ACT Workforce Innovation Champion

Metropolitan Community College (MCC) has been recognized as ACT's 2026 Workforce Innovation Champion, honoring the College's leadership in developing employer-aligned workforce training and helping shape a national model that connects more learners to high-demand careers.

The award was presented during the 2026 ACT Summit in Nashville, Tennessee, recognizing organizations that are advancing college and career success through innovative education and workforce partnerships.

ACT recognized MCC for transforming the regional workforce through fast, employer-aligned training that connects adult learners directly to in-demand careers. The College integrates ACT WorkKeys into workforce programs, pairs technical training with career coaching and works closely with employers to prepare learners for family-sustaining careers while addressing Nebraska's workforce needs.

"This recognition reflects years of collaboration between our faculty, workforce teams, employer partners and community organizations committed to creating better connections between education systems and workforce opportunities," said Tammy Green, executive director of Statewide Workforce Initiatives at MCC. "Our goal has always been to help people gain the skills, credentials and support they need to succeed while helping employers build the workforce they need. We're honored that ACT recognized those efforts on a national stage."

The recognition builds on the College's leadership as a national partner in developing the Pathways to Success Toolkit, a free resource released earlier this year to help communities strengthen education-to-workforce pipelines by providing practical how-to’s.

Developed through a two-year partnership among ACT, MCC and the College of Southern Nevada, with support from the ECMC Foundation, the toolkit provides practical strategies, planning resources and implementation guides that communities can use to better align education, workforce development, employers and economic development efforts.

The project was informed by the experiences of more than 6,000 learners served through pilot initiatives at MCC and the College of Southern Nevada. During the initiative, 87% of participating learners earned credentials, while 98% continued their education within one year, demonstrating the impact of coordinated education and workforce strategies.

"The Pathways to Success Toolkit reflects what we've learned by working directly with employers and community partners to remove barriers and create clearer pathways into rewarding careers," Green said. "We're proud that communities across the country can now build on those lessons to strengthen their own workforce systems."

The Workforce Innovation Champion award recognizes organizations demonstrating exceptional leadership in developing innovative workforce solutions that improve learner outcomes while addressing regional workforce challenges.

ACT Champion Awards also included recipients from educational institutions representing K-12, two-year and four-year institutions, as well as employer and workforce policy awards.

“I've had the privilege of working alongside many of these partners, and behind every one of these awards is a student who got a better shot because someone in their community chose to invest in them,” said Catherine Hoffmann, senior vice president of Government and Public Relations at ACT. “That's not a small thing. I'm honored to stand with the educators, employers, and institutions who show up every day with that kind of commitment."