The Workforce Therapy Files Podcast Show Notes – Emily Sayers on KCTCS Programs for Employers

July 2, 2025 workforce podcast show notes

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File 29: In today’s file, the team discusses talent pipelines, workforce development and the real drivers behind economic growth in Kentucky. We welcome Emily Sayers, Kentucky’s Executive Director of Workforce Solutions at the Kentucky Community and Technical College System.

Meet Emily Sayers

Emily serves as the Executive Director in the Cabinet for Workforce and Economic Development, at KCTCS. She may have the longest title for anyone we’ve interviewed on the podcast. There are 16 workforce solutions divisions across Kentucky. This aligns with the 16 colleges within KCTCS. The focus is on business engagement, as well as the upskilling and reskilling of Kentucky’s workforce.

Emily originally worked at the Gateway Community and Technical College in northern Kentucky. She viewed her role there as being a community resource for employers, beyond workforce. She often connected employers with any number of others who could play a part in helping them to address specific issues they were facing.

Emily and here team could design and deliver customized training to assist employers. It could range from typical skills, such as MIG welding, to more adapted solutions including the welding, but in combination with a range of other company-specific needs, including managerial training. The training could be delivered onsite or at a campus and during times that worked best for the employer, including 3rd shift time slots. It would be a completely customized experienced.

The goal for KCTCS is to move at the speed of business. They want to be the incubator for new programming, technologies and more.

Timeline for New Orientation Programs and Other Programs

Jamie asks Emily about the timeline involved in delivering programs for businesses. Orientation upskilling is a common type of program KCTCS develops for employers, including manufacturing sites, ranging from highly technical processes to basic information regarding two-step verification.

If the curriculum already exists, KCTCS could deliver the new program in a week, assuming a subject matter expert can be identified and engaged. This comes back to the focus on moving at the speed of business.

Other types of programs that are purely conceptual, at the outset, would require more time. It usually comes down to how prepared the employer is and what their timeline requirements are.
Emily mentions there’s no real standard. This manifests in KCTCS working in the gray, as the development of a new program evolves.

Customized Programs for the Community

Jason comments how KCTCS can customize programs based on needs of a community. For instance, training heavy equipment operators. Once a successful program is developed, it may be possible for KCTCS to leverage parts or all of the training for other situations/locations.

Are KCTCS Resources Available to Companies outside of Kentucky?

Jason asks Emily if employers in other states can leverage the capabilities of KCTCS? While other states may offer similar services, actually, KCTCS does a lot of work in Tennessee, Indiana, Ohio, Virginia and other border states.

Those non-Kentucky states may not have access to state incentives, but there are still opportunities for agile training and program development. KCTCS may be able to partner with other non-profits to assist in opportunities with those employers.

How Does KCTCS Approach the Sustainability of the Programs It Develops?

It depends on the situation. Some programs may move to the academic-side of Kentucky Community and Technical College System. They would be supported through that area. However, on the workforce development-side of the System, if there is an ongoing need by the employer, KCTCS can arrange to maintain that program. If the needs have moved beyond the initial program, the original program may sunset as resources are focused on developing more up-to-date programs.

Jason notes how the community college system can be much more flexible and adaptive, when compared to traditional 4-year universities.

Partnerships Across Kentucky

Emily describes some of the partnerships they maintain across the state. One is the with the Strategic Workforce and Talent Team (SWATT). It’s comprised of many different entities. This include (but are not limited to) KCTCS, Department for Education and Labor, Cabinet for Economic Development, the Kentucky Chamber, and others. The goal of the partnership is ease of use for the employer. It brings all of Kentucky’s incentives and resources for employers in a clear format. It helps to streamline the conversation between employers and the available providers, while reducing confusion and redundancy.

SWATT is still in its early days. There’s an identified effort to educate employers on how to access these program resources.

How Do Employers Pay for KCTCS Services?

Emily highlights KCTCS-TRAINS funding. This is an allocation of funds specifically for the 16 colleges in the system. It is used to offset the cost to employers related to upskilling and reskilling the incumbent workforce. It can cover up to 75% of the cost for an employer to have its customized training program.

Partner organizations and other groups may be able to be identified to cover the remaining 25% of the cost.

A 10% administration fee is also charged, for KCTCS to maintain the program.

These funding mechanisms can ensure employers can engage in workforce development activities, including customize programs, rather than pre-packaged programs that are offered by other vendors.

How Many Employees Must Be Kentucky-Based for the Employer to Access the Incentives?

Surprisingly, there is no minimum requirement. If the business is operating in Kentucky, it can have access to the programs, including the KCTCS-TRAINS funding.

Emily explains there are other parameters including training a certain number of people and spending a certain amount of money. Nevertheless, this is an extremely valuable resource for employers.

One of the objectives is to make this easy for employers to understand and participate. Partnering with KCTCS can make the development of the new program and achieving the results much less complicated that one would imagine. Combine that with the financial incentives and it’s clear most of the traditional roadblocks have been eliminated.

Are there Commonly Overlooked Services Available from KCTCS?

Jamie asks if there are services Emily wishes more employers would ask about or take advantage of? The number one service is TRAINS funding. The next, even for out-of-state employers is the customized training available from KCTCS, whether the training takes place at one of their locations or at the employer’s location. The agile and flexible ability of the services is a tremendous benefit. KCTCS will come to you, which is extremely advantageous for employers in remote or rural locations.

The Education First Employers Initiative is another important service. Emily explains this is a partnership between KCTCS colleges and Kentucky businesses. Participating businesses offer flexible scheduling, tuition assistance, and a commitment to meet or exceed a living wage.

Can KCTCS Support Remote or Hybrid-Work Arrangements?

Yes. By leveraging the Owensboro Community and Technical College infrastructure, KCTCS offer FlexTrain. This is an LMS for employers involving customized training to support remote or hybrid staff needs.

Virtual reality learning is another capability offered by KCTCS.

Interested in Contacting Emily Sayers to Learn More?
Website: kctcs.edu
Phone: (877) 528-2748

Before We Leave

We wanted to let you know the WTF Podcast is going to have a booth at the upcoming 2025 KYSHRM Conference, August 26-28, at the Central Bank Center in Lexington, KY. Come visit us at Booth 113. Be a guest for one our podcast mini-interviews!

That’s where we’ll leave the conversation for today.  Before we close the file, we invite you to reach out to us with questions, suggestions or other comments. We’d love to hear from you.

Did You Enjoy Today’s Conversation?

Visit WorkforceTherapyFiles.com to listen to additional WTF files or to let us know you’d like to be a guest on an upcoming file.

Need Help Supporting Your Company’s Recruiting and Staffing Goals?

We’re here to help.  You can contact us via our individual websites, depending on your specific needs or questions:

• Jamie Swaim, SPHR – www.ParcelKnows.com
• Molley Ricketts – www.IncipioWorks.com
• Jason Heflin – www.CrowdSouth.com

We hope you found this file insightful and helpful.  Thank you for listening!