Future Ready Forum will address job market in region

The Bentonville School District will host an event next week to help inform the community on employment opportunities for Northwest Arkansas graduates.

The Future Ready Forum will feature a panel of business representatives speaking about how best to prepare students for those opportunities, according to a news release from the district.

The forum will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday in the performing arts center of Bentonville’s West High School, 1351 Gamble Road in Centerton.

Mike Harvey, chief operating officer of the Northwest Arkansas Council, will provide data on the region’s present and future workforce needs.

Debbie Jones, superintendent of Bentonville schools, will present on current course offerings and the district’s plans to better align career and technical courses to opportunities.

Information also will be provided about skills that are in demand and identified by regional and national employers as necessary for integration into the workforce.

Panelists will include Rita Carney, a Wal-Mart vice president; Rick Webb, founding principal of Grit Studios; Angie Warnock, president and chief executive officer of Vista Productions; and Jason Bigbee, chief creative officer of BigBee Enterprises.

Public input will be gathered to develop topics for future forums and ideas for supporting students.