Coffee With Rice Energy
http://https://buildingbridgesforbusiness.org/coffee-with/ The Coffee With Show is proud to have Dan Rice, CEO of Rice Energy, join us to tell us about his experiences with the energy industry. Dan Rice has served as the CEO of Rice energy since 2013, previously working with Transocean Inc. and Tudor, Pickering, Holt & Co, LLC. Mr. Rice’s many years in the energy business gives him a unique perspective and understanding of why energy is one of the most exciting fields to be involved in. Mr. Rice has served in a number of positions at Rice Energy, starting out as Vice President and Chief Financial Officer in October 2008. In 2013, he served as the Chief Operating Officer, and has been the Chief Executive Officer since October of 2013. Along with his responsibilities as CEO, Mr. Rice currently serves as a member of the health, environmental, and safety committees. Rice Energy is proud to be historically a family-owned and operated business. Rice Energy aims to lead the nation to energy independence while protecting the environment, provide the safest workplace for their employees and partners, and generate the best-in-class returns to their stakeholders. In doing so, Rice energy will illuminate the power of positive energy. In regions in Pennsylvania and Ohio, Rice Energy has been actively involved in the Marcellus and Utica Shale since 2010, and is a top 20 producer in Pennsylvania. Rice Energy operates with environmental awareness and sustainability as a cornerstone of their business philosophy, and never passes up a chance to give back to the communities in which they are involved. They are committed to partnering with organizations in their operating footprint that align with their giving initiatives of public safety, youth education and leadership, and community enrichment. From their annual festival and fundraiser “Marcellus Mania” to their volunteering organization The Blue Crew, Rice Energy is proactive in supporting communities. Before his involvement with Rice Energy, Mr. Rice served as an investment banker for Tudor Pickering Holt & Co., LLC, an integrated energy investment bank in Houston. Prior to his involvement at Tudor Pickering Holt, Mr. Rice was a senior analyst of corporate planning for Transocean Inc. where he was responsible for mergers, acquisitions, and business development. Mr. Rice has a BS in Finance from Bryant University. For Mr. Rice, the most exciting part of being involved with Rice Energy has been the development of natural gas, specifically the progress that the US energy industry has made from being a net importer of natural gas to the point of...
read moreWhy Aren’t College-Ready Students Enrolling in College?
A new report from ACT has found that 20 percent of students who are likely well-prepared for their first year of college are not actually enrolling. Additionally, results from a multi-year College and Career Readiness survey of 165,000 high school students conducted by YouthTruth, a San Francisco-based nonprofit, found that only 45 percent of students feel positive about their college and career readiness. What’s The Problem? According to the same YouthTruth survey, an overwhelming 87 percent of students want to eventually earn a college degree and land a career, but many believe that their schools aren’t helping them develop the skills they’ll need to succeed after graduation. To make matters worse, as a result of being unprepared, approximately one in four students who enter college the fall after high school graduation enroll in remedial coursework during their first year of college. The aggregate additional, direct college expenses these half million students and families had to pay out of pocket for remedial coursework in the first year in 2011-12 was an astounding $1.5 billion. The problem is deeply rooted in the curriculum at many schools across the United States. Graduation is treated as the ultimate goal, which ignores preparing students to reach their future goals. In support of this idea, many schools aren’t encouraging students to challenge themselves and are not helping students find their passion. Instead, schools opt for a random combination of career-prep courses — which ranges from computers and engineering to trade courses in fields such as construction or manufacturing — rather than a series of courses aligned with a particular career field. What Can Be Done? All of these reports support the idea that schools need to reflect on their school’s structure, culture, and instruction, and how those elements influence exposure to rigorous, engaging, and relevant coursework that prepares students for success after high school in various college and career paths. This is especially important as young people need more skills than ever before in order to succeed in today’s knowledge-based economy. Graduating more confident high-school graduates is not an unattainable goal. Research shows that students support this change. In fact, nearly nine out 10 of all recent high school graduates said they would have worked harder if their high schools had demanded more, set higher academic standards, and raised expectations of the coursework and studying necessary to earn a diploma. Programs like U can B are helping schools make this a reality. By providing students with the skills they need to succeed after high school and empowering them to pursue a career that they feel passionate about, U can B is working to close the gaps between college-readiness, college enrollment, and career success. Ultimately, schools that place their students’ futures at the top of their priority list instead of graduation rates are investing in the world’s...
