The Workforce Alliance honored Gateway Community College President Dorsey L. Kendrick at their 35th Annual Meeting on March 16 at their 35th Annual Meeting Celebrating Partnerships & Job Placements. 
 
Dr. Kendrick was honored 2017’s Workforce Champion for her commitment to quality education and skills training.  Labor policy and trend expert Paul Harrington was the keynote speaker at the Hilton Garden Inn in Wallingford where approximately 200 business, education, municipal and community leaders attended. 
 
"We collaborate with a number of partners to implement employment and training services in South Central Connecticut, but under Dr. Kendrick, the community college has become our strongest and most reliable partner," Workforce Alliance President & CEO William Villano said. 
 
Dr. Kendrick announced her retirement in January 2017 after serving as president of Gateway Community College in New Haven for 18 years. During Kendrick’s tenure, she grew enrollment, established new credit and non-credit programs, and oversaw the completion of Gateway’s downtown New Haven campus, which opened in 2012. 
An example of Workforce Alliance and Gateway’s collaboration is the Health Careers Advancement Project, which currently sends trainees to Gateway and Middlesex Community College to earn or build upon entry-level health career certifications. Those who participate can also return for more training for up to 5 years in order to advance professionally, and do paid internships and on-the-job training. 
 
"Education and training are the key ingredients to job placement and sustainable futures," Dr. Kendrick said. "Access to employment is the hallmark that supports quality of life for individuals and families. The relationship that exists between Gateway and Workforce Alliance is imperative to ensuring that our citizens in this region acquire, achieve and succeed with employment. We both share this common bond."