connect • explore • expand

THE FUTURE

OF STUDENTS & INDUSTRY

for the wellbeing of our community

Industry Pathways

industries served and explored include:

hard hat icon

Building & Construction Trades

Energy, Environment & Utilities

drafting compass icon

Engineering and Architecture

gear icon

Manufacturing & Product Design

apple icon

Ag & Natural Resources

Services

  • National events are great to pare down and give local flare.

    Examples:

    • Entrée to Employment

    A facilitated conversation over dinner or lunch with industry partners, students, and teachers for a deeper look into a particular industry.

    • Made in VC

    A local spin on National Manufacturing Day.

    The first events were held at Ventura College with industry keynote speakers. Local manufacturing companies showcased their company products.

    Robotic teams came and demonstrated their robots. Ventura College gave tours of the manufacturing program and the other career technical education programs on site.

    In & Out provided dinner for all (family event in the evening)

    • Sustainable VC

    Set at the Oxnard Water Reclamation Facility, the facility lent itself to showcase many pathways from the Energy, Utilities and Environment, Engineering, Architecture, and Automotive (electric car club).

    Students toured the facility and learned about water reclamation, and architecture, while industry spoke with students about careers in the many industries showcased.

    Lunch was provided in Entrée to Employment style with industry, educators, and students.

  • Industry Partners present challenges and desired outcomes to classes.

    Students then work through each challenge to discover a solution over an agreed‐upon timeline.

    Industry has the opportunity to visit and mentor during the project timeline.

    SHINES culminates with students presenting their solutions to industry and staff.

  • Do you have the most cost‐effective equipment and software to enable a sustainable program? Is professional development needed for instructors to achieve a robust program?

    We build a plan, create a schedule, and work within your budget to build a sustainable program.

  • For education, we align curriculum and projects from middle through high school to community colleges.

    The result for educators is trust, talent, and a self‐contained support system.

    For industry, we connect stakeholders and educators for training.

    Educators can then forward their up-to-date industry knowledge to students.

  • We gather education and industry partners to not only meet funding requirements, but to build lasting relationships between middle, high school, community college, and industry.

    Advisory meetings set a standard baseline for a stronger workforce.

LM Eklund Consulting offers diverse services that strengthen, expand, and elevate workforce development with educational programs.

We play a crucial part in fostering collaboration between educational institutions, industry partners, and stakeholders.

With our deep involvement in industry and community, LM Eklund Consulting is uniquely positioned to help you fulfill your commitments through enhanced industry engagement and a wealth of opportunities for students.

Case Studies

  • Professional Development | VC Manufacturing Program PD for Middle + High School Teachers

    GOAL
    Share industry knowledge with educators about “The Top 3 Tricks of Running a CNC Machine”

    OUR ROLE
    LM Eklund Consulting coordinated professional development at Ventura College for middle and high school teachers across Ventura County.

    ACCOMPLISHMENTS
    With students learning deeper skills at a younger age, they are better prepared when entering higher education and entry-level positions. This increases workforce potential, benefitting both students and industry.

    Educators gained more skills and knowledge to pass on to their students. They also connected with other teachers for resources and learned of available training at the community college.

    High school teachers have continued to take classes offered at the community college after visiting and connecting with the industry instructor.

  • Girls' Summer Camp | National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC)

    GOAL
    Provide a construction camp for girls to develop construction skills and learn how to work as a team

    OUR ROLE
    LM Eklund Consulting provided administration support and coordination through the Ventura County Office of Education for the site. We also handled registration, site access, and other supportive services for the project.

    ACCOMPLISHMENTS
    Students gained confidence and learned skills that will last their lifetimes.

    Industry professionals participated in the growth of young girls by communicating career path opportunities.

    Educators were supported with resources and industry involvement.

  • Student Design-Build Competition

    Student Design-Build Competition | Construction Industry Education Foundation (CIEF) SoCal

    GOAL
    Expand students’ knowledge of design, architecture, and engineering via a two-day shed-building competition

    OUR ROLE
    We connected educators with industry professionals including architects, carpenters, fall protection specialists, and suppliers. We also secured sponsorships from industry and material suppliers.

    ACCOMPLISHMENTS
    Students had an expanded knowledge of design and building by working with industry professionals. They also learned the value of teamwork.

    Industry partners had an opportunity to impart knowledge, share about career pathways, and plant the seeds of future workforce development.

    Educators built industry relationships and expanded work-based curricula.

  • Industry + Education Lunch & Learn | Mark Richardson CTE & Farm Center with Santa Maria Valley Contractors Association (SMVCA)

    GOAL
    Introduce career technical education programs to local industry professionals

    2. Provide opportunities to grow a student’s career and workforce development for the industry.

    OUR ROLE
    We coordinated and facilitated a lunch & learn for the members of the SMVCA at the Mark Richardson CTE & Farm Center. The Tri-County Regional Energy Network (3C-REN) gave a presentation about rebates and incentives for contractors. A tour of the Career Technical Education was also provided. Culinary students created the menu and prepared lunch.

    ACCOMPLISHMENTS
    Culinary students used their skills for a real-world project.

    Industry professionals discovered a program preparing students for construction, diesel mechanics, manufacturing, and agriculture for potential workforce development.

    Educators built industry relationships and connections for deeper work-based curriculum.

  • Field Trip | City of Ventura Pier (Engineering) + Construction & Design Program

    GOAL
    Educate students about how a pier is designed and built

    OUR ROLE
    Via our relationships at the City of Ventura Public Works, the students were able to visit the historic city hall for a slide presentation of the pier. They learned how to read the plans for the design and then visited the pier for a tour with the lead Public Works official.

    ACCOMPLISHMENTS
    Students learned about the engineering, design, and building of the Ventura Pier by industry professionals.

