Partner Perspectives
Tony Carvajal
CEO & Executive Director, Association of Florida Colleges
What postsecondary trends are state colleges responding to?
In many ways, the postsecondary trends colleges are responding to today are the same ones that drove the creation and expansion of our state college system, a focus on academics after high school and a readiness to work. Maybe what is different today is the pace of change in the world of work. Technology has always enhanced our ability to work in new ways and created disruptions, but the timeline for implementation tended to be measured in years, not weeks. Integrating innovation quickly demands that we not only have lifelong learners but rapid response workers. Florida’s states colleges are well positioned to respond to this need, whether for students graduating from high-school or someone already in the workforce that chooses to return to earn a certificate, credential, or degree. Our teaching methods and classroom planning continue to evolve to incorporate remote learning, virtualization, simulation, artificial intelligence and all types of technology and training enhancements. We are proactive in ensuring that our degrees and certificates align with the skills needed to succeed in the current and future job markets.
What are some of the biggest challenges facing students in Florida today?
Beyond the challenge of rapidly adjusting to technology changes, students in Florida are facing the same challenges that everybody does: affordability, accessibility, and accommodation. Continuing to college is surprisingly affordable in Florida. Florida’s state colleges have not raised tuition in more than 13 years. While Florida offers relatively affordable college options though, the other expenses associated with college- like housing, transportation, childcare- continue to rise. Our state and college system is committed to adapting our educational system to meet these needs, ensuring that all students have the opportunity to pursue their academic and professional goals without undue hardship. We continually strive to enhance support services and financial aid options to address these challenges head-on, helping students manage the costs associated with their education. By the way, we find that many college students are working professionals so our programs and schedules adjust for this.
How are state colleges responding to these challenges?
Florida’s colleges are doing what they have always done, responding to the needs of students and the communities where they are located. After all, colleges are ultimately designed to address regional and community needs, opportunities, and challenges. Colleges work closely with students, families, and employers to create pathways to success, which include programs of work and study as well as financial aid. State colleges choose to focus on opportunities rather than barriers. This perspective allows us to not just address hurdles as they arise, but to anticipate and plan for them, ensuring our students are prepared to meet the demands of their futures confidently.
How are state colleges supporting students with disabilities as they enter postsecondary education?
Florida’s state colleges are dedicated to creating comprehensive educational “pathways” for all students, regardless of abilities. Recognizing that access to higher education can present unique challenges, our institutions provide robust counseling and support services tailored to individual needs. Each college offers comprehensive student success programs designed to facilitate both academic and personal growth, ensuring that all students, regardless of disabilities, receive the support they need. For students with disabilities, accommodations are readily available and are as varied as the student body itself. Our commitment extends beyond traditional support systems; it is about ensuring that every student has the necessary resources to succeed in their educational endeavors.
Tony Carvajal is CEO & Executive Director of the Association of Florida Colleges (AFC), the nonprofit professional organization that supports more than 40,000 dedicated educators, professionals, and leaders at Florida’s 28 public colleges, including College Trustees, Administrators, Faculty, and Career Staff.
Prior to joining AFC in July of 2023, he spent more than 25 years focused on developing and strengthening the talent pipeline & workforce opportunities in Florida and held senior positions at several of Florida’s top nonpartisan policy organizations including the Florida Chamber Foundation, the Collins Center for Public Policy, Florida TaxWatch, and The Able Trust.
He is a regular presenter and facilitator on ways to secure competitiveness, prosperity, and a resilient future and has served on numerous long-range planning initiatives for Florida including: Horizon 2060; STEM Florida; FDOEs Next Generation Occupational Advisory Council; Enterprise Florida’s Strategic Roadmap; FDOTs Strategic Intermodal System Plan and Florida Transportation Plan; Florida Department of Health’s Strategic Health Implementation Plan; the Century Commission’s Critical Lands and Water Inventory Project; the Florida Cooperative Conservation Blueprint; and Workforce Florida’s Strategic Plan.
