Recap: Mesa Community College

By Category: Post Event Report

Date of Event: 04/17/2026

Location: Mesa, Arizona

Number of Attendees: 50 plus

Event Summary: At the April 17, 2026 groundbreaking for Mesa Community College’s Workforce Development Corridor, Nicholas Martinez joined community, education, and industry leaders to celebrate a major investment in workforce development. Serving as AWS District 21 Director and Senior Manager at SRP, Martinez highlighted the importance of aligning education with industry needs, drawing on his experience as an MCC Welding Technology graduate and advisory board member. He praised MCC’s faculty and leadership for building a strong pipeline of skilled talent that supports apprenticeships, career growth, and regional industry demands. Emphasizing the broader impact, Martinez noted the new facility represents a critical step in closing the skilled trades gap and strengthening collaboration between education and industry to drive long-term economic growth in Arizona.

MCC Leadership & Speakers • Dr. Richard Daniel – MCC President • Michael Voss – Dean of Instruction • Michael Farley – Welding Technology Program Director • Curtis Casey – Welding Faculty • Dr. Kimberly Focht – Veterinary Technology Program Director • Peter Conden – Sustainable Horticulture Program Director [mesacc.edu] Government & Community Leaders • Francisco Heredia – Mesa City Councilmember • Mayor Mark Freeman – City of Mesa (mentioned in expansion context) [mesacc.edu], [abc15.com] Donors / Community Voices • Megan Keller – Cade Keller Foundation • Brian Cooper – Cade Keller Foundation o Spoke in honor of MCC welding student Cade Keller and student well-being initiatives [mesacc.edu] Students Quoted (ABC15 coverage) • Chris Stone – Welding student • Caleb Hartneddy – Horticulture student [abc15.com] Companies, Organizations & Partners • Mesa Community College (MCC) – Project lead and training provider • Maricopa County Community College District (MCCCD) – Governing district • City of Mesa – Public-sector partner • Cade Keller Foundation – Donor/community partner • Salt River Project (SRP) – Workforce training participant/employer partner • Empire Cat – Industry training partner • Local industry & donors – Supporting funding and program shaping [abc15.com], [mesacc.edu] Workforce & Industry Impact • Addresses skilled labor shortages in construction, manufacturing, and trades • Replaces ~40-year-old welding facilities • Creates a direct pipeline from training → certification → employment • Strengthens apprenticeships and employer-aligned training programs [abc15.com] Mesa Community College Launches $39 Million Workforce Training Expansion Mesa Community College amping up workforce training with 2 new facilities | News | themesatribune.com