TalentFirst

09/21/2026

Today, members of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation's Talent Pipeline Management Manufacturing Alliance gathered at Lorin Industries to continue building something bigger than any one company: a stronger, more connected manufacturing talent pipeline for West Michigan.

A special thank you to Park Kersman and the Lorin team for hosting us and providing a behind-the-scenes look at their operation. The tour was a powerful reminder of the innovation, technology, and career opportunities that exist in modern manufacturing.

Throughout the afternoon, employers worked together to make key decisions about training partners, pathway design, workforce needs, and the shared investments required to prepare more people for high-demand careers. This work is about more than filling today's openings—it's about creating clear, accessible pathways that help individuals succeed while ensuring our region's manufacturers have the talent they need to grow.

We're also excited about what's next. We'll soon be launching a broader effort to elevate the story of manufacturing, showcase the incredible opportunities available across our region, and attract more people into these rewarding careers.

The momentum is building, and the employers at the table are helping shape the future workforce of West Michigan. If you're not part of the conversation yet, now is the time to get involved - contact us to find out about our upcoming second cohort for frontline production workers ✨

09/15/2026

Today was an inspiring day at the Tech Showcase during Tech Week Grand Rapids!

More than 2,000 middle school students from across the region explored hands-on technology experiences, discovered exciting career paths, and connected with the innovation happening right here in West Michigan.

Investing in career exploration at an early age helps strengthen our region's future talent pipeline and inspires the next generation of tech leaders. Lisa Hungerford was there as a volunteer, supporting an effort that aligns with the TalentFirst goal to Prepare Every Student for Career Success.

A big thank you to the The Right Place for putting on this incredible event, as well as to the employers, educators, and volunteers who helped make it come alive!

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09/11/2026

The conversation about AI isn't really about technology. It's about people, skills, and whether our talent systems can keep pace with a changing economy.

As highlighted by WGVU, our new West Michigan Workforce Trends & Insights Report finds that employers face a dual challenge: a shrinking talent pipeline and rapidly evolving skill requirements. The path forward requires stronger alignment between employers, education, and workforce partners.

Read the WGVU article:

A new report finds West Michigan’s talent pipeline is failing to keep pace with employer demand, producing just four graduates for every 10 job openings

09/10/2026

Today, TalentFirst is releasing the West Michigan Workforce Trends & Insights Report 2026, a comprehensive look at the forces shaping our region's talent ecosystem.

Workforce challenges rarely stem from a single issue. They reflect how education, demographics, technology, and labor market dynamics intersect over time.

The report highlights critical trends in talent supply, credential attainment, workforce participation, retirement risk, AI adoption, and future workforce demand. It draws on labor market data and insights, including our industry deep dive series that involved direct discussion with business leaders across West Michigan.

The data reinforces what many employers are already experiencing: talent shortages are becoming more complex, credential pathways are struggling to keep pace with demand, and demographic shifts are reshaping the workforce pipeline. At the same time, opportunities exist for employers, educators, workforce partners, and policymakers to align around solutions that strengthen our region's competitiveness for the long term.

If West Michigan is going to remain a talent leader, we must continue building stronger connections between learning and work, investing in career readiness, supporting adult learners, and helping employers adapt to a rapidly changing economy.

We encourage you to explore the report and consider what these trends mean for your organization and our region's future.

Download the full report:

This report provides data-driven insights into the talent shortages, demographic shifts, credential gaps, AI adoption trends, and labor market forces shaping the region's workforce and future competitiveness.

08/31/2026

For years, workforce conversations have focused on access: helping more people enroll in education, training, and credential programs.

Access still matters. But today, the bigger challenge is adaptability.

In West Michigan, we're seeing this challenge firsthand. TalentFirst research shows we now produce just four graduates for every ten jobs requiring postsecondary credentials, down from fifteen per ten in 2010.

The answer isn't simply more programs. It's better alignment.

We need a talent system that is faster, clearer, and more connected, one that helps employers, educators, workforce partners, and workers move in the same direction. That's why TalentFirst focuses on three critical leverage points: early literacy, high school career readiness, and adult workforce development.

If we want a stronger workforce tomorrow, we have to align the systems that prepare people today.

TalentFirst President Kevin Stotts shared thoughts in this recent Crain's Grand Rapids Business thought leadership piece:

West Michigan must align education, employers and workforce systems to build an agile talent pipeline that keeps pace with a changing economy.

08/18/2026

Third-grade reading proficiency is one of the strongest predictors of future success and a critical indicator of our region's long-term talent pipeline.

That's why TalentFirst is focused on bringing employers, educators, and community leaders together around a shared goal: Ensure Every Child Reads.

We're encouraged by progress already underway. Through our CEO-led Early Literacy Working Group, local leaders have aligned around the importance of early identification and strong intervention, and are developing a practical PreK-3 literacy model that can help accelerate reading gains in West Michigan schools. This work will continue with superintendent feedback and CEO engagement this fall.

