ABOUT

ABOUT

Advancing Western New York’s economy

As New York State's signature workforce initiative under the Buffalo Billion initiative, Northland Workforce Training Center (NWTC) is an industry-driven, public-private partnership between employers, educational institutions, community and faith-based organizations and state and local government focused on closing the skills gap of the local labor pool and creating economic on-ramps to training, co-ops, internships, apprenticeships, and permanent employment for Western New Yorkers seeking high-paying advanced manufacturing and energy careers.

Our Vision

The vision of Northland Workforce Training Center is to be the premiere model of a public/private partnership providing education, training and workforce development services that are industry driven and employment focused.

Our Mission

The mission of Northland Workforce Training Center is to advance the economic well-being of Western New York by developing and maintaining a skilled and diverse workforce to meet the needs of the advanced manufacturing and energy sectors, while providing opportunities to job seekers as well as pathways to gainful employment, career advancement and economic sustainability.

NWTC houses two co-located training facilities: the Advanced Manufacturing Training Center and the Utility of the Future & Clean Energy Training Center, to increase the number and quality of local candidates prepared for energy and advanced manufacturing careers. Northland Workforce Training Center provides for-credit, certificate and degree programs as core offerings through its educational partners, SUNY Alfred State College and SUNY Erie Community College, incorporating evidence-based placement strategies, such as co-ops, apprenticeships and internships, and an emphasis on permanent employment.

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683 NORTHLAND AVE.

A new and vibrant Northland Beltline

Northland Workforce Training Center is the anchor of the Northland Beltline redevelopment project. This project involves the redevelopment of multiple vacant buildings/properties in an approximately 35-acre historic manufacturing district located on Buffalo’s East Side. 683 Northland Ave. was created through an adaptive reuse of a portion of a historic industrial structure at 683 Northland Ave. (the former Clearing Niagara Plant) and is being financed through a partnership between Empire State Development (ESD), the New York Power Authority (NYPA), and the City of Buffalo. ESD and NYPA are partnering with the Buffalo Urban Development Corporation (BUDC), which is serving as the developer of the project, as well as the larger Northland Beltline campus.

Northland Workforce Training Center’s Approach

Northland Workforce Training Center is uniquely designed to reduce all the major barriers that prohibit students from enrolling and completing post-secondary education such as transportation, childcare, academic readiness and affordability. Northland Workforce Training Center is committed to providing for-credit education at little to no cost to all individuals with financial need, and supporting students throughout the process by providing intensive wraparound and supportive services.

Our training approach combines evidence-based best practices regarding awareness, recruitment, assessment, career planning, education and training, job placement and retention services with intensive wraparound supports to ensure student suitability, preparedness, persistence, placement and career advancement.

All applicants will participate in an industry awareness activity to expose them to careers in advanced manufacturing and energy as well as complete an academic assessment (TABE) to measure academic readiness and career assessments to ensure candidate suitability. Students requiring academic remediation will be supported at no cost to increase their literacy and numeracy to ensure they can successfully complete Northland Workforce Training Center for-credit educational programs.

Applicants who demonstrate a 10th grade literacy and numeracy score as well as industry suitability will be assigned a Career Coach, complete financial aid counseling and create an Individualized Employment Plan utilizing the Student Success Model. Once enrolled, Career Coaches and Placement Specialists will work with students to complete training and obtain employment, and support alumni for three years after being hired full-time.

LEADERSHIP TEAM

Stephen Tucker, MBA

President & CEO

stucker@northlandwtc.org

Dr. Carolyn Storms-Stoltman

Chief Program Officer

cstormsstoltman@northlandwtc.org

Asantewa Holley

Vice President of Operations

aholley@northlandwtc.org

Deirdre Prewitt

Executive Assistant to the President & CEO

Project Manager

dprewitt@northlandwtc.org

Jon Sieminski

Director of Manufacturing Operations

jsieminski@northlandwtc.org

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STEPHEN TUCKER, MBA

Presdent & CEO

READ BIO

SIMMONE WASHINGTON, MOL

Director of Business & Enterprise Services

STEPHEN TUCKER, MBA

PRESIDENT & CEO

Stephen Tucker is the inaugural President & CEO of Northland Workforce Training Center (NWTC), the signature workforce strategy under Governor Andrew Cuomo’s Buffalo Billion initiative. In this role, Mr. Tucker is responsible for the management, oversight, and day to day operations of the new 90,000 square foot state of the art facility focused on training and preparing Western New Yorkers for careers in advanced manufacturing and clean energy.

