Aim Hire 2026
Breakout Session
Round 3

Heather Sherman leads Battelle’s STEMx national network and formerly directed the Ohio STEM Learning Network. Her work supports teachers through programs like Design Challenges, teacher externships, and rural STEM initiatives.

Carl Burnett is a Navy Veteran who, as a civilian, currently supervises the Testing Section with THE Columbus MEPS. THE Columbus Military Entrance Processing Station coordinates the CEP program for most of the State of Ohio. He is a graduate of Ohio State University with a Bachelor’s degree in Labor and Human Resources.

Sergeant Major Desiree Layne has dedicated over 25 years of distinguished service to the nation, beginning her career with the California National Guard in 1998. A combat-tested leader and trailblazer, she deployed three times in support of global operations: peacekeeping in Bosnia, Operation Iraqi Freedom, and as a Female Engagement Team Leader in Afghanistan, where her unit served as the historic first National Guard element to deploy with this specialized capability. SGM Layne is a recent resident graduate of the prestigious U.S. Army Sergeants Major Academy, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Leadership and Workforce Development. As the North Region Sergeant Major for the Ohio Army National Guard’s Recruiting and Retention Battalion, she currently guides and mentors the state's future military leaders. Throughout her quarter-century career, SGM Layne has excelled in critical leadership roles, including Company First Sergeant, Readiness NCO, and Recruiting and Retention NCOIC, earning accolades such as State Team Leader of the Year. Beyond her uniform, SGM Layne is a proud military spouse, married to retired First Sergeant Chad Layne. Together, they balance a high-tempo career while raising six children in a household firmly rooted in service, resilience, and purpose.

Manika Williams is a Cincinnati, Ohio native, a Tuskegee University graduate (Education), and a U.S. Air Force veteran who served with distinction as a Protocol and Services Officer with assignments in Central America, Europe, and the Middle East. Currently, she serves as the Director of Community Outreach on the Ohio National Guard Adjutant General’s team. Her diverse career spans military protocol, county government, and nonprofit leadership in education. Driven by a deep commitment to civic engagement, Manika was the inspiration for, and a founding member of, the Bexley Minority Parent Alliance (BMPA), established in 2015 to foster a flourishing partnership between families, community organizations, and Bexley City Schools. A passionate champion for inclusive environments, she is a certified facilitator with specialized inclusive leadership credentials from Georgetown and Cornell Universities. Beyond her professional achievements, Manika’s deepest dedication lies in community and family. Active in civic leadership, she serves on the boards of a community school and the Bexley Historical Society, advises for Our Family Culture, and volunteers with the Ohio New African Immigrant Commission. Through her longstanding participation with the Bexley Juneteenth Committee, she unites neighbors and connects with schools in surrounding communities. Guided by a belief in kindness, inclusive leadership, and the transformative power of joy, she works tirelessly to foster a profound sense of belonging and uplift humanity in every community she serves. Above all, her heart remains anchored in her family and raising her two children, whom she has successfully guided in their transition to college.

Tony Trapp has dedicated more than two decades to Career Technical Education at Upper Valley Career Center (UVCC) in Piqua, Ohio. Since joining UVCC full time in 2002, Tony has served in several roles, including 15 years as an HVAC instructor before transitioning in 2012 to his current role as District Work-Based Learning/Apprenticeship Coordinator. In his current position, Tony focuses on connecting business and industry with UVCC's career-technical programs, instructors, and students. He oversees a comprehensive work-based learning and apprenticeship program that serves nearly 200 students annually, helping students gain meaningful industry experience while they “earn while they learn.” Tony has developed strong, long-standing partnerships with business and industry throughout the region and maintains an active advisory committee representing employers from a six-county area. He works closely with employers, industry mentors, instructors, legislators, parents, and students to create successful school-to-work opportunities and ensure students are prepared for the workforce. His leadership in developing and expanding state-recognized pre-apprenticeship and apprenticeship opportunities has earned recognition at the local, state, regional, and national levels. In 2017, Tony was one of eight programs nationally selected by the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Career, Technical, and Adult Education to highlight best practices in connecting CTE and apprenticeship opportunities. Tony was honored as the 2022 Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE) Seamless Work-Based Learning Professional of the Year, recognizing his commitment to creating meaningful connections between education and the workforce. Tony is also excited to serve on Region 1 of the Association for Career and Technical Education Work-Based Learning and Youth Apprenticeship Policy Committee, continuing his commitment to advancing work-based learning and youth apprenticeship opportunities. His mission remains simple: connect students with industry, provide meaningful opportunities to learn and grow, and help build the skilled workforce our communities need.