EVOLVE Magazine - First Coast Edition - April 2022

F I R S T COAST RE GION

BUSINESS AND ENTREPRENEUR MAGAZINE A P RI L 20 22 | $6.95

EVOLUTION OF LEARNING ISSUE

AREA COMMUNITY COLLEGES ADAPT FOR STUDENT AND BUSINESS SUCCESS Frank Mercer, director at Daytona State College of Business, Engineering & Technology

LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS OFFER INNOVATIVE TRAINING PROGRAMS FOR ALTERNATIVE WORKFORCES

LOCAL LEARNING AND TRAINING ORGANIZATIONS SUPPORT BUSINESS OWNERS THROUGH CHALLENGING TIMES

This issue of

LIFELONG LEARNING IN A 3.0 WORLD

is provided courtesy of

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LIVIN' THE DREAM In addition to all of the competitive advantages that Florida offers to a relocating company, Flagler County offers a variety of housing stock appropriate for the CEO and the workforce.

Median home value in Flagler County is $248,700. The County is in the top 1/3 of all Florida counties in overall health outcomes and the graduation rate for students is higher than the State average. With plenty of open space to locate a business, Flagler County is ready for you.

ROOM TO GROW Gioia Sails LLC relocated to Flagler County in 2013 with 43 fulltime employees. Experiencing substantial growth and the need for expansion, the company invested another $3 million to acquire property and build a 20,000sf facility in 2017. The County was able to assist in many ways. Fast forward to 2021, Gioia Sails now employs over 92 citizens and is expanding again.

The latest addition to Flagler County’s corporate family is Boston Whaler which will employ 300-400 people in a 225,000sf facility by the close of 2021. For those that are not in the sea-faring community, Boston Whaler manufactures boats from 13’ to 35’ long.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

APRIL 2022

EVOLVE Business and Entrepreneur Magazine

In Every Issue 03 Meet Our Editorial Advisory Board Members

084 Local Organizations Offer Innovative Training Programs for Alternative Workforces

20 Education’s Public-Private Partnerships of Today Help Develop Palm Coast’s Town Center of Tomorrow

28 The Road Ahead

30

12 An Innovative Place to Grow and Learn on the First Coast

Community Service Is Good Business

Features

04 Area Community Colleges Adapt for Student and Business Success

14 Local Learning and Training Organizations Support Business Owners Through Challenging Times

18 Lifelong Learning in a 3.0 World

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22 Non-Traditional Learning Tools Enable First Coast Entrepreneur to Bloom

24 A Tribute to Joe Rizzo: A Community Leader. Gone too soon.

26 The Great Resignation: Upskilling, Reskilling and Formal Education

BUSINESS AND ENTREPRENEUR MAGAZINE

EVOLVE First Coast Region is published by TouchPoint Innovative Solutions.

EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD MEMBERS FIRST COAST

PUBLISHER & EDITOR Howard Holley

MARKETING AND SALES Jeanne Coates

EVOLVE DIGITAL Aaron London

ART DIRECTOR Leslie Proctor

GREG BLOSÉ

Palm Coast Chamber of Commerce

MARIJO CYZYCKI

CINDY DALECKI

AdventHealth, Palm Coast

Marketing 2 Go

MANAGING EDITOR Amy Angelilli

EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD MEMBERS

Greg Blosé • Palm Coast Chamber of Commerce MariJo Cyzycki • AdventHealth, Palm Coast Cindy Dalecki • Marketing 2 Go Amy Lukasik • Flagler County Economic Development Office Gina Mangus • Flagler Health+ Scott Maynard • St. Johns County Chamber of Commerce Dr. Sandra Miles • DSM Initiatives, LLC Joseph Roy • Coastal Entrepreneurship & Innovation Institute Joseph Saviak • Dr. Joe Saviak Consulting, Business and Leadership Development

AMY LUKASIK

Flagler County Economic Development Office

GINA MANGUS

SCOTT MAYNARD

Flagler Health+

St. Johns County Chamber of Commerce

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Write For Us!

If you’re interested in contributing to EVOLVE, please email links to current writing samples and a little bit about yourself to Amy@TouchPointIS.com.

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JOE ROY

Coastal Entrepreneurship and Innovation Institute

JOSEPH SAVIAK

Dr. Joe Saviak Consulting, Business and Leadership Development

EVOLVE/ TOUCHPOINT INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS MEMBERS

HOWARD HOLLEY Publisher

JEANNE COATES

Marketing and Sales

AARON LONDON

EVOLVE Digital Managing Editor

EVOLVE is published four times per year by

TouchPoint Innovative Solutions All rights reserved. No portion of this magazine may be reproduced without the express written consent of the publisher. TouchPoint Innovative Solutions assumes no responsibility for errors or omissions.

LESLIE PROCTOR Art Director

AMY ANGELILLI

First Coast Region Managing Editor

© 2022 TouchPoint Innovative Solutions. All rights reserved.

APRIL 2022 | 5 |

Area Community Colle and Busine

F

lorida has made higher education a priority, earning

novice to industry-certified in less than 14 months, graduating

few years. Launching the “Get There Florida” initiative in

employment upon completion of their studies, according to

accolades as the No. 1 state in the nation over the past

2020, supporting enrollment in the state’s career and technical

education programs, colleges have seen an uptick in funding and

students waste little time and are prepared for immediate College Advancement Coordinator Arleen Dennison.

“If you compare a 2-4 year college program with FCTC’s, our

the welcome addition of 54 new industry certifications available

students only study their major,” she said.

board in high-demand industries.

allowing First Coast Technical College (FCTC)

maximizing the opportunity to upskill through higher education

options to meet the needs of regional businesses.

for funding, broadening the opportunities for students across the Serving as a catalyst, employees and employers are

and trade certifications.

Fast-Track to the Workforce

Training students from the ground up, First Coast Technical

College in St. Augustine, Florida, offers a variety of full-time Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs culled from the

region’s high-demand jobs list.

Ready to take a student from

| 6 | EVOLVE BUSINESS AND ENTREPRENEUR MAGAZINE

The instructors are industry professionals

the flexibility to offer additional programming “We also provide short-term industry

programs so employers can design their own syllabus to upskill their existing employees,”

Arleen Dennison

said Dennison.

“FCTC currently offers this type of continuing workforce

education in the aerospace, public safety, transportation,

hospitality and agriculture industries. Some students use their training to progress on to a degree program or increase their earning power,” she said.

ges Adapt for Student ss Success Headquartered in Daytona Beach, Florida, Frank Mercer

heads up Daytona State’s College of Business, Engineering &

Technology. Recently tapped by a local business to upskill their workers, Mercer said it’s the collaboration among like-minded

resource partners that ensures the region can quickly adapt to an industry’s evolving needs.

