L-R: Thom Kleiner, Executive Director, Westchester-Putnam Workforce Development Board; Ebony White, Director of Workforce and Employer Development, BCW; Millie H. Becker, CEO, Skyqueen Enterprises; Lucinda Cross, Founder/CEO, Activate Worldwide; Carl Michel, Founder/CEO, Young Exekutive; Robert Miller, Campus Operating Officer, Berkeley College; Kevin McGuire, Commissioner, Westchester County Department of Social Services.
More than 300 students and business leaders participated in the 2018 Westchester-Putnam Youth Summit on Wednesday, which took place at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in White Plains.
The Youth Summit is a coordinated effort between The Business Council of Westchester, Westchester-Putnam Workforce Development Board and Westchester County Government for young adults between the ages of 16-24. This year’s theme was “Navigate to Your Career Destination.” County Executive George Latimer welcomed students, along with BCW President and CEO Marsha Gordon.
Through a robust and interactive agenda, the goal is to provide young adults with applicable knowledge that will help them to discover their strengths and connect to information about a variety of career paths.
The day was filled with team activities (encouraging communication skills and collaboration), workshops, motivational speakers and an active College & Career/Job Fair. This year’s workshops included topics such as goal setting, interviewing skills, soft skills, building a successful network, the college process and leadership.
Through short “Career Commercial Breaks,” attendees gained insight into careers in aviation from Millie H. Becker, Founder of Skyqueen Enterprises, and entrepreneurship from Donvil Collins, President/CEO of VeeKast. Business leaders from a variety of industry backgrounds volunteered as business mentors, workshop facilitators and career fair exhibitors.
The event’s keynote speaker was Carl Michel, best-selling author of “365 Hip-Hop: Daily Motivational Quotes,” mentor, philanthropist, and executive producer of The Youth Empowerment Show. He effectively uses his life’s experiences and positive aspects of music to impact the lives of young adults all across the globe.
Event Emcee Lucinda Cross, known as the Chief Activator, is THE VOICE of this generation and is also the CEO of Activate Worldwide.
The event closed with the Inaugural Youth Summit Youth Advisory Council sharing encouraging words with their peers on how to use all they have learned within the day to take the next step and bring their purpose, passion, skills and brand to the next level.
Thank you to our partners at the Westchester-Putnam Workforce Development Board and our sponsors Berkeley College, KeyBank, Cross County Shopping Center, WestCOP & VeeKast.
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