Meeting scheduled for Jan. 16, followed by the regional center’s 10-year anniversary celebration
WASHINGTON, Iowa (Jan. 6, 2025)–Kirkwood Community College will hold the first meeting of the Washington County Leadership Council on Jan. 16, from 2:30-4 p.m., at the institution’s Washington County Regional Center. Kirkwood President Kristie Fisher, college officials, local community leaders and members of the general public are all expected to be in attendance. Following the meeting, the college will hold a celebration recognizing the 10-year anniversary of the regional center opening its doors to serve Washington County.
The goal of the County Leadership Council is to bring key stakeholders together for a discussion about how Kirkwood’s impactful resources are utilized in their community. The topics discussed will relate to the college’s work throughout Washington County including workforce development, current trends, college statistics, common areas of interest, new opportunities and economic impact among others. In addition, college leaders would like to hear from attendees about how Kirkwood can help address the pressing education, training and workforce needs of their county. The college plans to hold two County Leadership Council meetings per year.
According to Washington County Regional Center Director Tera Pickens, both the Leadership Council meeting and anniversary celebration are a great chance for attendees to learn and discuss more about how the college serves the county.
“This meeting is an opportunity for the people of Washington County to learn about the important work Kirkwood is doing in our communities as well as to discuss the education and workforce issues that impact their lives,” said Pickens. “We’ve invited a wide range of participants, including local business leaders, city and county officials, educators, donors, and other key contributors who can offer their perspectives. At the same time, we want to emphasize that the meeting is open to all Washington County residents who want to be involved. Everyone is welcome to join the conversation, and we’re excited to see what comes out of the discussion.”
After the meeting, the college will celebrate the 10-year anniversary of the regional center. Held in partnership with the Washington Chamber of Commerce, the event will begin with a ribbon cutting at 4 p.m., followed by remarks from President Fisher and student-led tours of the facility including classrooms and lab spaces. Drinks and light refreshments will be served. Similar to the Leadership Council Meeting, the celebration is open to the public.
“Kirkwood has proudly served Washington County with this regional center for a decade,” said Pickens. “We’ve helped thousands of students explore career pathways, earn industry credentials, and jumpstart their college degrees, while also offering programs like high school completion, adult literacy and continuing education classes–all of which have made a real difference for our community. We invite everyone to come celebrate with us by touring our facilities, meeting our team, and seeing how we’re shaping the future right here in Washington County.”
For more information, and to RSVP for the Washington County Leadership Council meeting, please contact Tera Pickens at 319-653-4655 or [email protected].
*****EVENT*****
What: Kirkwood Washington County Leadership Council Meeting and Regional Center 10-Year Anniversary Celebration
Where: Kirkwood Washington County Regional Center, 2192 Lexington Blvd in Washington
When: Thursday, January 16
Leadership Council Meeting: 2:30-4 p.m.
10-Year Anniversary Celebration: 4-6 p.m.
Who can attend: Open to the general public
Leadership Council RSVP: Tera Pickens at 319-653-4655 or [email protected]