Ratcliffe Pitch for the Skilled Trades Ask Me Anything Webinar
Learn more about the 2026 Ratcliffe Pitch for the Skilled Trades!
Join Us Virtually
Event Details
Join us for an engaging and informative webinar focused on the highly anticipated 2026 Ratcliffe Pitch for the Skilled Trades Competition. This exciting event will culminate in final presentations during our prestigious NACCE National Conference, which will take place from November 1-4 in the vibrant city of Boston, MA.
During the webinar, we will review the competition guidelines, share invaluable insights, and lessons learned from previous competitions, each helping to enhance your proposals. This is not only an opportunity to gather essential information but also a chance to connect with like-minded individuals who share your passion for skilled trades. We encourage you to bring your questions and ideas, as there will be dedicated time for discussion. Come join the excitement—we can’t wait to hear your innovative campus project proposals!
For More Information:
Speaker Info:
Dr. Darcie Tumey
Dr. Darcie L. Tumey serves as Director of Events & Programs at the National Association for Community College Entrepreneurship (NACCE), bringing more than two decades of experience in education, entrepreneurship, and workforce development. Her career began at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in the Undergraduate Library and continued with the NC State Employees’ Credit Union and the UNC School of Medicine. These early roles sparked a passion for systems-thinking and student-centered service, which she later brought to her work in the North Carolina Community College System.
Dr. Tumey has held both faculty and administrative roles, with a strong focus on business and entrepreneurship education. She has led Small Business Center initiatives, organized pitch competitions, co-advised NACCE’s Everyday Entrepreneur Venture Fund, and co-organized Catawba Valley Community College’s annual Business Symposium. A two-time national gold medal-winning SkillsUSA Entrepreneurship team coach, she has also served as an HP LIFE Ambassador, supporting entrepreneurial learning through digital tools.
Through NACCE, Dr. Tumey provides consulting on entrepreneurial program development, business competition planning, student engagement strategies, and event design. Known for her collaborative leadership and creative execution, she is passionate about helping students and educators transform ideas into real-world impact. Her work continues to inspire innovation and build entrepreneurial ecosystems across the country.
Dr. Kevin O. Logan, Social Scientist and Business Psychologist works as a Consultant, Human Capital and Professional Development Coach, and Adjunct Professor. His research and publications are grounded in social science and psychology, which emphasizes the basic human needs of autonomy, competence, and relatedness in remote work and virtual environments in the future of work; with a focus on entrepreneurship, innovation, human: capital, flourishing, thriving, and potential.
Dr. Logan brings extensive experience from diverse industries, including Telecommunications, Networking and Infrastructure, Information Technology, Facilities Maintenance and Management, Law Enforcement, Entrepreneurship, Higher Education, and Organizational Development. His work has significantly impacted each industry and resides at the intersection of entrepreneurship, human capital, innovation, and the future of work.
He is a fervent advocate for entrepreneurship, human development, and business ownership. His active contributions to numerous work, education, community, and organization initiatives that promote entrepreneurship education, learning, and human development through innovation, technology, and growth are inspiring. His unwavering focus on basic human needs, future thinking in innovation, and the future of work is apparent.
Dr. Logan has participated and served in various capacities, including President of Toastmasters International (Lanham, MD), Fellow and Executive Fellow (National Association of Community College Entrepreneurship), inductee and recipient of the Excellence Award (Edward A. Bouchet Honor Society) to name a few.
His more notable presentations occurred at the Association of Faculties for the Advancement of Community College Teaching (AFACCT), the Maryland Male Student of Color Summit, the NAACP Maryland State Conference 72nd Convention, and the Maryland Male Initiative Presidents Roundtable.
Some of his published works include Innovation at its Best (self-published, 2012), Coaching as a Technique of Instruction (Journal of Pedagogical Practices Across Maryland Community Colleges, 2023), Developing a Culture of Innovation (National Association of Community College Entrepreneurship, Winter/Spring 2023).
A native of Washington, D.C., he is a proud attendee of North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, holds an Associate’s in Business Management from Prince George's Community College, a Bachelor’s in Business Management from Bowie State University, a Master’s in Business Administration from Central Michigan University, and a PhD in Business Psychology from The Chicago School.
Olivia Reeder
Olivia Reeder is the Vice President of Institutional Advancement and President/CEO of the WVU at Parkersburg Foundation. She leads fundraising, enrollment strategy, and assists with community-centered innovation initiatives that strengthen workforce pathways and student success in the Mid-Ohio Valley.
Olivia recently helped secure $45,000 for Forging Futures through the Ratcliffe Foundation, supporting hands-on, future-focused programming on a justice-impacted campus aligned with regional workforce needs. She is excited to serve on this panel to share practical insights, lessons learned, and strategies to help future competitors strengthen their proposals and successfully navigate the competition process.
Marcus Blankenship
Marcus Blankenship serves as the Associate Director of Skilled Trades within Continuing Education & Workforce Development at A-B Tech Community College in Asheville, North Carolina. With a background in education, workforce development, and community partnerships, his work focuses on expanding access to high-quality skilled trades training for adult learners, career-changers, and individuals facing barriers to employment. He collaborates closely with industry partners, nonprofits, and regional employers to design hands-on programs that align workforce training with local economic and community needs.
Description of Winning Project
A-B Tech’s winning Ratcliffe Foundation projects supported the launch of the a Plumbing Foundations Mobile Trades Academy and the continuing development of a Tiny House Construction Bootcamp, hands-on workforce training programs designed to introduce students to core residential plumbing and construction skills while addressing regional housing and workforce challenges. The programs combine practical, project-based instruction with industry-aligned standards, allowing participants to gain real-world experience by contributing to the construction of a small, livable structure.
Beyond technical skill development, the Tiny House bootcamp, our most recent winning pitch, emphasizes affordability, accessibility, and career exploration—serving as both an entry point into the skilled trades and a pathway toward employment, continued training, and entrepreneurial opportunities in construction-related fields. Ratcliffe Foundation support has been instrumental to the development of the program and building community partnerships.