Education, Industry & Opportunity at Warren County Career Center with Chad Bridgman

In this episode of the Ohio Technical Center Podcast Series, host Rachael Mann talks with Chad Bridgman of Warren County Career Center (WCCC), a workforce development leader and liaison between local businesses and adult learners. Chad shares his career journey through Ohio Means Jobs and his work supporting displaced workers, then explains how high-quality Career and Technical Education (CTE) is shifting toward purpose-driven, competency-based learning that respects adults’ time and aligns with employer needs. They discuss the importance of earn-and-learn models, including clear benchmarks that connect on-the-job hours and class modules to wage progression, helping both students and companies grow talent. Chad describes positioning WCCC as a “front door” for business by co-recruiting, engaging students earlier, and prioritizing employer voice instead of overhyped credentials, while pointing to increased company involvement and earlier recruitment as a coming shift.

00:00 Welcome and Guest Intro

00:54 Chad Career Journey

01:57 High Quality Adult Ed

04:46 Earn and Learn Model

08:20 Leading Across Systems

10:49 WCCC as Front Door

11:32 Workforce Gaps Response

14:03 Overhyped vs Underrated

15:49 Future Shifts Ahead

19:06 Wrap Up and Thanks