Uploaded October 2022 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
Not sure how to pay for your St. Petersburg College education? Let the professionals in our financial aid office help you sort out the options of paying for a quality education now, with less debt after you graduate.
Visit https://spcollege.edu to learn more about St. Petersburg College.
St. Petersburg College (SPC) alumni rank first in Florida for earning the highest entry wages among state community college graduates. SPC was founded in 1927 as St. Petersburg Junior College, Florida's first two-year college. Access, excellence, and student support are the hallmarks of St. Petersburg College. Regionally accredited and nationally recognized, SPC was the first state college in Florida to offer bachelor’s degrees. SPC offers more than 180 degree and certificate programs of study, and many high-demand, high-skill industry-recognized workforce certifications. We offer a career-focused curriculum created in conjunction with industry experts to ensure our students are able to meet the needs of today’s employers.
Not sure how to pay for your St. Petersburg College education? Let the professionals in our financial aid office help you sort out the options of paying for a quality education now, with less debt after you graduate.
Visit https://spcollege.edu to learn more about St. Petersburg College.
St. Petersburg College (SPC) alumni rank first in Florida for earning the highest entry wages among state community college graduates. SPC was founded in 1927 as St. Petersburg Junior College, Florida's first two-year college. Access, excellence, and student support are the hallmarks of St. Petersburg College. Regionally accredited and nationally recognized, SPC was the first state college in Florida to offer bachelor’s degrees. SPC offers more than 180 degree and certificate programs of study, and many high-demand, high-skill industry-recognized workforce certifications. We offer a career-focused curriculum created in conjunction with industry experts to ensure our students are able to meet the needs of today’s employers.



![Standing In The Gap, EP12: Workforce Faculty
Welcome to a special compilation episode of Standing In The Gap with President Dr. Tonjua Williams.
In this episode, we bring you insights and wisdom from the faculty and staff of SPC, focusing on workforce development, legislation, and bridging the gaps in our community. Through interviews with policymakers, educators, and community leaders, we delve into the strategies and initiatives aimed at closing these gaps and creating opportunities for all.
Join us as we explore the impactful work being done at St. Petersburg College and beyond to empower individuals, strengthen communities, and build a brighter future for everyone. Tune in to gain valuable insights and inspiration from those dedicated to standing in the gap for others. You wont want to miss it!
KEY POINTS:
- [1:15] The crucial role of technology in the biomedical field
- [9:50 ] How manufacturing has evolved in time
- [11:11] How SPC provides skills needed in the manufacturing community
- [15:30] The importance of getting involved and establishing connections with others
- [17:53] The pivotal role of a team to stand in the gap
- [21:54] The importance of economic mobility
- [25:25] How SPC serves at the forefront of workforce development
- [28:02 ] SPC’s perspective of filling the gap: What happens after graduation?
QUOTABLES:
“Come learn about us. We have so much to offer. I think you will be amazed at what we have at St. Petersburg College.” – Brian Bell
“Manufacturing today has become synergized with technology — from your robots, drones, your hairdryers, everything from your electric vehicles.” – Christopher Cain
“You can’t just sit back and be quiet. You’ve got to get involved, interact, and know your surroundings. Sometimes, we need to ask for help.” – Greg Lewis
“The workforce division at St. Petersburg College supports the entire lifecycle of the student’s experience. We support life-long learners — our senior citizens, our silver scholars, our youth through college for kids — we want to see them succeed.” – Dr. Jackie Skryd
RESOURCES:
Brian Bell, SPC Faculty for Biomedical Engineering Technology | https://www.linkedin.com/in/brian-bell-htmworkshop/
Christopher Cain, SPC Program Coordinator for Advanced Manufacturing, Engineering and Technology | https://www.linkedin.com/in/christopher-c-29208823/
Greg Lewis, SPC Faculty for Engineering Technology | https://www.linkedin.com/in/greg-lewis-93814a151/
Dr. Jackie Skryd, SPC Vice President of Workforce Development and Corporate Partnerships | https://www.linkedin.com/in/jackie-skryd-fl/
St. Petersburg College
Website | www.spcollege.edu
Facebook | facebook.com/stpetecollege
IG | instagram.com/stpetersburgcollege
YouTube | youtube.com/@SPC
LinkedIn | linkedin.com/company/st petersburg-college
X | x.com/spcnews
Standing In The Gap is produced by EPYC Media Network | Visit at https://www.epyc.co/
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St. Petersburg College was founded in 1927 as St. Petersburg Junior College, Floridas first two-year college. Our alumni rank first in the state for earning the highest entry wages among state community college graduates. Access, excellence, and student support are the hallmarks of SPC. Regionally accredited and nationally recognized, SPC was the first state college in Florida to offer bachelor’s degrees. We offer 200+ degree, certificate and transfer programs, as well as many high-demand, high-skill, industry-recognized workforce certifications. Our career-focused curriculum is created in conjunction with industry experts to ensure that SPC students are able to meet the needs of today’s employers.
To learn more about SPC, visit https://spcollege.edu. Standing In The Gap, EP12: Workforce Faculty](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/D8JiyCKjKM0/mqdefault.jpg)






