IS THERE AN ECHO???...we mentioned last night's Pioneer Tech Advisory committees where PTC brings in a lot of businesses to hear about their issues. We also mentioned Leadership Ponca City which this week visited several Ponca City employers. The constant theme was workforce issues, both lack thereof and quality. Quality in this sense means people willing to show up, have the right attitude, desire to get trained, etc. This is a misery loves company thing as the issues discussed by all the employers in both settings are reflected throughout the nation. The United States simply has too many people not finishing high school and getting trained or educated. In addition, issues like being too connected (externally) and distracted at work, understanding that you have to work your way up and so forth are challenges in Austin, Silicon Valley, Honolulu, Bangor, Seattle, you get the idea. No community wants to be average but in this respect Ponca City is just that (no worries, that won't go into the four color brochure). The opportunity is to seek ways to become one of the few communities that rises above average.