National Association for Community College Entrepreneurship

I’ve Been Laid Off… Now What? A Supportive “Right Now” Plan for Women (a Path into Skilled Trades) using SkillPointe

In the aftermath of company layoffs and cost-cutting measures, many are navigating a new reality and asking the same question: What's next?

SkillPointe is here to help with "Right Now" resources to move you toward new opportunities and a new future.

Here's where to start:

1️⃣ Take the Career Matching Quizzes Visual and AI Conversational tools to help shift your direction fast.
2️⃣ Explore Careers Translate your interests into concrete career pathways.
3️⃣ Find Training See how quickly you can retool, upskill, or reskill.
4️⃣ Access Financial Resources Scholarships and apprenticeships for displaced workers.
5️⃣ Start a Business Freelancing, contracting, or launching in skilled trades and services.

You can take proactive steps toward your next opportunity starting today.

👉 Visit SkillPointe today!

NACCE’s 2026 Pathways To Prosperity Summit Main Stage Highlight

🚀 Don't miss the Everyday Entrepreneur Program (EEP) Showcase: From Metrics to Momentum!
📍 Cleveland, OH | June 23–25, 2026
🔗 Follow the link in the comments to register!

The EEP is one of the fastest-growing and most impactful entrepreneur programs in the United States, and we want you to hear directly from the directors making it happen.

Expert directors from across the country will join a panel discussion to share how they are helping their programs grow and succeed, offering insights, strategies, and real-world experiences from leaders driving impact in both rural and urban communities. Since 2024, EEP has experienced remarkable momentum, and this showcase is a celebration of what's been built and a look at what's next.

This is a unique opportunity to learn from outstanding expertise you won't want to miss!

Moderated by EEP founder Stuart Weismiller (FL), the panel features Lydia Perez-Kavanagh, Project Coordinator, NACCE (IL), Sueann Graham, Ivy Tech CC -Bloomington (IN), Adam Diiulio, and Ronna McNair of Tri-C (OH).

Register now and join us in Cleveland!!

Free NACCE Webinar Alert
🍽️ Thinking about launching a food business? Don’t miss this opportunity to learn what it really takes to get started successfully.

📅 Thursday, May 21
⏰ 2:00 PM ET

Register using the link in the bio!

Sima Gandhi will present the “Start Smart: What It Really Takes to Launch a Food Business” webinar, sharing practical insights, lessons learned, and key steps for turning a food business idea into reality.

Sima Gandhi is the Co-Founder of Food Venture Accelerator and a seasoned entrepreneurship educator with extensive experience in eLearning, startups, branding, marketing strategy, and food venture development, as well as prior leadership at MaRS Discovery District supporting entrepreneurship education and innovation programs.

Whether you're an aspiring entrepreneur, student, educator, or small business supporter, this session will provide valuable guidance for building a strong foundation in the food industry.

Reminder! Join us for this FREE webinar with SkillPointe: Pipeline - Bridging Community to College to Open Positions

Discover how stackable learning options from short-term credentials to workforce programs and applied degrees can work together to create seamless pathways for learners and meet today’s workforce needs.

In this session, you’ll learn how to:
✔️ Integrate upskilling, reskilling, new skilling, and cross-skilling
✔️ Build flexible, workforce-responsive pathways
✔️ Create opportunities that help every learner move forward

🎤 Featuring:
Dr. Darcie L. Tumey, Dr. Stephanie Goldenberg, Dr. Kiwanna Brackett

📅 Tuesday, May 19, 2026
⏰ 4:00 PM ET
🎓 Ideal for educators, workforce leaders, policymakers, and advocates for student success.

Register using the link in the comments!
Let’s rethink how learning and opportunity connect.

⏰ Reminder NACCE Master Class!
⚖️ Michelson Institute for IP Master Class: Intellectual Property for Educators

📅 May 26, 27 & 28
🕒 3:00–5:00 PM ET

Join Chinwe Ohanele and Whitley Crawford for this live, cohort-based training designed to help educators confidently teach the fundamentals of intellectual property, from copyright and trademarks to patents and innovation.

If you work in higher education, workforce development, or entrepreneurship education, this is your opportunity to gain practical tools to better support student creators and innovators.

🚨 Register today and bring IP literacy into your classroom and programs.

Follow the link in our comments to register!

NACCE CEO Reading Challenge with . Mary Landon Darden author of Transforming Higher Education
Discover how institutions are leading change through innovation.

FREE Webinar
📅 June 4, 2026
🕑 2:00 PM EDT

This special fireside chat will feature Dr. Mary Landon Darden alongside NACCE’s CEO, Dr. Rebecca Corbin, who will be leading the conversation around innovation, entrepreneurial leadership, and how institutions can drive meaningful changes in higher education.

