Putting a Bow on 60 Years

On this episode of the Tech Times Podcast we chat with Superintendent and CEO Dr. Steve Tiger to discuss 60 years of career training and what comes next for Tulsa Tech.

Transcript

Announcer: [00:00:00] From Tulsa Tech, helping you make your own path with insights and information about the world of career training, the Tech Times podcast starts right now 

Ryan (Host): Hey everyone, welcome to the Tech Times podcast. I'm your host, Ryan Williams. We are officially wrapping up another traditional school year, and honestly, what a year it has been since we celebrated Tulsa Tech's 60th anniversary back in September.

Ryan (Host): So to help us look back at the past nine months and look ahead at what's coming, today we got the perfect guest- ... our superintendent and CEO, Dr. Steve Tiger. 

Dr. Steve Tiger: Thank you, Ryan.

Ryan (Host): Dr. Tiger, welcome back to the podcast. 

Dr. Steve Tiger: Thank you. Seems like we just had the beginning of the year podcast. Think so. Now it's the end of the year.

Ryan (Host): Just seems like yesterday. 

Dr. Steve Tiger: It just flies. 

Ryan (Host): So I do have to start with our graduation. We held our ceremony earlier this month, and it was something special. 

Dr. Steve Tiger: It really was. 

Ryan (Host): I anyone who was in that arena really could feel it. What was going [00:01:00] through your mind when you looked out at all those graduates, from the stage?

Dr. Steve Tiger: Not just the grad- the graduates most importantly, but all the people in attendance from faculty, staff, but the family members- ... and the friends of those graduates. I think it's, was probably nearly 10,000 people in attendance. It just blows my mind. We start... I think this was our eighth maybe and I remember when we first talked about the idea, and we didn't think we could pull a district-wide graduation off, but I'm sure glad that we took a shot at it because it's been one of the best things we, we've ever done.

Ryan (Host): Yeah, and I think even though most of our graduates aren't able to participate or are already out in the workforce- doing what they're doing it's still so impactful to see those thousand-plus students walk across- the stage, hear their parents go- nuts in the crowd.

Ryan (Host): We had cowbells. We had horns. We had all kinds of stuff going on. 

Dr. Steve Tiger: And it's very efficient. Oh, yeah. Several comments were made to me about [00:02:00] how quick we get through that many students, so hats off to all our vol- volunteers and everyone that helps with that 'cause they just do a tremendous job. 

Ryan (Host): They really do.

Ryan (Host): We also had the pleasure of having the interim state superintendent, Lindel Fields, talk- ... with the crowd. He did such a great job. 

Dr. Steve Tiger: He did. 

Ryan (Host): And had a wonderful message. What did he think of the event? 

Dr. Steve Tiger: Oh, I think he was blown away, too. Everyone that attends it at... because most tech centers you just have the campus celebrations, which are awesome, but you don't have a district-wide graduation, especially one of that size.

Dr. Steve Tiger: So I think he was taken back a little bit, and I love that he talked about he was a former Tulsa Tech student and I had known that but forgot about it, so that was very fitting. 

Ryan (Host): What a powerful message from his father to be able to say, "Hey, you're just, you're gonna go get a skill." 

Dr. Steve Tiger: Yeah.

Dr. Steve Tiger: Absolutely. 

Ryan (Host): You get to meet a lot of students throughout the year, Dr. Tiger. Do you ever have moments where you think, "Man, this is exactly why Tulsa Tech exists"? 

Dr. Steve Tiger: Yeah, and especially not just [00:03:00] students, like I mentioned earlier, but faculty and staff. I'm just always so impressed with the passion, the commitment, and that shows up with our students because we do such a good job with them.

Dr. Steve Tiger: But many success stories and many touching stories that I've heard over the years from our students. But I, once again, I just, I wanna thank our faculty and staff that do such a tremendous job with them 

Ryan (Host): While all the celebrations are great, you almost have a front row seat to a pretty big project at the Lemley Memorial Campus- with the up and coming Career Education Center. 

