Pipeline Connects, a new Arizona nonprofit, has been established to support the mission of the trusted career and employment platform, PipelineAZ, to empower Arizona’s workforce by bridging talent, education, industry and community within the state’s career ecosystem.
The PipelineAZ platform serves as a single point of access and awareness of in-demand career pathways and employment opportunities in Arizona. It has supported more than 238,000 Arizonans in their career journeys since it was established in 2015. It has grown 145% over the last two years requiring the backing of Pipeline Connects, a 501(c)(3) offering full programmatic support.
“Pipeline AZ’s accelerated growth the last two years has exceeded expectations, surpassing the projected $71-million economic impact faster than anticipated,” said Pipeline Connects Chair-Elect Jim Rounds, president of Rounds Consulting Group. “Becoming an independent nonprofit enables us to build on this momentum, expand our reach, and strengthen our impact on Arizona’s workforce and economy.”
Pipeline Connects was born from a 2014 vision to revolutionize Arizona’s workforce infrastructure by establishing and automating seamless connections and dismantling barriers that often separate talent from opportunity. By building strategic partnerships, Pipeline Connects serves all Arizonans by connecting the dots across all sectors of the employment hierarchy as a pathway to economic vitality for the state.
By leveraging strong alliances, collaborative processes and funding support, Pipeline Connects creates a unified, streamlined pathway to success for individuals and businesses. It serves as a central organization to enhance career development and workforce solutions.
“We are bridging gaps for job seekers and employers statewide, connecting talent with opportunity and equipping industries with the skilled professionals they need,” said Amber Smith, CEO of Pipeline Connects and PipelineAZ. “These partnerships are essential to cultivating a thriving employment ecosystem in Arizona.
“Pipeline Connects is where talent can access the resources needed to enhance their opportunities, and where employers can find talent that possesses the skills, education and training they need,” Smith added.
Pipeline Connects fosters career pathway development in a variety of ways:
- Company-sponsored career pathways that inspire, educate and connect talent to Arizona’s most in-demand industries.
- Collaborative solutions to engage communities and industries in workforce development.
- Workforce consulting services and data trends providing actionable workforce insights.
- White-label solutions tailored for schools and training institutions to enhance career-connected goals, learning and readiness.
- Services to connect employers with career-ready talent through a collaborative ecosystem, including skills-matching, talent-development, and data-driven tools to align job opportunities with local talent pools and emerging industry trends.
- A workforce readiness case-management system to connect nonprofit constituents with statewide workforce development resources, including career pathways.