    Industry professionals shared their knowledge and built rapport with the students, strengthening workforce development.

    The field trip also enhanced what is being taught in the classroom and reinforced existing curricula.

  • College + High School Instructors Meet-Up | San Luis Obispo County, Construction Technology Instructors

    GOAL
    Assemble high school and community college construction technology instructors to learn about their programs and competition opportunities

    OUR ROLE
    We coordinated the meeting, lunch, and a tour of the Cuesta College construction program.

    ACCOMPLISHMENTS
    Sharing resources has provided more opportunities for students to learn, compete, and connect with the industry.

    Because the teachers came together, shared resources, and strategized a plan, a better opportunity was provided for the industry to participate.

    Educators shared information and explored how to connect their program to the community college for a stronger career technology education pathway.

  • Instructor Professional Development | National Institute for Metalworking Skills (NIMS), Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerances (GDT) Workshop

    GOAL
    Train middle, high, and community college instructors to become NIMS GDT Certified

    OUR ROLE
    LM Eklund Consulting coordinated logistics for a 5-day GDT training by a NIMS instructor.

    ACCOMPLISHMENTS
    Educators achieved a higher degree of skill and education for a more robust program.

    The industry gained a better informed and trained workforce, and students get to learn on par with industry standards.

  • Industry Awareness Event | "Sustainable VC"

    GOAL
    Showcase sustainability methods and materials in design, architecture, environment, engineering and the associated businesses and organizations that provide services.

    OUR ROLE
    With our industry connections, Ventura County high school students were able to be transported to the Water Reclamation Plant in Pt. Hueneme CA. They were provided tours of the plant electric car club, and speakers from each of the pathway industry partners gave presentations and spoke of career opportunities. A roundtable luncheon concluded the event.

    ACCOMPLISHMENTS
    The field trip provided an opportunity for students to experience how industry sectors relate to one another and to hear from industry partners.

    Industry partners shared about how to build a career, planting the seeds of an inspired future workforce.

    Educators were connected with industry partners for future engagement.

  • Educational Advisory Meeting | Ventura County High Schools, Community Colleges, and Universities

    GOAL
    Enhance high school engineering programs by exploring higher ed engineering programs in Ventura County

    OUR ROLE
    We coordinated and facilitated meetings with the Engineering instructors and administration at the high school, community college, and university levels.

    ACCOMPLISHMENTS
    A continuum was created to better align educators’ curriculum and priorities.

    This connection offers earlier opportunities for students and a better-prepared workforce for industry and students alike.

  • Industry Advisory Meeting | High School, Community College, & Industry Partners

    GOAL
    Connect industry and career technical educators to engage in conversation about current and future skills of the workforce

    OUR ROLE
    LM Eklund Consulting coordinated and facilitated advisory meetings with high school, community college, and industry partners in the pathways of architecture, engineering, construction & building, and manufacturing.

    ACCOMPLISHMENTS
    Educators prioritized their curricula per industry standards.

    This connection ensures that the curriculum is appropriately aligned, thus equipping students and providing a better-prepared workforce for industry.

  • Industry Awareness Event | "MADE in VC" at Ventura College

    GOAL
    Spread awareness of manufacturing careers and training to students and parents

    OUR ROLE
    We conducted the event with industry partners and educators at Ventura College. We included local middle and high school robotics programs and STEMbassadors as well as regional manufacturing companies. We secured keynote speakers Titans of CNC and Jeremy Bout, the founder of Edge Factor.

    ACCOMPLISHMENTS
    Students explored career options and training.

    Industry professionals connected with their potential workforce and built relationships with educators.

    Educators gained a greater exposure to their programs in support by other educators and industry partners.

CREATE YOUR OWN SUCCESS STORY

who we are

  • At LM Eklund Consulting, our mission is threefold:

    1. Connect educators with work-based learning

    2. Expand a strong workforce

    3. Promote students’ career exploration

    Experiences create rich lives which build grit and confidence. We curate opportunities for students to explore career pathways through connecting with industry.

    We are driven by the belief that a strong collaboration between career technical education (CTE) and industry enhances the students’ experience while fostering a dynamic, well-prepared workforce.

    LM Eklund Consulting understands the unique needs and objectives of CTE and industry. Our commitment is to collaborate, build, and facilitate work-based learning initiatives that benefit all stakeholders.

  • Expertise

    With LM Eklund Consulting's extensive background and connections, we possess unparalleled expertise in aligning education and industry.

    Tailored Solutions

    We understand that every educational institution and industry has unique requirements. Our solutions are customized to meet these individual needs.

    Impact

    Our work has a direct and lasting impact on both students and industries, creating a win-win scenario for all stakeholders.

  • Lisa Eklund’s early career was in farming, working the land on the Oxnard Plains from land prep to trucking lima beans to cannery. The hospitality industry led to her love of food, and the food led her to work at top wineries in the Santa Ynez Valley.

    Hospitality called her back to Ventura County where she met Gary Hardy, a framing contractor, and found her calling in the construction industry. While working for Gary, Lisa began her studies for Construction Technology at Ventura College, this connection would be what set the course for LM Eklund Consulting.

    Looking to learn more about the industry, she started as an assistant superintendent for Lennar Homes advancing to a superintendent role. She managed the operations for a dry utility contractor and worked in commercial construction as a project manager.

    A position as an Industry Liaison for Ventura County Office of Education opened up. The position was made available through a California Career Pathway grant. The funding provided a new support system between education and industry, a huge success for teachers, students, and industry partners.

    The pivotal moment came when grant funding ran out. Lisa Eklund made it her mission to continue to strengthen workforce development through LM Eklund Consulting.

"We're dedicated to connecting education with industry to jumpstart students’ careers."

Lisa Eklund • Founder of LM Eklund Consulting