read more3 Ways to Foster Learning During the Summer
According to the U.S. Department of Education, children can experience a learning loss equivalent to two months of math and reading skills during the summer months. More than half of the achievement gap between lower and higher income youth can possibly be explained by an unequal access of the children to summer learning opportunities. The temptations are great for children to spend hours watching television or playing video games. However, just because it is summer vacation doesn’t mean students’ brains need to take a vacation. “You don’t want your kids to think that learning is only something that happens in places called schools,” says Susan K. Perry, author of Playing Smart: The Family Guide to Enriching Offbeat Learning Activities for Ages 4-14. With some planning, the summer can be the best time for learning and building new skills. Here are a few ways to make the most out of the summer. 1. Webinars Geographic distances between learning institutions and students can often create a barrier for learning during the summer. With webinars, students get access to virtual classes from anywhere. Another great thing about webinars is that you can find ones on just about any topic. This means that students can learn more about the things that interest them, which makes learning during the summer feel like less of a chore. For students that are starting to look beyond high school, summer is also the perfect time to begin career development. This July, U can B is offering a number of work-related webinars that cover the following topics: Networking Using Social Media for Job Searching Using Linkedin for Job Hunting How to Create a Professional Online Brand 2. Reading Programs Reading is a great way to keep students’ minds active during the summer months. This doesn’t mean you have to spend a ton of money on books. Instead, find out if your public library is part of the Collaborative Summer Library Program. Public libraries in participating states purchase posters, reading logs, bookmarks, certificates and a variety of reading incentives that help engage kids and get them excited about reading. 3. Start a Garden A fun way to foster students’ education and personal development during the summer is through gardening. Not only does gardening help create generations of kids connected to their food, community, and planet, but it also develops valuable skills such as planning, math, and science. Check out the Kids Gardening website for lots of great ideas and resources on how to get started. There are plenty of ways to ensure students’ minds don’t go into hibernation this summer. Learning does not have to be a seasonal event; with the right methods, students can be excited about learning year round! Plan ahead and take advantage of technology as well as free programs that make learning...
read moreU Can B – At Pittsburgh Perry High School
U can B School Year 2015-16 Building Bridges for Business brought Career Day back to more than a dozen local schools this year via the U can B Career Awareness Program. Our feature school is Pittsburgh Perry High School. U can B also had the opportunity to participate in many wonderful community events. Here are some of our favorite moments! Thanks to all of our schools, employers, community partners, and students for making this year a wonderful school year! Perry High School Perry High School began in October of 2015 with a visit from a representative of Amazon Corporation. Employer visits, career overviews, and job search opportunities became the theme of the U can B Program at Perry High School, which ran from October of 2015 until April of 2016! A Representative of Presidents Obama’s STEM initiative visited the “Ladies of Perry” in October and the students discussed the importance of learning, education, and ways to get into STEM related careers. The students thoroughly enjoyed the day and said, “this is the best speaker I ever heard.” In addition to U can B staff, many Pittsburgh-area businesses and organizations sent representatives to visit with 10th graders at Perry High. These included Bidwell Training Center, Amazon, and Rosedale Technical College. On the evening of March 15, 2016, U can B organized a Career Opportunity Fair at Perry High. This event was open to both students and parents. Students had the opportunity to apply for jobs and/or discuss future career possibilities with employers; parents were invited to seek employment as well. Participating companies and organizations included The City of Pittsburgh, Arts Greenhouse, United States Probation & Pretrial Services of Western PA, Atlas Dreams Languages, LogixGuru, Allegheny Health Network, First National Bank, Bidwell Training Center, PNC Bank, Legal Shield, CCAC, Job Corps, and UPS. U can B hosted a second Career Opportunity Fair on the morning of April 20th. This event was only made available to Perry High School juniors and seniors who were seeking employment. Participating companies and organizations included Rosedale Technical College, Made Right Here, The Priory Hotel, US Army, Allegheny Health Network, IBEX Global, The City of Pittsburgh, Moriarty Consultants, First National Bank, and Career Talk on KDKA. The Perry High School U can B Program will continue in...
