Region 8 Works Council

MINUTES

February 9, 2017

5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.

French Lick Springs Resort

Event Center

Kennedy 203 Conference Room

Attendance:

Present: David St John (chair), Kimberly Frazier (secretary), Rob Hudson, Alan Dafoe, Shanni Simmons (5)

Absent: Richard Bladen, Grant Echols, Kristy Fallon, Doug Pittman, Tom Kinzer, Dave Stagnolia, John Goode, Tabitha Freeman, Susan Garcia (9)

Guests: Cassie James, Department of Workforce Development; Tina Peterson, ROI; Natalie Wenzler, DWD; Glenn Weil, North Lawrence Career Center; Robin Branch, WorkOne; Jennifer Mann, Conexus Indiana (6)

I.  Call to Order and Round the Room @ 5:08

II.  State Sector Strategy—Natalie Wenzler

·  Employer driven, community supported sector partnerships are the goal

·  Conversations brought on by WIOA

·  Partners with Jobs for the Future

·  Core team has been convened, started asset map (Todd is a member)

·  Task force opportunity announced Feb 8

·  National Skills Coalition has done map (published that Indiana is “far behind.”)

III.  ROI Update—Tina Peterson (See attachments)

·  Promise from the beginning of endowment was that all actions would be demand driven, we would really understand what occupational needs are before designing programs.

·  Three sectors as focus – with significant opportunity (Advanced Manufacturing, Life Sciences and Defense)

·  There possibly should have been a fourth – Technology

·  Disagreement on projections – data versus conversations with employers. “We make choices to expand here vs expand elsewhere. If we can solve the workforce issues here, we can expand here.”

·  Greater engagement needed in education and workforce

·  Nashville Academies model – use industry partners extensively

IV.  Other topics and comments

·  Natalie Wenzler: As ROI is looking at regional level, DWD is trying to facilitate at state level

·  Tina Peterson: Do regional entities use entities like ROI as delivery mechanism?

·  Natalie: Every region has to go through the same process. Not every region has a backbone entity. How do we as a state help high functioning regions and regions that don’t have any sector strategies?\

·  David St John: State wants to see sustainability through industry engagement. Industry has to see value. End result = JOBS.

·  Tina: After data gathering and analysis, Knowledge Skills and Abilities across all sectors look the same…. It looks like STEM

·  Glenn: CTE is still a stepsister. Schools embrace to an extent until it hurts their grade.

·  Jennifer: yes, STEM focus of course, but quantify for those who are not planning to continue to a four-year degree.

·  Glenn: More applied apps in classroom, more internships. More WBL

V.  Subcommittees: Between now and March meeting, Kim will convene subcommittees on Literacy Event and CTE Night.

VI.  Adjourn @ 6:30

Next Meeting:

March 09, 2017

5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.

Hoosier Hills Career Center

3070 Prow Road

Bloomington, IN 47404