Quick look: Orange County Superintendent of Schools Dr. Stefan Bean and educator Lainie Rowell were joined by Orange County Business Council President and CEO Jeffrey Ball on the latest episode of the FutureCurrent podcast to discuss the region’s economic development and the important role education and the workforce will play in preparing students for the opportunities ahead.
The students sitting in Orange County classrooms today could one day help shape the region’s economy — but first, they need opportunities to see where their education can take them.
In the latest episode of FutureCurrent, Orange County Business Council CEO Jeffrey Ball sat down with County Superintendent Dr. Stefan Bean and educator Lainie Rowell as they explored Orange County’s economic growth and workforce needs along with the connection between the region’s businesses and its schools.
Ball brings more than 25 years of experience in the banking industry to his current role, having worked his way from the teller line into an executive position. Today, he helps lead the Orange County Business Council to strengthen the region’s business environment and promote economic growth.
Preparing students for a growing economy
Orange County’s economy is already larger than that of 26 individual states according to data, and the OC Business Council — along with its partners — has set a goal of helping it expand by 3 percent each year.
“When we think of those students, as they come into their career, they should be able to see a multitude of opportunities that they can pursue as they work through the career part of their life,” Ball said. “So 3 percent economic growth is the key.”
Ball identified infrastructure, housing and workforce as three factors that will be impactful in sustaining that growth. The latter, he said, is where education has an especially important role to play.
For Orange County to have the talent it needs, Ball said preparation must begin early by making students aware of career opportunities and finding ways to encourage them to build their careers in the region. Developing that talent pipeline could be essential to giving local employers the workforce they need to able to support the county’s economic growth.
For Ball, building that pipeline is about more than preparing students to fill future jobs. It’s about giving them opportunities to discover what they enjoy, what they are good at and what careers they might not otherwise know exist.
Dr. Bean and OCBC CEO Ball discussed the role that career days, networking events, internships and apprenticeships play in connecting students with professionals and offering a firsthand look at the workplace — bridging the gap between education and business.
Dr. Bean also highlighted the countywide need to ensure students with disabilities and others who may face barriers to employment have opportunities to explore different careers.
Ball pointed to his experience as a high school student, when he took a Regional Occupational Program course while exploring his options. He initially thought he might become a travel agent, but the experience helped him discover that career was not for him and eventually led him toward banking.
“Be open and give your children the opportunity to develop and learn what they like because it may be entirely different than what you think it is today,” Ball said.
Building school and workforce connections
Ball said Orange County’s economic strength creates opportunities for students, but those opportunities become more meaningful when young people can connect directly with the people and workplaces behind them.
OCBC works with businesses and community partners to create opportunities for students to connect with professionals, while its Leading Educational Attainment for Families Initiative provides families with resources to help their children succeed in school and prepare for college and careers.
Those efforts reflect a larger idea that business and education must work together to build a strong workforce and make opportunities accessible throughout the county.
“Having that business and education at the table with a focus on economic development, that’s the keystone of all the things that we need to do to be able to make sure that we continue to improve the great quality of life that we already have here in Orange County,” Ball said.
As Orange County looks toward its next chapter of economic growth, Ball said the students preparing to enter the workforce will be a key part of that development. Through OCBC’s work, they aim to make sure students have the awareness and experiences they need to find their place in it.
FutureCurrent is produced by the Orange County Department of Education and features unscripted, story-driven conversations with educators and community leaders across Orange County. Episodes are available in both audio and video formats on major podcast platforms and YouTube.