read moreFilling Gaps in the US Education System
The fact that there are problems with the US education system is well known. Unfortunately, several of these issues are having very negative effects on the quality of the education our students are receiving. American students’ latest scores on the PISA (Programme of International Student Assessment), the international test taken by 15 year-olds around the world, show just how bad these problems are. Depending on the subject, American students are average or slightly below average compared to their international peers — ranking 17th in reading, 26th in math, and 21st in science. What’s wrong with the current education system? Here are two of the reasons: Students Don’t Have the Right Skills The US Education Department recently reported that the high school graduation rate is at an all-time high at 82 percent. However, according to the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), the largest standardized test administered in the United States, less than 40 percent of high school seniors in America have sufficient academic skills in math and reading to pass entry-level college courses. Additionally, a study released by the Education Trust concluded that “rather than ensuring students have access to a cohesive curriculum that aligns high school coursework and students’ future goals, high schools are prioritizing credit accrual, which treats graduation as the end goal.” Students Aren’t Exposed to Career Options Not only do students lack the skills to succeed after high school, they also aren’t given the necessary exposure to all of the options that exist after graduation, whether it be college or a technical trade. While high school students shouldn’t necessarily nail down a specific career path, they should be exploring their interests and personality in order to develop a general idea. That way, when the time comes to pick a career path, they can choose something relevant and fulfilling. If we want students to be prepared for highly skilled jobs in the foreseeable future, it is essential that they are able to explore the possibilities before they graduate. Without these opportunities, students will be left feeling aimless. To prepare students for the future, we must empower them with the skills that help foster success after graduation. Programs like U can B are dedicated to assisting in the mission for improved education. U can B uses the real-world expertise of entrepreneurs and businesspeople to give students the chance to see what life is like after high school and college. The U can B Curriculum is tailored to meet each individual school’s needs, which means each curriculum component can be expanded or contracted to fit within a specific number of weeks based on the strengths and weaknesses of the class. In order to best prepare students for the future, the U can B curriculum includes Entrepreneurship, Networking, Careers in the Trades, Technology, Film, Television, Science, and more. The statistics don’t lie, change is needed in the US education system. If we work together, we can give students the tools to become the innovators of tomorrow....
read moreU can B Career Days on the Northside
U can B @ Clayton High School will conclude in May with ‘Career Days at Clayton High’! Career Days will begin with an Interview Competition on May 1th. This will be followed by an in-school Career Fair on May 20th. The Building Bridges for Business U can B Program, a series of career awareness classes aimed at high school and middle school students, launched its first classes at Clayton Academy in Pittsburgh’s North Side on March 2, 2016. U can B classes at Clayton were provided through support of the Verizon Foundation. Topics for middle and high school students ranged from Career Interests to STEM-related Careers to Job Readiness Classes. Students in the middle school were registered for FREE online career profiles via STEM Premier. Students in the high school at Clayton focused specifically on topics such as Work Readiness, Job Search, Interview Skills, and Networking in preparation for Career Days. May 11th Interview Day Students are currently working on resumes and cover letters as a class project. These will be completed and reviewed by Clayton teachers prior to the Interview Day. On May 11th, students will participate in a panel style interview. U can B teachers, Clayton staff, and volunteers from the community will make up three panels. Students will cycle through for individual interviews. A scoring rubric will be used by the panelists to assess students’ interview performance. Three Awards will be selected: Best Interview, Best Resume, Best Cover Letter. Certificates and prizes will be presented to the winners. Certificates of Participation are to be presented to all students who completed the U can B Program. Winners to be announced at the May 20th Career Fair. May 20th Career Fair The U can B team has organized a Career Fair which will take place at Clayton on May 20th between 10:00-12:00. The Fair will be followed by a cookout and celebration. Students, teachers, U can B staff, employers, and volunteers are invited to attend the cookout. Approximately 65 students are expected. Awards will be presented during the cookout and celebration. The Career Fair and Cookout will be a wonderful way to conclude the school year. Students have put a lot of time and effort into the U can B Program at Clayton, and the May 20th event is their reward for that hard work. In addition to the celebration, students will have the opportunity to discuss jobs and careers with representatives from several Pittsburgh-area businesses including but not limited to United States Probation & Pretrial Services of Western PA, Allegheny Health Network, IBEX Global, Career Talk on KDKA, Legal Shield, and Arias Agencies. Arias Agencies, a division of American Income Life, has agreed to participate and present certificates of completion to the students. Title sponsor of Career Talk on KDKA, Arias Agencies has been an on-going supporter and hiring partner of the...
