New Jersey Council of County Colleges Chief Innovation and Policy Officer Maria Heidkamp, New Jersey Business and Industry Association Vice President of Government Affairs Althea D. Ford, and YMCA State Alliance CEO Julie Gallanty discussed the state’s Opportunity Agenda on News 12+ during the weekend of April 27. The conversation took place on the program “Minding Your Business,” hosted by Bob Considine.
The Opportunity Agenda is described as a collective plan for creating a Future Ready New Jersey, with an objective that by 2040, 75% of adults in the labor market will hold postsecondary degrees or credentials of value. This initiative aims to prepare residents for changes in technology, demographics, and labor market demands.
Heidkamp said, “We realized… that the world is really changing, some of that is technology… but it’s also demographics and other changes in the labor market. We also know in recent years that higher education has faced a lot of challenges. Some of that is legitimate concern about the return on investment for degrees and credentials, some of it is a lot of worry about the high cost and soaring student debt.” She continued: “So we came together and realized we needed to do things differently, more systematically, more collaboratively and that led to the creation of the opportunity agenda.”
The New Jersey Business and Industry Association serves as the nation’s largest statewide employer association representing employers across various sectors according to its official website. The association advances competitive excellence and financial success for its members while delivering essential information and services according to its official website. Michele Siekerka serves as president and chief executive officer according to its official website.
Additionally, NJBIA facilitates partnerships among businesses, government entities, and academic institutions according to its official website. It offers advocacy efforts along with practical information and cost-saving benefits designed to support business prosperity throughout New Jersey’s private sector according to its official website.
“Minding Your Business” airs every Saturday at 9:30 a.m., Sunday at 9:30 a.m., as well as Saturday at 7:30 p.m., having won seven Telly Awards over three years including gold in Interview & Talk Show category in 2024.