At the same time, we're putting that commitment into action through initiatives like Adopt-A-Library, which connects employers with local schools to strengthen literacy resources and engagement, and Literacy Leadership, which equips business leaders to champion early literacy as both an educational and workforce priority.

There is still much work to do, but meaningful progress happens when communities rally around a common purpose.

The talent pipeline doesn't begin at graduation. It begins when a child learns to read.

07/28/2026

The talent challenges facing Michigan won't be solved by any one organization. We need better ways to help people navigate career opportunities, training, and support.

That's why we're encouraging employers, educators, workforce partners, and community organizations to share MiCareerCompass—a free resource that helps individuals explore careers, build resumes, find jobs, and connect to training and local support.

When people can see a clear path forward, our entire talent ecosystem becomes stronger.

talentfirst.net/micareercompass

06/30/2026

We're proud to be featured by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation for our work advancing employer-led talent pipeline strategies in West Michigan.

The profile highlights how TalentFirst and our manufacturing partners are using Talent Pipeline Management® (TPM) to create stronger, skills-based pathways into high-demand manufacturing careers. Together, we're aligning employer demand with education and training solutions to help more people access good jobs while helping employers address critical workforce needs.

This work is already creating results:

✅ 60 hires and promotions along the Maintenance & Repair Technician pathway
✅ 150 learners enrolled in employer-validated training programs
✅ Standardized skills-based job profiles developed with employers
✅ Career pathways mapped through MiCareerCompass to make advancement opportunities more visible and accessible

We're grateful to collaborate with employers, education and training providers, workforce development organizations, community partners, and funders who are helping build a stronger talent ecosystem for West Michigan.

Read the full profile here: https://www.uschamberfoundation.org/workforce/talentfirst-uses-tpm-to-build-skills-based-manufacturing-pathways-in-west-michigan

Thank you to our employer partners in this effort: Wolverine Coil Spring, Shape Corp., Haworth, Cascade Engineering, Amway, DeWys Metal Solutions, Proper Beverage Co., SoundOff Signal, Landscape Forms, Paramelt, Lorin Industries

And our partner through the process: Michigan Manufacturers Association

TalentFirst is using Talent Pipeline Management® (TPM) strategies to address manufacturing talent shortages in West Michigan. With support from the U.S. Chamber Foundation, the initiative is building skills-based career pathways that connect workers to high-demand jobs and help employers develop su...

06/17/2026

The latest review of teacher preparation programs reinforces what many of us have been seeing on the ground: progress is real—but too many aspiring teachers are still not being trained in evidence-based reading instruction.

That matters. Because the research is clear—nearly all students can learn to read when instruction aligns with what we know works. In fact, researchers estimate more than 90% of all students could learn to read if they had access to instruction aligned with this body of evidence.

This is exactly where our West Michigan Early Literacy Collaborative is focused.

We’re working alongside K-12 systems and teaching colleges to better align preparation and practice—grounded in the science of reading and informed by real classroom needs. Not as a simple critique of the system, but as a commitment to strengthen it together.

We also know change here isn’t immediate. It requires sustained partnership, shared accountability, and a willingness to act on both data and evidence.

The opportunity is in front of us.

If we align preparation, practice, and policy—we can ensure every child has the opportunity to become a strong reader.

Check out the review: https://teacherquality.nctq.org/review/standard/Reading-Foundations/2026
Visit our West Michigan Early Literacy Collaborative page for more info on our work: https://talentfirst.net/literacy-collaborative/
Read the article: https://www.chalkbeat.org/2026/06/09/half-of-teacher-prep-programs-teach-science-of-reading-nctq-report-says/

The share of teacher preparation programs fully aligned with the science of reading has doubled, the National Council on Teacher Quality reported. But that leaves hundreds that are falling short, and many programs declined to participate in NCTQ’s study.

06/11/2026

A milestone worth celebrating—and a powerful moment for literacy for Muskegon.

Yesterday, Read Muskegon opened the doors to its new Literacy Center in Muskegon Heights, and the energy around it says everything about what this moment means for the community. The transformation of a long-vacant building into a vibrant hub for learning and connection is a powerful example of what innovative, community-led solutions can look like in practice.

This new space reflects more than a physical transformation. It’s a thoughtful investment in the future—expanding access to one-on-one tutoring, creating space for learning, and even removing barriers through supports like free childcare for participants.

At TalentFirst, we see efforts like this as foundational to a strong and thriving region. Literacy is not just an education issue—it is directly tied to workforce readiness, economic mobility, and long-term opportunity. When individuals build the skills and confidence to read, learn, and navigate systems, it strengthens families, employers, and communities alike.

Congratulations to Melissa Moore and the entire Read Muskegon team on this incredible milestone. This is exactly the kind of leadership and innovation that moves West Michigan forward.