Episode 3: The Workforce Matchmaker Chad Vail

In this episode of The Expert Generalist, host Natalie Caula Hauff, a former journalist turned public servant, talks with Chad Vail, the Work Based Learning Partnerships Coordinator for the Charleston County School District (CCSD). For over a decade, Chad has been a driving force behind connecting education with real world experience, linking students, schools, and industry partners to create pathways that truly work.

As part of CCSD’s Career and Technical Education Support Team, Chad coordinates a network that empowers more than 50,000 students across over 80 schools and programs. He and his team build bridges between classrooms and careers through field trips, internships, apprenticeships, and job shadowing experiences that prepare students for a future beyond the classroom.

In this episode, Vail opens up about the balancing act of his role, which is part communicator, part connector, part strategist, and how wearing many hats has become second nature in his mission to ensure that CCSD graduates’ talents meet the demands of a dynamic workforce.

The conversation explores what it takes to build sustainable partnerships between educators and employers, how to inspire students to see the connection between effort and opportunity, and why career readiness has become a cornerstone of modern education.

His story exemplifies what it means to be an expert generalist: adaptable, visionary, and relentlessly committed to connecting people and purpose.

Tune in for a thoughtful look at how being adaptable, collaborative, and curious can shape the future of work and learning. For more information about the workforce development programs of CCSD, visit https://charlestonempowered.com.