Thomas N. Applegate is a lifelong educator and workforce development professional having served as a high school career and technical education (marketing education) teacher, adult education instructor, college professor, and college dean. Currently, he serves in a variety of capacities which include the Executive Director for the Ohio Association of Career and Technical Superintendents and Executive Director for the National Council of Local Administrators of Career and Technical Education.
Previously Mr. Applegate was the Executive Dean at Austin Community College (ACC), Austin, Texas. While at ACC he developed a competency-based curricula system which enabled the College to more adequately respond to business and industry needs. He also directed the WorkKeys Service Center, the Business Assessment Center, and the ACT Center and served as COO for two of the college’s campuses.
Tom has also served as the Associate State Director for Career and Technical Education in Ohio. His responsibilities included business/industrial training and development, adult basic and literacy education, the marketing of career and technical education, and intrastate agency linkages. While at the Department of Education he developed a statewide system of 40 WorkKeys Service Centers designed to serve as a major link in Ohio’s education system for communication between business and industry and education to meet the needs of the workforce. The system was selected as one of the 10 outstanding innovations in state government.
Additionally, he has served in many leadership roles including that of President of the National Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE).
A noted authority in workforce development issues and career and technical education he has worked nationally and internationally and has provided consultant services to numerous countries, states colleges, universities, and school districts.
Mr. Applegate has served on the faculty of The Ohio State University, Columbus State Community College, Austin Community College, and Franklin University. He has served on many local, state, and national boards. He is a past national president of the Association for Career and Technical Education. Tom completed his undergraduate and graduate degrees as well as additional postgraduate work from The Ohio State University.