As Career and Technical Education (CTE) is becoming more important than ever, preparing students for high-skill-high-pay careers appeals to many. In particular, populations who are re-entering the workforce following incarceration, homelessness, and addiction can benefit from CTE programming. One CTE program at Eastern Iowa Community Colleges (EICC), reaches underserved populations to meet its mission of developing a skilled workforce, promoting community advancement, and empowering both individuals and businesses to thrive. Employees play a key role in supporting regional workforce and economic development initiatives. Employees of the Workforce Development Division of the colleges, focus on helping companies (some Fortune 500 companies) up‑skill their workforce, a mission approached with enthusiasm and a strong commitment to employer success. Employees’ work involves partnering with businesses to identify skill gaps, coordinating training solutions, and connecting organizations with high‑quality professional development opportunities offered through EICC. EICC’s workforce programs emphasize customized training, industry‑aligned skill development, and initiatives designed to strengthen both businesses and the broader community—areas in which EICC employees play an active role as part of the institution’s business outreach team. In addition to employees’ consulting responsibilities, they bring longstanding experience at Muscatine Community College, contributing decades of institutional knowledge from many college departments and district teams. Through EICC’s CTE program, the employees help potential future employers navigate available training resources, explore funding options, and implement programs that foster employee growth and organizational improvement. EICC’s model needs shared across educators who can benefit from partnering in communities.