As higher education continues to evolve, conversations like these are essential for educators, administrators, and changemakers looking to strengthen student success and workforce readiness through entrepreneurial thinking.

If you’re passionate about:
✅ Innovation in higher education
✅ Entrepreneurial mindset development
✅ Community college leadership
✅ The future of workforce and student success
…this is a session worth attending.

Learn more and register using the link in the comments.

Order the book through the link in the comments.

🚀 From an Idea to a National Movement 🌎

The NACCE Everyday Entrepreneurship Program is transforming lives across the country, empowering thousands of entrepreneurs in 30+ states to launch businesses, spark innovation, and turn bold ideas into reality.

Through:
💡 Pitch Competitions
📚 Entrepreneurial Training
🤝 Mentorship Opportunities
🏘️ Community Partnerships
Students and community members are gaining tools, confidence, and support to become the next generation of innovators and changemakers.

This is more than entrepreneurship. It is about building futures and strengthening communities nationwide.

✨ Ready to start your entrepreneurial journey? Apply today!
📩 Interested in learning more or getting involved?

Follow the link in the comments to learn more!

3, 2, 1… 🚀 Are you ready for NACCE’s NEW eNews design?

We’ve refreshed our eNews with:
✨ An updated logo adaptation
✨ A cleaner, more modern layout
✨ Easier navigation and better content overview
✨ A featured “Theme of the Month” section at the top — and this month we’re celebrating National Small Business Month!

Our redesigned eNews highlights the incredible people and programs driving innovation and entrepreneurship across our network, including:
🏆 Team Captain of the Month with Lydia Perez-Kavanagh
💬 CEO Corner with Dr. Rebecca Corbin
📅 Events Corner with Dr. Darcie Tumey
💡 Everyday Entrepreneur Program updates with Lydia Perez-Kavanagh
🔧 SkillPointe Corner with Dr. Kevin Logan
🌎 NACCE Team Out and About
🤝 Membership Corner with Dr. Trenton Hightower, Mia Martin, and Trish Truitt

A huge shoutout to Elizabeth Anderson and Hannah Taggeselle for leading and driving this redesign effort forward. Their creativity and collaboration helped bring this new vision to life!

We’d love your feedback! After checking out the new eNews, drop a comment below and let us know what you think about the refreshed design and new format. 👇

Want to receive NACCE communications and future editions of our eNews? Sign up using the link in the comments and mention eNews.

🎉 Presenter Spotlight | NACCE Pathways To Prosperity Summit
📍 Cleveland, OH | June 23–25, 2026

🔗 Register now using the link in the comments!

We are thrilled to shine a light on three incredible voices joining us on the main stage this June!

Elizabeth Anderson, Manager of Communications and Special Projects at NACCE, is a strategic storyteller and connector dedicated to elevating entrepreneurial mindsets across community colleges nationwide. Her work amplifying partnerships and programs makes her an ideal voice for this important conversation.

Dr. Kevin O. Logan, Chief Innovation & Technology Officer, SkillPointe at NACCE, Social Scientist, Business Psychologist, and Human Capital Consultant, brings a powerful lens to the future of work, entrepreneurship, and human potential. His research on autonomy, competence, and innovation makes him a dynamic voice for the conversations shaping tomorrow's workforce.

Sierra Elbert, CEO of Groom Curriculum, is a visionary leader driving innovative approaches to education and workforce readiness. Her expertise in curriculum development positions her as a powerful advocate for aligning learning pathways with real-world opportunity and business growth.

Together, they will take the main stage for "Jobs Today. Business Tomorrow: The Skilled Trade Advantage" a timely and inspiring session exploring how skilled trades are not just pathways to employment, but launching pads for business ownership and long-term economic opportunity.

Don't miss this powerful conversation at the Pathways To Prosperity Summit!

🎉 Happy Monday! NACCE is inviting you to join one (or multiple!) free webinars happening this and next week!

👋 If you are a new member, or would simply like to learn more about what NACCE has to offer, please join our “NACCE Membership Benefits” call tomorrow, Tuesday, May 12th at 3:00 PM ET.

🚀 On Thursday at 1:00 PM ET, we are offering a “Build Your Entrepreneurship Program” webinar, which will dive deeper into the NACCE Institute, AI Credentials, and the $10,000 grants available on our website.

🌟 Next week kicks off with a “SkillPointe Pipeline” webinar, bridging community to college to open positions, on Tuesday, May 19th at 4:00 PM ET.

🍽️ On Thursday, May 21st, Sima Gandhi will share what it really takes to launch a food business in her “Start Smart” webinar at 2:00 PM ET.

🙌 We hope you’ll join us! Please follow the link in our comments to sign up!