read moreU can B continues programs Summer
Description of Services – U Can B Group Sessions U Can B group sessions include a variety of activities designed to engage students of all backgrounds, levels of ability, interests, and skill level. The classroom sessions offer learning experiences through a number of hands-on and lecture-based presentations. Topic areas include the following: 1.) Work Readiness & Soft Skills – U Can B teachers and guest speakers offer a plethora of content related to work readiness and soft skills. Through video, lecture and activity, students learn about Teamwork, Communication, Critical Thinking & Problem Solving, Professionalism, Interview Skills, and Workplace Culture. 2.) Networking & Job Search – U Can B students learn from teachers and local HR representatives the most up-to-date and effective job searching techniques. These include Networking, Using Social Media, Using Social Media Responsibly, How to Work a Job Fair, Job Applications, Resume Writing, and more! 3.) Career Awareness – U Can B guest speakers provide students with first-hand career awareness and exposure to careers in IT, Health Care, Film & Media, Green & Sustainable, Veterinarian & Animal Care, Trades, Government & Politics, and Entrepreneurship. 4.) Basic IT Skills – Through the use and access to O*Net Online (a DOL career exploration database), Career Talk on KDKA, and other technologies, U Can B students have an opportunity to enhance and/or improve basic IT skills. The U Can B Program supplements classroom learning with other activities designed to educate students, give students exposure to the world of work, and to generate potential employment opportunities for high school students and/or soon-to-be graduates. U Can B services are for sure unique. The program stands alone in that it currently operates in local schools and interacts daily with the local business community. U Can B services offer a unique educational experience to local high school and middle schools students while simultaneously serving as the bridge between young, local talent and employers in the public and private sectors who are seeking the next generation of Pittsburgh’s talented...
read moreAziksa, Inc. Partners with U can B
PRESS RELEASE Aziksa, Inc. Partners with Pittsburgh based U can B to Provide Access to Life Learning Courses for High School Students Students can learn about Entrepreneurship, STEM, Trades, Politics, and More Pittsburgh, PA, May 2, 2016: Aziksa, Inc., a strategic learning platform company, inked a multi-year contract to provide a cloud based, blended learning system to U can B (Building Bridges) to expand access to courses that will allow local students to learn more about life after high school and college. The blended learning partnership will allow students to take courses online and via their mobile phones and devices at a significantly reduced cost. This is a new blended learning partnership. “We are excited to work with U can B and the Building Bridges for Business organization,” said Aziksa President and CEO Santosh Jha. “We are committed to offering easy to use classes to young people and this partnership will allow more students to take advantage of the U can B offerings. Students can expand on their formal classroom learning by taking courses in entrepreneurship, science and technology, green and sustainable science, and a variety of trades.” The Aziksa (www.aziksa.com) cloud based, blended learning platform is designed specifically to enhance interaction between students and teachers in the online atmosphere by using the Virtual Classroom and Virtual Lab to maximize contact between the instructors and the learners. Students can sign-up online and participate in the courses from the comfort of their home and still take advantage of the many benefits of interacting with fellow learners and the instructors. Students can even access the class sessions and course with their mobile device to accommodate those on the go. “We are very pleased to be working with Aziksa. They really understand how best to deliver online learning in today’s world and I know students will benefit from the increased interaction. We looked at many blended learning options and we think Aziksa offers the best choice for our purposes,” said Linda Handley, Founder of U Can B. Entrepreneurs and businesspeople, along with the non-profit organization Building Bridges for Business, are giving local students the chance to see what life is like after high school and college. The U can B curriculum is tailored to meet your school’s needs and includes a variety of life learning courses like entrepreneurship, website design and SEO, graphic design and animation, veterinarian study and animal related careers, career preparation and networking, and green and sustainable practices and careers. The program further engages the students with our proprietary Coffee With Film series, which showcases industry leaders and politicians with a variety of insight in those careers. The program is augmented by In person speakers and experts that share real world experiences and advice in career development and planning. For more information about U can B and the Building Bridges initiative, please visit their website at https://buildingbridgesforbusiness.org or send an email to info@BuildingBridgesforBusiness.org. Building Bridges/U can B is located at 625 Stanwix Street, #1605, in Pittsburgh, PA...