“One recent example was with a company training a

group of employees in a specialized micro-welding process,”

by Danielle Anderson

FAME (Federation for Advanced Manufacturing Education),

an innovative partnership that matches students enrolled in the

A.S. Engineering Technology program with local manufacturing companies for a combination of classroom and on-the-job training, shared Mercer.

Skills – Hard or Soft, You Need Them Both

In addition to hands-on training, employers and employees

shared Mercer. “We designed and delivered the training which

are fine-tuning their soft skills, said Joel Abo, Director of Business

the funding by purchasing the equipment and materials.”

(SJRSC).

CareerSource Flagler/Volusia funded, and the company matched CTE programming takes place through Mary Karl School

“A common theme amongst small business owners has to do

of Workforce & Continuing Education and

with the lack of basic soft skills and professionalism displayed

programs such as welding technology,

success like punctuality and polished communication skills are

includes a number of high-skill, high-wage automotive service technology, building trades and construction design, CNC machining

and HVAC technology. Daytona State College Frank Mercer

Education & Corporate Training for St. Johns River State College

(DSC) also launched Florida’s first chapter of

from younger employees. Oftentimes the basic necessities of greatly lacking,” shared Abo.

“Understandably, these skills can be difficult to acquire

without work experience. However, we have capstone courses in several of our Workforce Programs where students may

APRIL 2022 | 7 |

Daytona State College 3D Printing

earn a two-year

needs of the continuously evolving workforce,” he said.

on job skills and

affordable. We provide flexible classes and training during

learning through

We strive to provide the best education and training to our

degree that focuses experiential

internships.”

Businesses

Daytona State College HVAC Technology

that seek valuable, resourceful and

“Employees are looking for training that is quick and

the day, evening and online to meet their busy schedules. diverse student population because we know the value

and importance of attaining these skills to succeed in the workplace.”

Working closely with students and employers at Daytona

innovative employees will need to look beyond laser-focused skill

State College, Mercer agrees.

prove themselves as contributors, said DSC’s Frank Mercer.

from the “classroom” – whatever form it takes – to the

the company culture through their soft skills, intentional hiring

to adapt quickly to changing conditions and requirements.

sets and seek individuals who are willing to learn and eager to “In order to find these individuals who will add value to

practices are required. Entrepreneurial organizations need to provide the tools staff need to succeed,” he said.

“One way Daytona State College is preparing our students

“At the end of the day, it is all about transferring learning

workplace. Like business, the classroom has been forced

Remote learning, blended learning, flexible learning, hybrid

learning, virtual learning are all common terms today,” he said.

With online enrollment increasing over the past two

for that role is with our entrepreneurial mindset education

decades, Mercer said 90.5% of Daytona State College students

students identify and develop an entrepreneurial mindset that

compared to 78.4% in the previous year.

program. This innovative instruction focuses on helping

cultivates a mental attitude or inclination to discover, evaluate,

enrolled in at least one Distance Education class in 2020/21,

Looking ahead, he forecasts a continued increase in adult

assess and capitalize on opportunities. These skills assist in

online student participation as people become acclimated to

applied strategically within an organization of any size.”

digital literacy skills that translate into essential skills for the

guiding an individual to start their own business and can be

Be Nimble: Remote Learning & the Workforce

“One of the basic principles of economics is quite simple…

time is money. It is the one commodity that, once lost, can never be returned,” said SJRSC’s Joel Abo.

Abo acknowledges educators are in a race against time to

the virtual learning classroom and, in turn, develop increased modern workplace.

“State colleges are uniquely suited to help businesses

find, train and keep well-qualified applicants, and Daytona State College offers the region’s premier training and postsecondary education,” said Mercer.

provide adequate programs and training that

will accommodate and sustain their students’ careers in the future.

“This is why we review the Regional

Demand Occupation List annually and work with our local business to make sure we Joel Abo

provide workforce programs to address the

| 8 | EVOLVE BUSINESS AND ENTREPRENEUR MAGAZINE

Danielle Anderson has worked in the public relations and media industry for a decade.

She started her career as a reporter for Flagler Broadcasting where she discovered her passion for telling the stories of communities in Florida.

you belong

HERE

Why Choose Daytona State?

■ ■

■

■

More than 100 programs to choose from 1, 2, and 4-year programs including Nursing, Accounting, Engineering, and more!

Nationally recognized degrees including 12 bachelor’s degrees Half the cost of state univerity tuition

One look at Daytona State and you’ll see why...you belong here!

Student Residence Hall Opening Fall 2022

DaytonaState.edu/Housing

Local Organiz Programs

| 10 | EVOLVE BUSINESS AND ENTREPRENEUR MAGAZINE

ations Offer Innovative Training for Alternative Workforces

by Dylan McGuire

O

ne of the unfortunate side effects of the events of the past two years has been the worsening employee gap in Florida’s workforce. Many businesses in the First Coast Region and across the country are struggling to find trained

employees to fill vital positions.

Fortunately, there are a number of organizations that are working to make a difference.

From traditional and non-traditional apprenticeships to training for disabled youth to programs to help entrepreneurs reach their goals, here are some ways that local organizations are tapping and training alternative workforces to help breathe new life into the struggling labor market.

Apprenticeships for a Range of Industries Businesses looking to expand their workforce can take advantage of CareerSource Northeast Florida’s Registered Apprenticeship Program.

In recent years, the State of Florida expanded its Registered Apprenticeship Programs to include a wide range of industries, including healthcare, landscaping, hospitality, manufacturing, cyber security, skilled trades, logistics and even childcare.

“Not only do apprenticeships allow job seekers to move into new careers without incurring extensive college debt, but they also help develop a skilled labor force in our region that enables our economy to continue to grow,” says Doreen Lund, apprenticeship navigator for CareerSource Northeast Florida, a Jacksonville based organization that serves the First Coast Region and beyond.

Apprenticeships include a minimum of one year of on-the-job training with a mentor, several hours of related instruction and the completion of a national certification.

Florida has offered large grants to expand state programs for the last few years, and in 2022, it plans to offer $15 million in grants for new and expanding apprenticeship programs.

“We are experiencing a talent shortage, and one way to brand your organization as one that values its employees is to develop an apprenticeship program,” says Lund.

To get started, businesses can reach out to Doreen Lund at DLund@CareerSourceNEFL.com or on careersourcenortheastflorida.com/ apprenticeship-programs.

