ACTC Workforce Solutions, library services still available

April 20, 2020

PThis is the fourth submission in a series of employee spotlights for Ashland Community and Technical College to highlight how faculty and staff are helping students while working remotely.
Despite the change in delivery method, ACTC’s employees are dedicated to providing the best support possible to its students.

Name: Robin Harris
City of Residence: Ashland, Ky.
Educations: Ashland Community and Technical College, 2000 (A.A.S. – Business Management and Associate in Arts); University of Louisville, 2009 (B.S. in Communication); Murray State University, 2020 (Master of Science in Organizational Communication)
Role(s) at ACTC and how you interact with students: I am the Director of Workforce Solutions and in this role, I manage the area of the college that provides short-term training such as nurse aide, phlebotomy, KY Medication Aide, CDL, lineman and CPR. I assist in providing information as well as helping to enroll in one of our programs. Another big part of our job in Workforce Solutions is to provide customized business and industry training. We currently work with many of the long-term care facilities in the area to provide nurse aide training to their new employees.
How long have you been with ACTC? This year will be my 20th year working at ACTC. I began working part-time in the business incubator as a receptionist in October of 2000 and began full-time as an office assistant and coordinator of the nurse aide and phlebotomy programs in 2004. In 2009, we opened our Assessment Center and I moved into the role of managing the testing center while continuing to work with the short-term health programs. In 2019, I was appointed interim manager of Workforce Solutions and as of Jan. 1, 2020, I am now in the role of director of Workforce Solutions.
What are your favorite things about working at ACTC? Working at ACTC is a very rewarding job. It feels good when you know what you do has a positive impact on someone else’s life. I love seeing some of our students who have very little confidence come in to take a class and walk out with confidence and a skill they can use to make a better life for themselves. Another thing that is amazing about my job is my co-workers. We all work together for the goals of the college and provide support for each other in many ways. I love the people I work with and I can honestly say there are very few days I get up and say, “I don’t want to go to work today.”
Special accomplishments while working at ACTC? I am very proud of the work we do in Workforce Solutions. We have grown our short-term health programs into one of the prime resources in this area for nurse aide, phlebotomy and KY Medication Aide training. We have partnerships with a majority of the local long-term care facilities. Our team has also been very successful over the past year or so growing our CDL and lineman programs to the point they are in high demand in this area, as well. We are always looking for ways to enhance the workforce in this area.
How would your co-workers describe you? I would hope my co-workers would say I am a team player and if I do not have an answer, I will do my best to get one. I think they would also say I am patient, kind, organized, passionate to make a difference, transparent and calm. I try to be real and I genuinely care about each one of them.
Who is your biggest role model and why: My parents are my biggest role models. They taught me about responsibility and to work hard for anything I want in life. They showed me the importance of having God in my life, how to be supportive, how to look for the good in people, unconditional love, how to encourage people to work to achieve their goals, how to be compassionate, the meaning of love and so much more. I thank God every day for the family He gave me.
If the students I work with learn one thing, I hope it is… If you want to do something with your life, do not let anyone make you believe you can’t. If you believe in it, go for it!
How are you assisting students during the pandemic and what should students know about your area of service during this time? Everyone in the Workforce Solutions division at ACTC is working remotely to answer questions by phone and email If anyone has a question, please email to as_workforce@kctcs.edu or call:
Robin Harris (606) 326-2252
Heather Estes (606) 326-2130
We will assist you or get the message to someone who can. We ask that students be patient with us as we make decisions daily about upcoming testing and training. We will always put the safety of our students and instructors above all else. We will work with the students to get them through our programs successfully. Their success is important to us.

Name: Pamela Klinepeter
City of Residence: Ashland, Ky.
Education: Bachelor of Science in English, Pikeville College (now UPike) (1999); Master of Science in Library Science, University of Kentucky (2005)
Role(s) at ACTC and how you interact with students: My title is Director of Library Services. I oversee the day-to-day operations of the library and supervise all library employees. I also provide library instruction sessions. Faculty can schedule class sessions and bring students to the library or I will go to the classroom to teach them about library resources and services. I spend time at the circulation desk at both College Drive and Technology Drive libraries to answer questions, check books in and out, help in the computer lab. I teach one section of FYE 100.
How long have you been with ACTC? 15 years as of July 2020
What are your favorite things about working at ACTC? When students tell me that they remember coming to the library for instruction, or that I came to their class to do an instruction session, and that it helped them. I’m kind of a know-it-all by nature, and I want to help people answer their questions.
Special accomplishments while working at ACTC? Upgrading and updating the technology and furniture in the library classroom at College Drive. Establishing the first makerspace in KCTCS and being able to expand it over the last few years.
How would your co-workers describe you? I hope they would say that I’m firm but fair and that I genuinely care about our students, faculty and staff.
If the students I work with learn one thing, I hope it is… never be afraid to ask a question. It’s literally my job to answer questions, so let me do my job.
How are you assisting students during the pandemic and what should students know about your area of service during this time? Even though the physical libraries are closed, the library can be wherever you are. So many of our resources and services are available electronically, and all library employees are working remotely. We’re available via email at as_library@kctcs.edu, as well as Facebook Messenger (@ACTCLibrary) for chat reference. We can even set up a meeting in Blackboard Collaborate. We have eBooks, eAudiobooks, articles, and so much more available in our databases. We also have LibGuides to teach you how to use the library’s resources, do research, and access the eBooks and eAudiobooks. If you have questions, we’re still here to answer them.