BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Regional Opportunity Initiatives (ROI) is proud to add a new member to its education and workforce team. Christian Blome will begin his role on July 17 as Assistant Vice President of Talent and Training Solutions.
ROI’s education and workforce team works with employers, K-12 school systems, post-secondary institutions, community partners, and state leaders to create a regional system for high-quality education and training aligned with the workforce needs and opportunities in the Indiana Uplands. ROI’s education and workforce programs span across many initiatives, including Ready Schools, STEM Fellowships, Career Coaching Fellowships, UpSkill Work & Learn Youth Apprenticeships, and Student-Run Businesses, among others.
In his role at ROI, Blome will lead partnerships and programming to provide innovative solutions to the region’s most pressing workforce challenges. Working closely with academic and employer partners, Blome will develop innovative and responsive programs for talent needing specific post-secondary pathways and incorporate industry-valued credentials and experiential learning opportunities. Blome’s focus will be on post-secondary education, upskilling, and reskilling.
“We are incredibly fortunate to welcome Christian to the ROI team,” said President and CEO Tina Peterson. “As the Dean of Vincennes University Jasper Campus, Christian grew enrollment and redefined student success with expanded student support services, community and employer engagement, and work-based learning opportunities.”
“In addition to his leadership in attainable higher education, he has also been a strong advocate of ROI’s work and a champion of the Indiana Uplands region,” added Peterson. “He is driven to see this region succeed, and we look forward to the energy he will bring to make the Uplands an even better place to learn, live, work, and invest.”
Blome has served as Assistant Vice President and Dean of the Vincennes University Jasper Campus (VUJC) since July 2017. His 21-year career has spanned all divisions of higher education, including student services, academic affairs, admissions, community engagement, and workforce development.
Under Blome’s leadership, VUJC launched a successful partnership with the Patoka Valley CTE Cooperative—a model recognized by Governor Holcomb’s Office with the coveted SEAL designation and referenced by the Indiana Secretary of Education as a model for communities around the State of Indiana. Blome’s tenure also includes enrollment growth, creation of the Scholastic Excellence Award, expansion of the Jasper Campus Nursing program, Work-Learn internship pathways, and the Academic Center of Excellence.
“I am honored and excited to join ROI as Assistant Vice President of Talent and Training Solutions,” said Blome. “Having witnessed ROI’s groundbreaking work firsthand over the past seven years, I am eager to contribute to their mission. I look forward to joining such a talented team and organization, fostering partnerships, and creating innovative programs that address our region’s workforce challenges.”
Blome received a Bachelor’s degree in Teacher Education from the University of Southern Indiana and a Master’s degree in Public Service Administration from the University of Evansville. Christian, his wife, and his children reside in Jasper.
About Regional Opportunity Initiatives, Inc.:
ROI advances economic and community prosperity in the 11 counties of the Indiana Uplands (Brown, Crawford, Daviess, Dubois, Greene, Lawrence, Martin, Monroe, Orange, Owen, and Washington counties) and is growing potential and possibility through a focus on advanced industry sectors, regionalism, transformative school and workforce redesign, and placemaking strategies.