NACCE Members Building & Innovation Stories & Pictures

College Spotlight: North Idaho College, Coeur d'Alene Idaho, Brings Industry and Students Together Through Automation & AI

At North Idaho College, innovation happens when education and industry collaborate. NIC’s X-Labs co-hosted an Automation and Technology event with the University of Idaho Center for Intelligent Industrial Robotics in their shared Automation, Robotics, and AI Lab located in the Hedlund Building in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho.

What made the event especially unique was the strong regional collaboration. NIC partnered with the North Idaho Manufacturing Association, Coeur d'Alene Area Economic Development Corporation, and TechHelp Idaho Manufacturing Specialists to bring together students, faculty, industry leaders, and community members to explore the future of automation and artificial intelligence.

🎥 Watch highlights from the event:
Event Highlights

Building on the momentum from this event—and student-led design sprints—NIC X-Labs and the University of Idaho Center for Intelligent Industrial Robotics are hosting an AI for Industry Think Tank. Industry and community partners will reconvene with instructors, staff, and students on February 20 to identify real-world challenges that can be addressed through innovation.

Those challenges fueled the next stage of hands-on learning at the NIC X-Labs Hackathon on March 7, where high school and college students, educators, industry partners, and community members collaborated to develop solutions.

🔗 Learn more about the hackathon:
Hackathon Event

At North Idaho College, these experiences demonstrate how bridging education and industry can create meaningful applied learning opportunities that prepare students to solve real-world problems.

Julie Stein, Director of Program Development

Workforce Development

Florida State College at Jacksonville

Jacksonville, Florida 32202

The attached photos reflect the new barbering space at FSCJ.

Mr. Daryl Hill, instructor, and a student

New Space and Construction images

Marcy Euler, M.Ed., C.F.R.E.
Pima Community College Foundation
President & CEO
Tucson, Arizona 85709-1320

The attached photos reflect the Advanced Manufacturing Building and Automotive Technology Facility. 

1 & 2 - Advanced Manufacturing Building at Pima Community College's Downtown Campus in Tucson, Arizona (we particularly like the sunset one)

• The 100,000 square foot, state-of-the-art Advanced Manufacturing Building opened in 2023 and houses welding, manufacturing, ideation lab space, computer-aided design, robotics / automated industrial technology, flexible industry training space, and small business incubator
• Attached to the Advanced Manufacturing Building is a newly remodeled Building & Construction Technology facility that opened in spring 2026 and includes all aspects of construction trades (electric, carpentry, plumbing, refrigeration / HVAC, heavy machinery, and more)

3 - Automotive Technology Facility at Downtown Campus of Pima Community College

• Dedicated in 2021, the 47,000 square foot building educates automotive technicians on both combustible engines, electric vehicles, and everything in between
• The third cohort of Ford ASSET (Automotive Student Service Education Training) will begin in August of 2026, which has been made possible due to strong support from a local dealership group (Jim Click Automotive Team) with graduates vacillating between on-the-job work for 8-weeks and 8-weeks in the classroom, culminating in an associate's degree

4 - Pima Community College's Aviation Center on the property of Tucson International Airport

• In 2021, the Aviation Center opened its second hangar after an expansion that more than doubled the existing acreage and teaching hangar
• The expansion allowed the College to reduce the wait time for enrollees from one year to cohorts that begin every five weeks (in the four years since the expansion, demand for the courses has skyrocketed, and there again is a twelve-month wait list)

Brooke (Buchanan) Knapp, M.S.

Integrated Marketing Specialist, Marketing and Communications

Programs and Events Associate, WVU at Parkersburg Foundation

WVU Parkersburg, 26554

Olivia Reeder, M.S.

Vice President of Institutional Advancement
President and CEO of the WVU at Parkersburg Foundation

WVU Parkersburg, 26554

The Innovation and Technology Center (ITC) at WVU Parkersburg, located on the former Ohio Valley University campus, opened in August 2025 as part of a major $100 million, 255-acre development. It offers specialized training in technology, engineering, and cosmetology, with, as of Aug 2025, 159 students enrolled.

Sueann Graham

Assistant Professor of Entrepreneurship

Department Chair

Ivy Tech Community College – Bloomington

Bloomington, Indiana, 47404

• These are my two ENTR students and interns. Autumn Stevens (Cup of Leaves & Books) serves as the manager for the Pop-Up Shop and Faye Nixon (Faye's Photography) does the Pop-Up Shop social media.
• Ivy Tech Bloomington hosts a free monthly Pop-Up Shop for Ivy Tech students, alumni, and employees, as well as local vendors in the community. 
• Here is the clip. Editing credit to ENTR Student Faye Nixon. The beginning glitches are intentional, but she can remove them. She did it to help my poor filming lol!
• The address of the Pop-Up Shop is:

Ivy Tech Community College

Shreve Hall, Bloomington Campus

200 Daniels Way

Bloomington, IN  47404

Open 11:00 AM - 2:00 PM, the first Tuesday of each month.

• Other: This started as a class in 2024 and then was offered as a weekly event for Ivy Tech students, alumni, and employees. In 2026 we changed to a monthly event that is free to any local vendor so we can engage the community and promote a presence from the public. Our Feb. 3 event featured 17 vendors; 11 were affiliated with Ivy Tech.

Amanda Clements

Vice President for Communications

Tallahassee State College

Tallahassee, FL 32304

Project: Innovation Hub

Short Description:
The Tallahassee State College Innovation Hub is a state-of-the-art learning space designed to bridge classroom instruction with hands-on application for Career and Technical Education students. Featuring specialized rooms for AR/VR, cloud computing, programming, supply chain, and engineering technology, the hub fosters collaboration, innovation, and workforce readiness across disciplines. Opening March 2026.

Photos: https://brandfolder.com/s/4brsb42tmpbpxk9zjj4z7ms

Address:

Tallahassee State College

Library, First Floor

444 Appleyard Drive, Tallahassee, FL 32304