Doreen Lund

APRIL 2022 | 11 |

Career Source Northeast Florida training

The Transition Youth program also provides work training,

Training Youth with Disabilities for Florida’s Workforce

self-advocacy, and career exploration classes. They even

Another example of how training

provide industry-

alternative workforces can help

specific programs for

the businesses in our region is the

in-demand Florida jobs.

Transition Youth Program sponsored

“Individuals

by the nonprofit employment service

with disabilities are

for people with disabilities, EmployU.

amazing workers,”

The organization, headquartered in Casselberry, serves 50 counties across the state, including those in the First Coast Region.

The Transition Youth Program aids students aged 14-21 who either have an Individual Education Plan (IEP) or 504 Plan. These students range from those with specific learning disabilities to those with autism or an intellectual disability.

The program places them in jobs with companies in their local communities in industries such as construction, hospitality, healthcare, industry and more.

“The businesses actually benefit as well because they are helping to create that future workforce. They also have access to additional hands onsite to help them, especially now when everyone is in such dire straits in terms of Lindy MaddenSinka

finding staff,” says Transitions Program Director Lindy Madden-Sinka.

| 12 | EVOLVE BUSINESS AND ENTREPRENEUR MAGAZINE

says MaddenSinka. “They’re motivated. They want to work, and they want to participate. They have less incidence of absenteeism and tardiness, and they actually tend to stay employed with the same company for longer periods.”

Students in the programs tend to stay for three to five years and many transition to college or full-time careers. Businesses can participate at no cost or obligation by contacting the organization at employu.com.

Building Tomorrow’s Businesses PS27 Ventures is an early-stage venture capital fund dedicated to helping innovative entrepreneurs in Florida scale their businesses through coaching and training. The Jacksonville-based firm invests in companies from all over the state in five verticals: software as a service, e-commerce, health tech, financial tech and sustainability.

“When we invest in a business, we become part of

teams from a broad variety of industries to

their extended team,” says Christine Caven, director of

participate in leadership training in ethics,

communications for P27. The fund has a team of experts who

communication and high-performance team

provide round-the-clock support to ensure their success.

building. It even offers a mock “Shark Tank”

This can include anything from coaching on how to handle a new client, budget guidance or even preparation

event with a $10,000 award to the winner.

The firm also offers a Black Entrepreneurs

Christine Caven

for an interview on TV. “We get them prepared for whatever

Forum and a Female Founders Forum to

challenges come their way or whatever opportunities they

encourage traditionally underrepresented business owners to

have to grow their business,” says Caven.

build their leadership skills and network.

This one-on-one approach led the fund to expand its training programs.

Businesses in the First Coast Region are encouraged to visit ps27ventures.com to learn more and apply.

“One of the things we’ve learned that was that the founders [who] would come through our programs had some gaps in their leadership skills. So, we started hosting small programs in our office, and we eventually decided to form a foundation around it,” says Caven.

The firm’s marquee event is Leadership Week, a four-day program with the goal of transitioning founders into CEOs. This program selects diverse, multicultural and international

Dylan McGuire is a Philadelphia-based freelance writer who has written for a variety of industries and publications for more than 25 years. He is also a professional musician (guitar and vocals) and plays more than 100 gigs a year when not writing.

APRIL 2022 | 13 |

An Innovative Place to Grow and Learn on the First Coast

I

by Ted Regis

t has been said that if we resist advancements in tech and

innovation, we may be left behind while our communities

at large move ahead. Recent years have seen swift shifts and

adaptations in education and work culture. It is hard to imagine

life without remote learning, work-from-home programs and all manner of food delivery services.

One nearby entity embraced future trends to an exceptional

level. It may surprise you to know that this is happening more or less in our backyard. For residents of northern St. Johns County, The Link is an innovative, environmentally friendly coworking

facility in Ponte Vedra that stands apart as a veritable visionary.

Known for its “learn-play-think-do” philosophy, The Link boasts 5,000 square feet of creative, educational, recreational, event and office space. It is a hub on a mission to foster a sense of community interaction that is meaningful and balancing.

| 14 | EVOLVE BUSINESS AND ENTREPRENEUR MAGAZINE

In terms of child learning, The Link houses Sapna Academy

- a versatile learning center where kids aged 4 to 14 benefit

from dynamic programming that lends itself to a self-directed

experience. In his observation of arbitrary boundaries that can

hinder learning, The Link’s co-founder Raghu Misra notes that “The only division that should really matter from a child’s… standpoint is curiosity to learn.” Feigned boundaries might

include the subdivision where a family happens to live, socio-

economic status or even a conventional academic bell schedule.

“Imagine a modern-day schoolhouse where kids are grouped… by ability and interest rather than age and allowed to explore their interests and find their passion,” Raghu shares. He and

his wife, Gurpreet, opened their doors to the First Coast in the summer of 2021. Prior to this, Gurpreet worked in municipal growth management

following her Urban Planning

studies. Raghu ran a company called Ship

Express, which General Electric eventually

acquired. Their youngest child is benefiting from time spent at The Link tinkering with Legos® and exploring the field of robotics.

Raghu Misra

The Link serves all ages. Some of their

activity and class offerings include Pilates,

fencing, STEM, performing arts and speaker series. Another feature housed on-site is the Flagler Health+ 360 Immersive Studio. It displays virtual reality environments that foster

learning and entertainment. “We…are coming up with content in the Flagler Health+ 360 degree Immersive Studio in the

field of technology, education, therapy, training, gaming, etc.,” relates Gurpreet.

To get the most out of these programs, locals can purchase

a variety of memberships. Along these lines, Gurpreet explains that “our vision is to have activities across ages (on the first

floor) as well as…a professional co-work / innovation hub on the second floor. The building has spaces that were designed

to allow multiple activities to take place at the same time.” By connecting instructors, small businesses and families, various collaborations can be hosted, such as board meetings, parties and workshops.

