As the new president of Brightpoint Community College, William “Bill” Fiege, Ph.D., recognizes that educating students and building a vibrant locality fit together like pieces of a jigsaw puzzle. In other words, the college becomes the critical link in connecting local residents to fulfilling careers and regional employers to a skilled, adaptable workforce.
“Our vision is a success story for every student,” Fiege said. “That means ensuring they have the resources, training and support to not just find a job, but to build a meaningful, rewarding career that contributes to the vitality of our community.”
At the heart of this mission are Brightpoint’s robust workforce development programs, which Fiege has worked tirelessly to expand and refine. Through Community College Workforce Alliance, the shared workforce division of Brightpoint and Reynolds community colleges, Brightpoint offers a suite of “Fast Forward” credentials that allow students to gain in-demand skills in health care, information technology, skilled trades and more in just four to fourteen weeks, depending on the program.
Fiege knows that’s just the beginning. He’s committed to creating clear pathways for these students to continue their education, whether it’s transitioning into an associate degree program or stacking credentials to advance within their chosen field.
“We want to give our students a foot in the door, but also the tools to keep climbing,” said Fiege, noting that up to 85% of Brightpoint students are working while going to school. “That means aligning our curricula directly with the needs of local employers so we’re not just preparing people for entry-level roles, but equipping them with the specialized knowledge and experience companies are seeking.”
Brightpoint maintains active advisory boards across its applied academic programs, bringing together faculty and industry leaders to ensure coursework and training stay on the leading edge – critical also to keeping graduates competitive in the market. By proactively engaging with economic development leaders at Virginia’s Gateway Region, Fiege can position the college as a collaborative partner in attracting new business and supporting existing companies in their growth.
“When a company is considering relocating or expanding here in the region, we want to be at the table from the very start,” Fiege said. “That way, we can understand their workforce needs and start building the programs to meet them – whether that’s a new certificate, an apprenticeship pathway or specialized training. We’re here to be nimble and responsive, to make sure our community has the talent pipeline to support economic growth.”
With the recent pharmaceutical manufacturing growth in the region, for example, the college started training students for technical jobs before some of those companies opened. Once they started operating, they were hiring Brightpoint grads, he said, adding that many of today’s trades jobs are high paying and involve more technical training.
And the college needs to prepare students to support a growing population, which has led to new health care degrees. Just last month, Brightpoint launched a two-year radiologic technology program.
Fiege has strong family ties to Virginia’s Community Colleges, as he grew up spending time on campus at Eastern Shore Community College, where his father, John, served as its first president. His two daughters, currently in high school, will graduate with the uniform certificate of general studies from Brightpoint Community College, in part due to dual-enrollment classes through their high school and concurrent enrollment classes offered at the college. And Fiege served as Brightpoint’s chief academic officer for a dozen years before his promotion in January.
Fiege’s approach has yielded impressive results, with Brightpoint’s enrollment in health care, manufacturing and skilled trades programs growing – aligning with national trends. Overall, the college’s enrollment is up 5.1% this fall. But for Fiege, the true measure of success lies in the stories of students who find fulfilling careers and economic mobility after their Brightpoint experience.
“This is about more than just jobs: It’s about empowering people to build the lives they want, right here in our community,” Fiege said. “When our students succeed, our whole region thrives. That’s the kind of transformation I’m honored to be a part of at Brightpoint.”