
2020 Podcasts
In the Middle of the In-Between Series – Dealing with Change
In the Middle of the In-Between - Dealing with Uncertainty
In the Middle of the In-Between - SWAT Your SWOT
The Impact of Education on Business and Life with Guest Catherine Truitt, Chancellor WGU North Carolina
The Impact of Education on Business and Life - Guest Catherine Truitt, Chancellor WGU North Carolina
TALKING POINTS
North Carolina workforce challenges
- Job growth in North Carolina is projected to outstrip population growth by 2024.
- North Carolina will need 2 million more people with post-secondary degrees by 2030 to fill the state’s overall workforce demands.
- We can’t just rely on in-migration, we need to do a better job of education our citizens.
- Currently, only 49% of the population have a post-secondary degree.
- If North Carolinians can’t fill those job openings, businesses may relocate elsewhere
Why post-secondary education matters
- The average national salary for high school graduates is $35K per year. According to Smart Asset, individuals with an associate degree earn an average of $41K per year, those with a bachelor’s earn an average of $59K per year, and those with a master’s earn an average of $70K per year.
- In North Carolina, only 22% of high school students obtain a bachelor’s degree by age 24. Only 15% will do so at a UNC institution.
- More than 645,000 adults in North Carolina have some college credit but no degree.
Charter Schools
TALKING POINTS (Continued)
The student debt problem
- The student debt load in the United States is currently over $1.6 trillion dollars
- Individuals who carry a large student debt are more likely to postpone getting married, and making major purchases like a home or car. All of this impacts the local economy.
- A study by the American Association of University Women found that while women comprise 56 percent of enrolled college students nationally, they hold 65% of outstanding student debt
- According to the Center for Responsible Lending, 1.2 million North Carolinians have student debt; the average debt per student is $26,526
- From 2008 to 2018, North Carolina had the second largest increase in student loan debt
- 3% of student loan borrowers in North Carolina are in severe delinquency
Competency Based Education
TALKING POINTS (Continued)
Solutions
- Start at a community college. NC has the third largest community college system in the country.
- Borrow only what you need, not how much you qualify for
- WGU’s Responsible Borrowing Initiative has reduced student loan debt for its students with loans by 30%, saving them more than $400 million; WGU students’ loan default rate is less than half the national average (4.2% vs. 10.1%)
- Explore competency-based learning, which gives you credit for what you already know and lets you accelerate at your own pace
- Avoid for-profit colleges, which have been known to employ predatory lending practices aimed at low-income residents, African Americans, women, servicemembers, and veterans.
- You might not need a college degree, but you definitely need to learn and demonstrate skills. According to a recent report from the U.S. Chamber foundation, employers are increasingly more interested in skills than in college diplomas. The Foundation’s research finds that competencies—defined as knowledge and skills that can be observed, measured, or otherwise assessed—take precedence over academic credentials in the modern economy.
- Explore micro-credentials, which are very common in the IT industry. EdX recently introduced two MicroBachelors programs, including a MicroBachelors in Information Technology Career Framework in partnership with WGU. This program consists of three courses at a total cost of around $1,500 and earns credits that are stackable toward a degree.

Catherine Truitt, Chancellor, Western Governors University North Carolina
Catherine serves as the Chancellor for WGU North Carolina, a nonprofit, 100% online university dedicated to changing lives through higher education.
Prior to joining WGU, she served as Associate Vice President of University and P-12 Partnerships at UNC General Administration. Catherine and her team worked to strengthen our educator pipeline and support our public colleges of education through a “students-first” lens committed to improving educational outcomes for all of North Carolina’s children.
From 2015 to 2016, Catherine served as Senior Education Advisor to Governor Pat McCrory. In this role, she coordinated policy for all facets of public education. From pre-K through the UNC system, Catherine worked to ensure all North Carolina students receive the high-quality education they need to be college- and career-ready in a global economy.
Between 1998 and 2012, Catherine practiced her passion for high-impact teaching in varied educational settings over twelve years spanning grades 4 through 12. After teaching literature at a public high school in the Seattle area, Catherine moved to Chicago where she co-founded a K-8, parent-run, private school on Chicago’s South Side followed by four years teaching in the British school system. After returning to the United States, Catherine settled in Raleigh, North Carolina, where she taught American literature to eleventh graders at West Johnston High School in Johnston County.
In 2012, Catherine joined the International Center for Leadership in Education, where she served nationally as a turnaround coach in underperforming public schools.
Catherine lives in Cary with her husband Jeff, an attorney and Captain in the U.S. Navy Reserves. They have three children in Wake County public schools. She is committed to the core belief that all people have a fundamental human right to maximize their potential.
To learn more about WGU NC, go to www.wgu.edu
Set Objectives and Take Action
Take Action and Get Results
Results and Involvement Part 1
Results and Involvement Part 2
View the Future and Embrace Success
STRIVE For Success

S.T.R.I.V.E. for Success
Success Is Action
Success is a verb, an action, not a noun. It is a journey, not a destination. Measuring success in terms of forward momentum or progress makes sense. You strive for success. You take action, make decisions, and get others actively involved. Truly successful businesses (and people) accumulate financial wealth as a product of their journey. Wealth is a by-product of serving others in a way that they are willing to exchange financial assets for your products or services.