From the moment one enters The Link, an arresting sensory

experience begins. Generous natural light streams into the

building thanks to several glass facades. An elephant sculpture made of tens of thousands of flips flops that washed ashore on

the Indian Ocean caught my eye straight away. Similar dolphin and giraffe sculptures are strewn throughout both stories of

the community hub. The sculptures were made by some 175

artists in Kenya. The Link’s environmental stewardship does

Above top: An improv show; Above bottom: The Link’s exterior

not stop at recycled art pieces, though. Their commitment to

an Olympic games viewing party, for instance. This stage area

system that counts the number of people in various rooms to

musicians. The founders hope to foster an environment where

leave a light on longer than needed as suites are generally dark

offer deep dives into their respective creative processes. Imagine

about being part of an institution that leaves such a responsible

would ideally have opportunities to meet local professional

LEED certification.

that led to the finished product on display.

and architectural cohesion. The walls currently showcase

continue to make use of The Link’s offerings. This is an

glance, her pieces may seem to be paintings. But really, they

of future innovation head-on .

sustainability can also be seen in a cutting-edge climate control

could also host comedians, authors, improvisers, filmmakers or

intuitively adjust temperatures. It is also nearly impossible to

these performers would not only display their work but also

until entry motion is detected. Our community can feel good

an area high school’s film academy, for instance. Their students

footprint. In fact, The Link is on its way to obtaining gold-level

filmmakers and discuss the framing, composition and lighting

The Link achieves all the above while maintaining aesthetic

fitting works from collage artist Suzanne Schenk. At first

It will be remarkable to see how our new Nocatee neighbors

establishment uniquely poised to meet the demands and nuance

are an amalgamation of unlikely parts. Finding beauty in the

overlooked, she uses discarded materials to compose treasured landscapes. Much like The Link, Suzanne’s work leaves a

minimal carbon footprint. An apropos collaboration for sure.

Just beyond the foyer is a stage boasting a 10x20 foot screen

with versatile uses. When the space is rented, one could host

Teddy Regis holds degrees in English and Communication from Flagler College. He has worked as a sign language interpreter for seven years.

APRIL 2022 | 15 |

Local Learning and Training Organizations Support Business Owners Through Challenging Times

E

by LaKay Cornell

very business owner or entrepreneur knows that training and support are a huge part of their life - and success. As Dr. Ton O’Neal of Grow, FL,

The core problem was still the same: How can I make enough money to stay open, pay my staff and vendors and pay myself?

Instead of woes about keeping revenue up and costs down,

wrote for EVOLVE online last year, “Unleashing a spirit of

increasing customer numbers and finding the right staff,

entrepreneurship requires a specific environment where

business owners were now thinking about whether they could

innovation, collaboration, cooperation and regionally based

(and should) transition to a remote workforce, how to apply for

support systems are aligned to create economic impact.”

and be compliant with the COVID relief grants and how to pay

Successful businesses don’t happen in a silo.

their staff with no revenue coming in.

Like most places across the country, St. Johns County has a

And instead of woes about how to write the perfect pitch

number of networking, education and training and mentoring

deck, where to get the right introductions for funding and how

groups. And, like most entrepreneurs and business owners

to be first to market, entrepreneurs were now thinking about

across the country, our residents who run a business rely on

what the startup world might look like after the pandemic is

them.

over and whether their must-have product or app would even

It’s no surprise, then, that when COVID kept everyone from leaving home, business owners and entrepreneurs looked to

still be relevant.

The University of North Florida Center for Entrepreneurship

those same organizations to help them navigate the shifting

and Innovation (the Center) is an equity-free, comprehensive

sand. For many, the details might have shifted, but the struggle

business incubator, which typically provides early-stage startups

was familiar.

and small businesses services, space and support for one year, at

International Woman’s Day by the PS27 Foundation

| 16 | EVOLVE BUSINESS AND ENTREPRENEUR MAGAZINE

no charge, via a cohort model. To date, the Center has worked with 59 companies, 54% of which are femaleled and 59% of which are minority-led.

Kara Barber, the Assistant Director for the Center, shared that they “started noticing individuals weren’t interested in waiting around until our next cohort Kara Barber

to start working on their business or idea.” Applying,

interviewing and waiting to be part of a yearlong cohort with limited spots wasn’t going to cut it. It was time to rethink how they were serving the First Coast Region business and

Scott Maynard facilitates a St. Johns County Chamber of Commerce Economic Development panel discussion.

entrepreneur communities.

So, the Center expanded by providing support to “walk-in” companies they “felt they could help, based on their needs and our bandwidth.”

Being part of a year-long cohort can be a dream come true, but most business owners and entrepreneurs get their education and support in smaller chunks. These are typically small events and workshops covering any number of topics, such as bookkeeping, social media, green supply chains and leadership.

There are also a few signature full-day events that people look forward to each year, such as the Female Founder Forum, put on each year in celebration of International Women’s Day by the PS27 Foundation of PS27 Ventures. Started in 2015, the event is designed to help more women to become successful entrepreneurs and innovators. Programming includes tools to build a sustainable business that will create jobs, provide returns and result in personal wealth.

Shannon LoGiudice, who runs Operations & Administrations at PS27, shared that this looked-forward-to-event shifted during lockdown. Fortunately, they were able to pivot to a virtual event, which was well attended and enjoyed.

Like anyone entrenched in the startup world, the folks at PS27 are no strangers to adapting and innovating. Shannon said, “It challenged us in a good way - to figure

The event is going back to in-person this year, and now the team is taking on the challenge of having an in-person event in this new world of social distancing, mask wearing and general overwhelm.

One of the most invaluable resources to any business owner is the local Chamber of Commerce, which many times helps business leaders understand what various government bodies require and can provide.

According to Scott Maynard, director of economic development at the St. Johns County Chamber of Commerce, the organization’s role expanded quickly with the ESF 18 Emergency Programming.

“Partnering with the City and County to get information disseminated about the variety of federal, state and local programs was key to helping our local business and industry.”

Scott Maynard

Which brings us right back to where

we started. In so many ways, the First Coast Region is that environment where “innovation, collaboration, cooperation and regionally based support systems” come together to support business owners and entrepreneurs. And based on the results from the past couple of years, it looks as though we are poised to stay that way for a long time into the future.

out the ins and outs of zoom and provide the same level of experience women expect from us. So, we watched a lot of virtual events to get ideas and create some best practices.”

Shannon LoGiudice

Based on the feedback they received, they

LaKay Cornell is a writer and communications strategist who has worked with social impact brands and nonprofits for 20+ years.

were successful!

APRIL 2022 | 17 |

Lifelong Learning in a 3.0 World

by Barbara Hart

B

efore the pandemic, companies, educators and workers used all of the different modalities of lifelong learning.

Lectures, pamphlets, books, seminars and continuing

think it was for kids, but I wanted to learn more about how our website was developed.”

Margaret’s current employer is also located in St. Augustine,

education classes were the norm for the last century. And then,

but now Margaret works from her home in Palm Coast,

and college courses offered by institutions from all over the

country. “I’m fortunate that Cause Inspired also believes in

those methods were joined by online classes, YouTube videos world. What works today, and what does the future look like for those who seek lifelong education?

