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issue 5 - october 2005 |
kathy.sweeney@state.mn.us |
In this Issue:
- Commissioner's Corner - P16: Charting the Careers of Tomorrow
- DEED Consolidates Workforce Functions into Single Division
- Keep Learning … There’s Always More to Know About Economic Development
- DEED Awards $150,000 Grant for Workforce Development System
- Plan to Attend the 10th Annual Minnesota Development Conference
- Dakota and Scott Counties Form a Single Workforce Service Area
- Ramsey County WIB's Innovative Approach to Workforce Development
- E-Blasting Our Message and Taking NAMES!
- Joint GWDC and MJSP Meeting Highlights Need to Develop Highly Skilled Workforce
- Grants Update
- Check It Out: Useful Products, Services, Resources
- News Notes
- Kudos: Bonnie Elsey Elected to NASWA Board of Directors
P16: Charting the Careers of Tomorrow
By Matt Kramer
Minnesota’s latest educational and career planning buzz is “P-16” – an approach that spans the preschool years through four years of college. It is the organizing principle of a partnership that aims to improve teaching, learning, education research and career planning by forging stronger links between public schools, institutions of higher education and the businesses that will provide tomorrow’s jobs for today’s students.
Driven largely by Commissioner Alice Seagren and the Minnesota Department of Education, the P-16 Partnership includes the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system (MnSCU), the University of Minnesota, the Minnesota Private College Council, the Minnesota Office of Higher Education, the Minnesota Career College Association, the Minnesota PTA, Education Minnesota and several other K-12 and teacher education groups. I recently told Commissioner Seagren that the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) and its partners are ready and eager to be enthusiastic supporters and participants in this important partnership.
So what is the P-16 Partnership? At its most fundamental level, the partnership exists to develop both short-term and long-term strategies for high school reform, improve students’ preparation for college and work, and align high school graduation requirements with college readiness standards. Here in Minnesota we’ll concentrate on improving science, technology, and engineering and math (STEM) education by expanding programs and improving teacher and student assessment in STEM disciplines. We’ll promote high school graduation and college enrollment by providing incentives for students to take rigorous courses and earn college credits, sponsoring more remediation programs, and implementing an awareness campaign.
That, in a nutshell, is the education side of the P-16 equation. Minnesota is one of 10 states sharing in a $2 million grant fund, the Honor State Grant Program, supported by funding from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and administered by the National Governor’s Association (NGA) Center for Best Practices. You can learn more about the Honor State Grant Program at the NGA website: www.nga.org.
What interests me about the P-16 Partnership – and the reason I’m supporting it so enthusiastically – is that it gives us a forum in which to serve the needs of a very important group of people: today’s students and their parents. This is a perfect opportunity for DEED’s Labor Market Information office (LMI) to mine the rich vein of existing career information and repackage it in a useful and accessible way for the parents of tomorrow’s workforce.
As kids advance through the K-12 system and go on for further education, parents play a key role in guiding and shaping the decisions that their children make. By leveraging the information we already have about the careers and opportunities of the future, I’m convinced that we can find new and better ways to serve these customers – new ways to present and deliver information that will generate better results for Minnesota.
Parents are a key piece of this puzzle. They’re looking for ways to counsel their children, to help them make wise choices about their educational and career paths. Through LMI and other resources, I believe we already have the information, the publications and web information about which careers are growing and which ones are shrinking. We have the means to help guide the choices that today’s students make about their future careers. By collaborating in this way with all our partners in the P-16 initiative, I’m convinced we can help assure a brighter economic future for all Minnesotans.
Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) Consolidates Workforce Functions into Single Division
By Bonnie Elsey, Workforce Development Director
While Minnesota is further along than most states in integrating workforce and economic development, there is still room for improvement. The United States Department of Labor strongly encourages the integration of services through the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) Title IB (Adult, Youth and Dislocated Worker) and WIA Title III (Wagner Peyser) to emphasize customer services rather than programs and to improve services to our primary customer – Minnesota’s employers.
DEED is supporting both goals through the merger of the Workforce Services Division and the Workforce Partnerships Division. Similar and related customer services will be leveraged more effectively when housed together in the newly created Workforce Development Division under the leadership of Bonnie Elsey. DEED’s regional administrators will report directly to Bonnie, and local Workforce Service Area Directors will have one primary agency contact. The new division will include Disability Determination, State Services for the Blind, and Rehabilitation Services, as well as three offices aligned by function: Business Services, Client Services and Workforce Center Systems. The transition was announced on September 20 and will take place over a two-month period. An organization chart of DEED [pdf] is attached.
