The effort brings together from left, Erik Swanson, superintendent, Folsom Cordova Unified School District; Jose Bodipo-Memba, chief diversity officer, SMUD; Sadie St. Lawrence, founder, HMCI; Greg Matson, senior vice president, head of products and marketing, Solidigm; Jonmichael Hands, founder, FarmGPU; Micah Runner, city manager, City of Rancho Cordova; Garrett Gatewood, mayor, City of Rancho Cordova; Louis Stewart, head of strategic partnerships, NVIDIA; Luke Wood, president, California State University, Sacramento; and Art Pimentel, president, Folsom Lake College. Photo courtesy of the City of Rancho Cordova

RANCHO CORDOVA, CA (MPG) - A regional agreement signed Wednesday May 14 at Solidigm headquarters in Rancho Cordova marked a coordinated effort to build a long-term education and workforce pipeline for artificial intelligence, robotics and semiconductor industries.

The event centered on the “AI Nucleus: K–Career” initiative, part of the broader Rancho Cordova AI & Robotics Ecosystem. The effort brings together the City of Rancho Cordova, K-12 schools, colleges and industry partners including NVIDIA, SMUD, Sacramento State, Folsom Lake College, Folsom Cordova Unified School District, the Human Machine Collaboration Institute (HMCI) and Farm GPU.

Organizers said the agreement is designed to better align education pathways with rapidly evolving workforce needs in AI, robotics and advanced manufacturing, fields that continue to expand nationwide and are expected to offer high-demand career opportunities.

A regional agreement signed Wednesday May 14 at Solidigm headquarters in Rancho Cordova marked a coordinated effort to build a long-term education and workforce pipeline. Photo courtesy of the City of Rancho Cordova

City Manager Micah Runner of the City of Rancho Cordova said the initiative is about bringing key stakeholders together to plan for what comes next.

“This is about getting the right people in the room, education leaders, industry leaders and city leaders, all thinking about the future of work,” Runner said. “It’s a ceremonial start and signing of all of us working together on new and exciting things.”

The initiative builds on work led by the Human Machine Collaboration Institute, which helped shape the “AI Nucleus” concept as a way to connect education and industry from early learning through career placement.

Founder Sadie St. Lawrence said the effort grew from a recognition that infrastructure alone is not enough without a trained workforce.

“We realized very quickly that without a talent pipeline there is no ecosystem,” she said. “AI is not here to replace anyone. It is here to amplify the work you do.”

St. Lawrence added that collaboration among schools and employers is central to the effort’s long-term success and said the model could extend beyond the region.

Louis Stewart, head of strategic partnerships at NVIDIA, said the collaboration reflects a growing alignment between education, industry and local government in the Sacramento region.

“This is truly a milestone,” Stewart said. “It’s about building a pathway that allows students to move from curiosity to skills, to certification, to internships and eventually careers.”

Stewart also emphasized the importance of preparing students early for AI-related fields, noting that workforce development must begin well before college.

Greg Matson, senior vice president of product and marketing at Solidigm, said the company’s investment reflects both its local roots and long-term workforce needs.

“We are part of the community,” Matson said. “We want to make sure we have a continuous pipeline of AI-ready talent.”

Matson added that he hopes the partnership helps create new opportunities for students entering technology fields.

The event centered on the “AI Nucleus: K–Career” initiative, part of the broader Rancho Cordova AI & Robotics Ecosystem. Photo courtesy of the City of Rancho Cordova

Educational leaders said the initiative strengthens alignment between classroom learning and industry expectations.

Luke Wood, president of Sacramento State, said the effort helps ensure students are prepared for careers after graduation.

“This is exactly the kind of collaboration that defines what a university like ours does,” Wood said. “We have to be in alignment with the industries. Either you prepare your students for a future in AI or you're preparing them for unemployment. I hope every single city in our region is looking at what’s happening here, is proud of it and also wishing they were partners.”

Art Pimentel, president of Folsom Lake College, said the partnership supports the college’s mission to connect education with opportunity.

“This aligns perfectly with our mission of transforming lives through education and opportunity,” Pimentel said. “We want to be ready for the future, and this is exactly what we intend to do by working together and collaborating.”

Folsom Cordova Unified School District Superintendent Erik Swanson said the effort helps students see clearer pathways from school to career.

“Today we’re signing a document that gives every graduate a plan,” Swanson said. “We want them to understand their future is theirs, and they have to reach up and grab it.”

SMUD Chief Diversity Officer Jose Bodipo-Memba said the collaboration helps ensure the region develops a strong and inclusive workforce pipeline.

“This really complements what we’re trying to do to make sure the best talent is grown from this region,” Bodipo-Memba said. “We have the opportunity to be a catalyst, not just for the region, but for the world.”

Rancho Cordova Mayor Garrett Gatewood added, “What this really is to us is jobs, pure and simple,” Gatewood said. “We’re setting the example of how it’s supposed to be.”