Story provided by Meridian Technology Center
Levi Valdois has joined Meridian Technology Center as the Executive Director of Workforce and Economic Development.
In this role, Valdois will lead the school’s Workforce and Economic Development team that includes training in computers, health care, industrial systems, leadership and staff development, safety training and adult training and development. He will also oversee Meridian’s Business and Entrepreneurial Services efforts. This division provides support to entrepreneurs and new businesses through consulting and coaching, business incubation and training.
Valdois brings experience from the Oklahoma Department of CareerTech as well as the business and industry sector. He comes to Meridian from Ditch Witch, where he was most recently employed as manager of international sales. Additional roles he’s held at Ditch Witch include serving as product manager for the company’s Subsite Electronics brand and later as manager of product marketing for products from the Ditch Witch, Subsite Electronics and HammerHead Trenchless product lines. Before working at Ditch Witch, Valdois held several positions at CareerTech, including serving as product manager for career and academic systems, the statewide coordinator for military initiatives as the military liaison, the coordinator for innovative programs and continuous improvement, and a regional coordinator.
“The Workforce and Economic Development division works closely with communities to ensure they have the capacity to expand and attract new businesses to the area,” explained Superintendent/CEO Doug Major. “Levi’s background and proven leadership skills are ideal for this role. He understands CareerTech’s strengths and how collaborative partnerships with businesses can lead to high-quality, well-paying jobs that support individuals and communities in economic growth. We are excited to have him at Meridian.”
Meeting Today’s Business Needs
In addition to designing courses specific to an industry partner’s needs, the Workforce and Economic Development division offers a variety of personal and professional development courses each semester. Last year, this division served more than 250 businesses, delivered 377,073 hours of training in customized training courses, and offered 286 open enrollment courses.
As a part of the Workforce and Economic Development division, Meridian’s Business and Entrepreneurial Services team focuses on empowering entrepreneurs through networking, education, consulting and business incubation service at the Center for Business Development. The Center’s built-in support services allow entrepreneurs to focus their efforts on growing their business by providing a full suite of amenities and consultation that entrepreneurs need to launch their company. Additionally, the division offers programs and classes for entrepreneurs, ranging from classroom training to monthly programs to one-on-one consulting. Last year The Journal Record named it the top Business Incubator in Oklahoma.
Meridian’s South Campus, located in Guthrie, will open in January 2022. This campus will provide an additional location for Meridian’s Workforce and Economic Development team to offer personal and professional development courses as well as customized training for district residents. The facility will also house The Peak, a second business incubator location featuring co-working space. To learn more about Meridian’s South Campus, visit meridiantech.edu/southcampus.
For more information, contact the Workforce and Economic Development team at (405) 377-3333 or toll-free at (888) 607-2509 or visit meridiantech.edu/tailored-approach.
Meridian Technology Center has been a driver of economic development since 1975. With a mission to educate, enrich lives and secure economic futures, Meridian offers full-time career training programs, short courses, workforce and economic development assistance and entrepreneurial support to residents from the Agra, Carney, Glencoe, Guthrie, Morrison, Mulhall-Orlando, Pawnee, Perkins-Tryon, Perry and Stillwater school districts. Meridian is one of 29 schools within Oklahoma’s CareerTech system.