NewsWIB February 2016
Spotlight on SWORWIB
SWORWIB
Annual Board Meeting and 
2016 SuperAwards

At the February 11, 2016 SWORWIB Annual Meeting ceremonies, new Board Chair, Brad Brezinski, CFO and Vice President of Corporate Strategy for General Tool Company, was introduced to the Board by President Marshall; new Board members were introduced by Vice Mayor David Mann; and the full board meeting included the announcement of SWORWIB SuperAwards recognizing individuals and organizations for their collaboration with the OhioMeansJobs Center and the SWORWIB during 2014-2015. 

Four local employers received SuperEmployer Awards from the SWORWIB for their outstanding commitment to workforce development in Southwest Ohio.  Actavis/Allergen, Osborne Coinage, People Working Cooperatively and the St. Bernard Soap Company were recognized for their partnership in recruiting employees for their talent needs.

Brad Brezinski, Board Chair; Shari Strunk and Doug Yelton of Actavis/Allergan; and David Mann, Vice Mayor, Cincinnati City Council

The SuperAward for SuperYouth Advocate was
Brad Brezinski, Yvette Simpson 
and David Mann
presented to President Pro Tem Yvette
Simpson, Cincinnati City Council, to
acknowledge her commitment to initiatives
she continues to support on behalf of Cincinnati youth from the multi-year extensive youth study to the Youth Summit and recent introduction of the Annual Youth Awards.

ProBono Partnership of Greater Cincinnati and Taft Stettinius & Hollister Law Firm received SuperPartner awards for their legal expertise in support of the procurement process for the one-stop center operator, which is required under the new Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA).
 
The following Hamilton County Job and Family Services staff also received SuperJFS Partner awards for their contributions to the procurement process for youth services and SWORWIB website support: J.D. Bruewer, Sandra Carson, Tim Dingler, and Lisa Willwerth.

Brad Brezinski; Hamilton County JFS: Tim Dingler, Lisa Willwerth, Sandra Carson, J.D. Bruewer; and David Mann
 
"These individuals, companies, agencies and organizations have supported the Southwest Ohio Region Workforce Investment Board in significant ways to positively impact workforce development in the City of Cincinnati and Hamilton County," Sherry Kelley Marshall, President of the board. 
                             
Combined Regional Strategic 
Planning Session
 
On January 29, 2016, 58 board members, community partners, SWORWIB, OhioMeansJobs and Ohio Department of Job and Family Services staff attended
an open forum to discuss priority information required in the combined regional strategic plan under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA).

Left to Right: Sherry Kelley Marshall, SWORWIB President/CEO; Greg Toebbe, Senior VP of IT Services/Great American Insurance Company; Harry Snyder, President/Great Oaks Career Campuses; and Paul Cashen, Managing Director/Per Scholas 

Information gathered from the strategic planning session is essential to the development of the local and regional plans, which will be posted on the SWORWIB website for public comment prior to submission to the State in September 2016.
Seven work groups discussed topics ranging from youth to business engagement.  Each group reported out the highest priorities of information to be included in the combined regional strategic plan.
 
U.S. Department of Labor
Convenes State WIOA Teams

President Marshall was invited to join the Ohio WIOA team at a national convening sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor on January 25-27, 2016. The DOL requested that each state bring their top workforce leadership together for the three-day event in Washington D.C. to discuss the WIOA vision and implementation. States shared their views on the opportunities and challenges they are facing under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act.

Ohio WIOA Team 
Seated: Ryan Thompson, Beth Brannigan, Julie Wirt
Standing (left to right):  Jennifer Meeks-Eels, Jeffrey Gove, Michael Veh, Sherry Kelley Marshall, Donna Albanese, Ted Carter, Kevin Holt and Rosie Picklesimer
President Marshall Invited to Attend U.S. Chamber of Commerce Meeting 

On February 22nd, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce hosted a meeting entitled, "Reviving the American Dream by Using Career Development to Prepare All Young Adults for Career Success."  This invitation-only meeting in the 250-seat Hall of Flags assembled a host of major business organizations, industry leaders, national education organizations, career counseling organizations and workforce leaders.  The purpose was to generate a whole series of measures to build an "Action Plan" designed to buttress career success for all students as the new central focus of American education. 
 
Most notable was the leadership being provided by business and industry at this meeting.  In addition to speakers from the U.S. Chamber Foundation, the speakers included Chip Blankenship, CEO of GE Appliances, former MI Governor, John Engler, President of The Business Roundtable, Leo Reddy, Chair and CEO of the industry-led Manufacturing Skill Standards Council, Jeannine Kunz, Director of Professional Development, SME, Crystal Bridgeman, Senior Director of Workforce Development, Siemens Foundation, and Chauncy Lennon, Managing Director of Global Philanthropy, JP Morgan Chase.  Bill Symonds, Director of Global Pathways Institute at Arizona State University, moderated the meeting.

Mr. Reddy described this February 22 convening as "A powerful first step in beginning an employer-led conversation about re-directing American education towards the goal of ensuring that ALL students secure productive employment in their chosen career pathways as efficiently and cost effectively as possible."   
Spotlight on Employers
OMJ Hosts Amazon Hiring Event

On February 19, 2016, the OMJ Center hosted a hiring event for Amazon.  The company is opening a new location on the bus line in Cincinnati.  140 applicants attended the hiring event, of which 101 were new customers to the OMJ Center.
93 of these job seekers were offered employment on the spot.














