Shaping the Future of Career Pathways for the Sierra Region Together

K-16 Partnership Summit

Location: Chicken Ranch Casino, Jamestown, CA | Dates: October 1–2, 2025

Join us for two dynamic days of collaboration, innovation, and shaping the future of education and career pathways in the Eastern Sierra region.

🎤 Featured Speaker: Mark C. Perna

International Speaker & Bestselling Author

Mark C. Perna, CEO of TFS Results, will be leading the event with his keynote: “Unleashing Passion, Purpose, and Performance in Younger Generations.”

Mark will share insights from his award-winning book Answering Why, urging us to rethink how we engage students and bridge the gap between education and the workforce to build a culture of purpose-driven learning.

“We must shift the paradigm and truly connect education with workforce to empower the next generation.” — Mark C. Perna

Mark C. Perna

🗓️ Event Highlights:

Day 1: Building Vision and Pathways

Keynote Sessions with Mark Perna
Technology Showcase: Featuring Paxton Patterson, Zspace, Anatomage
Hands-on Pathway Mapping: Focused on Healthcare, Education, and Computer IT
Sierra K 16 Collaborative Executive Steering Council Breakout
Student & Employer Panel

Day 2: Action and Implementation

Hands-on Training with the CaliforniaColleges.edu platform
Guided Team Planning and Pathway Development
Career Exploration and Academic Alignment Tools with the CCGI Team

💡 Tip: Bring a charged laptop on Day 2 to participate in hands-on sessions!

Event Discussions Facilitated by Trent Wakenight and Marker Ninja

Why It Matters

This event is a key initiative of the Sierra K16 Collaborative aimed at strengthening equitable, high-quality education-to-career pathways. It’s designed to empower students to not only graduate but thrive in the workforce, with actionable insights from the education and workforce sectors working together to create meaningful solutions.

📋 Deliverables

Illustrated Pathway Maps for Healthcare, Computer Engineering, and Education Pathways Knowledge for the use of CaliforniaColleges.edu platform Work-Based Learning tools and partnership opportunities

    🎯 Target Audience
    Employers and businesses in the region interested in being part of the solution to career training gaps
K-12 and college administrators, teachers, counselors, and service providers who want to improve pathways and opportunities for students to succeed
K-12 CCGI Point of Contact, CMP Manager, Data Leads
Students, Families of Students, and Members of the public interested in learning about Career Technical Training and Education opportunities

Sierra Connect K–16 Partnership Summit

📍 Chicken Ranch Casino Resort, Jamestown, CA | 📅 October 1–2

The Sierra Connect K–16 Partnership Summit brought together approximately 150 participants from more than eight counties to collaborate on advancing K–16 pathways and preparing students for college and career success.

Summit Initiated By

Emily Graham, MPA
Michelle Sandhoff
Bo Locke
Iveth Mareno
Selina Flores
Jon Otterson
S. Aqil Mosawi

With Support From

Andrew Gardner (Amador College Connect), Stuart Wooley (CSU Stanislaus),
Trent Wakenight (Marker Ninja), Selma Gonzalez (CCGI)

Day 1 Highlights

🎤 Keynote by Mark C. Perna

Understanding younger generations and their motivations
Connecting education to meaningful career pathways
Inspiring students with a clear “why”

🧪 K–16 Tools Showcase

Paxton Patterson: Hands-on lab-based career exploration
zSpace: Immersive AR/VR learning platform
Anatomage: Virtual human dissection table

Participants joined three pathway panels (Computer & IT, Healthcare, Child Development) and attended a K–16 Steering Council meeting. The day concluded with a powerful Student & Employer Panel.

Day 2 Highlights

🎓 CCGI Session (California College Guidance Initiative)

Attendees explored CaliforniaColleges.edu from both student and counselor perspectives, learning how it supports Grades 6–12 in equitable college and career planning with transcript-informed accounts.

Summit Impact

The summit reinforced a shared commitment to ensuring that all students—especially underserved populations— have the resources, guidance, and pathways to succeed in college, careers, and beyond.

Sierra Connect Summit 2025