The Northern Colorado Financial Sector Partnership (NoCo FSP) convened its All-Partner Meeting on Thursday, December 4, 2025, at High Country Beverage. The meeting welcomed 39 attendees, including 29 industry partners representing the financial sector, for an afternoon focused on workforce development, financial literacy, and strengthening connections between education and industry.
Thank You to Our Partners
A special thank-you goes to our Meeting Sponsor, the Colorado Department of the Treasury, represented by Anthony Baker, for supporting this gathering and for sharing information about the Colorado SecureSavings Program (CSSP).
We also extend our gratitude to our Nonprofit Partner, Junior Achievement–Rocky Mountain, represented by Elizabeth Winn. Junior Achievement prepares students for future success through experiential financial literacy, career readiness, and entrepreneurship programs. JA programs align with Colorado Academic Standards and are provided at no cost to schools, offering both engaging classroom learning experiences and meaningful volunteer opportunities for industry professionals.
2026 Partnership Goals
The NoCo FSP shared its goals for 2026, with a strong emphasis on workforce development, financial literacy, and community engagement.
Workforce Committee & Financial Literacy Group Initiatives include:
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Hosting and supporting job fairs
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Supporting local youth clubs
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Teaching financial literacy to students, individuals, families, and businesses
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Promoting careers in finance through job shadowing, internships, and scholarships
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Hosting a speakers panel featuring professionals across the financial sector
Community Resource Development goals include:
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Building a dedicated landing page on the NoCo FSP website
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Creating a one-stop hub for financial sector resources, career opportunities, and financial education in Northern Colorado
Engagement efforts will focus on:
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Encouraging community members to subscribe to the newsletter for updates, resources, and opportunities
NoCo K–12 Work-Based Learning Collaborative
Nick Peterson (Poudre School District) and Susan Scott (Thompson School District) provided an overview of the NoCo K–12 Work-Based Learning (WBL) Collaborative, an education strategy that combines academic learning with real-world work experiences aligned to student interests.
Key highlights included:
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Internships are the most in-demand WBL opportunities in PSD and TSD
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WBL helps students explore career paths while gaining practical experience
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Businesses benefit by building a pipeline of talent, diversifying their workforce, increasing brand recognition, and demonstrating community support
A demonstration of Xello, the career exploration platform, showed how students can explore training programs, colleges, internships, and job shadows while connecting directly with local businesses. The collaborative’s goal is to provide 20,000 students with meaningful work-based learning experiences.
Canvas Credit Union High School Internship Program
Nancy Patton from Canvas Credit Union shared details about their Financial Sector High School Internship Program in partnership with Poudre School District. This cohort-based program selects four to six interns who participate in:
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Four interactive job shadow days (January–April)
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A final presentation of learning in May
The experience includes school-excused absences and awards four Work-Based Learning elective credits toward high school graduation, offering students hands-on exposure to careers in finance.
Panel Discussion: Strengthening Career-Connected Learning
The meeting concluded with a dynamic panel discussion titled “Strengthening Career-Connected Learning in Financial Services Through School–Industry Partnership.”
Panelists included:
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Lisa Hudson, Greeley–Evans School District 6
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Stefanie Merrell, Fort Collins Area Chamber of Commerce
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Nick Peterson, Poudre School District
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Susan Scott, Thompson School District
Panelists discussed existing career pathways, barriers students face in pursuing finance careers, skill gaps, and how industry partners can create more real-world exposure for students. Key takeaways included:
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The importance of work-based learning and industry engagement
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The need to build student confidence, soft skills, and durable skills
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Expanding awareness that finance careers extend far beyond traditional roles
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Encouraging businesses to engage with schools through guest speaking, job shadows, internships, and advisory opportunities
NoCo FSP Scholarship Opportunity
The NoCo Financial Sector Partnership also announced a new scholarship opportunity, funded by the City of Fort Collins:
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Three $500 scholarships available
Eligibility requirements include:
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Enrollment in or acceptance to a certificate or degree program in the financial industry
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Demonstrated commitment to a career in finance or accounting
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Evidence of financial need or a statement of purpose
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Applicants must be at least 16 years old
To request an application, contact fspnoco@gmail.com.
Looking Ahead
The next NoCo Financial Sector Partnership All-Partner Meeting is scheduled for:
Thursday, March 12, 2026
4:00–5:30 p.m.
High Country Beverage