Business briefs: Leadership Snohomish County names new executive director

Leadership Snohomish County names new executive director

Leadership Snohomish County, which offers leadership training and education, welcomes a new executive director, AJ Adamski.

Adamski, who has more than 20 years experience as a teacher and school administrator, replaces Kathy Coffey Solberg, who stepped down to found CommonUnity, a consulting firm.

Coffey Solberg led the nonprofit for eight years.

“Throughout my career in education, I have often witnessed the focus on what people could not do,” Adamski said. “From the simple, ‘you can’t come late to class,’” even when reliable transportation was out of reach for their families, to the racial bias in the qualification process for the highly capable programs that prevented students of color from being admitted.”

“As I read through the mission and purpose of Leadership Snohomish County, I was struck with the opportunity to be a part of an organization that focuses on what people can do,” Adamski said.

“As part of a military family, Adamski was lucky enough to travel the world and develop an appreciation of different cultures and communities,” according to a news release. “Trough these experiences, she developed a desire to support the growth of others, but also an awareness of the need for systemic changes that will positively impact communities.”

Rochelle Lubbers, Leadership’s board president, said the group is thrilled to have her join our team.

“AJ’s passion for education, equity, and system work makes her an asset at LSC and we know she will do amazing!” Lubbers said.

To learn more about leadership development programs go to: leadershipsc.org

New short-term, career programs at Edmonds College

Edmonds College has launched a new series of short-term, career-building programs.

FastTrack programs can be completed in under six months, allowing students to quickly jump into the job market, the college said.

The 49 FastTrack programs provide training or new skills to gain a competitive advantage for in-demand jobs. They include accounting, aerospace, basic bookkeeping, cloud computing, data analytics and health care.

Programs are a mix of college-credit and non-credit courses.

“Edmonds College understands that people lead busy lives. These innovative programs are designed to be completed quickly so participants can enter the job market, earn living wages, and receive better benefits to provide for themselves and their families,” said Amit Singh, president of Edmonds College.

Many classes are offered online. Some can be completed at a student’s own pace, Singh said.

FastTrack students are eligible for many of the same resources that full-time students receive on campus, including financial aid, tutoring, career support, childcare, mental health counseling and more.

“Beyond providing support to our students during their academic journey, we also can help with the job search through our Career Action Center,” said Danielle Carnes, vice-president of innovation and strategic partnerships for the college. “The need for skilled workers far exceeds the number of skilled workers in the state, so this non-traditional pathway can help meet the demands of employers, and do so quickly,” Carnes said.

For more information go to: edmonds.edu/fast-track

State grants for small businesses

The Washington State Legislature has allocated $70 million in grant funding for small businesses affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. For the fifth round of Working Washington grants, funds have been set aside for specific groups or sectors:

—60% is available for the arts, heritage, and science sectors, including those that operate live entertainment venues

—40% available for most other sectors, including hospitality, fitness and personal services

Deadline is Sept. 9. For more information go to: commercegrants.com

Career Fair

The Snohomish County Career Fair will be held Sept. 29 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Everett Community College Fitness Center, 2206 Tower Street. Information for job seekers and employers is available at snococareerfair.com

Janice Podsada: 425-339-3097; jpodsada@heraldnet.com; Twitter: @JanicePods.