From cutting-edge apprenticeships to AI-powered job matching and counseling, the metropolitan Washington region is investing in its people. Through partnerships with local governments and tech innovators, the region is building a resilient economy where residents have a path to high-demand careers. These initiatives bridge the skills gap, support workers, and ensure the region remains a national leader in talent and innovation — proving that regional collaboration is vital to a prosperous future.
In this episode of Collaboration in Action, Executive Director Clark Mercer visits Loudoun County to see the COG Learners Program in action. This initiative, whose inaugural cohort has been funded by the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors and housed in the county's Department of Information Technology, equips participants with hands-on experience and professional mentorship to prepare residents for the careers of the future. Mercer speaks with COG’s Steve Cooper, who leads the Learners Program, and meets participants Micaele Lee and Shaista Shaik as they earn tech certifications while modernizing county systems. The episode also features Talent Capital, a first-of-its-kind digital platform powered by agentic AI and spearheaded by COG and regional partners. Mercer discusses the platform with Paul Kihn, Deputy Mayor for Education in the District of Columbia, and Dr. Ximena Gates, CEO of BuildWithin, to explain how this tool connects jobseekers with tailored training and opportunities across the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia.
Guests:
Steve Cooper COG Learners Program Program Manager
Micaele Lee, Loudoun Learner
Shaista Shaik, Loudoun Learner
Paul Kihn, District of Columbia Deputy Mayor for Education,
Dr. Ximena Gates, BuildWithin CEO
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