Henrico CTE Now (Career & Technical Education)

Ronnie Betts career story at Dominion Power is not unique. Discover his story and the amazing career opportunities at Dominion Power! It's so much more than you think.

Welcome to the cutting edge of aviation and data! The fusion of  GIS and Drones  is revolutionizing how we map our world—replacing slow, costly surveys with high-speed, precision tech. In today’s episode, we’re diving into this high-growth frontier with three industry leaders:  Veronica Spradlin-Drone (Virginia Tech Drone Park) Jill Rich (Varina High School GIS/UAS Educator)  Dan Stooks (Henrico C...

In an era where the commercial construction industry is facing a massive  skilled labor shortage , how do we bridge the gap? From the ground up!  Kenbridge Construction  is leading the charge with state-of-the-art projects like the new  ACE Center at Virginia Randolph .In this episode, we sit down with Kenbridge’s Brandon Spencer and Cameron Reekes to tackle the industry's biggest hiring hurdl...

In this episode, we’re joined by  Henrico County  Building Inspection Supervisors  Jeff Reed (Commercial) and Richard Moore (Residential)  to pull back the curtain on the skilled labor shortage. From stalled production lines to the growing housing crisis, we’re diving into the real-world impact of a workforce in retreat.

In this episode, we plug into a vital conversation about the soaring demand for skilled electrical workers. We are joined by industry experts: Grant Shmelzer, CEO of IEC Chesapeake , and Mac Beaton, Director of Workforce and Career Development with Henrico County Public Schools. Join us as they illuminate the urgent need for more young people to explore a rewarding career in the electrical field,...

A student can grind through coursework to earn certifications, professional licenses, and college credits—but are they truly prepared for the financial realities of adulthood? In today’s fast-paced world, financial readiness is just as critical as a diploma. That is where the incredible team at Henrico Credit Union steps in. Led by Marketing Manager Charity Rupp and Rachel Johnston, Financial Educ...

The total "Care Economy," which includes both paid and unpaid care, is currently valued at roughly $6 trillion (nearly a quarter of U.S. GDP), and experts warn it is at risk of significant contraction due to these labor shortages. Today, we talk with Mary Helen Crowder, Home Health Aide Instructor, at the ACE Center at Hermitage, about what Henrico County Schools are doing to do their pa...

2025 was nothing short of extraordinary for Henrico’s CTE! From record-breaking student achievements to powerful new industry partnerships, the growth has been relentless. As we gear up for an even bigger 2026, join us for a look back at the most game-changing conversations that defined our year. Hit play and get inspired!

Episode: Designing Your Future: Career Pathways in Architecture Architecture encompasses a wide range of fields and areas of expertise. In this episode, professional architects Allison Leighton and Billy Riggs share what sparked their interest at a young age and which CTE skills students can use to build their own foundation for career success.   

Join us for an exciting conversation with Kim Evans , CAD & Architectural Drafting instructor and SkillsUSA Advisor, and her dynamic student leaders, Carter Bush and Quincy Wilson . They break down the world of Computer-Aided Drafting (CAD) —explaining its essential role in today's economy. Plus, discover the inspiring journey of how Quincy and Carter found their passion, joined the program, a...

We visit with Jeremy Davis- Regional Workforce Development Manager, and Curtis Tinsley- Senior Virtual Design Manager at Miller Electric and discuss the "electrification of everything," and how that, with the slow pace of new young people to get into the electrical field and with over 30% of union electricians are due to retire soon creates a perfect storm for electrical contractors. Com...

We recorded this week's episode at this year's #LifeReady Expo and talked with students and businesses who attended. We discussed the event and why it's important for businesses to talk with students about what they need to do to prepare academically, and what skills these companies would like students to have before they apply. It's all about being career and college ready.

