Over the last few weeks, you have probably heard and read a lot from the Chamber & Economic Partnership (CEP) on the topic of workforce or Talent Development as we call it. When the CEP Board adopted our new 5-year strategic plan, Moving Forward-Phase II, in late 2016 it highlighted Talent Development as one of the two signature new project areas for the CEP. This new emphasis has really come into focus over the last year.  I want to discuss why this is such an important emphasis for the CEP and then explain what we are doing.

As communities across the country have been rebounding and growing post-Great Recession, one of the area’s that it became apparent had suffered was talent development. As companies, communities, and schools struggled to just remain viable, the importance of investing in workforce often went to the side. When this is coupled with the pending retirement of millions of Baby Boomers, a talent deficit becomes a clear reality. It is our belief that talent development is incredibly significant to the continued growth of our community. In fact, we believe the communities which figure out talent, will be the communities that win the next half century.

I hear every day from our businesses on the challenges of finding skilled workers. These are viable, living wage careers that have been overlooked for too long. I think we are realizing that the emphasis on everyone attending University not only robbed our community of desperately needed skills but robbed students of the opportunity to truly purse their passions. We are changing that thanks to these partnerships.

Over the last two years, the CEP and the business community have been partnering closely with the Schools to reimagine and reinvigorate Career/Technical Education. Instead of the traditional model of schools trying to reach out to businesses, we have flipped that conversation to businesses engaging with the schools. Our goal is not to tell teachers how to teach but to provide them with the resources and opportunities to help make learning relevant for their students.

Today, we have more than doubled the number of students in Career/Technical programs. Our efforts were recently lauded as a national model of innovation. The new Career Choice Academies are setting kids up for success by teaching in-demand skills and providing pathways for both work and continuing education. Recently, a major employer approached us to begin discussions on an internship program for Logistics Academy students when they are seniors. It will be two years before we have any seniors in this program, but this company already sees the potential. However, it doesn’t stop there. They not only want interns but want to create a pipeline for these students to graduate high school and be ready to move into 2nd level supervisor positions! These are truly CAREER academies.

We are engaging with our schools and teachers daily.  Dean Blinkhorn joined the CEP staff last summer and serves as our Director of Talent Development. As a former teacher and business owner, he brings incredible credibility to our efforts. Dean is able to engage as fully as he does thanks to the presenting sponsorship of Townley Manufacturing. This great homegrown company underwrites our efforts in this area. Without their generous investment, we could not be engaging with schools and students as we are.

The mission of the CEP is to be the catalyst for a prosperous community and this focus on Talent Development is key to that prosperity. By partnering together, we can keep this community Moving Forward!

 

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