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WWDA READY TO WORK WITH GOVERNOR WALKER'S WORKFORCE GOALS AND PRIORITIES
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Wisconsin Workforce Development Association is prepared to work with the Wisconsin Council on Workforce Investment on a list of goals and priorities they developed and presented to Governor Scott Walker on June 9th. Items that were included are as follows:
The Governor's vision is to create a flexible statewide workforce system that:
- Anticipates employer labor needs while building and strengthening Wisconsin's workforce;
- Supports the development of a highly qualified labor force; and,
- Empowers individuals to pursue and retain good paying careers.
In order to achieve this, the Governor's key workforce investment priorities include:
- Improving the alignment between the skills needed by private sector employers and the education and job training systems that provide the pipeline of workers;
- Coordinating federal and state economic and workforce development funds to target resources more effectively, and to explore options such as federal waivers that support innovative solutions;
- Designating specific employment sectors for priority spending based on regional sector strategy priorities and sufficient evidence of labor demand;
- Allocating funds to regions where business, the K-12 system, post secondary education and training systems (technical colleges/universities) and other key stakeholders and regional sectors are aligned in purpose, and have a pathway in place to develop skilled workers in demand while still providing local regions with the ability to make spending decisions; developing a collective strategy that leads to a pathway;
- Improving sector alignment of mutual purposes by requiring each Economic Development Board to have a Workforce Development Board representative;
- Aligning school system curricula with the education and training needed for successful job placements, including basic education requirements for all systems along with the ability to tailor programming to reflect the needs of a local area; local regions would be able to modify their curricula based on regional employer's skilled worker pipeline needs;
- Improving accountability and transparency in order to measure success and prioritize future funding based on outcomes; and,
- Researching and incorporating best practices from other states to support and effective, well-coordinated programming system that is in line with federal requirements.
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THE FOOT PRINT OF WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT BOARDS
Waukesha-Ozaukee-Washington (W-O-W)
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 Businesses - the #1 leader for economic recovery - in the State of Wisconsin and the Waukesha-Ozaukee-Washington (WOW) county region, are turning to the Workforce Development Boards for quality candidates and to fill skill shortages. Using Workforce Investment Act (WIA) funds, businesses have been able to fill current job openings with quality candidates and then "up-skill" workers through vocations skills training. This business-employer led Workforce Development Board partnership is closing the skill gap that businesses in all industries are experiencing, and filling current job openings - a win-win for all.
In the past two years, the W-O-W Workforce Development Board has received 71 letters from businesses expressing the value of the business-employer led Workforce Development Board partnership. The word cloud was developed from these "value letters" and shows the words used most by businesses. The larger the font, the more times it appeared in the "value letters" written by businesses.
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NORTH COAST MARINE MANUFACTURING ALLIANCE LAUNCHES NEW WEBSITE
Bay Area Workforce Development Board | |
The North Coast Marine Manufacturing Alliance, a regional shipbuilding industry sector partnership involving seven marine manufacturers and three higher educational institutions, was launched this fall to recognize and highlight Northeast Wisconsin as a premier place to purchase a ship, yacht, or boat.
In September 2010, ACE Marine LLC, Bay Shipbuilding Corporation, Burger Boat Company, Cruiser Yachts, Marinette Marine Corporation, Marquis Yachts, and Palmer Johnson joined together with Lakeshore Technical College, Northeast Wisconsin Technical College and University of Wisconsin - Marinette to form the partnership.
The purpose of the North Coast Marine Manufacturing Alliance is to convene ship/yacht/boat manufacturers to work in partnership with workforce development, educational institutions, economic development and labor. Through collaboration, Alliance members hope to
- highlight industry opportunity,
- establish a global brand as the "North Coast,"
- further enhance the highly skilled workforce in marine manufacturing in our region, and
- promote best practices that improve regional marine manufacturing efficiency.
 The creation of the North Coast Marine Manufacturing Alliance and its website, www.northcoastmma.org, were made possible by an Industry Sector Partnership Convening Grant from the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development. The Bay Area Workforce Development Board served as grant administrator and provided staff services to the Alliance.
For additional information, please contact Ann Franz at ann.franz@nwtc.edu.
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EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF CEP, INC. AND NWWIB, INC. TO RETIRE
Northwest Wisconsin Workforce Investment Board
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Steve Terry, Executive Director of Northwest Wisconsin Concentrated Employment Program, Inc. (CEP, Inc.) and Northwest Wisconsin Workforce Investment Board, Inc. (NWWIB), will be retiring July 1. His successors will be Brad Gingras, Chief Operating Officer of CEP, Inc., and Mari Kay-Nabozny, Chief Executive Officer of NWWIB.
"I think it's a good time to retire," said Terry. "I've given a lot to the agency. I think it's time for new blood to come in and I'm very happy with the people who have been selected to replace me and with the staff they will be working with."
He will be retiring after nearly 35 years of dedicated service to CEP, Inc. and NWWIB. In his career, he has had many roles within the organization. In 1976, he was hired as the Youth Program Coordinator and climbed the ladder to other positions. In 2005, he became Executive Director. He earned his bachelor's degree from University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire in Comprehensive Social Work in 1972.
One of Terry's biggest accomplishments at CEP, Inc. was in the mid-nineties when the organization received a $4 million Federal School to Work grant. CEP, Inc. worked in partnership with CESA 12 and Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College to provide youth program to help high school students transition successfully into the workforce. The program ran in all secondary schools in the 10 county northwest Wisconsin region.
"The strength of the organization is the people we hire and who we have in the field. I enjoy the people I've worked with and the things we've accomplished," he said. "Working with the boards has been great. What I feel is best about working with the boards is we've had tremendous support. I think governance is a big issue in an organization like this one. I'm particular proud that we've had such good board members and staff over the years."
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ABOUT US
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The Wisconsin Workforce Development Association (WWDA) is an association of the leadership of the eleven workforce development regions of Wisconsin. This 33 member body consists of the 11 Private Sector Business Workforce Board Chairs, the 11 Chief Elected Officials representing local government and the 11 Executive Officers of the Regional Workforce Development Organizations. Together they represent: over 170 local businesses across the state who are the majority of members and as well as the business leadership that guides our member Workforce Development Boards.
WWDA is always available as a resource for any legislator with questions on the workforce investment system in Wisconsin. Please do not hesitate to contact us!
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WHY WORKFORCE INVESTMENT?
| A new national website www.workforceinvestmentworks.com allows you to search your state for the the success stories related to the the Workforce Investment Act. There is also a brief video that highlights what the Workforce Boards do across the nation.
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