LANSING, Mich. — Earlier this week, Michigan College Access Network presented individual Pathway Awards to Michigan’s Career Education Planning Districts (CEPDs), honoring regional leaders and education providers who are working to ensure students across Michigan have access to high-quality, career-aligned Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs. MCAN’s Pathway Award, established in 2024, recognizes people or institutions that demonstrate outstanding leadership and innovation in bridging education and workforce development.
The Pathway Award is one of MCAN’s College Access Impact Awards, which shine a light on the individuals, organizations, and collaborations that have exceeded expectations to make a positive impact on increasing college readiness, participation and completion in Michigan. In November, MCAN gave the 2025 Pathway Award to Michigan’s CTE programs, and this week’s event was an extension of the initial award presentation.
“While we celebrated the strength of Michigan’s statewide CTE system in November, we know systems alone don’t transform outcomes — people do,” said Ryan Fewins-Bliss, executive director of Michigan College Access Network. “We’re proud to take this opportunity to spotlight CEPD leaders who have helped build CTE programs into a dynamic, high-impact pathways to postsecondary success.”
Michigan’s CTE programs are central to the state’s Sixty by 30 goal, which aims to ensure that 60% of working-age adults hold a degree or postsecondary credential by 2030. Through hands-on instruction, work-based learning, industry-recognized credentials and opportunities to earn college credit, CTE programs help students prepare for both college and career success. During the 2024-25 school year, nearly 115,000 Michigan high school students were enrolled in CTE programs, with a record 55,431 completing a program.
CEPDs coordinate CTE programming across intermediate school districts and local education agencies, strengthening alignment among K-12 schools, postsecondary institutions and workforce partners. The individual Pathway Award recipients were selected for their leadership in expanding equitable access to CTE pathways, deepening partnerships with higher education institutions and employers, and Increasing student attainment of industry credentials and college credit.
“My fellow Career Education Planning District leaders are building bridges — between classrooms and careers, between aspiration and opportunity,” said Robert Smith, chair of Michigan’s Career Education Planning Districts Council and director of Career & Tech Education at Van Buren Intermediate School District. “CEPD administrators demonstrate what is possible when regional leadership is aligned around student success. Their work ensures that more Michigan students have access to meaningful, high-quality pathways that lead to credentials of value.”
MCAN congratulates this year’s individual Pathway Award recipients and extends appreciation to all CEPD administrators who champion opportunity and outcomes for Michigan students.
- Allegan Area ESA Tech Center — Joe Tenbusch
- Alpena High School Career & Technical Education — Jessie Gillard
- Bay-Arenac ISD Career Center — Josh Little
- Berrien RESA — Christopher Machiniak
- Careerline Tech Center — Jacquie Rehkopf
- Calhoun Area Career Center — Timothy Staffen
- Charlevoix-Emmet ISD CTE — Jim Rummer
- Cheboygan Area Schools CTE — Ryan McClintic
- CTE John C. Magnus Center — Eric Johnson
- Clinton County RESA CTE — Jennifer Smith
- College and Career Readiness Center — Charmian Fletcher
- C.O.O.R. Advanced Technical Innovation Center — Michael Evans
- Copper County ISD CTE — Corey Soumis
- Delta-Schoolcraft ISD CTE — Trent Bellingar
- Detroit Public Schools CTE — Dana Hughs
- Dickinson-Iron Career Technical Education Center — Joe Tinti
- Eastern Upper Peninsula ISD CTE — Tammy Rutledge
- Eaton RESA Career Preparation Center — Vlad Lebedintsev
- Genesee ISD CTE — Diana Allard
- Gogebic-Ontonagon ISD CTE — Ashley Nevins
- Gratiot-Isabella Technical Education Center — Douglas Bush
- Heritage Southwest ISD CTE — Mikki Spagnoli
- Hillsdale Area Career Center — Jamie Mueller
- Huron Area Technical Center — Lane Walker
- Ionia County Career Center — Ted Paton
- IRESA Tech Center — Jay Young
- Jackson Area Career Center — Dan Draper
- KRESA Career Connect Campus — Cindy Goss
- Kent Career Technical Center — Joe Lienesch
- Lapeer County Ed Tech — Dawn Cowhy
- Lenawee ISD TECH Center — Jenny Heath
- Livingston ESA CTE — Michelle Radcliffe
- Macomb ISD CTE — Shannon Williams
- Marquette-Alger RESA CTE — Erich Ziegler
- Mecosta-Osceola Career Center — Joshua Bull
- Midland County ESA CTE — Grant Murschel
- Monroe County ISD CTE — Jason Evers
- Montcalm Area Career Center — Shannon Tripp
- Muskegon Area Career Tech Center — Bernard Brown
- Newaygo County Career-Tech Center — Melissa Miller
- Northwest Education Services Career Tech — Patrick Lamb
- Oakland Schools Technical Campuses — Jarrad Grandy
- Saginaw Career Complex — Vic Bugni
- Sanilac Career Center — Deborah Nelson
- St. Clair County Technical Education Center — Lesley Murphy
- St. Joseph County ISD CTE — Jim Berry
- Summit Tech Center — Jamie Bandstra
- Tuscola Technology Center — Lee Pavlichek
- Van Buren Tech — Robert Smith
- Washtenaw ISD CTE — Ryan Rowe
- Wayne RESA CTE — Rhonda Turner
- Wilson Talent Center — Jamie Engel
- Wexford-Missaukee ISD Career Tech Center — Gretchen Spedowske
Award honors Career Education Planning Districts for advancing college, career readiness