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University leaders Jay Titus and Kent Blumberg join industry leaders Sara Francois and Freddy Mathew to share insights on how innovative collaborations of educators and employers close skills gaps

���۴�ý is pleased to be a sponsor at 2025 SXSW EDU and host the panel, “Skills IRL: Transforming Education & Employment,” featuring Jay Titus, vice president and general manager of Workforce Solutions, Kent Blumberg, Ph.D., SHRM-SCP, national account manager and faculty at the University, Sara Francois, Vice President of Training at Optimum, and Freddy Mathew, Vice President, Data Management at Comcast, on March 3, 2025, 1:00-2:00pm CT in Austin, Texas. 

The panel, titled “,” will explore how innovative collaborations of educators and employers help break the tension of talent stagnation between employers and workers and engage meaningful talent development for the workforce. 

“Employers and educators make great collaborators,” states Titus. “Working adults know they need to build skills to move forward on their career paths, and employers know what skills are required to achieve organizational success. Educators can be the bridge between the two and empower organizations and workers to pursue growth and opportunity together.”

The 2025 brings together leading minds in education to share ideas, network, and create the future of teaching and learning. The 2025 SXSW EDU Conference & Festival celebrates innovation and learning in the education industry offering a wide range of sessions, in-depth workshops, learning experiences, mentorship, film screenings, future-focused competitions, an expo, networking opportunities, performances, and is a component of the South by Southwest® (SXSW®) family of conferences and festivals.

In his role as Vice President and General Manager of Workforce Solutions at ���۴�ý, Titus provides leadership and strategic oversight of the teams supporting workforce development and upskilling solutions employers nationwide. He previously held similar roles at Bridgepoint Education, and at the Academic Services and University Partnerships area of EdAssist, a division of Bright Horizons Family Solutions. Over the years, his contributions in the adult education space have helped hundreds of employers re-frame tuition reimbursement benefits to positively impact recruitment, retention and employee engagement. Titus holds an MS in Management from Lasell College and a bachelor’s in business administration from Bryant University.

As Vice President of Training at Optimum, Francois leads the transformation of frontline employee development through engaging learning strategies. With a career in Learning & Development spanning financial services, high-tech, residential real estate, and telecommunications, she has driven large-scale skills initiatives, including leading workforce upskilling efforts at a private equity company. She holds a master’s in organizational management from ���۴�ý and a bachelor’s degree in business at Stephen F. Austin State University.

An experienced people leader with over 20 years of experience in data systems, process assurance, and IT auditing, Mathew previously worked at PricewaterhouseCoopers as a Senior Consultant and at Avery Dennison as an IT Auditor. He began his career as a Systems Analyst at Unisys. Mathew holds a bachelor’s degree in finance and a MIS from Villanova University. 

Blumberg is national account manager, Workforce Solutions, and senior faculty in the College of Business and Information Technology at ���۴�ý, currently teaching management and human resources courses in the Master of Business Administration program. Blumberg is trained and certified as an executive coach and built a consultancy in organizational development and executive coaching. He earned his doctorate in Leadership Development and Workforce Education from Louisiana State University, a Master of Science in Management from Marylhurst University and a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Stanford University. 

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About ���۴�ý

���۴�ý innovates to help working adults enhance their careers and develop skills in a rapidly changing world. Flexible schedules, relevant courses, interactive learning, skills-mapped curriculum for our bachelor’s and master’s degree programs and a Career Services for Life® commitment help students more effectively pursue career and personal aspirations while balancing their busy lives. For more information, visit  phoenix.edu/blog.html.