IN THE NEWS
December 3, 2025
GOED Presents Second Academic Paper on Individual Career Mapping Methodology at International Conference
CARSON CITY, Nev. – GOED presents its second academic paper on the Individual Career Mapping (ICM) methodology, documenting real-world implementation and building on the agency’s theoretical framework.
November 19, 2025
GOED’s Individual Career Mapping Program Deepens Impact in Rural Nevada Through Newly Trained Program Administrators
CARSON CITY, Nev. – GOED announces the expansion of ICM across Nevada through the successful training of new program administrators, strengthening access in rural communities and empowering residents to navigate the job market and pursue meaningful careers.
August 21, 2025
What Is Individual Career Mapping (ICM)?
Written by Reese MacKenzie, Summer Intern, University of Nevada, Reno, with support from Tammy A. Westergard, MLS, CWDP, Workforce Librarian-in-Residence.
August 5, 2025
Diversify Nevada Podcast — Episode Spotlight: How Nevada Is Using Virtual Reality to Revolutionize Workforce Development
Tammy Westergard discusses how the Individual Career Mapping program is using virtual reality to transform workforce development and deliver measurable results statewide.
April 29, 2025
Nevada Career Mapping Innovation Tool Highlighted at International Conference
GOED, in collaboration with the Aspen Institute Central Europe, leads international workshops highlighting Nevada’s scalable Individual Career Mapping model.
May 28, 2024
Elko County Students Achieve 100% Pass Rate on National Career Readiness Credential
CARSON CITY, Nev. – Nine students from Elko County School District complete the Individual Career Mapping process, achieving a 100% pass rate on the National Career Readiness Credential exams.
June 17, 2024
GOED Launches Ambitious Career Mapping and Training Program Benefitting Underserved Populations in Rural and Urban Nevada
CARSON CITY, Nev. – GOED announces the statewide launch of the Individual Career Mapping and Training Delivery Model, based on a groundbreaking methodology developed by the agency.
2024 – Publication Year
International iCERi Conference Spotlights Nevada’s Innovative Career Mapping Research
GOED publishes “Revolutionizing Career Exploration: How Simulation and Immersive Technologies Are Boosting Labor Market Literacy Rates in Nevada’s Individual Career Mapping Framework” in the 17th Annual International Conference of Education, Research, and Innovation (iCERi) Proceedings.
April 6, 2023
Working Nation: Libraries in Nevada Are a Hub of Career Exploration and Training
National coverage highlighting Nevada libraries as VR-enabled workforce hubs supported by legislative and federal funding.
March 28, 2023
Sustaining the Healthcare Talent Pipeline for Pershing County
CARSON CITY, Nev. – Project SANDI launches Certified Nursing Assistant training for Pershing County high school seniors through Great Basin College’s distance education program.
March 21, 2023
Nevada News Makers: Project SANDI Feature
Tammy Westergard discusses libraries as the “first front door” to workforce navigation, immersive career exploration, and resilient industries.
March 8, 2023
Nevada Libraries Launch Workforce Development Program with VR, Librarians-in-Residence
State Board of Examiners approves a librarian-in-residence program facilitating Individual Career Mapping statewide.
March 8, 2023
Nevada Appeal: CCHS Students Look to the Future for Job and Education Opportunities
Coverage of a school-to-career night at Churchill County High School highlighting workforce exploration and community engagement.
March 4, 2023
Churchill County School Board Updates: Trustees Applaud Work-Based Learning Program
Trustees review program outcomes including internships, apprenticeships, and a 200% increase in UNR pre-admissions.
February 24, 2023
The Fallon Post: Lucky Kids — Sue Segura Storms CCHS
Profile of Sue Segura’s return to Churchill County School District emphasizing work-based learning and career readiness.
February 14, 2023
Nevada Business: SANDI and NCLab Announce Manufacturing Employee Recruitment Initiative
GOWINN’s SANDI grant and NCLab announce a joint initiative to address automation-skills shortages among Nevada manufacturers.
February 10, 2023
Great Basin College Educators and Librarians Are Making History Connecting Education and Technology
ELKO, Nev. – Great Basin College’s CNA simulation curriculum becomes the first of its kind cataloged in WorldCat for global library replication.
