Insider Insights

Above image: Members of CCAPS's professional development staff and advisory board gather in front of McNamara Alumni Center.

The professional landscape is constantly evolving, and staying ahead of the curve requires a dynamic approach to education. That’s where our industry advisories come in. The CCAPS Professional Development Advisory Board is made of 17 (and growing) leading professionals from diverse fields, and it plays a crucial role in shaping our career development courses and certificate programs. By bringing their on-the-ground experience and perspectives, they ensure we provide the most relevant, in-demand skills to our learners.

In this Q&A, three advisory board members share their visions and industry insights, which highlight their invaluable roles in helping shape CCAPS professional development programming.

Chris Koch

Talent Consultant
Fredrickson Learning

What motivates you to serve on the advisory board?

Before my current role, I have been a program manager and manager in both IT and HR for several different companies. I’ve always loved helping people develop in their careers in whatever role I was in, so having a chance to be involved with the programs at CCAPS where it’s all about that is really exciting. 

I think it’s wonderful, the variety of people involved on the board, representing different companies and industries. They mirror the variety of learners taking part in the programming. 

How does the board help CCAPS stay current with what employers need?

It’s surprising to me what a good job CCAPS does in monitoring how things are changing and trying to keep up or even stay ahead and anticipate what employers need. Part of the work of the board is to be the eyes and ears on the ground, to alert them of what’s coming, what employers are looking for. 

As someone who has worked in multiple companies in different roles, what’s one area employers can improve?

I’ve observed that, when companies bring on a new worker, they do a great job of training them in their specific role and the specific task they need to perform. But those workers don’t very often get a good understanding of the rest of the organization, and how the different departments work together. And, even beyond that, how they might work together more effectively.

Companies have their hands full just focusing on the work that needs to be done. But their workforce still needs to continue to grow and develop and be able to contribute more, and that’s where CCAPS can help.

What can CCAPS do to bridge that gap?

CCAPS does a good job of helping employees get better in their own role while also giving them a glimpse of other career possibilities. It’s also great at broadening those perspectives of what’s possible. If you have no idea what types of jobs exist, how can you decide what to do next or what to aspire to? So those programs can really help open their eyes to the sorts of skills they can learn and the new opportunities that might be available. 

I’ve done a little bit of work as a career transition counselor, and that’s a time in a person’s life when, all of a sudden, the work they felt so proud of, it’s gone. It’s a very difficult time and they’re often not sure what they want to do next. That’s when I point them to the list of professional development programs and tell them, “Sometimes you don’t have to have the whole answer. Find something that’s interesting to you and start with that.”

Tim O’Neill

Twin Cities Regional Labor Market Analyst
Labor Market Information Office, Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development

What insight do you bring to the board?

I was recruited by the College to help out with some of that guiding data that we’re collecting about the labor market in Minnesota and especially the Metro area, and about what employers are looking for. The economy, the labor market, it’s in constant motion. So programs and people need to be adaptable to that changing environment. And CCAPS is in a position to help both employers and employees adapt and grow.

How does the board leverage your experience and insights?

The mission of CCAPS is helping Minnesota students gain skills and expertise that employers are looking for. In my mind, it starts with data. So, in my case, I’m able to slice and dice all the data and parse it down so we can find the stories within the data. Whether it’s through a presentation or a written report, it’s a starting point for our conversations. 

I think it’s really cool to see the different members, the different expertise that they have. They come from small and large businesses, within local and state government, or from other parts of the U of M. You know, I’ve got my counterparts on the board, too. Others that look into the demands of employers throughout the state. But I think it’s really interesting to see what each member brings to the table and how the discussions flow. 

Where do you see opportunities to connect more employers with qualified professionals?

There are a lot of people in Minnesota who we can better serve. With the changing population and workforce in terms of race and ethnicity, maybe looking more at getting women into technology, or veterans, or people with disability status into jobs that are in demand not only in the Metro but, with the expansion of remote work, across the state and around the country. We are looking at that and asking, “How are we helping all Minnesotans take advantage of skills training to get eligible for the jobs that are out there?” 

What skill could professionals improve to maximize their impact?

Far and away the biggest set of skills employers are looking for is written communication skills. That goes across pretty much every industry. 

Chris Bucksa

IT Application Portfolio Manager
Project Management Office, Minnesota IT Services
State of Minnesota

How did you get connected to the advisory board?

My background is in project management, change management, and business analysis. Prior to working for the state I worked at the University of Minnesota in the Office of Information Technology. While I was there, I earned the Project Management Certificate through CCAPS, which started my journey, I’ll call it a spiral, into project management work. I started a group with another person on campus that offered training in project and change management about once a month. That caught the eye of CCAPS professional development program staff, who needed a training program in business analysis. So I helped put together the Business Analysis Certificate. Soon after they asked me to join the advisory board. That was about 10 years ago.

What inspires you about serving on the board?

I’m a person who believes in giving back, staying engaged. I’m not just a project manager from 8:00 to 4:30. So it’s nice for me to be a part of this. It’s a networking thing. And I get to hear and see what others are doing in that area and provide feedback about new technologies, new ideas, new methodologies, and what different groups and organizations want out of a PM. 

I can touch base with what’s happening in the world as well as see what I can do to help get students in a better position to do a better job when they come into the workforce. I call it a give and take from my end. And as the groups grow and change, it’s fun to have a role and input in that.

Is there a gap between data and on-the-ground reality?

Yeah. For example, the data might show that demand for project managers is slowing down a bit. But in real life, employers are saying, “No, we’re hiring. We could use 10 more over here.”

I can tell you from many, many years representing government and higher ed, which is a very different environment to work in than the profit side of the world, we have different forces and different things driving the choices and decisions that are being made in those organizations. So it’s good to have representation from all arenas on the board.

How can professionals keep growing and having fun with their careers?

I would say it’s a combination of listening and being malleable. Some folks hang on to what they perceive as a certain identity. But, as you grow, you change, and there is no one straight career path anymore. An interesting career will have you jog back and forth or jump ladders. Ask yourself, “What skills can I grab? What skills do I have and are they transferable into other places?” You have to stay adaptable.