Raise the Bar Hancock County

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Findlay, OH
Raise the Bar Hancock County

We connect stakeholders to advance workforce excellence. Our efforts support talent development along the cradle-to-career continuum.

Raise the Bar - Hancock County is a partnership of education, business, social services and community leaders focused on aligning and integrating the Hancock County, Ohio community learning system with economic growth and a high quality of life. In addition, help industry fill the job vacancies of today and in the near term. The mission statement for this organization is “to connect a trained labor force with Findlay Hancock County businesses to meet their workforce needs”.

06/02/2026

This morning’s Fresh Brewed Business event hosted by the Findlay - Hancock County Chamber of Commerce was another great reminder of how valuable it is to step away from our desks, connect with fellow professionals, and strengthen the relationships that help our community grow. Whether you’re sharing ideas, making new introductions, or simply catching up with familiar faces, these connections are what make Findlay such a special place to live and work.

A special congratulations to our Workforce Program Specialist, Ashley, for taking home the Fresh Brewed Showdown title today! 🏆

With a stack of Downtown Findlay gift cards in hand, there’s a good chance you’ll spot her supporting one of our local coffee shops in the near future. If you do, be sure to say hello!

Thank you to everyone who attended and continues to invest in the people, businesses, and partnerships that make our community stronger every day.

05/28/2026

77% of graduates say they left high school without feeling fully prepared for the real world. Let that sink in for a minute.

That means many young adults are entering college, careers, and life after graduation without the confidence or skills they feel they need to succeed.

Local businesses play a critical role in preparing the future workforce. Whether it’s hosting a tour, participating in a classroom discussion, offering a job shadow opportunity, or supporting career exploration events, your involvement makes a lasting impact on students.

If your business is interested in getting involved with Raise the Bar, we’d love to connect. Together, we can help students feel more prepared for life after graduation.

Read more from the latest YouScience report: https://www.youscience.com/resources/press/77-of-graduates-admit-we-arent-ready-for-the-real-world/

05/27/2026

Raise the Bar would like to extend a huge thank you to the incredible businesses and industry partners opening their doors for our 2026 Summer Educator Experience: Careers That Impact Our Community!

Throughout the program, educators will have the opportunity to tour local workplaces, hear directly from employers, and gain a deeper understanding of the skills, experiences, and career pathways available right here in Hancock County.

These partnerships help bridge the gap between education and industry by giving teachers real-world insights they can bring back to the classroom, ultimately helping students better prepare for their futures and strengthening our local workforce pipeline.

Thank you to the employers investing their time, knowledge, and resources into this experience and into the future of our students and community. Your partnership makes this program possible!

Hancock Steel
RCM Architects, Inc.
Weigand Construction
Gilbane Building
Fifth Third Bank
Hancock County Sheriff's Office
AR Marketing
RCR Technology Group
Primrose Retirement Communities Primrose Retirement Community of Findlay
Legacy Farmers Cooperative

05/26/2026

We are excited to announce the educators selected to participate in Raise the Bar's 2026 Summer Educator Experience! Please join us in congratulating these educators who are going above and beyond to connect classroom learning with real-world career experiences for students.

This year’s cohort represents schools and educational partners across Hancock County and will spend time connecting with local industries, exploring workforce trends, and bringing real-world career insights back to their classrooms.

Thank you for your commitment to connecting education and workforce development in Hancock County. We look forward to an impactful summer experience together!

Findlay City Schools
Vanlue Local School
Home of Arlington Local School
New Riegel Local Schools
Liberty-Benton Local Schools
Arcadia Local Schools
Cory-Rawson Local Schools
Van Buren Local Schools

05/22/2026

As we close out May and celebrate our graduating area students, we must recognize a person who was instrumental in launching Raise the Bar Hancock County back in 2016.

Tony Iriti was a visionary. He was a leader. He was a convener. He knew the importance of workforce development for the Findlay-Hancock County community, and he knew dedicating an entity to streamlining the cradle-to-career pathway would pay dividends over time.

His intentions are paying off for the community and the students. His ability to secure the initial funding for RTB has blossomed us into an organization driving career development activities and strategies. We are reaching thousands of students annually because Tony Iriti once believed in the outcomes possible.

We thank Tony, and those who shared Tony's visions, for his contributions. With Tony's passing this month, it leaves us with a void. However, his legacy will long continue through Raise the Bar's work.

Duane Jebbett, Dave Glass, Randy Van Dyne, Lydia Mihalik, John Urbanski, Laurie Zydonik, Kimberly Bash, Ed Kurt, Mark Gazarek

05/21/2026

Today our Executive Director (Tricia Valasek) and one of our board of directors (Beth Lewandowski) graduated from a 9-month Women’s Leadership program through the Ohio Northern University Center for Corporate Engagement. Congrats to all the women leaders involved in this great experience.

05/20/2026

At lunch with the Findlay Rotary Club, we heard from our former board member, Mayor Christina Muryn, about future growth plans. Many of these plans require a workforce over the next few years that can be ready to fill specific jobs. We are excited to be a part of these plans as we streamline the path to career training and development for the region.

05/19/2026

We hosted our next Insights Luncheon today at the Hancock Hotel. Experts in digital technology, management, and marketing/sales joined us for a great conversation on fixing the aptitude-interest gap for Hancock County’s students. Great minds at work.

05/18/2026

We started our week off with area educators who will be teaching the 7th and 8th grade Career Connections courses next year. We are excited to help all Hancock County districts bring this career course to reality for hundreds of students.

Ohio Department of Education and Workforce

05/15/2026

The Center to Advance Manufacturing hosted a great roundtable of legislators, higher education, manufacturers, and economic development leaders. Conversations revolved around workforce, emerging technology, regional capacity, and Ohio’s business climate.

Address

Findlay, OH
45840

Website

http://RaiseTheBarHancock.org/

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