February 1, 2023
Virtual Reality Course Part of the World’s Largest Library Catalog
CARSON CITY, Nev. – Project SANDI virtual reality programs are made available through WorldCat–OCLC, the world’s largest library catalog.
National & State Leadership, Speaking, and Policy Engagement
2025
Individual Career Mapping (ICM) — Statewide leadership of Nevada’s career navigation and workforce mapping initiative, including professional development, community-of-practice convenings, employer engagement, VR-enabled career exploration, and multi-agency implementation through public libraries and partner organizations.
2025 18th Annual International Conference of Education, Research and Innovation (iCERi)
November 10-12, 2025
Seville, Spain
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Aspen Institute of Central Europe Young Leaders Program
2025 The Institute’s Annual Young Leaders Program
Conferences - Individual Career Mapping - LibGuides at Nevada
April 3-6
Frenstat Pod Radhostem, Czech Republic
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2025 The Modern Learning Conference
February 24-25, 2025
Reno, Nevada
2024
Nevada Lithium Circular Economy Conference
April 8 and 9, 2024
University of Nevada, Reno
Developing the Workforce of the Future 2-minute highlight
Computers in Libraries Conference — Presenter, “VR at the Library: Immersive Job Exploration Experiences”; panelist on emerging technologies and workforce systems.
Library Journal — Featured national coverage highlighting Nevada’s library-based workforce development strategy and immersive career exploration initiatives.
2023
Working Nation — Featured expert quoted on libraries as hubs for career exploration, credential attainment, and workforce training.
Nevada Mining Association Annual Convention
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2022
National Association of Workforce Development Professionals (NAWDP) — Presenter on Project SANDI and statewide workforce recovery through libraries.
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Public Library Association (PLA) — Featured presenter in a national workforce strategy series.
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National Governors Association Policy Academy — Presenter on scaling work-based learning and library-enabled workforce navigation.
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SDRU_K Library Conference (International) — Keynote presentation on Project SANDI.
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Aspen Institute of Central Europe — Panelist on the role of libraries in 21st-century workforce development and career literacies.
2021
Aspen Institute of Central Europe — Recognition for advancing career literacies and workforce navigation through public libraries.
Working Nation — Featured commentary on the evolving role of libraries in workforce training and economic recovery.
2020
American Library Association (ALA) — Presenter on XR Libraries and workforce applications.
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ALA Workforce Strategic Roundtable — Participant.
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ASU+GSV Virtual Summit — Presenter on immersive technologies and workforce development.
2019
January
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Host, Governor Steve Sisolak Inauguration Open House
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Expert Panelist, University of North Texas iSchool — Emerging Technology
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Presenter, American Library Association — XR Libraries
February
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Leadership Panelist, Marin County Free Libraries
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Congressional Fly-In, Invitation-Only Advocate, American Library Association
March
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Academic Presenter — XR and Workforce
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Featured in Washington, DC on broadband and workforce development in Nevada libraries
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Presenter, National Association of Workforce Boards (NAWB)
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Presenter, Nevada Library Association — Three legislative sessions
June
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Presenter, American Library Association — XR Libraries
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Delegate Visits, ALA
July
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Google Groundbreaking Event
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Presenter, Nevada ACTE — XR and Career Pathways
September
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Presenter, Regents Meeting, Western Nevada College
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Oculus Connect 6 — Education Summit
November
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Presenter, Preserving Nevada Environmental Summit
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Presenter, Nevada Library Association
2018
March
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Presenter, Public Library Association (PLA), Philadelphia — Libraries Strengthening the Talent Pipeline
April
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Host, Knowledge Summit
May
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National Library Legislative Day
June
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Presenter, American Library Association — XR Libraries
August
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XR Librarian Training — Facilitated training for 45 participants
September
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Presenter, Chief Officers of State Library Agencies (COSLA) — Vision of the NSLAPR Knowledge & Innovation Center and emerging technologies
2017
ALA Midwinter Meeting — COSLA Meeting
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National Library Legislative Day — Hosted Nevada Delegation
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Statewide LSTA Strategic Planning — Workforce-focused planning initiative
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Presenter, Nevada Library Association
2015
Nevada Legislature (78th Session) — Led library cohorts supporting legislative engagement and policy education.
2013
Registered Lobbyist, Carson City Library
Nevada Legislature (77th Session)