200+ Come Together During Bellevue College President’s Annual Breakfast 

Hundreds of community members gathered at Bellevue College on March 13 for the president’s annual breakfast, “Transforming Together,” an event focused on preparing the future workforce in Washington state and beyond.  

Hosted by the Bellevue College Foundation, the event brought together regional business leaders to explore opportunities for partnership, collaboration, and innovation within higher education and key industries. Facilitated by Bellevue College President Dr. David May, a panel discussion underscored the critical need for a united approach to equipping students with the skills and knowledge necessary to succeed in the evolving job market.   

“No single company, no single college, and no single sector can do this alone,” Dr. May said at the breakfast. “If we want to create a workforce that is ready for the future, we must move forward together.” 

Dr. May called on industries to work with Bellevue College and be partners in shaping curriculum, designing training programs, and expanding real-world learning opportunities. While Bellevue College already offers workforce training and internship programs, he emphasized that deeper collaboration is needed to meet the demands of both today and tomorrow’s labor markets. 

The panel of leaders in transportation, healthcare, and technology offered insights into the types of skills and education employers are looking for in college graduates. A key theme across all discussions was the growing influence of artificial intelligence (AI) in the workforce and how educational partners like Bellevue College are meeting both current and future needs. 

“Education is so instrumental in healthcare,” Lisa Morten, chief people officer at Overlake Medical Center and Clinics, said. “Partnerships like the one with Bellevue College has made us a successful organization.” 

Morten highlighted the ongoing labor shortages in healthcare and noted that Bellevue College’s healthcare graduates are helping to fill that need. The college offers a variety of degrees and certificates in the health sciences, including several applied bachelor’s programs.  

Greg Bianchi, director of partnerships within Microsoft Philanthropies, emphasized the importance of AI literacy across all industries. He noted that Microsoft works with the American Association of Community Colleges, of which Bellevue College is a member, to create a “community of practice” where colleges from around the nation can come together to learn from each other as they implement IT and technical programs.  

“If you look on LinkedIn right now, there’s been like a sixfold increase year over year in the number of jobs that are requesting AI literacy,” Bianchi added. “And we just see that accelerating.” 

Genevieve Bekkerus, the senior director of marketing for PACCAR Parts, pointed to workforce trends in strategically implementing generative AI and how to use advanced analytics team to incorporate data-driven decision-making during a time when deep personalization and immersive customer experience is also paramount. PACCAR has partnered with Bellevue College in some upskilling opportunities for middle-level managers, an area that helped enhance the company’s strategic vision as a result.  

“It’s been a really fantastic partnership and we’re really happy to have sent our employees to the program,” she said. “And I think it was probably a mutual benefit as our talented employees also bring a wealth of experience back to the college as well.” 

Panelists recognized that today’s students will become tomorrow’s industry leaders. As employers seek top talent, they will increasingly prioritize AI literacy across most sectors; being “labor ready” with proper communication skills; and the necessity to have curiosity and think critically while being innovative as they solve complex problems.  

About the Panelists:  

• Genevieve Bekkerus, senior director of marketing, PACCAR Parts: Genevieve Bekkerus has 17 years of sales and marketing experience and is passionate about talent optimization and mobility. As part of her role, she is responsible for advancing the PACCAR Parts customer experience strategy and oversees the division’s brand and marketing strategies. Genevieve serves on the PACCAR Women’s Association Governance Committee and Seattle University’s Marketing Board. In 2023, Genevieve was recognized as a “Top Woman to Watch in Transportation” by the Women in Trucking Association. 

• Greg Bianchi, director of partnerships, Microsoft Philanthropies: Greg Bianchi is director of partnerships for Microsoft’s Skills for Social Impact team. The Skills for Social Impact team is focused on providing individuals with the skills needed to participate in today’s AI-enabled economy. Prior to joining Microsoft, Greg worked in the education and nonprofit sectors. 

• Lisa Morten, chief people officer, Overlake Medical Center and Clinics: Lisa Morten, who joined Overlake in 2007, has elevated performance in talent management, employee and labor relations, total compensation, and recruitment strategy. As chief people officer, she guides the strategy and processes related to growing and retaining an exceptional workforce to serve the community. She oversees the Human Resources division and the Overlake Specialty School.  

Sponsors for this year’s breakfast include Amazon, Microsoft, BECU, PACCAR Parts, and Rosen Harbottle, among many others. To learn more about how Bellevue College is partnering with business and industry, contact the Bellevue College Foundation at  foundation@bellevuecollege.edu.