Margaret Wallis, a digital strategist for Cause Inspired,

has sought additional opportunities to learn since graduating from Flagler College. In her prior job with

lifelong learning. One of our managers plans a session every

week. We may watch and discuss a video or learn a new skill from a co-worker.” On her own, Margaret still seeks courses and watches YouTube videos to learn new skills.

Even before the pandemic halted in-person education,

VisitStAugustine.com, she took advantage

companies and workers were gravitating to online learning

education, watched YouTube videos on

and various colleges. Individuals may have sought new

of the company’s opportunities for online

various topics and even took a coding course Margaret Wallis

providing support to non-profit clients from all over the

from Conn Academy. “It was an easy course. I

| 20 | EVOLVE BUSINESS AND ENTREPRENEUR MAGAZINE

with courses from LinkedIn, YouTube, SkillShare, Coursera

certifications and business skills or simply enjoyed learning.

Employers found that, in addition to building more

knowledgeable and effective teams, providing opportunities for lifelong learning can help retain valuable employees.

What are those in the First Coast region

doing now, and what can they do in the

future? For 29 years, Tom Cooke, president

are stand-alone.” Onyx plans to offer both peer-reviewed

courses, as well as seminars and classes from consultants, such as Russ Barnes of the Purposefully Profitable Podcast.

While participants in Onyx will meet and collaborate in

and founder of Learning Resource Group

the virtual campus, not all classes will be taught there. When

a company focused on in-person training

making it up as we go along and following and learning from

in Ormond Beach, has built and operated Tom Cooke

certification,” said Amylin. “We can also present courses that

and education for legacy sales professionals

and sales managers. “Until 23 months ago, almost all of

our business was live, and 90% of that was in-house at our

customer’s facility.” Two years ago this June, Tom’s company had to pivot to deliver these programs virtually.

“This business we are in can never be effectively done

asked, Amylin said, “We are all discovering this stuff. We are each other.” Classes aren’t being offered yet, but they expect to upload curriculum and have prototypes working around August. “We aren’t charging for classes at the start. We are

building our community and gathering the people, so we have all the tools we need.”

Many of the next generation are already comfortable

digitally and virtually,” said Tom. While his company was

in the metaverse. (So much so that Ralph Lauren now sells

and his team have seen an increased demand for in-person

education? CK of Onyx believes that Web 3.0 can be used to

able to provide value to their clients during the pandemic, he training for sales managers and these high-level salespeople.

His company is again pivoting, this time with pleasure, as

they are starting to offer in-person training once again. Still, he recognizes the value of other modalities for the right

situation and team. “The major players in my company are self-educating. They read, they study, and they learn from

digital clothing for avatars.) Is Onyx University the future of create accessible educational opportunities for people from all

over the world. There is no reason some of them can’t be from Florida’s First Coast.

Echoing both Margaret and Tom, Amylin says, “We will be

learning forever.”

co-workers and from clients.” As Tom put it, “We are really

talking about leadership. A fundamental tenet of leadership is a commitment to lifelong learning.”

Amylin Castro of Onyx University, Inc.

would agree with that. But the modality she

is working toward offering is not located near

Originally from Maine, Barbara Hart lived on her sailboat and cruised extensively for more than five years. Now in St. Augustine, she writes for VisitStAugustine.com and continues to enjoy living where there is no chance of snow.

the First Coast. Onyx University is in the metaverse, located only online at Amylin Castro

https://onyx.university/feed.

Onyx Founder and CEO Chris Kelly

(known as CK) believes the Web 3.0 experience can provide decentralized learning access. Onyx University is as much

about access as it is about education. Said Amylin, “CK is about giving accessible learning from everyone to everyone. He calls it being aware. Being aware that opportunities exist and then making them available to everyone.”

Currently, Onyx does not offer courses, but they do

welcome learners, teachers, leaders and the curious to join

them on campus to learn, share and collaborate while they

are building the curriculum. Amylin is clear that Onyx is now in the building stage. In the future, Onyx expects to provide courses in career development and is building a way to

create and hold curriculum for people who seek a self-paced education in any field.

“We can certainly offer education that provides an industry APRIL 2022 | 21 |

Education’s Public-Pr Develop Palm Coast’s

A

ccording to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, five of the 10 fastest-growing occupations between 2020-2030 are

related to the medical field, and the other five are a mix of

the trade and technical industries.

Preparing Palm Coast to meet those needs begins early with

the Flagler County school district’s Classrooms to Careers Flagship

programming, supported by public-private partnerships within the community.

Offering students the chance to explore a variety of potential

career paths, including certified trades, education, law and justice,

culinary, emerging sciences and the medical field during their K-12 experience, strategic planners have incorporated student feedback

into the design of Town Center in an effort to capture their ideas on the community of the future.

“Talking about Town Center, I really think

it was a unique opportunity for our students,

especially Flagler Palm Coast High School and the i3 Program to be able to have input on what their generation is looking for in a community,” said

Flagler County Education Foundation Executive Director Joe Rizzo.

| 22 | EVOLVE BUSINESS AND ENTREPRENEUR MAGAZINE

Joe Rizzo, Executive Director of Flagler County Education Foundation, talks with future leaders.

Joe Rizzo

ivate Partnerships of Today Help Town Center of Tomorrow “Ideally, we create that pipeline of talent where they’re

staying here, working here and living through the amenities they want,” he said.

Town Center also reflects the City of Palm Coast’s unique

relationship with institutions of higher learning across

Northeast Florida, in partnership with the area’s leading health

systems. These relationships became the catalyst for MedNexus and the introduction of the University of North Florida and Jacksonville University to the Palm Coast area.

Headquartered in Town Center, both universities are

tapping directly into Flagler Schools’ talent pipeline to train the workforce of tomorrow while providing Flagler County

an opportunity to grow the community by retaining the next generation.

“By having these major universities here, in that medical

field, in that STEM technology field, it really gives those kids the opportunity to not only have an impact on where they live but

including Clinical Mental Health, Speech Language Pathology and advanced Nursing education,” she said.

The expansion aligns with the City of Palm Coast Town

Center’s initiatives to develop Palm Coast into a regional

destination for healthcare services training, according to Palm Coast Mayor David Alfin.

“Those students will get jobs here, but in addition, the

academic institutions will attract related and alignable

businesses – laboratories, research firms, all of the kinds of low

infrastructure, high-paying fiber optic med required businesses that pay enough so that younger people can actually afford to

live in Palm Coast. It’s a closing of the full circle, starting with our flagship programs in the schools.”

