Pfennig Completes U.S. Chamber Foundation Master Class

Andrea Pfennig, GNDC's Vice President of Government Affairs, recently completed the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation's Master Class: Building Business Leadership for K-12 Data, Assessment, and Accountability.

The Master Class brought together 33 graduates of the Business Leads Fellowship Program from across the country for a focused exploration of how communities measure student success and use that information to improve outcomes.

Throughout the program, participants:

• Examined the role of data, assessment, and accountability in K-12 education.
• Reviewed research on why these tools matter for student achievement.
• Analyzed case studies of education reforms and implementation efforts.
• Participated in strategic exercises focused on community engagement and leadership.
• Explored how business leaders can help support policies that drive measurable results.

"Business leaders care deeply about workforce readiness, but meaningful conversations about talent development require an understanding of how success is measured along the way," said Pfennig. "This program provided valuable insight into how communities use data and accountability to identify what's working, where challenges exist, and how outcomes can improve over time."

Pfennig completed the U.S. Chamber Foundation's Business Leads Fellowship Program in 2024 and continues to build on that work through advanced leadership opportunities focused on education and workforce development.

WHY THIS MATTERS
For GNDC, understanding these issues is part of understanding North Dakota's future workforce. Employers rely on strong talent pipelines, and strong talent pipelines rely on students being prepared for success after graduation.

The program also provided an opportunity to learn from education, research, and policy leaders from across the country, as well as fellow business leaders working to strengthen workforce pipelines in their own states.

FINAL THOUGHT: As GNDC continues its work to address workforce challenges, experiences like this help ensure the business community remains engaged in conversations about talent development. Employers have a unique perspective on the skills and competencies needed for success, making them important partners in discussions about how students transition from the classroom to careers.