Tony holds degrees in communications and psychology from Florida State University and a Master of Public Administration from Florida International University.
Learn More about
The Able Trust
Youth Programs
High School High Tech (HSHT) provides high school students with all types of disabilities the opportunity to explore jobs or postsecondary education leading to in-demand careers. HSHT links youth to a broad range of academic, career development and experiential resources and experiences that will enable them to meet the demands of the 21st century workforce.
Futures in Focus is intended to support students from grades 9 to 12 (aged 14-22) who have a disability documented by an IEP or 504 Plan.
- Improve participation in education and vocational-related activities leading to increased employment opportunities for middle/high school students with disabilities.
- Connect students to resources that assist them with education and employment pursuits, such as Florida’s Division of Vocational Rehabilitation.
- Increase enrollment in postsecondary education/training.
Additional Partner Perspectives
Tallahassee Community College
Postsecondary Education and Training
As a longtime partner of The Able Trust, Tallahassee State College (TSC) recognizes the outstanding potential of students with disabilities and provides quality postsecondary education options and career training to fit each student’s needs and interests.
The TSC Student Accessibility Services Office, The Able Trust and Project10 Transition Education Network recently partnered on the fifth annual TSC Transition Fair, bringing High School High Tech students from Leon, Madison and Wakulla counties on campus to visit.
Students with disabilities from all three participating counties had a great time learning about all TSC has to offer and participating in enriching activities at the half-day event. Students indicated by participating in the TSC Transition Fair, they learned about financial aid, counseling services and other resources, and the wide variety of programs TSC offers. Some of the programs they expressed an interest in included nursing, occupational therapy and computer coding.
Click the button below to get TSC President Jim Murdaugh’s perspective on the Transition Fair and read more about this great collaboration.
Kevin Craig
Regional Director of Corporate External & Legislative Affairs, AT&T
Kevin Craig serves as Regional Director of Corporate External & Legislative Affairs for AT&T in North Florida. A Jacksonville native, Kevin is responsible for AT&T’s corporate engagement and advocacy efforts with state and local elected officials, non-profit organizations, and other business groups across 15 North Florida counties. Additionally, Kevin leads AT&T’s broadband subsidy initiatives in Florida as well as AT&T Foundation efforts for Florida and the Gulf States.
Prior to joining AT&T, Kevin served as Director of Public Policy for the Central Florida Hotel & Lodging Association (CFHLA), where he spearheaded a number of local and state-level advocacy efforts on behalf of the tourism industry to protect funding of the state’s Tourist Development Tax, Visit Florida and other key initiatives.
Kevin currently serves as Vice Chair for the Jacksonville Symphony Board of Directors and Board Secretary for the Cultural Council of Greater Jacksonville. Additionally, he serves on the City of Jacksonville’s Downtown Development Review Board (DDRB), Board of Directors for the Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce, St. Johns County Chamber of Commerce, Daytona Regional Chamber of Commerce, Here Tomorrow Board of Directors and the Wolfson Children’s Hospital Development Council. Kevin is a proud graduate of both Leadership Florida and Leadership Jacksonville. He has been recognized by both the News Service of Florida and Orlando Business Journal as a “40 under 40” community leader and also as a “Rising Star of Florida Politics” by INFLUENCE Magazine.
Kevin holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science from the University of Central Florida.
Click the button below for the Partner Perspective and Kevin’s Q and A.
Rachel Ludwig
Vice President of Talent Development for Future of Work, Florida Chamber Foundation
Rachel serves as Vice President, Talent Development for the Future of Work at the Florida Chamber Foundation. In this role, Rachel leads the Florida Chamber Foundation’s initiatives to improve Florida’s talent pipeline, which is a key component of Florida’s 2030 Blueprint in our pursuit to become the 10th largest global economy by 2030. The Future of Work Florida initiative focuses on cultivating partnerships among the business community, workforce, and education partners to develop talent pipeline strategies for early learning through lifelong learning.
