Greetings!
Welcome to the Summer Edition of the Workforce Today! In this issue learn more about NWWIB's Rising Star Award winner, keep informed about the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), and meet new faces that have joined CEP, Inc. We hope that you will enjoy this new format. As always, NWWIB will continue to keep you informed on local, regional, and national workforce development news and trends. Please let me know if you have questions on any of these articles or news items! Mari Kay-Nabozny * If you wish to unsubscribe to this publication please use the link at the bottom of this page.
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WORKFORCE INNOVATION & OPPORTUNITY ACT
The purpose of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) is to amend and reauthorize the Workforce Investment Act of 1998, which supports the nation's primary programs and invests in employment services, workforce development, adult education and vocational rehabilitation activities. The bill also purposes to reauthorize and enhance the Adult Education and Family Literacy Act, amends the Wagner-Peyser Act of 1933, and amends and reauthorizes certain provisions in the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. WIOA is bipartisan, bicameral legislation that will improve our nation's workforce development system and help put Americans back to work. Now more than ever, effective education and workforce development opportunities are critical to a stronger middle class. We need a system that prepares workers for the 21st century workforce, while helping businesses find the skilled employees they need to compete and create jobs in America. For more on WIOA developments, visit National Skills Coalition's website.
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NEW FACES AT CEP, INC.
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Please join us in welcoming the following new staff members to CEP, Inc.!
Skyler Dural, Employer Resource Consultant
 In her role as Employer Resource Consultant, Skyler will work with employers to address their employment needs; including recruitment, assessment, retention of incumbent workers, training, and workforce related funding opportunities. Skyler is based out of the Park Falls Office.
Andrea Huggenvik, HealthCARE Project Manager
 Andrea's position is responsible for coordinating the implementation of On-the-Job Training Contracts for eligible healthcare occupations. The HealthCARE Project is funded by a $4.8 million grant, awarded by the U.S. Department of Labor, with the goal of training 550 healthcare workers in 26 counties in northern and central Wisconsin. Andrea is the Project Manager for our region and is based out of the Ashland Administrative Office.
Jane Thompson, Workforce Systems Specialist
 Jane is the new Workforce Systems Specialist based out of the Spooner Office and Ladysmith Outreach Office. Jane will assist job seekers and students in determining appropriate training programs and/or job-seeking activities. Additionally, she will work with other CEP, Inc. staff to assist local businesses in meeting their workforce needs.
Mary Zinnecker, Career Advisement Specialist
 The Career Advisement Specialist position is a brand new position that is in partnership with CEP, Inc. and Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College. In this role, Mary will focus on recruiting and placing students into WITC programs with an emphasis on Information Technology (IT) programs. She is based out of the Ashland Administrative Office.
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HEALTHCARE PROJECT REACHES HALFWAY POINT!
The Health Career and Regional Employment (HealthCARE) Project has recently ended the second year of the four year project. The HealthCARE Project is a partnership between Fox Valley Workforce Development Board, North Central Wisconsin Workforce Development Board, and Northwest Wisconsin Workforce Investment Board. The $4.8 million grant, awarded by the U.S. Department of Labor, is being used to train 550 healthcare workers in 26 counties in northern and central Wisconsin. Occupations that can qualify to be served through the project, include Medical and Health Services Managers, RNs, Physical Therapists, Occupational Therapists, Speech Language Pathologists, Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technicians/Technologists, and Phlebotomists. Pictured top right is project participant, Christina Vik, who is working as a RN at Ashland Health and Rehab Center. Employers interested in more information can contact Andrea Huggenvik, HealthCARE Project Manager, at 715-682-911, ext. 118 or ahuggenvik@nwcep.org. |
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2014 RISING STAR AWARD: BIG WATER COFFEE ROASTERS
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 The Northwest Wisconsin Workforce Investment Board, Inc. (NWWIB) recently presented Big Water Coffee Roasters with their Rising Star Award. Danielle Ewalt, owner of Big Water Coffee Roasters, accepted the honor on Thursday, May 8th, at the 2014 Northwest Wisconsin Business Conference. LeRoy Forslund, NWWIB's Chair, and James Kehoe Jr., NWWIB's Conference Committee Chair, presented the award at the conference held at Heartwood Conference Center in Trego, WI. The Rising Star Award recognizes Big Water Coffee Roasters for their excellence in their industry and acknowledges their outstanding accomplishments in growing their business. MaryAnn T. Lippert, Director of the Northern Region Office -Wisconsin Department of Administration, also presented Big Water Coffee Roasters an official Governor's Proclamation. Big Water Coffee Roasters, located in Bayfield, WI, opened their café in 2007 and a year later began roasting their own coffee. Customer service and quality products are at the heart of their business from their approach to training their baristas to make the perfect espresso shot to roasting their high quality coffee beans. Their approach to the customer service experience is to find the middle road by combining two opposing viewpoints: hand crafted products and a quick turn-around time. Something they have perfected-along with the perfect cup of coffee. Read the full article on Wisconsin Workforce Spotlight! |
WELLNESS IN THE WORKPLACE: SITTING & QUALITY OF LIFE
Article by: Ryan Halvorson, IDEA Author/Presenter
Sitting for extended periods of time throughout the day has been linked with increased risk of health problems and even with death. A new study from BMC Public Health (2013: 13 [1071]) says that quality of life may also suffer in people who sit for long periods.
