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Westchester County and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Host Career, Learning, and Industry Summit

 Westchester County, New York (December 15, 2025) – Westchester County and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) recently hosted a Career, Learning, and Industry Summit, which brought together employers, alumni students, parents, and residents of Westchester County. More than 220 individuals, including many local students and their parents, RPI alumni, and 40 employers, participated in the event. Participating employers included Regeneron, IBM, Arcadis, the New York Power Authority, and the MTA.

The event featured welcome remarks from Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins and Philip Bruce, Assistant Vice Provost for the RPI Center for Career and Professional Development. Additional speakers included Aric Krause, Dean of RPI at Work; Matt Oehlschlaeger, Interim Vice Provost and RPI Dean of Undergraduate Education; Fang Yuan ’06, Executive Director of Business Operations at IBM; Sebastian Villota ’24, Hastings High Math Teacher; and Paul Daniele, Vice President/Operations Area Manager for Arcadis. A Career and Workforce Development Fair and Networking Café rounded out the day-long event.

Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins said: “We were thrilled by the turnout for Westchester County and RPI’s first summit, which promoted employment and education opportunities that will help support the continued growth of the county’s STEM workforce. Westchester County’s partnership with RPI will help us continue to build the model of excellence for integrating STEM education with the workforce needs of our local business community.”

Westchester County Director of Economic Development Bridget Gibbons said: “Since launching the partnership with RPI earlier this year, we have received tremendous support from employers in the life sciences, advanced manufacturing, and quantum sectors, which are integral to the economic vitality of the county. We look forward to building on our partnership in the coming year and connecting even more employers with county residents looking to join these exciting industries.”

Through its RPI at Work programs, RPI offers online, project-based professional development led by industry experts. These programs prepare the workforce for high-demand sectors, including life sciences, advanced manufacturing, technology, clean energy, and quantum computing. To learn more about the Westchester County partnership with RPI, visit: https://westchestercatalyst.com/rpi/.

About The Westchester County Office of Economic Development

The Westchester County Office of Economic Development works to improve the County’s economic well-being and quality of life. This includes a broad range of activities to attract, create and retain jobs, and to foster a resilient, pro-growth, and inclusive economy. For more information, visit the Westchester Catalyst website.

About Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

Founded in 1824 for the application of science to the common purposes of life, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is the first technological research university in the United States. Today, it is recognized as a premier university, noted for its robust and holistic learning community that connects creativity with science and technology. RPI is dedicated to inventing for the future, from shaping the scientists, engineers, technologists, architects, and entrepreneurs who will define what’s next for humanity, to research that bridges disciplines to solve the world's toughest problems. Learn more at rpi.edu.