With these programs, Palm Coast will retain its current

generation of learners who become tomorrow’s businesspeople, leaders and influencers.

really drive the economy of which they’re going to live in,” said Rizzo.

Dr. Chris Sapienza, provost and chief academic officer of

Jacksonville University, sees the expansion and investment

into the southern Northeast and Central Florida markets as a

win-win for the university and the communities in which they serve.

“For 88 years, Jacksonville University has proudly served

Northeast Florida residents and businesses with high-quality

Jacksonville University Palm Coast campus

graduates in high-demand fields. Now we’re taking steps to expand our programs to meet the needs of

different communities in our region. Together with our Jacksonville campus, the Palm Coast location in the city’s Town Center will be an important first step in what we expect will become a JU

education corridor delivering quality educational programming and innovative workforce

development throughout Northeast Florida and beyond,” said Sapienza.

Jacksonville University’s expansion into Palm

Coast is part of a growing medical industry across the northeast and central Florida regions, and institutions of higher learning and businesses are taking notice.

“Flagler and Volusia counties are experiencing rapid

population growth, and our analysis showed that demand

for healthcare services in Palm Coast, as well as the statewide

nursing shortage, aligned with our award-winning programs, APRIL 2022 | 23 |

Non-Traditional Learning Tools Enable First Coast Entrepreneur to Bloom

I

by Sandra Miles, PhD am an accidental entrepreneur. I call it an accident because I truly had no plan to start a business until I did. In fact, I had been known to say things like, “if everyone owns

executive coaching and wholistic leadership as a “solopreneur.”

their own business, who is going to work at the wholesale

Coaches

working (in-person) in higher education during a pandemic,

who asked me my purpose. Through intentional conversations

at work, but during our first conversation, she asked me to

expertise, motivation and skill to redefine my purpose.

club when I want to buy in bulk?” However, after 17 months I hired an executive coach. My goal was to be more satisfied define my purpose. That was probably the beginning of the

end of my former career because I couldn’t remember. I had

been a successful administrator for 16 years, and when asked why I was going to work every day - I could think of many

reasons I didn’t want to be there, but not one reason (initially) why I did. Four weeks later, I called her and told her I was going to need a different type of coaching.

Outlined below are examples of the non-traditional learning

tools that helped me start and manage my consulting business focused on Diversity/Equity/Inclusion (DEI) trainings,

| 24 | EVOLVE BUSINESS AND ENTREPRENEUR MAGAZINE

The first asset I had was the amazing leadership/life coach

and assessments, she was able to help me combine my intellect, I was also gifted a second coach who had a number of

resources available specific to entrepreneurship once I

decided this was the route I wanted to take. Utilizing both coaches simultaneously really helped me to gain clarity at almost warp speed. Executive Coaches can be costly,

so if these types of services are not in your budget at the

moment, you can also utilize time with a therapist to talk through career transition, personal purpose and/or the struggles of business development. Most therapists are

covered by health insurance or at dramatically lower rates than coaches. Different types of leadership assessments

are also available at no cost. 16 Personalities is my favorite, but there are lots to choose from.

Support Groups Roundtables/discussion groups are incredibly helpful.

I attend a meeting twice a month and talk through the ups and downs of starting a business, marketing products,

developing clientele and assessing/re-assessing the market.

The ideas, lessons learned, helpful tips and honest feedback on everything from my website to my LinkedIn page have been invaluable.

Webinars and Web Tools Next, I built my website. And when I say I built it, I mean

built it. From start to finish – the text, the pages and the logo –

all me. Mostly because I didn’t have the budget to pay someone or the patience to wait until they got around to it. The only reason this was possible is

E-books

number of platforms

production and minimal capital required to create e-books has

“point and click”

the bureaucracy of major publishing houses. As a result, lots

because there are a that have created

website builders. I

chose to use Wix after Executive Coach #2 gave me access to

a free webinar that

explained the features.

The final tip I’ll offer relates to e-books. The ease of

opened the door for many to share their knowledge without of subject matter experts have begun to release information

through this format. This tends to work in the consumer’s favor because the low cost of production usually translates into free

or low-cost access to critical information that can be helpful in making a business dream become a reality.

The mostly free and low-cost tools including, but not

Once I saw how

limited to, those outlined above, could make a major difference

had become (and after

solo-preneur. If you are currently developing your business

advanced the options receiving a 50% off

coupon in my email), I was sold.

YouTube and Social Media Various social media platforms offer free versions of

“trainings” on any number of topics. For example, descriptive and helpful tips for content development, monetizing your content and weekly updates on the most sought after and

in the time it might take to get from point a to point b as a

and/or plan, utilizing a plethora of resources can help with

everything from templates to step-by-step tutorials offered by those who have expertise based on both practical experience and theoretical research.

These and other tools truly helped me to pursue my

purpose – which is to help individuals cultivate social,

intellectual, financial and emotional fulfillment at a soul level.

Freedom is a lifestyle. I can help you live it.

highly searched topics can be found on platforms that are

specifically designed for content distribution (i.e., YouTube and TikTok). Whether you are trying to learn how to use the video editing software that came on your laptop or identifying the

best course of action for your business by listening to someone

share their story of the ups and downs of establishing a similar

business, everyday people can be a wealth of knowledge on the

Dr. Sandra Miles is a career educator, world traveler, and cat mom who likes to be fancy and free. She also sits on the Evolve First Coast Region Editorial Board.

entrepreneurial journey.

APRIL 2022 | 25 |

A Tribute to Joe Rizzo: A Community Leader.

Gone too soon.

by Howard Holley

I

was struck speechless when I learned that Joe Rizzo had passed. As he was to many others, I felt he was a friend.

That’s because it was how he wanted us to feel. And so, I

was heartbroken with no words that I could gather to express the loss and emptiness I felt. Then I thought about the loss to the Education Foundation, the School District, the students and the community overall. His impact was immense. My loss then seemed minuscule but no less real.

For those who may not have known Joe, he was born in Flagler County and graduated from Flagler Palm Coast High School in 1994. He graduated from Mars Hill College in 1998 and returned to Flagler County, where he and a group of friends opened Woody’s BBQ. He started his community service at about the same time as he began his restaurant entrepreneur career.

To him, those were both intertwined. Joe joined the Board of Directors of the Flagler Education Foundation and later served as its president. In 2017, he exited his restaurant businesses and became the Executive Director of the Education Foundation. He said to me, “Howard, this was the best decision I ever made.” We all know that the students he touched in so many ways were the reason he felt so ecstatic about what he was doing.