Ryan (Host): What is it like to see that facility rising up- ... like a phoenix? 

Dr. Steve Tiger: I had a meeting this morning and was telling somebody, they asked what we had going on, talked a little bit about Peoria, and I said, in the midst of that, we've got a 350,000 square foot building for instruction primarily being built."

Dr. Steve Tiger: But that crane, when I pulled up today- ... I could not believe how big it is. I think it's the biggest [00:04:00] crane I've ever seen. 

Ryan (Host): It's pretty tall. 

Dr. Steve Tiger: It is. So it's-

Ryan (Host): I was wondering about the planes coming in to Tulsa International- ... with that. 

Dr. Steve Tiger: Yeah.

Ryan (Host): I know it's not that tall, but still. 

Dr. Steve Tiger: But still, it probably gets their attention.

Dr. Steve Tiger: But no. We've, over the years since I've been here, we've had a lot of projects. Finished up Owasso, Sand Springs, and now pretty much completely built the Lemley Memorial Campus. So it's just, it's been amazing to be part of it. I never thought that that that I'd have that opportunity.

Dr. Steve Tiger: It's special ... 

Ryan (Host): Would you- did you ever think you'd have this much experience in construction and- 

Dr. Steve Tiger: No. ... 

Ryan (Host): projects like that? 

Dr. Steve Tiger: No, but I give our team members all the credit, because I typically show up to meetings, give some guidance, give some advice, but they're the ones doing the real work. So it's impressive.

Ryan (Host): You mentioned it a little bit ago, but while one, this one major project is taking shape at Lemley Memorial, Tulsa Tech also faced one of its biggest challenges this spring- 

Dr. Steve Tiger: Yes ... 

Ryan (Host): working through the loss of our Peoria Campus after a March tornado. We were able to relocate almost [00:05:00] 600 students- and 60 faculty and staff members to new locations throughout our district in basically a week. 

Dr. Steve Tiger: Yeah. 

Ryan (Host): When something unexpected like that happens, as a leader, what do you learn about an organization's culture? 

Dr. Steve Tiger: And there's no real script for it. So first of all, I wanna thank our staff.

Dr. Steve Tiger: I wanna thank Dr. Williams. He actually led that that effort, so I give him a lot of credit. And I know he would give all of our directors that pulled together the credit for getting that done, deciding where those programs would go, getting those students placed, being welcoming to new staff members at their campuses.

Dr. Steve Tiger: So it was just, it it's an amazing example of, like you said, a culture that pulls together from leadership, faculty, staff, board members working effortlessly to, to pull it off. And they did a great job. 

Ryan (Host): What made you most proud as our [00:06:00] superintendent and CEO during that week of relocation and recovery?

Dr. Steve Tiger: I think getting the students in their new homes- 

Ryan (Host): Yeah ... 

Dr. Steve Tiger: and moving forward with instruction not just, Quickly, but in a quality manner. And that took a lot of team members working. And then also, I've heard lots of comments about when the faculty and staff, when they went to their new campus, just how they felt greeted and welcoming.

Dr. Steve Tiger: So it was certainly a district-wide effort, and it was nice to see it being pulled off. 

Ryan (Host): There's a lot of details that go into something like that- 

Dr. Steve Tiger: Oh, 

Ryan (Host): yeah ... that a lot of people don't think about. I mean- ... think, like transportation logistics. Busing all of those students to new- yeah

Ryan (Host): locations is something that a lot of people don't- 

Dr. Steve Tiger: The communications side of it the communication side- 

Ryan (Host): Yeah ... to make sure those people- 

Dr. Steve Tiger: Hats off to marketing as well ... 

Ryan (Host): know where they're going and all that- Exactly ... sort of stuff. 

Ryan (Host): It's really just an almost unfathomable- ... impact to be able to be done in a- 

Dr. Steve Tiger: Especially that quickly

Ryan (Host): like a week. Yeah. 