read moreBuilding a Brighter Future: The Importance of STEM Education
All young students should be prepared to think critically so that they have the skills to become the innovators, educators, and leaders of tomorrow. In order to advance our society, the next generation needs the ability to create the innovations that can solve the most pressing challenges facing our nation and our world. Giving students a solid foundation in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) is an important piece of preparing them for success beyond school. 1. STEM Prepares Students to Think Critically Even for students who are not planning to pursue a career in STEM, the skills that these disciplines teach students remains relevant. The key to success in any career is knowing how to think critically. These subjects teach students how to think critically and how to solve problems — skills that can be used throughout life to help them get through tough times and take advantage of opportunities whenever they appear. Having a strong set of STEM skills gives students the ability to analyze the world around them, make strategic decisions, and find ways to make improvements. 2. STEM Careers are Growing For students with an interest in pursuing a career in STEM after high school graduation, the future looks bright. According to the U.S. Department of Commerce, science, technology, engineering, and math occupations are growing at 17%, while other occupations are growing at 9.8%. On top of this, The National Science Foundation estimates that 80% of jobs available for the years to come will require math and science skills. Additionally, STEM degree holders have a higher income even in non-STEM careers. 3. Making the US and the World a Better Place According to 2012 statistics from the National Math and Science Initiative, there are 26 and 19 industrialized nations that perform better than U.S. students in math and science, respectively. Today that number of the world’s scientists and engineers that reside in the US has shrunk to about 15%. Exposing students to STEM subjects and careers early on is a powerful way to strengthen our country’s global competitiveness and create new innovations that propel society forward. By extending the STEM pipeline from elementary school through high school, students are given the opportunities to establish a bright future for themselves, as well as the world. Thanks to programs like U can B, entrepreneurs and businesspeople are giving students the chance to see what life is like after high school and college. U can B exposes children grades 6-12 to STEM subjects, creating an educational environment that not only values excellence in math and science, but excellence in creativity, innovation, and...
read moreInaugural WISH 99.7 Spring Home & Design Show
Join Us @ WISH 99.7’s 1st Spring Show! Inaugural WISH 99.7 Spring Home & Design Show Join Building Bridges for Business at The Galleria of Mt. Lebanon for the Inaugural WISH 99.7 Spring Home & Design Show! Building Bridges for Business, a non-profit 501c3, is proud to support our small business partners at this fun, worthwhile event. Visit our booth to meet Quigley Photography, Atlas Dreams Languages, Close to Home Cleaning and our very own U Can B program. Building Bridges is a 501(c)3 organization that educates and empowers through live and virtual business education, Coffee With Film Series on www.kdka.com/careertalk, U can B career education program for 6th -12th grade students, and Building the Bridges across the business and workforce ecosystem. Our mission is to strengthen the economic vitality of the region by providing educational programming and opportunities for small business and students to connect with vital business resources. The WISH 99.7 Spring Show provides a unique opportunity to feature the partners and small businesses that make our mission a reality. Spring is the perfect time to improve your home, show off your best projects and to learn something new. Close to Home Cleaning owner Sarah Harvey will be on hand to discuss spring cleaning options. Dan Quigley, owner of Quigley Photography will talk about ways to show off landscaping and your beautiful home projects. Atlas Dreams founder and CEO Zineb Outnouna will share options for expanding your horizons and learning a new language. Scott Albert of the Building Bridges for Business U can B Program will provide career tips, books, and resources to help you or your child make great career choices. Join us at the Inaugural WISH 99.7 Spring Home & Design Show. Also, take time to learn about a fantastic non-profit organization that is located right in the South Hills – South Hills Interfaith Movement (SHIM). They are the charity beneficiary for the show. It all tales place this weekend at the Galleria Mall in Mt. Lebanon! For more event information, visit http://www.wshh.com/2016springhomedesign.aspx. For more information about Building Bridges for Business, visit...
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