Inside the I-Corridor: Preparing Tomorrow's Workforce Today | RIT Certified

Ep. 21 Jazzy T and RJ Williams visit RIT Certified's newly renovated space to explore the workforce development strategies powering the next generation of modern manufacturing employees for Buffalo, Rochester and Syracuse. Director Rosalie Clemens and Associate Director AJ LiVecchi explain why the I-Corridor isn't about one company or one city, it's about building an entire regional ecosystem where every organization has a role to play. Sponsored by ⁠⁠The Enterprise Center at PathStone⁠, a CDFI helping small businesses access the capital and support they need to grow. Resource Links: Suscribe to Inside the I-Corridor Newsletter on LinkedIn Website: https://certified.rit.edu/ Register for the Teacher's Cohort Circuiting Success here https://certified.rit.edu/circuitingsuccess Email AJ LiVecchi:‍ [email protected] Episode Key Points: ✅ The I-Corridor is an economic development strategy—not simply a Micron project. ✅ Workforce development isn't something that happens to companies. It's something companies actively build. ✅ Existing employees often need targeted upskilling—not another four-year degree. ✅ AI is rapidly changing professional development, knowledge transfer and advanced manufacturing. ✅ Rochester's competitive advantage comes from strengthening its existing expertise in optics, photonics and precision manufacturing—not competing directly with Syracuse. ✅ Businesses that invest in learning today will be best positioned when the region's semiconductor ecosystem reaches full scale. Chapters: 00:00 Why Everyone Is Talking About the I-Corridor 00:58 Meet RIT Certified 01:47 What RIT Certified Actually Does 04:06 What Is the New York Smart I-Corridor? 06:43 Preparing Today's Workforce for Tomorrow's Jobs 07:57 Semiconductor Career Accelerator Explained 10:57 The Skills Summit & AI Workforce Strategy 14:06 AI, Virtual Chips & Manufacturing Training 15:36 Using AI to Capture Knowledge Before Employees Retire 20:43 Rochester's Photonics Advantage 22:18 Why Companies Must Own Workforce Development 23:57 Why Professional Development Improves Retention 26:36 Cybersecurity, AI & National Security 29:35 Solving Real Business Problems with Custom Training 31:54 Why Automated Assembly Is the Next Big Opportunity 34:02 What Rochester Can Learn from Arizona's Tech Boom 35:45 Why Rochester Shouldn't Try to Be Syracuse 39:43 Preparing Teachers for Semiconductor Careers 43:41 Why Every Business Should Prepare for the I-Corridor Now 44:38 Three Big Takeaways for Business Leaders