Holger Ekanger

Holger Ekanger has been named vice president of workforce readiness at Jamestown Community College.

Ekanger, who is currently the director of Macomb Community College’s workforce and continuing education efforts in engineering and advanced technology, will join JCC’s administration in mid-May.

“I am thrilled to have such a knowledgeable and experienced professional in this new role,” said Daniel T. DeMarte, JCC president. “I am confident that with Mr. Ekanger’s leadership, JCC’s workforce readiness department will become the preferred training provider among employers and economic development agencies in Chautauqua, Cattaraugus and Allegany counties.”

DeMarte emphasized that the new position is key to restructuring JCC’s former Center for Continuing Education with a stronger focus on workforce readiness.

In his new role at JCC, Ekanger will provide leadership and oversight for workforce readiness programs and the Manufacturing Technology Institutes located on JCC’s Jamestown and Olean campuses. He is also expected to develop and implement a system awarding college credit — through work or military experience, industry certifications and licensures, company training, and standardized exams — toward certificate and degree completion.

Ekanger attended Bellevue Community College and holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of Minnesota and a master’s degree in administration-leadership from Central Michigan University.

He served in the Norwegian Army and as a United Nations volunteer for peacekeeping operations in Lebanon.

Prior to joining Macomb’s Workforce Development Institute as a training administrator in 2001, Ekanger managed apprenticeship enrollment and business and industry training components at Ivy Tech State College.

Since in 2009, Ekanger has overseen and managed programs at Macomb’s Michigan Technical Education Center, focusing on advanced manufacturing, automated systems and robotics. He has also led a regional economic and workforce development collaborative focused on employer attraction, retention, and expansion.

“I look forward to joining the team at Jamestown Community College and engaging our employers, industry partners and economic development agencies,” said Ekanger. “Only through collaboration with key stakeholders can we best align our academic and workforce programs to meet and exceed the requirements for in-demand jobs.”