Introducing Workforce Insights

Workforce Insights is a new series designed to provide workforce professionals with practical tools and strategies to address today’s challenges. Leading this initiative is Marty Lessmann, Co-Founder and Chief Experience Officer of Workforce Connect, with over 20 years of experience bridging education and industry.

Marty began his career as a high school teacher and coach, where he discovered a passion for empowering individuals through education. He later transitioned to district leadership roles, including as a Career and Technical Education (CTE) Director and leader in designing and implementing career and college pathways.

After the pandemic, Marty expanded his reach nationwide, coaching districts and colleges on implementing hybrid and online learning solutions to drive measurable workforce outcomes. Through this work, he identified the need for a tailored platform to streamline workforce partnership management—and finally replace those sticky notes and spreadsheets. In response, he co-founded Workforce Connect to simplify and make workforce partnership management easy.

With extensive experience in education and workforce development, Marty’s vision for Workforce Insights is to empower professionals with actionable insights to build sustainable career pathways for their community.

The Workforce Insights series is a curated collection of papers, essays, blogs, interviews, and roundtable discussions that dive into the most pressing challenges facing workforce professionals today. Combining research, real-world examples, and actionable strategies, these resources are designed to help workforce leaders tackle challenges head-on and drive meaningful outcomes.

Sample Topics Covered in the Series

• Capacity and Enrollment: Exploring strategies to increase capacity and enrollment to meet employer demands.
• Building Workforce Partnerships: Proven approaches for fostering and sustaining collaboration between education and industry.
• Technology in Workforce Development: Leveraging tools and data to create impactful workforce solutions.

Whether you’re a workforce board member, college administrator, or industry professional, this series is tailored to provide insights and solutions to meet your unique needs.

The workforce development landscape is evolving faster than ever. Talent shortages, technological advancements, and shifting industry demands are creating complex challenges. At the same time, stronger collaboration between education systems and industry leaders has become more critical than ever.

That’s where Workforce Insights steps in. By showcasing best practices and offering actionable solutions, this series empowers workforce professionals with the tools and strategies they need to adapt, innovate, and succeed in this rapidly changing environment.

We’re excited to announce the release of the first white paper in the Workforce Insights series: “Defining the Workforce Ecosystem.” This resource dives into practical strategies for understanding and leveraging the interconnected organizations that shape workforce development. Stay tuned for more insights as we continue to explore the tools and strategies driving workforce success.

Ready to take on today’s workforce challenges? Here’s how you can engage with Workforce Insights:

• Download the White Paper: “Defining the Workforce Ecosystem” here.
• Join the Conversation: Follow Workforce Connect on LinkedIn for updates, insights, and thought leadership.

“I’m excited to share this series with you and look forward to starting conversations that will drive meaningful change in the workforce landscape. Together, we can create solutions that work for everyone—workers, employers, and communities alike.”