Maricopa Skill Center (MSC) welcomes a new executive director, Al Larson. He joined MSC on April 18.
Larson will over see all Maricopa Skill Center Campuses: Maricopa Skill Center, Maricopa Skill Center Northwest Campus and Cutting Edge Style Academy. The Northwest Campus opened in July 2013 at 2931 W. Bell Road, Phoenix. Cutting Edge Style Academy is located at 7565 W. Peoria Avenue, Peoria. Cutting Edge campus provides Cosmetology training for high school students through a partnership with West-MEC. The Northwest campus has both adult and high school student on campus earning certificates on Cosmetology or Aesthetics. In September 2014, the Massage Therapy program will open at the Northwest Campus.
Larson has worked for more than 20 years in higher education with 10 years of administrative experience at the community college level. Prior to MSC he was with Central Arizona Governments where, as director of Regional Development, he supervised economic, workforce and community development programs for a consortium of municipal, county and tribal entities.
From 2000 to 2010, Larson worked at Central Arizona College as associate dean of Career and Technical Education, and oversaw Workforce Development, Skill Center, Small Business Development Center, Corporate Center, Continuing Education and Adult Basic Education programs.
“I am excited to be back in an education environment,” said Larson. “I believe in occupational education and the Skill Center offers great hands-on programs to learn a skill or trade. Maricopa Skill Center has strong programs and people to make sure students succeed.”
Larson previously worked in conjunction with MSC when he was a coordinator of the East Valley Tech Prep Consortium, where he cultivated articulation agreements and joint training opportunities for 29 high schools, five community colleges and Maricopa Skill Center.
He hopes to continue the MSC tradition of working with community members and agencies to help provide the best educational experience for the students.
“I believe when we partner with our community, we are able to make sure MSC is training our graduates to meet the needs of employers in the community and we are training them in areas that will have job opportunities.”
Larson earned his master’s degree in public administration from the University of North Dakota, focusing on higher education administration. He holds a bachelor of science degree, with majors in computer applications and business administration from Mayville State University. Larson was a Coleman Foundation Winner for Entrepreneurship in Community College Education.