Skip to main content

Partnerships Unit → Let's Talk Careers

Let's Talk Careers

MCPS Let’s Talk Careers is a monthly live speaker series for experts to share their career path and industry expertise. The sessions will cover a variety of industries such as arts & entertainment, bioscience, entrepreneurship, engineering, government and restaurant management.

Middle and high school students will learn about:

  • Various pathways to pursue a career.
  • Skills and requirements to be successful in any career.
  • Ways to maximize opportunities as students start to think about their own career path.

Let's Talk Careers Sessions

Healthcare and Community Health

 

The Let’s Talk Careers healthcare and community health session featured:

  • Travis A. Gayles, M.D., Ph.D., Montgomery County Health Officer and Chief, Public Health Services, Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services
  • Anna Maria Izquierdo-Porrera M.D., Ph.D., Executive Director and Co-Founder, Care for Your Health, Inc.
  • Ruth Williams-Brinkley, FACHE, Regional President – Mid Atlantic States, Kaiser Permanente
 

Engineering

 

The Let’s Talk Careers engineering session featured:

  • Mr. Joe Batwinis, Fuel System Responsible Engineer, Northrop Grumman (aeronautical engineer)
  • Ms. Melissa Rhoads, Project Engineer Principal, Lockheed Martin (bioengineer)
  • Ms. Jessica Rosenthal, Vehicle Controls Test and Integration Engineer, Rivian (electrical engineer)
  • Ms. Venedra Whigham, Project Manager, Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission (civil engineer)
 

Arts & Entertainment

 

The Let’s Talk Careers arts & entertainment session featured:

  • Mr. Lewis Black, comedian, actor from the Daily Show with Trevor Noah and voice talent from the movie, Inside Out;
  • Mr. Brian King Joseph, violinist and contestant featured on America’s Got Talent; and
  • Ms. Tatiana Wechsler, actor, singer and songwriter
 

Bioscience

 

The Let’s Talk Careers Bioscience session featured:

  • Dr. Stephanie Chung, Lasker Tenure-Track Investigator, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
  • Dr. Katharina Maisel, Assistant Professor, Fischell Department of Bioengineering at the University of Maryland
  • Dr. Aubrey Watkins, Director of Scientific & Technical Assessments, Emergent Biosolutions
 

Government and Political Pathways

 

The Let’s Talk Careers Government and Political Pathways session featured:

  • Senator Cheryl Kagan
  • Maryland State Delegate Lily Qi
  • Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich
  • Montgomery County Councilmember Sidney Katz

Learn about the career paths of our speakers who represent different sectors of local and state government and the issues that impact the residents of Montgomery County.

 

Restaurant Management and Entrepreneurship

 

The Let’s Talk Careers Restaurant Management and Entrepreneurship session featured:

  • Ted Xenohristos
  • Chef Dimitri Moshovitis
  • Ike Grigoropoulos

They all grew up in Montgomery County and went to Paint Branch, Gaithersburg and Quince Orchard high schools, respectively. In 2006, they opened up their first restaurant in Rockville, Maryland and have since expanded their brand nationally. Learn more about their career experience as entrepreneurs in the restaurant industry.

 

Career Readiness Programs

To learn more about Montgomery County Public Schools career readiness programs and opportunities, visit:

 

Contact Us

For more information about the
Let’s Talk Career series, contact the Department of Partnerships at Barbara_Hihn@mcpsmd.org
or 240-740-5599.