About the Center
In 2009, Washington became the first and only state in the nation to codify Centers of Excellence into state statute (HB1323). Washington is recognized nationally for creating the Center Model as a sector strategy to serve as an economic development driver for industries that help the state’s economy grow. Twelve Centers across the state represent the Washington Community and Technical College system partnering with business, industry, and labor to build a competitive workforce for Washington state. Hosted at Renton Technical College, the Construction Center of Excellence serves all the Community and Technical colleges in the state that have construction programs.
Mission
Washington’s Centers of Excellence serve as the statewide liaisons to business, industry, labor, and the state’s educational systems for the purpose of creating a highly skilled and readily available workforce critical to the success of the industries driving the state’s economy and supporting Washington families.
Core Expectations
Economic Development
Serve as partners with various state and local agencies, regional, national, and global organizations to support economic vitality and competitiveness in Washington’s driver industries
Industry Sector Strategy
Collaboratively build, expand and leverage industry, labor and community and technical college partnerships to support and promote responsive, rigorous, and relevant workforce education and training.
Education, Innovation & Efficiency
Leverage resources and educational partnerships to create efficiencies and support development of curriculum and innovative delivery of educational strategies to build a diverse and competitive workforce.
Workforce Supply/Demand
Research, analyze and disseminate information related to training capacity, skill gaps, trends, and best practices within each industry sector to support a viable new and incumbent workforce.
Staff
Christina Rupp, Director
Christina has over 25 years of workforce development, instructional design, and training expertise paired with over 15 years of organizational, social services, and human resources consulting experience. She has served in a dynamic set of roles for the Pierce County Workforce Development Council (WorkForce Central), Employment Security Department, Habitat for Humanity, and other highly respected organizations. Prior to her current role, Christina served as the Director of Postsecondary Pathways for Palmer Scholars (Tacoma, WA) where she designed and implemented the WSATC-recognized Palmer Pathways Pre-Apprenticeship for historically and presently marginalized communities in Pierce County.
As the daughter of a 50-year vested IAM conventional machinist, Christina grew up with a passion and curiosity for the construction and machining trades. She is an example of the impact a parent in the skilled trades can have on removing financial and education barriers for their family. Christina is a first-generation university graduate who holds three degrees from Pacific Lutheran University and a master’s degree in adult education and distance learning from the University of Phoenix. She has served on multiple non-profit boards, a Tacoma neighborhood council, advisory boards, and currently serves as the Co-Chair of the Joint Recruitment and Retention Committee for the Washington State Apprenticeship and Training Council and on the Board of Trustees for the Association of General Contractors Education Foundation.
Christina is dedicated to the promotion of access, inclusion, diversity, equity, and justice in the trades to improve the lives and financial stability of families statewide for generations to come.
Lin Carleton, Marketing Assistant
From Barbie dolls to Pampers, then on to apprenticeship and construction, Lin Carleton has brought a wealth of knowledge in event planning, management, and marketing-communications to the Construction Center of Excellence since 2014.
Lin began her management career at Mattel Toys as the Pacific Northwest Merchandising Manager and later moved on to innovative targeted media working with Procter & Gamble as the West Regional Manager. After moving back to the Seattle area, she was involved in merchandising and sales for Unilever and worked for Workforce Central’s Pierce County Partnership and Career Day programs before joining the Construction Center of Excellence.
During her time at the center, Lin has been a key player in the implementation of the center’s strategic plan and keystone events and activities including the Empower Women’s Leadership Conference and the Pacific Northwest Apprenticeship Education Conference. Lin is a team player who connects employers, labor, education, and workers in the construction industry through the center’s communications and programs.
Lin’s passion for inclusion and equity in the trades has driven her work at the center over the course of her tenure. She is currently working on marketing and outreach plans to help extend center resources statewide in multiple languages.