2013 – 2019 Focus on Business Radio Program Archive
Focus on Business - Introduction to the Program
10 Elements of Successful Businesses
Starting a Business
Business Plans 101
Choosing Your Business Structure
How to Write a Business Plan in 30 Minutes or Less
Naming and Branding Your Business
Validating Your Business Concept
Launch Your Business or NFP
Marketing Your Business Authentically
Business Growth in Any Economy
Business Growth Part 2
Human Resources - Compliance and Competitive Advantages
Goals
Focus and Productivity
Conquering Chaos in Your Business
Conquering Chaos in Your Business Part 2
Business Growth Part 3 Viable Capable Credible Visible
Your CORE Business Transformation
Are You Boiling a Cup of Water or the Ocean? Resource Allocation
Who Is Running Your Business?
Funding Your Small Business Part 2
Business Literacy
Your Business Tune-up
US Government Contracting Accounting Business Systems Compliance Series Introduction Requirements for For-Profits
US Government Contracting Accounting System Requirements for For-Profits
EVMS Part 1
Crowdfunding with Chris Lynch
Crowdfunding Guest Leo John
Crowdfunding with Doug Colvard
Crowdfunding with Jim Verdonik
iFundWomen.com with Concetta Rand and Benji Jones
Cryptocurrency, Blockchains, ICO's and Fintech with Jim Verdonik and Benji Jones
NC PACES Act with John Demers and Mark Easley
NC PACES Act - Benji Jones
Investor Protection and Crowdfunding with NC Secretary of State Security Division's John Maron
Cryptocurrency, Blockchains, ICO's and Fintech with Jim Verdonik and Benji Jones
Blockchain and ICO's with Jim Verdonik and Benji Jones
Tokenized Security Offerings with Jim Verdonik and Benji Jones
Accounting 101 with Tony Pandiscia
Franchising 101 with Ritchie Taylor
Human Resources with Ann Close
Product Design with Ty Hagler
Cloud Computing and IT Security with Craig Petronella
Fraud in the Workplace with Christine Peterson
Computer Forensics with Rusty Gilmore
Patents with Lyle Gravatt
Entreprenerial Attorney Andrew Fisher
FLSA and HR Compliance - Legal Issues with Holly Hammer
Legal 101 - James Forrest, The Forrest Firm
Commercial Leases with Jessica Elliot
Legal Issues for New Entities with Jessie Jones
5 C's of Credit - What To Expect When Seeking a Loan with John Wroton
What Bankers Want with Scott Mackey
Banking with John Wroton
SBA Lending with Michael Johnson
Government Contracting and Setaside Programs with David Hadden and Jackson Moore
Grant Writing with Eva Garland
Alternative Funding Your Small Business with Jeff Wolfe
Business Insurance with Shaun Adams
Home-based Businesses and Homeowners Insurance with Shaun Adams
Americlaims - What Business Owners Need to Know About Insurance - Bob Freitag
Importance of Strategic Marketing with Grace Ueng
Networking with Rachel Kovik Lyons
Websites 101 with Virginia Ingram
Website Insights with Robert Sherwood
Websites, SEO and Small Businesses with Robert Sherwood
Social Media Strategies for Small Business with Jesse Wojdylo
Social Media as a Business Development Tool with David Chapman
Customer Satisfaction and Social Media with Nancy MacCreery
Lessons in Leadership with Sandy Costa
Penta Leadership and Organizational Development with Willie Stewart
Sales and Leadership Insights with Mike and David McGrail
Disputer Settlement and Conflict Resolution with Frances Henderson
Human Capital with Derek Miles
Power Through Partnership with Maggie Ellis Chotas & Betsy Polk
Social Entrepreneur with Robert Roskind
Synergy Flow Arts with Scott Crews
Faith-based Millennial Entrepreneurs with Brooks Briz
Business Incubators with Andy Schwab
Validating Your Business Concept with Lee Anne McClymont
Nightsound Studio with Chris Wimberley
Accuradio with Kurt Hanson and Paul Maloney
DropTrack- Paul Loeb
Music Xray with Mike McCready
Project Music and Dart Music - Incubating Music Tech Companies with Heather McBee and Chris Murtry
BiddRocket with Brian Ley
Eventric with Paul Bradley
Crowdtunes with Robert Williams and Lee Kornfeld
Women In Business Series Mitzi Kincaid and Karen Boardman
Coffee Industry and the local Coffee Shops - Scott Conary
Piedmont Health with Brian Toomey
GigSalad with Mark Steiner
Food Trucks with Ray Chow of Hibachi Express
Ray Chow Foosye
Ray Chow Foosye Crowdfunding
Tellurvision Veteran Business with Alisha Ramsey
Air Probe UAV with Probyn Thompson and DA Harris
Tim Dumas The Lab Guy Core Business Values
Chris Heivly
Starting and Growing a Small Business with Ann Close and Molly Leavitt
Intentional Living with Jean Costa