Dr. Steve Tiger: Yeah. It's tremendous. Tremendous. 

Ryan (Host): What is our [00:07:00] plan for those former Peoria programs going into the new school year next fall? 

Dr. Steve Tiger: Yeah, most of... we won't have that campus completed. It, that's gonna take some time- Sure ... 'cause we gotta work with architects, construction firm.

Dr. Steve Tiger: Most importantly, decide on the programming, and what that campus looks like going forward. We're talking I'm sure two to, two to three years realistically. 

Dr. Steve Tiger: So they're all in their new homes now. It's going very well, so I think we'll settle in. Now the spaces that they're moved into, because it ha- had to happen quickly we can go ahead and get them up to the Tulsa Tech standard the best that we can.

Dr. Steve Tiger: So we're supporting students, faculty, and staff going forward. So we'll focus on that now. 

Ryan (Host): Do some facility 

Dr. Steve Tiger: modifications- ... until that- Internet- ... time we can- ... technology ... 

Ryan (Host): get back to Peoria. 

Ryan (Host): Okay. Do you have any updates that we can share about Peoria campus? 

Dr. Steve Tiger: At our last board meeting, we did sign y- contracts or the board approved [00:08:00] the architect architectural firm, construction firm that we'll be working with.

Dr. Steve Tiger: Dr. Williams and his team will be working on not only getting those programs that are moved, relocated, better settled in, but also, what does the future look like? So a lot of planning meetings that's gonna take some time but that's really where we're at right now. 

Ryan (Host): It's take, making the best out of a bad situation.

Ryan (Host): Yeah. And I think maybe the future could really lend itself to something great. 

Dr. Steve Tiger: It's... Oh, yeah. Yeah, for sure. Yeah, I think a lot of people are ready to see that campus rebuilt, especially that live in that part of our district. 

Ryan (Host): Sure. 

Dr. Steve Tiger: They take a lot of pride in it, so not just our team members, but people in the community there.

Dr. Steve Tiger: They're really excited about what's to come. It was a terrible situation. Thank God that no one was injured, so there's never good timing. That was probably the best timing- Sure ... on a Friday evening,

Ryan (Host): yeah. Most definitely. And to all those people that are up in [00:09:00] that community listening, we are rebuilding.

Ryan (Host): We are coming back. 

Dr. Steve Tiger: Yes, for sure. So- Yeah, that's 

Ryan (Host): not- Want to reassure them ... 

Dr. Steve Tiger: not a question at all. 

Dr. Steve Tiger: No. 

Ryan (Host): Are we looking at any other facilities improvements over the summer months? 

Dr. Steve Tiger: We always have capital improvement. A lot of it is things like boilers and HVAC systems- All the exciting stuff

Dr. Steve Tiger: painting. All the exciting stuff. Yeah. The painting just the maintenance. But not really any big projects. We got our hands full. We are hands full 

Ryan (Host): already, yeah. Aside from construction, are there any other initiatives forthcoming? 

Dr. Steve Tiger: Oh, we've always are working on initiatives. One, one that comes to mind is our recent employee sat engagement survey, putting plans together to continue to make the culture the best that we can.

Dr. Steve Tiger: So I know over the next few months, that's gonna get a lot of discussion within the l- executive team and directors. Every site, every department, they'll be having their own plans to make improvements so that we [00:10:00] can continue to move that needle with the employee engagement survey. We made a lot of progress from two years ago to, to now.

Dr. Steve Tiger: So I'm looking forward to continuing to move forward with that. 

Ryan (Host): We have a lot of great cro- colleagues across the district, and we wanna be sure that they're all happy and engaged and- Abso- And we're able to keep 'em here,

Dr. Steve Tiger: absolutely. Yeah. That's very important to me. 

Ryan (Host): When people look back at this school year fro- years from now, what do you hope they remember about how Tulsa Tech responded to both celebration and adversity?

