Michael Thomas, Baltimore City Community College (BCCC) vice president of workforce development and continuing education was profiled in the article “City Community College job program aims to help 18,000-plus find work in 2018” published Dec. 26, 2017 in the Baltimore Business Journal.

BCCC, said Thomas, is poised to be the “epicenter” for workforce development in Baltimore. He touted the success and importance of BCCC’s “meds and beds” professional certifications that provide skilled workers to Baltimore’s many hospitals, along with BCCC’s cyber security degree and certificate programs. He underscored BCCC’s robust partnerships with clients like the Horseshoe Casino Baltimore, Port of Baltimore, University of Maryland and Sagamore Development.

Thomas predicts more job development in Baltimore thanks to the Mayor’s Scholar’s Program that provides free tuition at BCCC for all Baltimore City public high school graduates starting in 2018.

The following are excerpts from the Baltimore Business Journal article:

What is your focus at BCCC?

We want to be the epicenter for workforce development in Baltimore, responsive to job and hiring needs and aligning our programs to economic opportunities.

What is your main focus in the center?

We have roughly six targeted areas: Health and bio sciences, IT and cyber security, business and workplace skills, human resources services, hospitality and tourism, construction, and transportation, distribution and logistics.

What are some of the hot jobs these days?

We know that cyber security is huge in our region. In addition, we use the term "meds and beds" We have so many hospitals that have needs. And the hospitality and tourism area is hiring as well. Those are focal points for us. We know, for instance, with the Horseshoe Casino, Gordon Ramsey just opened a new restaurant and it needs to be staffed. We’re in the process of working with them to determine what their needs are and what our program should look like.

What do you predict the climate for hiring to be in the first quarter of the new year?

I think it’s good. What employers want is what we have: Reliable employees that come to work each day with a skill set. We know our employers will hire local based on what their needs are.