Before transitioning to the Florida Chamber, Rachel was the statewide Director of Professional Development at the Florida Department of Education Division of Career and Adult Education. At FDOE, Rachel collaborated with educational leaders and key stakeholders to increase her knowledge of various industry and workforce needs throughout Florida. She led expansion efforts of integrated education and training (IET) programs, which accelerate the ability of adult learners to enter the workforce. Rachel has worked in K-12, post-secondary, and workforce education to serve learners across urban, suburban, and rural spaces. She spent much of her career teaching adult GED and English language learners.
Rachel enjoys watching and playing sports with her husband and 8-year-old son. Her claim to fame is her first position after graduating from the University of Wisconsin, where she worked in a public relations role as a “Hotdogger” and drove the famous Oscar Mayer Wienermobile across the US.
Click the button below for the Partner Perspective and Rachel’s Q and A.
Tina Pepin and Jeff Skowronek, MST, Ph.D.
Executive Director, The Pepin Family Foundation / Executive Director, Pepin Academies
Tina Pepin is the Executive Director of The Pepin Family Foundation. Her areas of responsibility include managing operational activities, community outreach, and maintaining her family’s legacy of philanthropy. She currently is an active member of AdventHealth Tampa board, Tampa’s Cultural Asset Commissions board, Mental Health Advisory Committee and The Pepin Academies.
Tina’s most recent passion project includes locating best practices and focusing resources on mental health and resiliency programs for first responders and professionals on the front line. Tina is a graduate of Belmont University with a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration who plans to use her acquired knowledge and skills to take her families legacy to new heights. As a third-generation Tampa Bay Area Philanthropist, she is actively listening to her community’s most vulnerable and in-need populations to see where her time and resources are best allocated.
Jeff Skowronek is the Executive Director of Pepin Academies, which are independent, public charter schools in Hillsborough and Pasco County, serving students with learning and learning-related disabilities. Prior to taking on this role, he was a tenured Associate Professor of Psychology at The University of Tampa for 13 years.
Jeff has served his community in numerous ways for many years. Prior to his current role as Executive Director, he served both Pepin Academies schools and the Pepin Academies Foundation as chair of both boards. Currently, he serves on the Education Committee for the Patel Conservatory/Straz Center for Performing Arts, the Board of Directors for Glazer Children’s Museum. Jeff received his Ph.D. Developmental Psychology in 2005 from the University of New Hampshire. As both a Developmental Psychologist and Executive Director, he believes all children should be afforded certain rights, to food, shelter, emotional support, and the best education possible to learn in ways that maximize their true potentials.
Click the button below for the Partner Perspective and Tina and Jeff’s Q and A.
Michelle Dennard
Vice President and Regional Executive
Jacksonville Branch of the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta
Michelle Dennard is vice president and regional executive of the Jacksonville Branch of the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta. She is responsible for the Branch’s Board of Directors and the District’s Advisory Council on Transportation and Logistics and provides regional input into the Atlanta Fed’s monetary policy process.
Ms. Dennard joined the Jacksonville Branch on July 31, 2023. Prior to joining the Fed, she most recently served as president and CEO of CareerSource Florida Inc., the nonprofit, public private policy and investment board of business and government leaders charged with guiding workforce development for the state of Florida.
An attorney and member of the Florida Bar, Ms. Dennard has more than 16 years of experience in workforce and economic development. She has also served as the Director for the Division of Strategic Business Development at the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (now Florida and Deputy Director of the Florida Office of Tourism, Trade and Economic development, providing legal counsel and managing government affairs.
She is a member of Leadership Florida Cornerstone Class 39, 2019 recipient of Development Counsellors International’s prestigious 40 Under 40 Award in economic development, and the Florida Economic Development Council’s 2019 Toni Jennings Workforce Professional of the Year. She is a graduate of the Florida State University College of Business and earned her Juris Doctor degree from the Florida State University College of Law.
Click the button below for the Partner Perspective and Michelle’s Q and A.