I first met Joe in 2013 as I was deciding whether I would make a run for a seat on the Flagler County Board of County

be, etc. He was aware that there had never been a Black County Commissioner elected in Flagler County. He warned me that the task would be hard. But he also encouraged me to run. He said, “it’s time things got shaken up around here.” Well, I didn’t “shake things up.” In fact, I lost. But over the next nine years, I knew I had found a friend in Joe Rizzo.

If you met him, you know how all who knew him feel about this loss. If you never met him, you should know that he was also your friend because he committed himself to making Flagler County a better place for everyone regardless of your birthplace, age, gender or race. When last we talked, he wanted me to meet a young Black man interested in running for office to see if I could help him understand how to win. We both laughed when I asked, “why would you want a guy who lost his only election to give advice on winning!”

On behalf of all my colleagues at EVOLVE Magazine, Flagler Parent Magazine and TouchPoint Innovative Solutions, we pray for God’s grace and comfort for his family, his friends and our whole community. We lost a wonderful person, a true community leader, but he left a great legacy…. our cherished memories!

Commissioners. I was scheduling a number of meetings with elected officials and political influencers to introduce myself. One of them suggested that we meet for lunch at Woody’s Bar-B-Q, which Joe co-owned at that time. Joe came over to say hello to my lunch guest, who was an old friend of his. The next thing I knew, he was sitting across from me, wanting to get to know me. He asked why I was running, what my priorities would

| 26 | EVOLVE BUSINESS AND ENTREPRENEUR MAGAZINE

Howard Holley is Co-Founder and CEO of TouchPoint Innovative Solutions and Publisher of EVOLVE Magazine.

The Great Resignation: Upskilling, Reskilling and Formal Education

by Ky Ekinci

W

hat can we learn from the ‘Great Resignation’ that

Dictionaries in 2010. Simply put, upskilling is the process of

dollars to Upskilling Startups? Finding, attracting

demands of a changing marketplace. With technological advances

is now driving millions of workers and billions of

and retaining talent with requisite skills has been increasingly

difficult for businesses. Employees who feel stuck in jobs that are

not satisfying or lucrative have created a change-in-the-workplace movement. Woven inside these macro trends are upskilling and reskilling, as well as new questions about learning inside and outside of school.

What is Upskilling?

The verb “upskill” first appeared in the Oxford Learning

| 28 | EVOLVE BUSINESS AND ENTREPRENEUR MAGAZINE

learning new skills or improving existing ones to meet the

and automation, many jobs that have existed for decades are

disappearing. In their place are new types of jobs that require different skill sets.

The upskilling process begins with an assessment of one’s

current skills and the gaps in one’s knowledge. Once a worker has

identified the skills that need bridging or improvement, that person can focus on acquiring the relevant skills.

There are many ways to upskill, including online courses, peer-

to-peer learning, workshops, immersive bootcamps and one-on-

one coaching, to name a few.

In the early months of the pandemic

shut down, to prove demand, Office

Divvy piloted a series of events named “Upskill in 20.” A live instructor

conducted a short online session

with the goal of delivering actionable learnings in 20 minutes. Nearly 100

participants attended these live classes

Upskill 20: Office Divvy has been offering classes and delivering events for entrepreneurs and area businesses since 2008. Upskill 20 is a series of upskilling classes that are 20 minutes in length that deliver actionable learnings and related resources. Topics include Hybrid Ways of Working, Collaboration Tools for Teams and Workflow Automations.

from the comfort of their computer

screens in April, May and June 2020.

What is Reskilling?

While upskilling provides skills to grow

one’s current career, reskilling involves

training for an entirely new one. There are

a burgeoning number of companies already

doing this, such as Articulate, Degreed,

Udacity, Udemy and General Assembly, with

many still emerging.

Formal Education vs. Upskilling and Reskilling in Business In light of the great resignation, re-examining

the relevance of traditional higher education may be

necessary, especially in some fields of study, based on the

changing realities and needs of employers and employees

skills, and upskilling, supplement or replace formal education

in business? Will remote or hybrid work culture further impact

“formal education” versus “practical education” through upskilling and reskilling?

Perhaps a new approach centered on lifelong learning will not

replace formal education provided by high schools or colleges right away, but it’s clear that without upskilling, there will be deficits in the workforce.

Education trends are changing and will continue to change.

At Office Divvy, helping teams and clients to upskill, to better

approach new ways of working, is part of the culture and will continue to be for the foreseeable future.

How are you doing when it comes to upskilling? Are you

behind? Are you ahead? Office Divvy would love to hear from you.

Email any feedback or questions to hello@OfficeDivvy.com.

alike.

Tesla, Google, Facebook and other major companies have

lifted their college degree requirements for new hires signaling

significant changes are already here -- especially for certain types of jobs.

If hiring norms in the workplace change, how will that impact

Ky Ekinci is the Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Office Divvy. He is an entrepreneur, a trusted advisor, a world traveler, a Coworking advocate, and an appreciator of fine cigars.

the future of education? If the benefit of a college degree in terms of landing a job goes away, what will that mean in the long term for colleges?

Best-selling author, famous for his widely

popular business books, the Tipping Point and

the Outliers, Malcolm Gladwell, once said, “The amount of money that’s wasted on meaningless education never ceases to amaze me.”

The shortcomings of high school and college

education in terms of delivering workforce-

ready young adults have been a known issue.

High schools and colleges have an obligation

to ask themselves this important question: Are we shaping young adults to be ready for work -- and life -- after they graduate?

Can new ways of learning life and work

APRIL 2022 | 29 |

THE EVOLUTION OF LEARNING AND THE FOUR IMPACTS ON EDUCATION AMIDST THE CHANGES BROUGHT BY COVID-19

by Bill Crouch, CEO & Founder of BrightDot, and

Mike Carter, an educator, author and

C

OVID-19 resulted in significant changes in the education landscape, some of which were not previously seen.

Education delivery and strategies are being reexamined across the country as a result of this paradigm shift to online and remote learning.

Schools across the First Coast Region have responded with creativity and innovation. Despite this, emotional and stress-related factors have added an additional layer of challenges to stakeholders in the education system. This new level of emotional stress is creating a challenge that is continuing and is unlike other forms of emotional stress within a school setting.

As the Delta and Omicron variants have demonstrated, life during a pandemic is anything but predictable. Change, adaptation, mandatory adjustments, new policy mandates, re-assessment of prior policies, workplace shifts and the overall re-thinking of previously held viewpoints are common terms and phrases used to describe how life has changed amidst a global pandemic.

