Media Contacts
Laura Byrnes, APR, CPRC, Communications Manager
CareerSource CareerSource Citrus Levy Marion
352-291-9559 | 352-816-1264 | [email protected]
Kevin Christian, APR, CPRC, Public Relations Director
Marion County Public Schools
352-671-7555 | [email protected]
ORLANDO (Sept. 27, 2018) – Mark Vianello, executive director of Career and Technical Education for Marion County Public Schools, was named the Florida Workforce Partner of the Year for championing workforce collaboration.
Vianello was recognized during the annual Workforce Professional Development Summit, held Sept. 24-26 in Orlando, which brought together more than 850 front-line and leadership workforce professionals to address the current and future needs of Florida’s growing businesses.
This year’s summit, “Progress through Partnerships,” was put on by the Florida Workforce Development Association, CareerSource Florida and the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity. Key partners also included the Florida Department of Education and Vocational Rehabilitation.
Vianello, who also serves on the board of CareerSource Citrus Levy Marion, was recognized for his long-standing efforts to launch programs in partnership with CareerSource CLM and other organizations that support Marion County students’ career and technical education while preparing them to enter the workforce.
During the awards presentation, Vianello said, “In Marion County, our workforce systems are aligned for success.”
“We’re moving (forward) because of true partnerships, collaboration and great synergy …” he said. “It may be a cliché to say, but we have to end silos and work together and in Marion County we’re doing just that and the results are speaking for themselves.”
Vianello pointed to partnerships such as those between the school system and CareerSource CLM, the Chamber and Economic Partnership, Mid-Florida Regional Manufacturers Association, Marion County Builders Association as examples of successful collaboration.
“Workforce development is a community problem that requires a community solution and in Marion (County) we’re successfully working together … It’s a no brainer to connect CareerSource with a school system.”
Dr. Heidi Maier, MCPS superintendent, said of the recognition that “Mark’s passion for learning is only surpassed by his passion for our students. His background and dedication to our students is what fuels him every day. Pair that with a workforce-hungry community and you get successful students and amazing corporate partnerships.”
Vianello was nominated for the statewide award by CareerSource CLM, one of 24 workforce regions in the CareerSource Florida network.
Rusty Skinner, CEO of CareerSource CLM, said, “Mark has been pivotal in the school district’s response to the needs of our business community and engaging students in the district in career awareness. Our partnership has led to the development and implementation of a number of ‘talent pipeline’ programs that inform and prepare students to enter the workforce with great skills.”
Vianello’s efforts include collaboration in the success of the annual Youth Career Expo and Senior/Youth Job Fair, implementation of a soft skills curriculum taught at all grade levels throughout Marion County’s 31 public schools, support of a Duke Foundation-funded video series highlighting the district’s Career Choice academies and programs.
Responding to industry demands in the past year, Vianello was instrumental in launching a new Commercial Driver License (CDL) program at Marion Technical College, spearheaded creation of new logistics programs at two high schools, and developed a short-term Core Construction program. Also, this year, in response to business requests, the school district has launched new CTE programs in Information Technology, Manufacturing. An Entrepreneurial 1 Power and Energy Academy is in the works for the next school year.
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Pictured above (L-R) Joe Paterno, executive dirctor of CareerSource Southwest Florida and awards emcee, and Mark Vianello, executive director of Career and Technical Education (CTE) for Marion County Public Schools.
CareerSource Citrus Levy Marion is a member of CareerSource Florida and a proud partner of the American Job Center network. CareerSource Citrus Levy Marion is an equal opportunity employer/program. Auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities and in Spanish. All voice telephone numbers listed above may be reached by persons using TTY/TDD equipment via the Florida Relay Service at 711. If you need accommodations, please call 800-434-5627, ext. 7878 or e-mail [email protected]. Please make request at least three business days in advance. Like us on Facebook follow us on Twitter, YouTube, Google+ and LinkedIn.
Marion County Public Schools is headquartered in Ocala, Florida and boasts over 43,000 students and nearly 7,000 employees. Larger than the state of Rhode Island, the district takes great pride in its Career and Technical Education Programs, following the LEAD model for certification and performance. An Equal Opportunity School District, MCPS offers accommodations to all students and currently ranks as a “B”-graded district by Florida’s Department of Education. For more information, visit www.marionschools.net and follow us on Twitter @MarionCountyK12.