Business Education Partnership
The Fulton Montgomery Regional Chamber of Commerce and HFM BOCES (Hamilton-Fulton-Montgomery Board of Cooperative Educational Services) collaborated in 2014 to form the BUSINESS EDUCATION PARTNERSHIP (BEP). The BEP connects HFM BOCES school districts and programs with our regional businesses to help support a well-prepared, capable and adaptable workforce. In turn, these partnerships can help improve student achievement and educational competitiveness. We're proud to be the first Chamber of Commerce in NYS to partner with our local BOCES and thankful to be celebrating ten years with our partnership at HFM BOCES!
BEP Supported Programs
- HFM PTECH (Pathways in Technology Early College High School) redefines secondary education with a project-based learning curriculum that focuses on skills in specific career clusters. HFM PTECH looks and functions like a hybrid between college and the workplace. The 6-year sequence emphasizes individualized pathways to completion, workplace experiences, mentorships, in-depth project-based learning and real-world experiences. HFM PTECH (formally located on Jansen Ave in Johnstown) Agriculture PTECH (formally located on Monroe Street in St. Johnsville) and Foothills PTECH (formally located within Johnstown High School) have co-located to the former Glebe Street Elementary School in Johnstown. HFM PTECH continues to offer all five pathways including Advanced Manufacturing, Agriculture, Business, Computer Science and Medical/Health Science with 18 associate degree options from SUNY Fulton-Montgomery Community College and SUNY Cobleskill.
- HFM CTE (Career & Technical Education) offers students an avenue for career exploration and enrichment through practical learning applications. Juniors and seniors from HFM BOCES component school districts who are interested in pursuing career training as part of their high school experience are eligible to attend. Students enrolled in CTE programs are provided the knowledge, skills and credentials needed to succeed in college and the workplace. We welcome students of all academic and experiential abilities to explore our program opportunities. CTE offers 16 pathway programs.
- Pathway Programs- school districts within HFM BOCES offer incoming freshmen pathways to explore career options and then implement what they learned after they graduate high school and enter the workforce. These students will obtain stronger workplace skills and improved behavioral/social tools with the long-term goal of an improved student life outcome. School districts include: Amsterdam High School, Canajoharie High School, Mayfield High School and Oppenheim-Ephratah-St. Johnsville High School.
Opportunities for Business Involvement
CAREER EXPLORATION EVENTS
We are looking for community engagement with students in HFM districts for career exploration events such as Career Con, Career Forums, Women in Workforce, and additional events.
MENTORSHIPS
Mentor students professional skills that are needed to be successful in the workforce. Mentoring occurs monthly during the school year to expose students to a variety of seminars including professional presence and dress, succeeding at an internship and many more.
GUEST SPEAKERS
Guest speakers are invited to speak to students about their company and occupation. Guest speakers are also encouraged to participate during project based learning to serve as an expert related to the project.
GUEST JUDGES
Guests are asked to serve as guest judges for final presentations to add a level authenticity to projects.
ADVISORY COUNCILS
Participate by serving on a Pathway Advisory Council by coming together with school administrators, teachers, school counselors and students to help formulate curriculum for specific pathways that will provide the best opportunities for career exploration while helping to shape the region’s workforce of tomorrow.
JOB SHADOWING
Single- or multi-day work experiences where Juniors learn about a job/career by walking through the work day as a shadow to a staff member at your business.
INTERNSHIPS
Real-world experiences geared for seniors and upperclassmen to gain authentic experiences in their related career pathway. Internships can be paid or unpaid and can range for a week to several months.
WORKPLACE TOURS
Provide a tour of your place of business to students, teachers, school counselors, etc. Allows students to gain a deeper understanding of the company and job opportunities available.
WORKPLACE CHALLENGES
Workplace Challenges provide students the opportunity to work on real world challenges from local businesses in a collaborative, team-based environment, applying instructional content to technical workplace problems.
Get involved with the Business Education Partnership to become a partner in education and invest in our region’s future!
CONTACT:
Nicole Walrath-VanAlstyne, Director of Workforce Development, nicolew@fultonmontgomeryny.org or nwalrath@hfmboces.org.
Natalie May, Business and Education Partnership Coordinator, nataliem@fultonmontgomeryny.org or nmay1@hfmboces.org.
In The News
National Grid Awards $10,000 Grant to HFM PTECH to Support Career Readiness and STEM Education
JOHNSTOWN, NY — HFM PTECH (Pathways in Technology Early College High School), in partnership with the Fulton Montgomery Regional Chamber of Commerce and HFM BOCES, has received a $10,000 grant from National Grid to enhance its career readiness and STEM-focused initiatives.
The funding will support a range of student-centered programming designed to foster real-world career exploration, professional skills development, and hands-on STEM learning. These include workplace tours, guest speakers, hands-on workshops, project-based challenges, and opportunities to earn certifications in high-demand fields.
“We are so grateful and humbled by the generosity of National Grid,” said Celeste Keane, HFM PTECH Principal. “So many of our students have imagined extending their learning through additional shadowing, the acquisition of specialized certifications in IT and related fields and solving real-world problems with their well-developed project-based learning background and experiences. This will support those goals and several others.”
National Grid’s community giving priorities focus on Education and Skills, Energy and Environment, and Community Investment. The company supports programs that build workforce pipelines in engineering and technology, promote environmental sustainability, and strengthen local communities — all of which align closely with the mission of HFM PTECH. “This grant will help us expand opportunities that connect students with local industries and ensure they are not only career-ready but inspired to innovate and contribute meaningfully to their communities,” added Keane.
Nicole Walrath-VanAlstyne, Director of Workforce Development at the Fulton Montgomery Regional Chamber of Commerce, emphasized the value of this collaboration.
“We are so thankful for our partnership with National Grid. This grant will continue to help PTECH expand real-world opportunities for students, allowing them to gain insight into career paths, build critical employability skills, and connect with professionals who can inspire their future success. These kinds of experiences are essential for developing a future-ready workforce in our region.”
Established in 2014 through the Chamber's Business Education Partnership with HFM BOCES, the PTECH program prepares students for high-demand careers in fields such as agriculture, advanced manufacturing/engineering, business, computer science, and health sciences. The model blends academic instruction with professional mentoring, early college credit, and career exploration, equipping students with the skills and experience needed to thrive in both college and the workforce.
Pictured left to right:
Erika Haggerty, HFM PTECH Assistant Principal; Celeste Keane, HFM PTECH Principal; Natalie May, Fulton Montgomery Chamber Business & Education Partnership Coordinator; MaryBeth Shults, Fulton Montgomery Chamber Executive Director; Seth Browe, National Grid Regional External Affairs Manager; Jay DeTraglia, HFM BOCES Assistant Superintendent for Educational Services; Nicole Walrath-VanAlstyne, Fulton Montgomery Chamber Director of Workforce Development (pictured virtually); Lisa Wemple, National Grid Senior Community Engagement Coordinator; Susanne Collins, National Grid Account Manager.