Among the individuals visiting the OMJ Center was a job seeker who came to apply for her unemployment compensation in the Resource Room.  Once she was aware that Amazon was hiring, she completed an application and was offered a position making more money per hour than her previous position.  

Special thanks to Rosemary Peterson, Kathleen Busemeyer, Evelyn Baker and Kelly Herbers for a very successful Amazon hiring event.
Spotlight on Veterans
Congressman Wenstrup's
Veterans Job Fair

A Veterans Job Fair, hosted by Congressman Brad Wenstrup, was held in the eastern section of Hamilton County at the Anderson Center, 7850 Five Mile Road, Cincinnati, OH on February 19, 2016 from 12pm-2pm. 

Employers from across the Greater Cincinnati area were on hand to discuss career possibilities including two of our SWORWIB Board members: Chris Fridel, Joint Apprenticeship Trade Council & IBEW, and Dwayne Dews, Supervisor of Human Resources, UPS.

Chris Fridel                                                    Dwayne Dews

Darryl Gaither, Veteran's Workforce Specialist, Leah Winkler, Workforce Specialist, Heather Gammell and Ethan Shafer, Disabled Veteran Outreach Program Specialists also attended the Job Fair representing OhioMeansJobs Cincinnati-Hamilton County and ODJFS.
   
Spotlight on Youth
JCG Partners with Citi Bank
 for Youth Workforce Opportunities

The Jobs for Cincinnati Graduates program has partnered with Citi Bank as part of their Future Focus Program, a community outreach program. Citi employees meet with students and young adults to cover Financial Literacy and Career Readiness to ensure a successful transition into their JCG 3E Plan: Employed, Enrolled or Enlisted.

Front row: Torri Howard, Makayla Quin, Raven Staff, Linda Flores, C'Aia Bryant, Justice Alsop, Aaliyah Mitchell, Tahja Sanders, Kami Bomar, Zoraeda Cortes, Indya Davis, Darius Thomas, Chauncey Walker, Elijah Moore, Cameron Bailey.
Back row: Daniel Elzubair, Sterling Smalley, Rodney Croom, Michael Moss, Marissa Brown, Jamal Holston, Deariss Moore, Quincy Bryant, Whitney McKenzie, Shaundale Greene, Donavan Jenkins, Joshua King, Tyler Byrd.

On February 16, the Winton Woods JCG class visited Citi Bank's Florence, KY facility. The onsite workshops included financial literacy, credit education, workplace professionalism, branding and technology, resumes, interviewing skills and job opportunities at Citi. The day concluded with mock interviews where employees provided valuable feedback to each student.

Citi Bank will celebrate Senior Night on March 11 for students and guests to celebrate their accomplishments and embark on their adult phase of work.
Spotlight on OMJ Center
OMJ Center Offers 
Free Tax Preparation

As  part of the United Way's "Make Work Pay" web community, OhioMeansJobs Cincinnati-Hamilton County is hosting tax assistance at the 1916 Central Parkway location now through April 9, no appointment necessary.
Eligibility requirements for these services are listed below.
  • Low and Moderate income families under $53,000 household income.
  • Returns with wages, independent contract income, retirement, disability income, and unemployment compensation.
  • Sites cannot do tax returns with business inventory or business employees, business losses or more complex investment gains and losses.
For more information, Click Here.
Staff Proudly Wear New OMJ Shirts

The SWORWIB provided OhioMeansJobs Cincinnati-Hamilton County staff with new OhioMeansJobs Cincinnati/Hamilton County shirts to be worn at special events to present a team image.  On February 11, 2016, the above staff showed their OMJ colors at the end of the SWORWIB Annual Meeting.
Front row (left to right):  Kennie Ward, Tammi Williams, Rosemary Peterson, 
and Jamie Ireland  
Back row (left to right):  Wes Miller, Evelyn Baker, Lynn Murphy, Kathleen Busemeyer, Melody Collins, Richelle Richardson, Jamie Mansu and Kevin Holt

Tim Scott is working at the front desk helping a customer.
Short Takes

The SWORWIB released the 2014-2015 Annual Report in January, 2016.  To view the report, click here to visit our website.

In the News:

On January 25, 2016, Kevin Holt, Director of the OhioMeansJobs Cincinnati-Hamilton County, was quoted in the Cincinnati Enquirer's article "Will employment cuts fix broken fund or hurt people" along with staff member Jamie Ireland. Click here to read the entire article.
Follow us on Facebook and Twitter!

The SWORWIB has a Facebook page where we post news, pictures, events and up-to-date information. Also, follow us on Twitter @CincyWorkforce and we'll keep you informed throughout the month. The SWORWIB now has 170+ followers on Twitter and is excited to report that KanBo (www.kan.bo), a digital workplace, is one of our newest followers!
Donations Appreciated

The SWORWIB is a 501c3 non-profit organization.  Would you or your organization like to support the continued success of the workforce board?  To make a donation (tax deductible) to the SWORWIB in support of Cincinnati-Hamilton County workforce initiatives, click here.
Contact:
Cheryl Brueggeman
Youth/Public Information Consultant
cbrueggeman@sworwib.org