Dr. Steve Tiger: I think that's key just what you said, and h- how we responded to that because sometimes you, y- it's the difficult times, like the Peoria situation, that really bring out sometimes the best people and sometimes the worst people. But I saw it bringing out the best of our team members. So I think looking back of course we got a, the huge project as we mentioned, on our hands, so the timing was not good from that standpoint, but how we're [00:11:00] pulling together, to me that has that speaks volumes to who we are as a district from board throughout our s- team members.

Ryan (Host): All right. We're gonna take a quick break, Dr. Tiger. Do- don't go anywhere. When we come back you and I are gonna chat a little bit about what's next for next school year, some exciting program expansions, so stick with us. 

Dr. Steve Tiger: All right.

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Ryan (Host): And we are back here with Dr. Steve Tiger, Superintendent and CEO. So before the break, we covered an incredible year, a landmark graduation- ... and a few construction projects across the 

Dr. Steve Tiger: district. Just a couple. 

Ryan (Host): Now let's talk about what's next. So most of our full-time career training programs run that classic August through May calendar.

Ryan (Host): But don't sleep on the summer. Plenty is happening around here, even when many of our students are out. 

Ryan (Host): Is there a favorite thing about summer programming, planning, or training that gets you most excited? 

Dr. Steve Tiger: I think what we talked about earlier is exciting to me. We found the new homes for the PEER Warrior programs that were relocated, but we had to do that very quickly.

Dr. Steve Tiger: So now is the time over the summer that we can really get the support that those programs need those instructor needs to be successful. We also on a recent podcast it was talked [00:13:00] about a new service careers food assistant program going to Owasso. So that's exciting to me, and that's, I think that's a special program that's gonna help a lot of students.

Ryan (Host): We help- we learned all about that in a previous episode. That was awesome. What does it mean to be able to assist underserved populations that are eager for independence and job opportunities? 

Dr. Steve Tiger: It means so much not just to the students, but to the workforce. There's a low employment rate low employment participation, so I think those populations they're a key to the workforce, and that's what we're all about, educating people for success in the workplace.

Dr. Steve Tiger: So it not only is a tremendous help to those students and families, but it it's a great help to the industries that we serve. 

Ryan (Host): Career tech education feels more important than ever right now. Are you seeing a shift in how students and families view Tulsa Tech compared to even five or 10 years ago?

Dr. Steve Tiger: Oh I definitely have. [00:14:00] And it's a national trend as well. I try to keep up with that da- data and there's a decline in the, especially four-year colleges. But you're seeing a lot of momentum with technical-type colleges institutions like Tulsa Tech, lot of growth. We have so much demand, and that's a wonderful thing, but it's also a challenge to keep up with that.

Dr. Steve Tiger: We have typically around 2,000 students on a wait list just for our full-time programs alone. So one of the things we talk about discuss, is how we can grow other delivery arms. So full-time programs, they, they meet those long-term needs of the industry, but you can also work through Workforce Economic Development, what we call business and industry, adult care- career development, find other ways to serve students and serve the industries.

Ryan (Host): Yeah, some of those shorter-term trainings- ... that we offer in those classes for adults, and then office- [00:15:00] obviously offer trainings through companies. Absolutely. Offer that short-term training that you- Yeah ... can get 'em in and out quick. We- be able to do what you need to do. 

Dr. Steve Tiger: We didn't mention yet and maybe I'm jumping the gun, but a- another exciting initiative is our regional apprenticeship training center.

Ryan (Host): Yeah. 

Dr. Steve Tiger: That will be just outside Catoosa, and that's gonna be exciting and another way to meet industry needs and serve students. 

Ryan (Host): What are you hearing from industry partners right now? Where do employers see the biggest need? 

Dr. Steve Tiger: Really, I think it's across the board. Like I said there's a skills gap, there's low em- employment.