The large study included 194,545 Australian men and women aged 45 and older who were randomly selected from the Medicare Australia database. Participants answered questions about physical activity levels and intensity, daily sitting time, and feelings of health and quality of life.
Of those surveyed, 16.5% reported excellent overall health and 25.7% reported excellent quality of life. Women who sat the least were more likely to report greater overall health and quality of life. The same was true for the most physically active women.
"The study's findings bolster evidence [that it is beneficial] to increase moderate-to-vigorous physical activity and decrease time spent sitting [in order to promote] better health and . . . successful aging," said the authors. Want to help your workforce get moving during their day? Provide them this 5-minute office workout, courtesy of Annick Magac, a Saugerties, New York-based personal trainer and executive wellness coach: Task chair spinal stretch. Sit upright in office chair with stomach pulled in and shoulders relaxed. With right hand on desk, twist torso to left, and place left arm behind chair back. Breathe deeply and hold for 10 seconds. Perform 3 repetitions on both sides. Briefcase chair squat. Place office chair to lowest setting. With feet shoulder-width apart, squat until buttocks skim surface of seat, then return to start. Repeat 20 times. Add resistance by holding briefcase, purse or laptop to chest. Desk push-up with glute kick-back. Place hands on desk a little wider than shoulder-width apart. Bring feet about 1 yard away from desk. Lower body into push-up, and bring right knee to chest. Straighten elbows and extend right leg back to contract glutes. Repeat 10 times; switch legs. Paperweight woodchop. Stand with feet slightly wider than shoulders. Hold paperweight with both hands and extend arms overhead in line with left foot. Bring arms across body and bring hands to outside of right knee while performing squat. Return to start position. Perform 10 times on each side. Seated flutter kick. Sit upright in chair with abs engaged and shoulders relaxed. Placing hands on armrests for stability, straighten and lift legs parallel to floor while squeezing hamstrings. Alternate lifting left and right legs in flutter motion for 30 seconds.
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2014 APRIL UNEMPLOYMENT RATES
NW WI: 8.0%
WI: 5.9%
US: 5.9%
WDA 7 Counties: Ashland: 8.8% Bayfield: 11.3% Burnett: 8.4% Douglas: 6.0% Iron: 13.3% Price: 6.1% Rusk: 8.5% Sawyer: 10.4% Taylor: 7.2% Washburn: 7.0%
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NWWIB WANTS YOU!
We are currently seeking a new Board Member from our ten-county region. We welcome applications from professionals in any industry! To apply, download the application here. Please contact, Mari Kay-Nabozny at mari@nwwib.com or 715-682-9141, ext. 101 with any questions.
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UPCOMING REGIONAL EVENTS
Northwest Wisconsin Workforce Investment Board Meeting
Thursday, June 26th - 10:30 - 12:00 PM
Baker's Island Inn - Superior, WI
*For more details, contact Jennifer Decker @ jdecker@nwcep.org or 715-682-9141, ext. 113
Employer Workshop: 4 Free Tools You Need to Know as a Small Business Owner
Thursday, July 10th @ 10:30-11:30 AM
Thursday, August 7th @ 10:30-11:30 AM
CEP, Inc. Admin Office - Ashland, WI
Northwest Wisconsin Healthcare Alliance Meeting
TBA
Workforce Development Month
September 2014
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2014 NORTHWEST WISCONSIN BUSINESS CONFERENCE WRAP UP!
This year, the conference took place at Heartwood Conference Center in Trego, WI. Some of our popular workshops included "Take a Walk Around the Thinking Block", "Sane Social Media: Build Your Online Presence Without Loosing Your Mind", "Job Function Matching & Injury Prevention", and others! If you missed a handout or couldn't make the conference, go to NWWIB's website to access all of the conference presentations. We would like thank our conference sponsors, support agencies, speakers, staff, and attendees that help make this annual event a success. Without you this event would not be possible!
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EMPLOYER TOOLKIT: SOCIAL MEDIA ENGAGEMENT
 Social media engagement is a hot topic among marketers, but what does it mean for your business? Engaging with your customers through social media is simply another form of customer service. Even with that in mind, a staggering 4 in 5 customer inquiries to a business' social media page goes unanswered. Here are some resources that can help you get started. Learn everything from the basics of engagement to becoming a pro at delivering customer service across the internet as well as how to turn interactions into new business!
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ON-THE-JOB TRAINING REPORT
NWWIB and CEP, Inc. are focusing their efforts on ensuring that On-the-Job Training (OJT) contracts are being used by employers in our region as a training tool. The information below is for Workforce Investment Act (WIA) OJT contracts written since July 1, 2013 thru May 30, 2014. The Health Career and Regional Employment (HealthCARE) Project OJT contract information listed below is for the beginning of the project's third year of the grant (including contracts written between April 1, 2014 thru May 30, 2014) and includes the entire grant region, including the Fox Valley and North Central Wisconsin Workforce Boards.
OJT Contracts Written
WIA - 48
HealthCARE Project - 34 Average Hourly Wage WIA - $12.86 HealthCARE Project -$20.27 Average Reimbursement Rate/Average Cost WIA - $6.43/$1,947.28 HealthCARE Project - $12.50/$4,790.18 Training Hours WIA - 304 HealthCARE Project - 420
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