--- title: UNC System Office - Employer Engagement Roundtable description: The EDR hosted an Employer Engagement Roundtable featuring Dr. Thomas A. Walker, Kathie Sidner, and Bradley Wrenn with the UNC System Office. Dr. Walker, the Senior Advisor for Economic Development and Military Affairs for the University of North Carolina System, led the discussion with local industry leaders, GTP management, and the EDR staff.   Kathie Sidner, Director… image: https://blog.ncgtpedr.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/IMG_1637-copy-2.jpg --- [![EDR Logo 12-21](https://blog.ncgtpedr.com/hs-fs/hubfs/EDR%20Logo%2012-21.jpg?width=2475&height=800&name=EDR%20Logo%2012-21.jpg "EDR Logo 12-21")](https://ncgtpedr.com) - [About Us](https://ncgtpedr.com/about-us) Show submenu for About Us - [Our Team](https://ncgtpedr.com/about-us#team) - [Our Board of Directors](https://ncgtpedr.com/about-us#board) - [Our Investors](https://ncgtpedr.com/invest#investors) - Data & Grants Show submenu for Data & Grants - [NC Global TransPark](https://app.sitehunt.io/public/portal/289/?community=district-458da14f-8f13-4e3f-886e-766c7d35b318&community_level=district&community_state=37&community_loc=458da14f-8f13-4e3f-886e-766c7d35b318) - [Wayne County](https://app.sitehunt.io/public/portal/289/?community=county-37-191&community_level=county&community_state=37&community_loc=191) - [Lenoir County](https://app.sitehunt.io/public/portal/289/?community=county-37-107&community_level=county&community_state=37&community_loc=107) - [Greene County](https://app.sitehunt.io/public/portal/289/?community=county-37-079&community_level=county&community_state=37&community_loc=079) - [Incentives & Grants](https://edpnc.com/incentives/) - [News](https://blog.ncgtpedr.com/ncgtpedr-news) - [Invest In Us](https://ncgtpedr.com/invest) - [Available Industrial Sites](https://app.sitehunt.io/public/portal/289/) Search - There are no suggestions because the search field is empty. # UNC System Office – Employer Engagement Roundtable ![EDR](https://blog.ncgtpedr.com/hubfs/EDR%20Letters-WEB-3.jpg) [EDR](https://blog.ncgtpedr.com/ncgtpedr-news/author/edr) Dec 18, 2024, 12:47:55 PM - [Global TransPark](https://blog.ncgtpedr.com/ncgtpedr-news/tag/global-transpark) - [Wayne County](https://blog.ncgtpedr.com/ncgtpedr-news/tag/wayne-county) - [Lenoir County](https://blog.ncgtpedr.com/ncgtpedr-news/tag/lenoir-county) - [Economic Development](https://blog.ncgtpedr.com/ncgtpedr-news/tag/economic-development) The EDR hosted an Employer Engagement Roundtable featuring Dr. Thomas A. Walker, Kathie Sidner, and Bradley Wrenn with the UNC System Office. Dr. Walker, the Senior Advisor for Economic Development and Military Affairs for the University of North Carolina System, led the discussion with local industry leaders, GTP management, and the EDR staff.  Kathie Sidner, Director of Defense and Military Partnerships, and Bradley Wrenn, Program Manager for Military and Veterans Education, focused their questions on employer and university engagement across the system and how to: - Increase opportunities for interaction and information-sharing between universities and employers to inform practices on both ends of the continuum.  - Creating more robust talent pipelines to aid in recruiting and hiring graduates from UNC universities.  - Partner with employers to develop and offer academic programming that addresses gaps in skills and competencies and fits the needs of today’s workers.  - Leverage universities as partners in research and development.  - Create critical players in economic development through partnerships.  - Cultural alignment between employers and UNC System.  - Developing lifelong learning opportunities.  The outline of this initiative is for a team of UNC System Office staff, led by Dr. Walker, to visit select employers/employment sectors and engage in semi-structured interviews with representatives from firms in critical workforce areas, allowing for flexibility to encourage the free exchange of ideas. Sectors that will be investigated will include, but are not limited to:  - Life sciences  - Energy   - Autonomous Systems  - Data and Knowledge Management  - Transportation  Through these efforts, a greater level of engagement between employers and universities is forecasted to help create a greater pipeline for skilled employees.  For more info visit: [https://www.northcarolina.edu](https://www.northcarolina.edu) ## Read On [![](https://blog.ncgtpedr.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Climate-Data-Post-Image-2.jpg?width=352&name=Climate-Data-Post-Image-2.jpg)](https://blog.ncgtpedr.com/ncgtpedr-news/virtual-speaker-series-engaging-with-climate-data) ##### [Virtual Speaker Series – Engaging with Climate Data](https://blog.ncgtpedr.com/ncgtpedr-news/virtual-speaker-series-engaging-with-climate-data) Yesterday, the Greene County Manufacturing Association and Lenoir County Manufacturing Association... [![](https://blog.ncgtpedr.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Group-Image-33.jpg?width=352&name=Group-Image-33.jpg)](https://blog.ncgtpedr.com/ncgtpedr-news/lenoir-county-manufacturers-association-meeting-and-presentation-by-lenoir-county-schools) ##### [Lenoir County Manufacturers Association Meeting and Presentation by Lenoir County Schools](https://blog.ncgtpedr.com/ncgtpedr-news/lenoir-county-manufacturers-association-meeting-and-presentation-by-lenoir-county-schools) The Lenoir County Manufacturer’s Association (LCMA) convened for its latest lunch meeting on March... [![](https://blog.ncgtpedr.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Greene-STEM-2.jpg?width=352&name=Greene-STEM-2.jpg)](https://blog.ncgtpedr.com/ncgtpedr-news/greene-central-high-school-model-stem-school-of-distinction) ##### [Greene Central High School – Model STEM School of Distinction](https://blog.ncgtpedr.com/ncgtpedr-news/greene-central-high-school-model-stem-school-of-distinction) Following a recent site visit, Greene Central High School and its STEM Academy have been designated... ![Heart of Eastern NC-EDR Logo-1](https://blog.ncgtpedr.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Heart%20of%20Eastern%20NC-EDR%20Logo-1.jpg?width=300&height=144&name=Heart%20of%20Eastern%20NC-EDR%20Logo-1.jpg "Heart of Eastern NC-EDR Logo-1") North Carolina Global TransPark Economic Development Region, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation serving as the pivotal hub for industrial development, business recruitment, and site selection throughout Greene, Lenoir, and Wayne Counties and the North Carolina Global TransPark. Address 2780 Jetport Road Suite D Kinston, NC 28504 Phone (252) 543-8550 --- [Follow us on Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?viewas=100000686899395&id=100069259629309) [Follow us on LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/nc-global-transpark-economic-development-region/?viewAsMember=true) [Follow us on YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/@NCGlobalTransParkEconomicDevel) [Email us](mailto:info@ncgtpedr.com) © 2026  North Carolina Global TransPark Economic Development Region, Inc. We are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. 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