Dr. Steve Tiger: Employee participation rates aren't great. The needs are across the board. Some of them are cy- cyclical, and you'll see ups and downs with certain industries. The aviation is industry is really blowing up in Tulsa right now. That's gonna be everything from drones to our traditional aviation programs that we have.

Dr. Steve Tiger: [00:16:00] So that's one that there's a big need. Our trade programs, especially construction industry right now. We talk about our projects, and then there's a limited workforce, and that drives up prices. Automotive technicians, it's across the boo- board, food service, hospitality. 

Ryan (Host): What do you think is driving that need?

Ryan (Host): I've read a lot about demographics being an issue because the baby boomer generation was so large- Yeah ... and are now retiring. 

Dr. Steve Tiger: Yeah. 

Ryan (Host): But I also see a number of other factors. Do you, are, do you find studies or information that is vastly different from that? 

Dr. Steve Tiger: No I would agree with that. One study I looked at not long ago was just the birth rate.

Dr. Steve Tiger: Nationally, it's trending down. Mentioned baby boomers retiring out of the j- job market. So you couple that with lower birth rates, and it just creates a shortage of people and definitely shortage of people with the skill sets that they need to be successful in the [00:17:00] workplace.

Ryan (Host): If you had to sum up this next school year in one word or phrase, what would it be? 

Dr. Steve Tiger: Other than Peoria Strong 

Ryan (Host): That's a great 

Dr. Steve Tiger: one ... it's, it, I think that we're using that term I don't know who, who coined that, but that's being used a lot. But you could just refer that to Tulsa Tech in general, Tulsa Tech strong, and that's what I'm seeing, people pulling together in probably one of, one of the most difficult times that the district has faced in the midst of this big project that we're, we've got at Lindley Memorial.

Dr. Steve Tiger: So just seeing our faculty and staff pull together to s- to do what we do best that serves students. 

Ryan (Host): All right, before I let you go, Dr. Tiger, I think I ask you this about every time we chat, but we're always curious. Do you actually unplug at all during the summer- ... or are you a guy answering emails by the pool?

Dr. Steve Tiger: I do a little bit of both. I've been known to answer emails by the pool. I'm [00:18:00] OCD in that way, so I always try to be timely. But yes I do plan to unplug. We typically go on a fishing trip with the family, and then we'll do something with the kids. And then my wife and I, we try to have some travel plans as well, 

Ryan (Host): you care to give away your fishing spot? 

Dr. Steve Tiger: It's outside Branson called- Oh, no kidding. Okay ... lake Taneycomo. Okay. It's just outside Table Rock Lake. 

Ryan (Host): Nice. 

Dr. Steve Tiger: It's pretty amazing. 

Ryan (Host): Nice. We- Pull any lu- pull any big ones out of there? 

Dr. Steve Tiger: We don't catch much- ... but we just enjoy sitting with the r- rod and reel in our hands.

Ryan (Host): There you go. What's one thing you're personally looking forward to this summer? 

Dr. Steve Tiger: I would say that, we stay busy. There's staffing that needs to be done, budgeting especially preparing to have our relocated Peoria programs better... not better homes, but get their program areas up to where it needs to be.

Dr. Steve Tiger: So there's a lot going on, but what I look forward to is just a little downtime [00:19:00] as well. 

Ryan (Host): Sure. Yeah. Thanks so much to everyone listening. Thank you, Dr. Tiger, for joining us 

Dr. Steve Tiger: today. It's been a pleasure, and I'll see you real soon because we know fa- how fast time changes. That's right.

Dr. Steve Tiger: We'll be doing the back to- 

Ryan (Host): Starting into 

Dr. Steve Tiger: the school year soon ... starting the, starting a new school year. 

Ryan (Host): Oh, my goodness. 

Dr. Steve Tiger: Thank you, Brian. Looking forward to 

Ryan (Host): it. Thank you. 

Dr. Steve Tiger: Thank you, sir. 

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