BATON ROUGE, La. (WNTZ) — The Louisiana Community and Technical College System (LCTCS) Board of Supervisors has officially ratified Dr. Heather Spillers Poole as the new chancellor of Central Louisiana Technical Community College (CLTCC), marking a new chapter for the institution amid Louisiana’s historic industrial expansion.

A Louisiana native and longtime higher education leader, Poole brings more than 25 years of experience in workforce development, academic innovation, and student success. She succeeds Dr. Jimmy Sawtelle, who retired earlier this year after more than a decade of leadership at CLTCC.

“Dr. Poole’s leadership is grounded in community and driven by purpose,” said Dr. Monty Sullivan, president of LCTCS. “Her deep understanding of the region and the industries we serve ensures CLTCC is well-positioned to expand opportunity and strengthen Central Louisiana’s workforce pipeline.”

In addition to the ratification, the board received a briefing on the Leaders for a Better Louisiana’s “Megaprojects Construction Workforce Demand Report,” highlighting six major industrial projects that could reshape the state’s economy. These include Meta’s AI data center in Richland Parish, Hyundai Steel’s $5.8 billion facility in Ascension Parish, and two major liquefied natural gas (LNG) projects near Lake Charles — Woodside LNG and Venture Global CP2 LNG — among others.

According to the report, the projects could require as many as 20,500 construction workers by 2027, representing nearly one-quarter of Louisiana’s current industrial construction workforce.

“This level of activity is historic,” Sullivan said. “We’re seeing overlapping megaprojects in North and South Louisiana for the first time. That means coordination, readiness, and capacity at every level. Our colleges will be the bridge between employers and opportunity.”

Louisiana agencies and regional partners — including Louisiana Works, Louisiana Economic Development, the Louisiana Board of Regents, and the Department of Veterans Affairs — are aligning around shared workforce priorities to ensure the state’s response meets the scale of demand. LCTCS will continue to play a central role in preparing skilled workers and supporting employers through targeted training and academic programs.

Founded in 1998, LCTCS oversees 12 community and technical colleges serving more than 130,000 students annually. The system focuses on workforce relevance, opportunity, and student success to meet the needs of Louisiana’s evolving industries.

For more information, visit lctcs.edu