A Community Transition

A career switch from factory floor to desk job might seem like a daunting (perhaps unattainable) leap for many. Yet for one individual who did just that, the move--while still challenging--was not insurmountable. A variety of factors helped aid Christopher Pearsall into a product manager at a business-software developer including a community college degree.

Indeed, one of Business Roundtable's member CEOs knows quite a bit about community colleges. William Green attended a two-year institution that he strongly credits for his current position as chairman and CEO of Accenture.

American workers, rightly, have many frustrations with the international economy. Lifelong learning initiatives that build an important education asset in the U.S.--like community colleges--are poised to become even more closely aligned with the needs of the labor market and adult learners. Community colleges provide lifts for many, not just Mr. Green and Pearsall.