MI2 Welcomes Nicole Lilienthal as Talent & Workforce Project Coordinator

Nicole Lilienthal has joined MI2 as Talent & Workforce Project Coordinator. She brings more than 20 years of experience as an educator in New York and Kentucky to the role, and will help MI2 bridge the gap between the education and metals manufacturing sectors.

Lilienthal taught for 17 years in New York in various roles, including elementary classroom teacher, special education teacher and student transition/training at the high school level. After teaching in Kentucky, she most recently has provided online reading intervention for students through a company called Ignite Reading, PBC. Nicole has built a reputation as a leader and facilitator of collaboration, pulling together different strengths to create authentic learning experiences. Throughout her career, she has provided coaching and feedback to colleagues, fostered collective responsibility, led professional development and various projects/initiatives.

Nicole holds a Master of Education in Literacy and a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education, Exceptional Student Education and Early Childhood Education. She holds six professional certifications across New York and Kentucky. Lilienthal's connection to the metals industry started at home. Her husband, Tom, is Plant Manager at Novelis Guthrie. That perspective gave her a firsthand look at the workforce challenges facing Kentucky manufacturers, which now shapes her work at MI2.

"I'm excited to connect Kentucky's classrooms with the companies that will hire these students one day," said Nicole. "Through Tom's work at Novelis Guthrie, I've seen how much Kentucky's manufacturers need new talent. I'm glad to help build that pipeline. Education and industry don't talk to each other enough. I'm looking forward to closing that gap."

At MI2, Lilienthal will act as a primary face in coordinating with our K-12 education partners on various pilot projects across the Commonwealth and will also work with strategic partners in higher education, government, economic development and workforce development on our programs that increase awareness of metals manufacturing jobs among Kentucky students, create curriculum for metals-industry relevant manufacturing career pathways, and other relevant programming to bridge students from K-12 education into relevant metals industry jobs.