Get ready for a treat, dog lovers! In our newest episode, we're wagging our tails with excitement as we sit down with Emily Bracken, Head Trainer and Owner of Dog Lovers Obedience School. We also have Karen Bickett, one of the Veterinary Science instructors at the ACE Center at Hermitage, joining the conversation. Emily is a shining example of the ACE Center's success. As a graduate of the program...

We talk with Tim Price, Critical Environment Engineer, and Eric Polito, Critical Operations Supervisor, both with QTS Data Centers about the explosive growth of data centers here in Henrico and the state. With that growth comes new tech jobs to fill positions in these data centers for now and years to come. https://qtsdatacenters.com/

In this episode, we talk with Jessica Behmke and Trena Sailer, both members of the Richmond Chapter of NAWIC, the National Association of Women in Construction. They were working with some young ladies who are learning about the different construction trades, not just to learn about them, but to possibly make the trades a career. Sponsored by the Richmond Chapter of the National Association of Wom...

Bruce Tibbetts, President of EMC Mechanical Services, and Neil Mott, Outside Sales Representative for NEFCO, recently visited our students at the new ACE Center at Hermitage. They got a firsthand look at the incredible work our students are doing, building out the second floor of the facility. Tibbetts and Mott were blown away by the fact that our students are gaining real-world commercial constru...

To understand the critical need for aircraft mechanics and other aviation professionals in Richmond and nationwide. We interviewed Betty Wilson, Public Relations and Education Manager, and Jeff Taylor, Aircraft Maintenance Manager, from the Virginia Department of Aviation.

In this episode, we talk with representatives Chris Brock, VSC Fire & Security; Courtney Baker, Associated General Contractors of Virginia; and Jacque Morton, IEC Chesapeake. The Virginia School Boards Association has awarded these business partners with Henrico CTE the VSBA Honor Roll Award. We talk with them about why they partner with Henrico CTE and what their industry is doing to attract...

In this episode, we are talking to Daniel Singleton- ACE Center Program Manager and Lead Instructor in Fire Science/ Career Firefighter and Paramedic, Henrico Co. Division of Fire, Nathan Jones, Firefighting 1, ACE Hermitage, Landon Parent, Firefighting 1, ACE Hermitage. Like many counties across the country, Henrico County is looking to hire young people to join their special group of individuals...

We talk to Senior Master Sgt. Walt Davis, Air Force Reserve, and Captain Tom Holder, Marine Corps JROTC, Highland Springs HS, will discuss how JROTC works and the many life and career benefits our JROTC students receive, and eliminate many myths about JROTC.

We had scheduled a student to be with Heather Veneziano, but they had to cancel at the last minute. We still had a great talk about the Horticulture/Landscaping program at the ACE Center at Virginia Randolph and the huge demand for workers in many fields connected to our program.

Today we speak with Lisa Gyamfi, Instructor, Henrico County- St. Mary’s Hospital School of Practical Nursing, Angela Wise, Class of ’25, Henrico County - St. Mary’s Hospital School of Practical Nursing, Jordan Baxter, Class of ’25, Henrico County - St. Mary’s Hospital School of Practical Nursing and the dire need to attract more young people to fill the huge demand for nurses and all medical perso...

The construction trades are suffering from a huge shortage of skilled tradesmen in the U.S. Many companies are exploring how they can attract more young people, men, and women, to the construction trades to deal with the increasing workload in their industry. Learn about the varied career paths in the industry and why they are great careers to follow. We talked with former ACE Center carpentry stu...

Arianna, a student in the Pharmacy Tech program at the ACE Center, and her instructor, Jamaal Willis, discuss career opportunities in the retail pharmacy field. Many students, including Arianna, are already working and have promising futures ahead.

In this episode, we talk with Jake Duffee, General Manager at the Caliber Collision in Glen Allen. Caliber is listed in the country's top 20 body shop companies and has many locations all over the Richmond area. Jake talks to us about the industry and how they set the standard when it comes to hiring and training their employees. Careers in the auto body industry have changed so much in the past 2...