2021 Apprenticeship TN Conference

Healthcare Panelists

Laura Ginsburg is a Subject Matter Expert with Health Career Advancement Program (H-CAP). Ginsburg joined H-CAP, a national healthcare intermediary funded by the U.S. Department of Labor, in 2019 to help expand Registered Apprenticeship in healthcare. Previously, Ginsburg had been the Division Chief, U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Apprenticeship overseeing apprenticeship expansion. In that capacity, she led many initiatives after joining the department in 2000, including expanding Registered Apprenticeship in healthcare, finance, and IT; developing the Registered Apprenticeship-College Consortium, a network of colleges that support apprenticeships; and drafting policy and managing implementation on Registered Apprenticeship and the Workforce Innovations and Opportunities Act (WIOA). She spearheaded an initiative to better align the Registered Apprenticeship system and high schools to expand youth apprenticeships. Prior to joining USDOL, Ginsburg launched and directed an executive training program at the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard. She holds a master’s degree from American University, Washington, D.C.

Deano Harrison is an experienced HR professional with over 18 years in the Learning and Development specialty capturing government and private sectors. He currently works with Singing River Health System as a Workforce Development Specialist establishing pathways to assist the daunting task of healthcare staffing and retention. Deano was instrumental in the establishment of the first Department of Labor-recognized Healthcare Apprenticeship in the state of Mississippi and now has four approved. In addition, he is a 25-year veteran of the U.S. Air Force where he was recognized for his work in the training and development spectrum leading projects for the WC-130-H to the WC-130J Model Dropsonde crewmember conversion, refining just in time training for 15,000 Airmen deploying with other branches, and Emotional Intelligence Toolbox for junior officer development. He holds a Master’s in Human Resource Management from Troy University and is actively pursuing a Doctorate in Human Capital Development with a dissertation exploring work-based learning in healthcare from The University of Southern Mississippi.

Tiffani Limpus is currently the Talent Acquisition Specialist at Summit Medical Group, PLLC. Summit Medical Group is the largest privately owned healthcare provider in East Tennessee. Tiffani worked at East Tennessee Children’s Hospital for several years. She earned her associate’s degree from Pellissippi State Technical Community College and furthered her pursuit of education by earning a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Tennessee. Her 20-plus years of healthcare experience spans employers from Covenant Medical Group, TeamHealth, a medical staffing company, to her current role at Summit. She has a passion for education and development for those pursuing jobs or advancement in healthcare. Tiffani is a thoughtful employee advocate, always searching and pursuing opportunities for growth and development to offer current staff through partnerships with the various educational programs in the area, while building relationships with those programs to provide training and job placement for their students. Tiffani has served as an industry sponsor for the Tennessee Board of Regents Skills USA and on the Tennessee Board of Regents TCAT CMA program board and currently partners with Walters State Workforce Development and Apprenticeship Program.

Dr. Anita Ricker is the Assistant Dean of Workforce Training, which includes corporate customized training for 10 counties in East Tennessee and all things apprenticeships representing Walters State Community College. She holds an MBA and EdD in Private and Post-Secondary Leadership from East Tennessee State University. Also, she has numerous information technology and leadership program certifications. During her leadership in the last 10 years, the College has won two statewide non-credit program awards, as well as numerous equipment grants. She lives in Greeneville, TN and loves spending time with her family, especially her grandsons.

Hospitality Panelists

Dr. Karen Bowyer began her career in education in 1963 as a teacher of mathematics at Libertyville High School in Illinois. From there she went on to serve as an instructor and/or administrator at the following institutions: Colegio Bolivar in Cali, Colombia; the American School Foundation in Mexico City, Mexico; Memphis State University; Shelby State Community College in Memphis; and Dyersburg State Community College (DSCC) in Dyersburg, Tennessee. She has served as President of DSCC since November 1984. Over the past 37 years she has spearheaded the development of off-campus centers in Covington, Trenton, and Union City. Dr. Bowyer began the College’s first Annual Fund Campaign in 1985-86. Over the past 36 years these Campaigns have raised over $34 million. The DSCC Foundation was charted in 1988 and began raising money for an endowment fund which now totals over $11 million. Enrollment has grown by more than 100 percent during her tenure.

Professional and Community Service includes the following: Past President, Tennessee College Association; Chair, Northwest Tennessee P-16 Council; Past Chair and Vice President of Education for the Dyersburg/Dyer County Chamber of Commerce; Board Member of the Dyersburg Kiwanis Club; Board Member for the Heart of the South Girl Scout Council; Past Chair of the Board for Mississippi River Corridor Tennessee; past Chair of the Committee on Latin American Schools of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS); former member of the Executive Council of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges Board of Trustees; Honorary Chair, West Tennessee Girl Scouts Heart of the South 100^th Anniversary; past Chair of the West Tennessee United Way Board; Chair of Fund Raising for the Dyer County Chapter of the American Red Cross in 2011-12; past member of the Board of Directors of WLJT-TV (public television); past member of the National Advisory Committee on Institutional Quality and Integrity for the U.S. Secretary of Education; Member of the Board of the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC); Past Chair of the Presidents Academy for the AACC and past Chair of the Dyer County YMCA Board of Directors. She graduated from Leadership Memphis in 1983 and from the Dyer County Leadership Program in 1997. She worked with Chancellor Margaret Perry at UT Martin to found WestStar Leadership Program for West Tennessee in 1988.

Dr. Bowyer earned a Ph.D. in mathematics education from the University of Alabama, a Master’s Degree in mathematics from Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, and a Bachelor of Arts in mathematics and German from Knox College, Galesburg, Illinois.

Manufacturing Panelists

Scott Ellsworth is the Principal and Owner of Scott Ellsworth Consulting and Sherpa Management Solutions. As a contractor to Jobs for the Future, he works to engage employers more fully in developing and implementing effective apprenticeship programs and driving greater inclusion of all populations in the workforce. Prior to founding Scott Ellsworth Consulting, Scott was the Director of Business Leaders United for Workforce Partnerships (BLU), a Washington, D.C.-based advocacy and education organization that strives to bring employers into the workforce and skills gap discussion. He also has over 25 years of experience in managing a variety of manufacturing firms both large and small, including most recently as VP and General Manager of US Operations for Tipco Punch in Hamilton, Ohio. Scott holds a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering from the University of Louisville and an MBA from LSU-Shreveport.

Angela Massey is the Director of Human Resources Operations for Atlantic Track. For the past 5 years she has worked tirelessly to create and foster a culture of learning in the workplace. Angela believes in the power of partnerships and together with Shelby County Schools has launched the first apprenticeship program for high school students in the district. In the spring of 2022, Atlantic Track will open a state-of-the-art training center aimed at empowering more young people to learn to earn. Angela is a powerful force in the workplace and uses her positive attitude and energy to encourage and inspire others to become the best versions of themselves.

Carri Smith
Valmont Industries, Human Resources Manager

Carri Smith joined the Valmont Industries team as Human Resources Manager for the Jasper, TN location in September 2012. Valmont Industries, Inc. is a global leader in providing products that support critical infrastructure, essential for economic and agricultural growth. The Jasper location produces engineered support structures for the Utility Division. As a manufacturer, Valmont Industries is dependent on skilled labor and Carri knows the value of tapping into every available workforce pool as well as working with the education sector.