“We want better jobs. We want better economic opportunity for our residents and children, so
we can continue to live, work, and play here.” Angelle LaBorde | Lexington Chamber
CLOSING THE TALENT GAP: MIDLANDS TECH
STEPS UP When Dr. Greg Little took the helm as president of Midlands Technical College, one thing became crystal clear: the talent gap isn’t just a buzzword—it’s a real challenge touching every corner of our economy. From health care to manufacturing, skilled trades to teaching, even service industries are feeling the pinch.
“Finding the talent and training that talent is the biggest pain point facing virtually every business organization and entity in our region,” Dr. Little shared after speaking with dozens of leaders. The question became: how do we change the conversation about education and workforce readiness?
This fall, Midlands Tech convened the Midlands Regional Talent Summit at the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center,
drawing 150 professionals from across diverse industries. The mission? To spark solutions that not only engage young people but inspire them to become the workforce of the future—and not just for next decade, but for the rest of this century.
“It’s interesting that Dr. Little comes from a K-12 background,” noted Dr. Tim Hardee of the S.C. Technical College System.“ He sees that connection between the K-12 system and higher education, and obviously it moves from there to economic development and workforce development. At the end of the day, it’s about quality of life for people.”
Industry leaders echoed the urgency. Carlton King of Michelin North America emphasized the role Midlands Tech plays in sustaining their technical workforce: “That training, that hands- on training, that on-the-job training we then give inside the factory – it’s a huge part of what we do for today and the future.”
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