Keep Learning … There’s Always More to Know About Economic Development
By Trish Taylor
The annual meeting held by the Minnesota Workforce Council Association (MWCA) in Duluth on August 10 to 11 turned out to be a great opportunity to exchange ideas about the workforce development system and our leadership role. It was great seeing so many of you there. At the conference, we reviewed 2004 goals including the development of local regional profiles, the listing of best practices and training in economic development for all the Workforce Investment Boards (WIBs).
The local regional profiles enabled us to determine:
- The biggest workforce challenges today.
- The biggest projected workforce challenges in the next
five years.
- Services that the region’s workforce development and economic development systems can provide to area businesses.
We should be proud of our accomplishments in achieving these goals, and on our ongoing efforts to build on these efforts.
For 2005 our goals are to do an even better job of assisting employers, large and small, as well as to more systematically share successful strategies for economic development and job training activities by increasing communications among our members and increasing member participation in national forums. In doing so, we hope to improve the quality of services available through Minnesota’s WorkForce Center system. Also we will continue to build on what members of the WIBs have learned from their economic development training in 2004.
In September, I participated in a week of training at the University of Minnesota – Duluth. The training featured all the building blocks of economic development planning, including organizing the team, building consensus, preparing an economic assessment, determining goals and objectives, identifying projects strategy formation and effective strategy implementation. It was a great learning experience for me.
And that experience leads me to offer the following advice to you: Keep learning. The more you learn about economic development the more effective you can be as a leader in your community. That’s another reason why we should keep abreast of best practices. To access the Regional Planning: Best Practices website go to www.deed.state.mn.us/planning/resources_local.htm and click on “Regional Planning.” Sharing our talents with the whole state helps us to achieve a better workforce development system and brings about better outcomes. Another great resource is the Economic Development Association of Minnesota’s website at www.edam.org. The organization’s president, LaDonna Boyd, was the 2004 MWCA chairperson.
Even though our service areas and WIBs are each unique, we have already accomplished great results.
I enjoyed my visits with the Ramsey WIB and am looking forward to visiting all the WIBs over the next year.
Thank you for all the on-going support you have given me. I look forward to all the WIBs becoming even more active in our workforce association.
Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) Awards $150,000 Grant for Workforce Development System
The Minnesota Workforce Council Association (MWCA) has received a grant of $150,000 from the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED). The money is to support a number of activities that are important to the enhancement of the state’s workforce development system. Among the mandatory projects to be supported by this grant are:
- Training for both DEED and local staff individuals in
placing jobseekers in demand-driven occupations;
- Training for DEED and local staff on business services initiatives; and
- Training for WorkForce Investment Board (WIB) members to increase their capacity to plan for the integration of services within the WorkForce Center System.
Additionally, the money will be used by the MWCA to provide guidance, support, and training on specific topics to local elected officials, WIB members, and WorkForce staff. It will also be used to foster communications between MWCA members and workforce development practitioners from national organizations. Examples of activities to be supported include:
- Producing orientation materials for WIB members;
- Producing a regular newsletter for MWCA members
and for the employment and training community at large;
- Providing financial support for MWCA members to attend
regional and national employment and training conferences;
- Continuing to provide support to internal improvement
activities such as the Mystery Shopper program, Resource Room staff training,
and dissemination of best practices;
- Developing and enhancing a Return on Investment evaluation
methodology for WorkForce services; and
- Supporting development activities at annual meetings through sponsorship of guest speakers.
Plan to Attend the 10th Annual Minnesota Development Conference
Already nearly 350 people involved in economic and workforce development have registered to attend the 10th annual Minnesota Development conference. The event is set for October 5-6 at the Radisson Riverfront Hotel in St. Paul. The theme “My Minnesota ... Stepping Up to Global Competition," offers something for just about everyone - from economic developers to educators and training providers.
Plan to join economic and workforce development professionals from around the state as we look far beyond our borders and explore the latest information, find out what's working, and connect with each other in ways that help Minnesota businesses to the next level of global competitiveness. Among the keynote speakers are Governor Tim Pawlenty, Mason Bishop, Deputy Assistant Secretary, U.S. Department of Labor – Employment and Training Administration; Patrick Peyton, Despatch Chairman and CEO; Jeffrey A. Rosensweig, author of Winning the Global Game – A Strategy for Linking People and Profits; and Steve Gunderson, Author of The Jobs Revolution—Changing How America Works. Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development Commissioner Matt Kramer will also be on hand to open the conference. The full conference agenda is available online (www.deed.state.mn.us/events/PDFs/DevConfAgenda05.pdf).