Braulio Colón, Executive Director, Florida College Access Network
Braulio Colón is an experienced non-profit executive and education system-change strategist. His over 20 years of leadership experience has focused on Florida programmatic and policy development at the state agency, university, community-based, and philanthropic levels. Braulio is co-founder and Executive Director at Florida College Access Network, an independent statewide organization hosted by University of South Florida that engages communities to improve college access and success for all students.
Previously Braulio served as vice president, Florida Student Success Initiatives at Helios Education Foundation. While at Helios, Colón managed a $70 million grant portfolio and led in the development of more than $50 million in board-approved community investments supporting various initiatives and projects in Florida and Arizona. Braulio serves on the governing boards of the Florida Policy Institute, National College Attainment Network, Elevation Scholars, and USF Alumni Association. He also serves in an advisory capacity as member of the LEAP Tampa Bay Leadership Council, UCF Center for Community Schools, and Knack Technologies, Inc.
Braulio is a two-time graduate from University of South Florida, earning a Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communications, a Bachelor of Arts in Africana Studies, before earning a Master of Arts in Public Administration. More recently, he earned a Certificate in Executive Leadership from Cornell University.
Click the button below for the Partner Perspective and Colón Q and A.
Adrienne Johnston, President & CEO, CareerSource Florida
Adrienne Johnston was appointed as President and CEO of CareerSource Florida in February 2023. CareerSource Florida is driven by a business-led Board of Directors appointed by the Governor, to guide workforce development policy and services. Johnston leads efforts to ensure the CareerSource Florida network anticipates and responds to the needs of businesses and job seekers throughout Florida.
To date, her achievements in this role include increased collaboration within the state workforce system and implementation of REACH Act priorities, such as the Credentials Review Committee, Master Credentials List, and Florida Workforce System Transformation Plan. With extensive experience in workforce services and applied research, Johnston takes a strategic approach to helping Florida become the global leader for talent. Her most recent leadership positions include serving as deputy secretary of Workforce Services and chief economist for FloridaCommerce. She holds a master’s degree in economics from Florida State University.
Click the button below for the Partner Perspective and Johnston’s Q and A.
Dennis Hartin, Benefits and Risk Advisor HUB International
Dennis started his insurance career in 1994 and was quickly moved up the ranks with a national carrier, serving at every level. Born in KY and relocating to Tampa in 2014 with his wife and two boys he managed a sales team of 700+ and asset base of over $100 Million.
He founded Hartin Dynamics in Jan if 2018 doing anything necessary to help his clients attract and retain the best talent. He exited to HUB international in Oct 2022 to join the 5th largest brokerage firm in the world covering all risk, compliance and benefits needs. He has recently been written up in Benefits Pro Magazine along with multiple national speaking engagements based on his unique approach to benefits and employee engagement. He is one of the few transparent advisors helping duplicate proven solutions to lower costs and improve care. He is a contributor to a Amazon bestseller for sales and marketing called “Winning Sales Attitudes” and his latest book “25 Changemakers in Florida” launched in March 2021. Dennis is the Co-founder of the Emotional Vaccines® program working to educate and create a public health policy around prevention in the growing mental health crisis.
Dennis has a unique passion for helping others and serves in multiple board roles for Neuro Shifts, Keystone Prep High School, HR Tampa, Tampa Bay NABIP, Secured Finance, Empowered HR and The National Center for Performance Health addressing the growing mental health concerns in America.
Click the button below for the Partner Perspective with Dennis.
Mary Chance, President/CEO, Florida Consortium of Education Foundations
Mary Chance has served as president of the Consortium of Florida Education Foundations since 2008 after serving as the executive director of the Alachua County education foundation for ten years, diversifying the scope of work for that foundation significantly and increasing annual revenue from $100,000 to $1.2 million.
The President is the senior-most position in the Consortium and reports directly to the board of directors. Primary responsibilities include supervising board development, public affairs, partnership and resource development, program and administrative activities, and overseeing compliance with all local and state regulations regarding the organization.
Click the button below to learn about trends in postsecondary education and opportunities for students. Mary also describes some of the challenges facing students in Florida and how education foundations are helping resolve these problems.