His educational achievements include an MBA from Indiana Wesleyan University and a Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Criminal Justice from Wilberforce University. Mr. Tucker is a Murano Fellow as a graduate of Aspen Institutes’ Sector Skills Academy and a 2018 graduate of Leadership Buffalo.

Mr. Tucker was appointed to the Western New York Regional Economic Development Council in 2018 and received the Arthur O. Eve Award for Economic Opportunity presented by the New York State Association of Black and Puerto Rican Legislators in 2020. Mr. Tucker serves on the Boards of the Buffalo Niagara Partnership, Buffalo Urban League, Leadership Buffalo, Independent Health Foundation and Insyte Consulting.

Dr. Carolyn Storms-Stoltman

Chief Program Officer

Dr. Carolyn Storms-Stoltman is the Director of Admissions & Financial Aid for Northland Workforce Training Center. Dr. Storms-Stoltman is responsible for planning, directing, and executing activities within NWTC’s applications, admissions, financial aid processes, and leading our collaborative relationships with our educational partners. Dr. Storms-Stoltman is an experienced higher education professional with over seventeen years combined experience as teaching faculty and collegial project management/administration.

Born, raised, and educated in Western New York, Dr. Storms-Stoltman holds a Ph.D. in Sociology from State University of New York at Buffalo as well as a Master & Bachelor Degree in the same discipline. In addition to teaching in both university and community college environments, she has a research background, experience in best practice-driven workshop development, expertise in both qualitative and quantitative analytical methodologies, administrative, project management, grant writing experience, and is dedicated to data-driven consistent program evolution.

Asantewa Holley

Vice President of Operations

Asantewa K. Holley is the Director of Operations for Northland Workforce Training Center. Ms. Holley is responsible for the day to day Operations at Northland which includes all Grant and State reporting requirements, management of the procurement process for all goods & services, accounts payables, audits, monthly financial reporting and management of Student Success Services.

Asantewa Holley has worked in the financial industry for eighteen years holding multiple operational management roles. In addition, Ms. Holley serves as an Adjunct instructor at The University of Buffalo Educational Opportunity Center. ​ Asantewa holds an MBA from The University of Buffalo, B.S. in Accounting from Empire State College and is a 2020 Graduate of Leadership Buffalo.

Ms. Holley currently serves as a Board Member for House Opportunities Made Equal (HOME), the Michigan Street Preservation Corporation – Nash House and Trustee at True Bethel Baptist Church. Asantewa is a member of the National Black MBA Association, WNY Chapter.