You won’t want wish to miss this premiere event! The seminar registration fee is $250 per participant, go to http://www.regonline.com/Checkin.asp?EventId=28379 to sign up to reserve your space.
Special Opportunity to Meet with Mason Bishop for Breakfast
Mason Bishop, Deputy Assistant Secretary, U.S. Department of Labor – Employment and Training Administration, invites Minnesota's Workforce Board Members to join him for breakfast prior to the opening of the Development Conference on October 5. Hear his perspective of what is happening regarding workforce development at the federal level and attend a discussion of topics of interest to Minnesota's Workforce community. Bishop is responsible for overseeing key workforce investment programs, developing and implementing federal policies, and assisting with legislative issues.
The Breakfast will take place at 7:30 a.m. at the Radisson Riverfront Hotel- State III Room, 11 East Kellogg Boulevard, Saint Paul, Minn. The hotel’s phone number is (651) 292-1900.
The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development and Minnesota Workforce Council Association encourage you to take the opportunity to meet with Mason, even if you cannot attend the Minnesota Development Conference. Please reserve your space by calling Anne Olson, Minnesota Workforce Council (651) 224-3344 or e-mailing her at aolson@mncounties.org.
From
the Chair of the Dakota-Scott Workforce Investment Board
Dakota and Scott Counties Form a Single Workforce Service Area
By LaDonna Boyd
It’s been an exciting year for the Dakota County Workforce Investment Board (WIB).
Structurally, Dakota and Scott Counties realigned to form a single workforce service area effective July 1, 2005. The new Dakota - Scott County partnership strengthens our workforce and economic development efforts by building on existing connections between the counties to reach new goals. This is an ideal match as there are numerous demographic and business similarities between the counties. We’re very excited about the opportunity to collaborate with jobseekers and businesses in Scott County and adding people from the area to our WIB.
Other advantages from the realignment include:
- Increased opportunities to share innovation,
- Strengthened ability to engage the business community,
- New ties for business development and regionalization,
- Enhanced position to compete for new grants and revenue sources,
- Sharing of best practices and gaining program efficiencies,
- Plus, we now have a broader business and political voice.
We’re also involved with a couple of exciting other initiatives. Our WIB 's Business Services Committee chaired by Jane McKay of McDonalds, saw the value of launching a resource for jobseekers looking to start their own business. We provided resources for BizPathways (www.bizpathways.org) a portal, which features tools to help individuals write business, marketing, financial, and/or technology plans. The site has 3,000 users’ licenses available for interested individuals. BizPathways is marketed via local Chambers of Commerce, the Entrepreneurial Group at Dakota County Technical College, Inver Hills Community College, WorkForce Centers, Senior Core of Retired Executives (SCORE), U.S. Department of Labor - Small Business Administration, local banks and other organizations.
Finally, the WIB also helped launch Dakota Future, an organization that focuses on economic development issues. Its mission is to support the creation and maintenance of a world-class social and economic environment in Dakota County. Dakota Future hosted an economic summit featuring national experts in the field, and is leading efforts on a “boot camp” to coordinate efforts among site developers, workforce developers and financers to work on potential projects. Dakota Future, which works closely with community developers, was also behind efforts leading the county to meet requirements to become “e-certified.” Communities wishing to receive E-Commerce certification are evaluated on a scale demonstrating their technical compliance with e-commerce standards. Those communities achieving the necessary standards receive a certificate and E-Commerce logo that can be displayed on their websites as well as other city publications and marketing materials.
From the Ramsey County Workforce Investment Board Chair
Ramsey County Workforce Investment Board’s (WIB) Innovative Approach to Workforce Development
By Kathy Engesser
The Ramsey County WIB has been recognized for its innovative approach to the public workforce system, as well as efforts to help our community’s jobseekers and employers beyond the public system. Our WIB is a 50-member board created after the merger of Saint Paul and Ramsey County workforce efforts through a joint powers agreement. With staff assistance, the board members have found inventive ways to connect employers and jobseekers for the advancement of economic development in their community.
“Friends of the WIB” is Launched
The WIB faced a challenge early in its development-- the need to run our own organization without too much attachment to any one stakeholder. To face this challenge, the board developed the “Friends of the WIB” concept. Friends of the WIB is an incorporated non-profit organization charged with employer-of-record and fiscal agent services for the WIB. While Friends of the WIB doesn’t yet have tax-exempt status, the future approval will enable the WIB to obtain funding from the private sector and convene new public/private partnerships in developing solutions for Ramsey County.
