A nonprofit publication of the Kentucky Center for Public Service Journalism

NaviGo names inaugural community Ambassadors; eight leaders to help advance coaching services


NaviGo College and Career Prep Services, Inc. is proud to announce an inaugural initiative naming eight Northern Kentucky community, business and educational leaders who have agreed to serve as NaviGo Ambassadors. NaviGo Ambassadors support, promote and educate others about the mission of NaviGo College and Career Prep Services.

The Ambassadors will assist in the implementation of the mission of NaviGo – to make NaviGo coaching services available for ALL students who have the desire to be coached, regardless of income.

“NaviGo is extremely honored to have community leaders with such stellar reputations and distinguished accomplishments who see the value in our efforts and have volunteered to help us grow opportunities for the youth in our region,” said NaviGo President Tim Hanner.

Helen Carroll

NaviGo Ambassadors are dynamic and thoughtful leaders who continue to make a difference in their communities through their commitment to community service:

Dr. James C. Votruba, President Emeritus of Northern Kentucky University
Helen Carroll, Carroll Project Planning (CPP); Retired Toyota Motor Engineering and Manufacturing, North America
Dan Groneck, Retired US Bank NKY Market President
Judith G. Clabes, NKyTribune.com and KyForward.com Editor and Publisher
Brent Cooper, CForward President and CEO
David Armstrong, Thomas More College President
Alice Sparks, Businesswoman and Philanthropist
Susan Cook, Retired Kenton County Schools Superintendent and NKU Professor

“For many years at Toyota, we talked about how we could connect with high school students, as they were beginning their high school years, and let them know the many job opportunities available at Toyota,” said Helen Carroll, who retired from Toyota Motor Engineering and Manufacturing, North America. “Sure, the company attended high school and college career fairs like so many other businesses. But what we were missing was that direct connection that would help a student better understand what would be needed to be successful in preparing for a career at Toyota. 

“Then along came NaviGo, exactly the kind of program we had been visualizing to encourage students to consider Toyota. We were able to select the students that we’d work with and then connect them with the Toyota employees who were doing the jobs in which they had interest. Today, there are 103 Toyota Scholars focused in the areas of advanced manufacturing, engineering and business.”

“If Kentucky is to thrive going forward, we must do far better in preparing out young people for college and career,” said President Emeritus of Northern Kentucky University, Jim Votruba. “NaviGo empowers students for life and provides hope and opportunity. This is why I’m a NaviGo Ambassador.”

Jim Votruba

NaviGo College and Career Prep Services, Inc. is a non-profit 501c3 organization. NaviGo works with students to help them discover how their interests, passions and talents can lead to success beyond high schools.

This is accomplished in a variety of ways:

Parents are able to work directly with NaviGo for services for their children;

NaviGo trains school staff at a number of area high schools as NaviGo coaches and they work with students in small-group settings;

NaviGo Scholars has helped serve as a workforce pipeline in the Northern Kentucky area, connecting businesses to future leaders in their respective industries; and

NaviGo staff train other nonprofit partners that work to engage youth through mentoring programs.

NaviGo will highlight two Ambassadors per week over the next four weeks via Twitter and Facebook. For anyone interested in learning more about how to support the mission of NaviGo, please contact Tim Hanner, President at navigoprep@gmail.com.


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