Weber State invites employers to shape learning during the Northern Utah Employer Exchange
OGDEN, Utah — Weber State University is inviting ongoing collaboration with regional business and nonprofit leaders. For the second year, WSU hosted the Northern Utah Employer Exchange, where faculty and administration connect with industry leaders to strengthen the relationship between higher education and employers.
That’s the idea behind the NUEX slogan: Industry talks, Weber listens.
“It is an honor to speak face-to-face with a person from a struggling company and hear about their challenges and then say, 'Weber State can help,’” said Denise Call, business development manager in Weber State’s Division of Online & Continuing Education. “The success of the organizations in northern Utah today equates to stronger communities, partners, and students tomorrow.”
During sessions and panels in WSU’s Shepherd Union Building, local leaders collaborated to tackle common issues affecting growth and advancement. Participants included industries like manufacturing, banking, aerospace, healthcare, automotive, government, defense, and more. The group’s findings inform WSU curriculum and give the university insight to help prepare graduates, building a pool of qualified candidates for employers to choose from.
This year, a central focus was improving employees' durable skills: human strengths like creative problem solving, critical thinking, and taking initiative, which complement emerging technology like AI.
“NUEX gives us the opportunity to take what we hear back to the university and ask, ‘What did industry tell us, and what are we doing about it?’” said Holly Suisse, business development manager in Weber State’s Division of Online & Continuing Education. “Our tagline from the beginning has been ‘Industry speaks. Weber listens,’ but over the past year, we’ve realized there’s an important third piece: Weber responds.”
Using feedback and the comprehensive report from last year’s session, Weber State is launching several initiatives to address issues identified in the forum. In 2027, WSU anticipates piloting a professional skills lab at the university, which will be a space to assess and verify workforce skills needed by industry leaders. Weber also began hosting small breakout sessions called “A Seat at the Table,” where the university meets with industry partners and continues valuable conversations about how to directly address their needs.
WSU has also involved industry in the creation and evolution of NUEX itself. An Innovation Committee, made up of local industry representatives, steers the content of the event.
"Weber State created NUEX and the Innovation Committee to show industry they're truly listening, and that means the world," said Hannah Pierce, Innovation Committee member and human resource director at Young Automotive Group. "It speaks volumes about Weber State and how much they care about their students."
Students and business leaders aren’t the only beneficiaries of these workforce discussions. The public can sign up for courses WSU created in partnership with the Ogden-Weber Chamber of Commerce and learn how to develop some of the skills requested by participants at NUEX.
Shane Farver, director of special projects, marketing, and communication at WSU’s Division of Online and Continuing Education, says building relationships with local industries is the most effective starting point to a rewarding experience for businesses, WSU, and Utah.
“Community is a core value of Weber State University,” Farver said. “When you're thinking about meeting the needs of our industry and making sure our students can succeed in those industries, that's just part of fulfilling the community mission.”
Alexis Cirkovic, News Coordinator
801-626-7362, alexiscirkovic@weber.edu- Contact:
Alexis Cirkovic, News Coordinator
801-626-7362, alexiscirkovic@weber.edu