Healthcare Project is Piloted
Through extensive studies using Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) labor market information, the Ramsey County WIB found that despite relatively high unemployment levels, there is high employment growth and a strong demand for workers by Ramsey County’s healthcare industry. The WIB also discovered that this industry employs individuals with limited English proficiency, a high priority population for the WIB to address.
While the focus throughout the system is on serving employers instead of jobseekers, the public funds still follow jobseekers. To reconcile this issue, the Ramsey County WIB worked to launch an employer-focused healthcare pilot project. Thanks to contributions from DEED and a grant from the Saint Paul Foundation, the healthcare pilot project became a reality. As a result, 65 employers were brought into the public workforce development system and have made use of available resources including information from health and human services organizations, labor market information from DEED, and referrals to customized training at Century College.
Through our work identifying the demand of healthcare employers and the supply of those with limited English proficiency, Workforce Solutions (Ramsey County’s provider of workforce services and a critical partner of the WIB) received a federal earmark grant of $99,000 to deliver occupational English language instruction to employees of the East Metro hospitals. The funds were used to provide occupational English language instruction to the employees.
What's Ahead? E-Blasting Our Message and Taking
NAMES! By Kit Borgman
DEED’s new marketing automation tool is up and running, and improving the way we market our products, services and events to the agency’s business and workforce partners and clients. Contact information for more than 40,000 Minnesota businesses, economic developers, industry groups, field staff, and local and regional partners has been imported into the web-based tool provided by Vtrenz. Licensed Vtrenz users may create targeted lists from several readily accessible databases, including two recent additions—all jobseekers and employers registered with the Minnesota Job Bank. E-blasts can be personalized and created using pre-designed graphics and templates, and provide an "instant analysis" of who has opened the message and who clicked on any web links included in the message (such as registration or survey forms). Mike Lang at the Dakota County WorkForce Center made good use of Vtrenz in marketing a recent job fair. “It's a great tool to use when contacting large groups of people,” Mike said. “In the past, I've used GroupWise and it was too much work.” Mike sent hundreds of local businesses a personalized, fully designed invitation and learned—almost instantly—that 178 people had opened his e-mail. Among those, 26 discrete recipients clicked on links to the flyer and/or directions to the job fair. A few days later, Mike sent a reminder and an additional 14 people clicked on the links. Mike now has an accurate list of specific companies with a unique interest in this type of event. The tool is proving highly valuable in multiple applications. DEED’s Information and Marketing Division recently surveyed Minnesota businesses on the benefits of their participation in past international trade missions, and we will use the information garnered from specific companies to develop success stories for future marketing materials. We also plan to survey the level of satisfaction among attendees at this year’s Development Conference. And the communications office now uses the tool exclusively to create and distribute news releases to targeted media and field staff throughout the state. Vtrenz users can build customized lists from static databases, selecting recipients by location, type of organization and other criteria. All databases are current, but the jobseeker list will need frequent updating, so if you're planning an event several months from now, contact your Vtrenz user or me to request that a more recent list is made available. If you would like to use Vtrenz to conduct a survey, please contact Bob Isaacson, director of analysis and evaluation, who can assist you in developing a survey ideally suited to meet your needs. And when you’re ready to launch any marketing campaign, contact the licensed Vtrenz user in your region:
We will continue to focus on healthcare and limited English proficiency employees, while keeping track of labor market information to keep up with current and future needs. In addition, Workforce Solutions will apply for a portion of the WIB’s WIA incentive funds to supplement work on their occupational English project. This is another important step towards fulfilling the Ramsey County WIB’s vision to maintain and improve the economic vitality of the Ramsey County-East Metro Area by developing the best-trained, best-educated and most highly skilled workforce.
Vtrenz Enhances Communications and Marketing Capacity for the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) and Partners
- Southwest: Dean Eichelberger; Dean.Eichelberger@state.mn.us or (320) 231-5174, ext. 7520.
- Metro: Mike Lang, Michael.Lang@state.mn.us or
(651) 554-6586.
- Northwest: Suzan Gagner, Sgagner@ngwmail.des.state.mn.us or (218) 281-6020.
- Central: Kim Schreur, Kim.Schreur@state.mn.us or (763) 689-7089.
- Southeast: Dick Joerg, Richard.Joerg@state.mn.us or
(507) 389-6723.