Virologists believe that our post-pandemic world may need to always be prepared for a new variant. Given this warning, now is the time to realize that changes due to COVID will need to be incorporated into our longer-term planning.

So far, what have we learned and what might we anticipate as a

| 30 | EVOLVE BUSINESS AND ENTREPRENEUR MAGAZINE

academic executive

result of our experience with the pandemic?

First, some of our previous beliefs that were seen as a “must” for “good” education should be re-examined. These include the notion that location and/or environment are necessary for specific sorts of educational practice, select events, chosen pedagogies and other educational ideologies. When forced to make changes, our educational systems have had to adapt, despite the fact that previous methods, techniques, environments and other approaches are not invalid.

Changes have revealed the resilience and creativity of school systems, administrators, faculty and students. Great concern exists for the loss of certain types of classroom learning, but innovation and new learning can allow us to build on various models we now know can be effective.

Second, the need for highly qualified teachers, instructors and school social workers and counselors will be even more of a reality.

The pandemic has accelerated shortages of personnel and with the stress factors now being felt by those who are in the system, it will be a challenge to make sure vital services are covered. Innovations will help to strengthen our ability to meet the psycho-social needs of our students.

Third, the question of educational quality is also being

redefined. There is greater opportunity for serious discussions about what ‘quality’ is in education, how we adequately assess educational outcomes and to what do we compare strongly held assumptions that may or may not be valid in a post-pandemic world. An additional point of concern is the “under connected” or what some are calling “the digital divide.” These are students who have limited access to digital learning and are often from lower-income families and areas with limited infrastructure. Research will be essential in determining best practices and next steps.

Fourth, the pre-pandemic financial models that built and maintained schools at every level are in the process of being reexamined. Keeping up with the rate and amount of change has been very difficult, yet encouraging experiences are emerging that may help stretch limited resources to serve more students effectively.

Innovation in classroom delivery through digital media, outdoor classrooms and other venues may provide great learning experiences in cost-effective ways.

The tragedy of death and illness is devastating when it takes place in a school where close relationships are a hallmark of a positive school experience. We must encourage and celebrate the innovators across education that have kept our schools, academies and universities moving forward.

As we look ahead to the next decade, the COVID-19 pandemic will be remembered as a defining moment for all of us. Now we

must turn our attention to the ways in which we can continue to deliver quality education. Change can be difficult and, at times unwanted, but it can help to spur innovation and creativity to secure desired outcomes.

May this timeless reminder from Martin Luther King Jr. inspire us as we move forward: “Education must enable a man to become more efficient, to achieve with increasing facility the legitimate goals of his life.”

Education and advancement professionals at BrightDot are assisting an array of organizations as they move through the issues imposed by the pandemic. Many lessons are being learned daily as to what effective strategies work and when to implement. BrightDot stands ready to assist so that a given organizational mission can be accomplished!

Bill Crouch is CEO & Founder of BrightDot, a nonprofit consulting firm focusing on the fundraising needs of community colleges. Bill honed his fundraising skills as a development director at various colleges in the Southeast and then as President of Georgetown College for more than 22 years.

Dr. Michael V. Carter is an educator, author and academic executive, recently retiring after 22 years as President of Campbellsville University, where enrollment grew from 1,600 at the beginning of his presidency to 13,500 in 2020. He now serves as an advisor to BrightDot.

APRIL 2022 | 31 |

COMMUNITY SERVICE IS GOOD BUSINESS Flagler Tiger Bay Club Supports Education Through Scholarships.

A success.

www.FlaglerTigerBayClub.com

s we prepare to award our third round of scholarships, this moment offers a chance to reflect on why we view education as a priority and our responsibility to ensure the next generation has the greatest opportunity for

One of Flagler Tiger Bay Club’s core missions is to assist in the development of future leaders. We accomplish this mission through our Young Tiger Program and our Scholarship Program. With approximately 40 students participating in our Young Tiger Program, the Flagler Tiger Bay Club is strongly committed and invested in accomplishing this mission and willing to provide the financial support necessary to meet and exceed our objectives.

Our first year’s scholarship objective provided through the Flagler County Education Foundation was $10,000. Through our membership, we raised $20,000, exceeding expectations.

In 2021 we were hoping to get back to the previous goal of $20,000, which in and of itself would have been a stretch given the pandemic. Thanks to the leadership and tenacity of our Scholarship Chair Gary Walsh, our Club raised $22,000 for Flagler County students.

FlaglerTiger Bay Club scholarship winner Brea Dwyer

This year’s pandemic-driven Scholarship goal was $20,000. Our numbers, in the process of being finalized for 2022, are almost double the previous two years – edging close to $40,000 with $24,000 already in the bank and the remaining in pledges coming in. This is a record for the Flagler Tiger Bay Club.

We have a responsibility to our community, and to our youth, in helping to develop our future leaders.

Hats off to our membership and the Flagler Tiger Bay Club Scholarship Committee.

FlaglerTiger Bay Club scholarship winner McKenzi Flis

We also give thanks and praise to the Flagler County Education Foundation for administering this program and all of the great work that they do. As an organization, we have always believed that this type of activity is an important part of our responsibility in being good corporate citizens and making our community a better place.

If you would like your organization featured in Community Service Is Good Business, please send an email to Amy@TouchPointIS.com.

By submitting a photo(s) for consideration, you declare that you have permission to use and submit the visual image of any identifiable individual or building in the photograph and that you give EVOLVE Magazine the right to use the photo(s) in current and future communications.

Final decisions regarding the inclusion of images in issues of EVOLVE are at the discretion of the EVOLVE editorial team.

| 32 | EVOLVE BUSINESS AND ENTREPRENEUR MAGAZINE

WHY DO YOU NEED ELEARNING? E-learning is a viable training solution because of its potential benefits:

01 FLEXIBILITY 81% of learners say they are responsible for managing their personal development 82% say they like to learn at their own pace SOURCE: (TOWARDS MATURITY, 2014)

02 CONVENIENCE 63% of learners are happy to engage in online learning without prompting SOURCE: (TOWARDS MATURITY, 2014)

03 COST SAVING Organizations, on average, reported 25% cost savings through the use of e-learning SOURCE: (TOWARDS MATURITY, AS CITED IN AC EDUCATION, 2016)

04 QUICK IMPLEMENTATION The growing need to develop content quickly was pointed out as the key driver for the adoption of rapid e-learning by 58% of learning professionals SOURCE: FORRESTER CONSULTING, 2010, ON BEHALF OF ADOBE

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