albany, will be the keynote speaker for the first session. Simmons, which focuses on industrial machinery for freight and commuter rail systems, is an international leader in machine tool technology with about 115 employees; the company is currently expanding into aerospace and defense work.

The event will also feature faculty from Hudson Valley Community College’s Advanced Manufacturing Technology Program.

“I have always found that tours of our manufacturing facility and the ability to see and hear everything that is going on really drives home just how exciting a career at Simmons can be. And while the current times prevent in-person tours, innovative events like this one will bring people in and provide the space to discuss just what skills and education their students would need for a variety of opportunities,” Davis said.

Terry Bordell, chief school improvement officer at Questar III, noted, “The ‘Career Pathways in the Capital Region’ virtual tour series will offer administrators, counselors and educators a unique window into some of the leading entities across lo

cal industry – including trades, cyber security and STEM – and the ability to hear from and query leaders in these fields.” He added, “This will arm educators with the knowledge they need to carry out the vital task of guiding students towards rewarding careers right here in the Capital Region.”