Deirdre Prewitt

Executive Assistant to the President & CEO
Project Manager

Jon Sieminski

Director of Manufacturing Operations

STAFF DIRECTORY

Caitlin Birecree

​ Coordinator of Admissions & Financial Aid

cbirecree@northlandwtc.org

Shannon Carter

​ Human Resources Generalist, Learning and Development

scarter@northlandwtc.org

Steven Catalan

Facilities Technician

scatalan@northlandwtc.org

Albin Cich

Career Coach

acich@northlandwtc.org

Brandon Crawford

Manager of Enrollment

bcrawford@northlandwtc.org

Phillip Dickerson

Facilities Technician

pdickerson@northlandwtc.org

Taylor Griffith

​ Marketing & Communications Coordinator

tgriffith@northlandwtc.org

Vanessa Hall

Instructor / Outreach Specialist

vhall@northlandwtc.org

Gary Harper

Lead Facilities Technician

gharper@northlandwtc.org

Zanny Harper

Driver

zharper@northlandwtc.org

Debra Headley

Cashier, NWTC Caboose

dheadley@northlandwtc.org

Marcus Hill

Manager of Placements & Career Services

mhill@northlandwtc.org

Anika Hoque

Coordinator of Admissions & Financial Aid

ahoque@northlandwtc.org

Evan Jackson

Career Coach

ejackson@northlandwtc.org

Theresa Love

Receptionist

tlove@northlandwtc.org

Austin Martin

Outreach Specialist

amartin@NORTHLANDWTC.ORG

Brandi Monaco

Lead Coordinator of Admissions & Financial Aid

bmonaco@northlandwtc.org

Mike Myers

Career Coach

mmyers@northlandwtc.org

James Patterson

IT Coordinator

jpatterson@northlandwtc.org

Jason Ramos

Facilities Coordinator

jramos@northlandwtc.org

Kyle Salley

Career Coach

ksalley@northlandwtc.org

Lorinda Sekanovich

Career Coach

Lsekanovich@NORTHLANDWTC.ORG

Bonita Smith

Career Coach

bsmith@northlandwtc.org

Wade Smith

Manager of Student Success Services

WSMITH@northlandwtc.org

Kareema Washington

Career Coach

kwashington@NORTHLANDWTC.ORG

Amara Williams

Operations Coordinator

awILLIAMS@NORTHLANDWTC.ORG

Lonnell Williams

Lead Outreach Specialist

LWILLIAMS@NORTHLANDWTC.ORG

PARTNERS

X

Stephen Tucker, MBA

President & CEO

Stephen Tucker is the inaugural President & CEO of Northland Workforce Training Center (NWTC), the signature workforce strategy under Governor Andrew Cuomo’s Buffalo Billion initiative. In this role, Mr. Tucker is responsible for the management, oversight, and day to day operations of the new 90,000 square foot state of the art facility focused on training and preparing Western New Yorkers for careers in advanced manufacturing and clean energy.

His educational achievements include an MBA from Indiana Wesleyan University and a Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Criminal Justice from Wilberforce University. Mr. Tucker is a Murano Fellow as a graduate of Aspen Institutes’ Sector Skills Academy and a 2018 graduate of Leadership Buffalo.

Mr. Tucker was appointed to the Western New York Regional Economic Development Council in 2018 and received the Arthur O. Eve Award for Economic Opportunity presented by the New York State Association of Black and Puerto Rican Legislators in 2020. Mr. Tucker serves on the Boards of the Buffalo Niagara Partnership, Buffalo Urban League, Leadership Buffalo, Independent Health Foundation and Insyte Consulting.

X

Dr. Carolyn Storms-Stoltman

Chief Program Officer

Dr. Carolyn Storms-Stoltman is the Chief Program Officer for Northland Workforce Training Center. Dr. Storms-Stoltman is responsible for planning, directing, and executing activities within NWTC’s applications, admissions, financial aid processes, and leading our collaborative relationships with our educational partners. Dr. Storms-Stoltman is an experienced higher education professional with over seventeen years combined experience as teaching faculty and collegial project management/administration.

Born, raised, and educated in Western New York, Dr. Storms-Stoltman holds a Ph.D. in Sociology from State University of New York at Buffalo as well as a Master & Bachelor Degree in the same discipline. In addition to teaching in both university and community college environments, she has a research background, experience in best practice-driven workshop development, expertise in both qualitative and quantitative analytical methodologies, administrative, project management, grant writing experience, and is dedicated to data-driven consistent program evolution.

X

ASANTEWA K. HOLLEY

Vice President of Operations

Asantewa K. Holley is the Vice President of Operations for Northland Workforce Training Center. Ms. Holley is responsible for the day to day operations at NWTC which includes all Grant and State reporting requirements, management of the procurement process for all goods & services, accounts payable, audits, monthly financial reporting, and management of Student Success Services.

Asantewa Holley has worked in the financial industry for eighteen years holding multiple operational management roles. In addition, Ms. Holley serves as an Adjunct instructor at The University of Buffalo Educational Opportunity Center. ​ Asantewa holds an MBA from The University of Buffalo, B.S. in Accounting from Empire State College and is a 2020 Graduate of Leadership Buffalo.

Ms. Holley currently serves as a Board Member for House Opportunities Made Equal (HOME), the Michigan Street Preservation Corporation – Nash House and Trustee at True Bethel Baptist Church. Asantewa is a member of the National Black MBA Association, WNY Chapter.