Mid-Maryland Workforce Development Board
September 19, 2017

WIB Membership Present

Beaver, Denise
Brown, Wallace
Carr, Dwight
Discepolo, Stephanie
Enrique, Meagan
Etukudo, Joy
Giangrasso, Suzanne
Givens, Julie
Griffin, Gary
Heflin, Lisa
Hipp, Cammy
Plump, Sharon

WIB Membership Absent:

Bohnet, Kimberly
Kendall, Jeanette
Larson, Andrew
McClarty, Leonardo
Merkle, Karen
Thompson, Vernon
Walters, Christine

WIB Staff:

Hill, Stephanie

Rickell, Denise

Trout, Francine

Guest:

Bernard, Karen
Berry, Steve
Branham, Mary Ellen

Day, Michelle
England, Bruce
Mearns, Raiana

Miller, Sam
Sarratt, Jermira
Woo, Minah

I.Introductions were made by all.

II.Review and approval of the February and May 2017 Minutes (Wallace Brown)

  • February minutes- A motion was made by Sharon Plump and seconded by Meagan Enrique.The February minutes were approved by a unanimous vote.
  • May minutes- A motioned was made by Gary Griffin and seconded by Julie Givens. The May minutes were approved by a unanimous vote.

III.One-Stop Operator Update (Francine Trout)

  • Howard County Office of Workforce Development and Carroll County Business and Employment Resource Centerare moving forward in their role as One-Stop Operator for the Mid-Maryland American Job Centers.
  • Partner meetings are underway as required in the One-Stop Operator statement of work.
  1. Board Committee Structure and Best Practices (Michele Day and Bruce England)

Introductions were made by Vice Chairperson, Lisa Heflin.

  • Michelle Day and Bruce England presentedinformation about their board’s committee structure and shared best practices.

Susquehanna Workforce network Inc. (SWN) Highlights include:

  • Susquehanna is a private board with five standing committees. These committees provide guidance and oversight to the one-stop centers. Most committees meet at least once a month, with some meeting on an as needed basis.
  • Committees include: Executive, Economic Competitiveness, Business Engagement, Finance and Youth.
  • Members are appointed for three years, have no term limits and are actively involved within the community.
  • During the summer months, board membersforgo meetings to tour local businessesgaining insight about theirhiring needs and challenges.
  • The board conducts labor market surveys every three to five years for the region.
  • Committee best practices include:
  • Susquehanna’s Youth Committeeguided the area to target youth services towards out of school youth.
  • They played a role in helping develop additional youth service providers in their region.

Frederick County Workforce (Michelle Day) Highlights include:

  • Frederick County’s Workforce Development Board is structured similarly to Mid-Maryland.
  • There are 23 members representing the primary industries and partners in the county. Meetings are held on a quarterly basis.
  • They are a single county area and have one comprehensive one-stop center.
  • The board is exploring ways to work with the County Executive’s Business and Industry Cabinet so that they may offer economic and workforce guidance.
  • Fredrick county’syouth committee is chaired by anactive member of their business community. A strategic meeting was heldto establish goals and priorities for the committee. Focus areas included:
  • Increasingwork sites for the summer youth program.In 2017, there were 55 worksites, primarily in the private sector.
  • Assisting the program providers with enrollingyouth in the WIOA out of school program and providing input and guidance when monitoring youth service providers.
  • Review and maintain the board’s youth scholarship program. Funding for scholarships are provided through a grant and fundraising. Traditionally,five scholarships are awarded and range from $1,000 to $1500.

V.Updates

  • All members were asked to sign up for a committee. An email will be sent to absent members. Vice Chairman, Heflin, will serve as the point of contact for committee formation and will work with Stephanie to compile an interest list.

Mid-Maryland Summer Youth Program

  • The area received $50K to operate a six to seven-weeksummer youth program. Funding was used to fund work experience, workshops and leadership classes for the youth.
  • There was collaboration with the Division of Rehabilitation Services to assist 30 youth. Highlights of the programincluded:
  • Youth participated in entrepreneurial classes that culminated in each participant developing and submitting a business plan for a future business. A pitch competition was held to judge each plan. The judges were local business owners and awarded prizes to the top three.
  • Youth received workplace excellence training, created resumes and learned interviewing technique skills.
  • The next annual youth job fair is expected to be held in March 2018.
  • The Business and Employment Resource Center will hold its fall job fair- October 19 (9AM-1PM)
  • There will be a protective services recruitment fair at the Columbia Workforce Center on September 20 (10AM-1PM) and a healthcare recruitment on October 26.

Meeting adjourned