- Northeast: Ron Tague, Ron.Tague@state.mn.us or (218) 748-2203.
If you have any questions, or would like more information about Vtrenz’ marketing automation tool, feel free to contact me at Kit.Borgman@state.mn.us or (651) 297-1192.
Joint GWDC and MJSP Meeting Highlights Need to Develop Highly Skilled Workforce
The major forces driving change in workforce availability are demographics, globalization and changing needs of business, according to those who gave presentations at a meeting of the Governor’s Workforce Development Council (GWDC) and the Minnesota Job Skills Partnership Board (MJSP). The two groups met together for the second time at their annual development meeting on August 30. Industry representatives each provided an overview of their respective needs for present workforce development, as well as future recruitment, training and retention requirements across a wide range of affiliated industry occupations.
Alex Cirillo, Vice President of Community Affairs and 3M Foundation identified many areas of challenge for workforce development, including:
- By 2017, workforce growth and the replacement of retiring seniors will create a demand for college-educated workers that exceeds the number of graduates by 13,000 per year.
- The number of jobs in Minnesota requiring some college education will grow by 19 percent from 2000 to 2010, nearly twice the rate of jobs requiring only a high school education.
- Nationally, engineering and science-related jobs are increasing three times faster than other professions, yet a dwindling number of high school students are prepared for – or interested in college degrees in these disciplines.
Mason Bishop, Deputy Assistant Secretary of the U.S. Department of Labor - Employment and Training Administration, said equipping workers with the skills that are needed by employers can be done most effectively by linking employment and education with economic development.
Charles Arnold, Executive Director of the Minnesota Precision Manufacturing Association, spoke passionately about the “Battle Bots” competition and exhibit at the State Fair. It was extolled as a great example of a hands-on opportunity to engage youth in exploring the challenging and rewarding occupations in engineering, and other technical fields required by the manufacturing industry.
Laura Beeth, System Director for Talent Management for Fairview Health Systems, said there continue to be shortages of doctors, physical therapists, employees for long-term health care facilities, and especially for nurses. She noted that changing certification requirements in the health care industry are contributing to these shortages.
Candace Bowman, Director, Human Resources Services at Xcel Energy, said that more than half of the Xcel Energy workforce nationwide is eligible to retire in the next 10 years. It is often difficult to fill current openings for positions because candidates frequently lack the basic skills required to perform successfully on the job.
Cirillo stressed the critical need for 1) parental influence and involvement in helping children vision a future in science and math-related fields; and 2) the need for stakeholder groups representing business, government, education, foundations and communities to create common vision for workforce development in Minnesota.
In closing remarks, Cynthia Lesher, Chair of the GWDC and Chief Administrative Officer of Xcel Energy, and Matt Kramer, Chair of the MJSP Board and Commissioner of the Department of Employment and Economic Development, discussed the relevance of these challenges and opportunities to policy and funding issues.
PowerPoint presentations from this meeting will soon be available on the GWDC website.
The event was co-hosted by Cynthia Lesher and Matt Kramer.
Grants Update: Proposals for WIA Grant Funds Due Nov. 1
Local Workforce Investment Boards (WIBs) are invited to develop their proposals for the 2005 Workforce Investment Act (WIA) Incentive Grant Funds. This year Minnesota is focusing the WIA Incentive Grant award on strengthening foundational mathematics skills in Minnesota’s new and incumbent workforce through the implementation of contextual, demand-driven foundational mathematics instruction and teacher training. Approximately $750,000 of the grant will be available for up to three projects to increase foundational math skills of individuals who are below high school level competency.
To access the Request For Proposal (RFP), go to www.gwdc.org and click on the button “WIA Incentive Grant Funds - RFP”. The Request for Proposal features a reference portfolio that includes multiple examples of industry/education collaborations and initiatives currently underway in Minnesota that are increasing foundational math skills of youth as well as adults. The portfolio is a potential starting place for local WIBs to begin researching and thinking about how they can work with partners and build upon strengths within local communities.
Each initiative should be a regional, inter-regional, or statewide effort and must include at least one partner from each of the following: Minnesota public school districts, Minnesota public higher education institutions, employers, local Workforce Investment Boards, and Minnesota Adult Basic Education providers. Additional partners may include industry associations, nonprofits, apprenticeship programs, or other partners within the region.
Proposals are due by close of business on November 1, 2005. If you have any questions regarding the 2005 WIA Incentive Grant or the RFP process, please contact Dan Smith (651) 582-8330 or dan.smith@state.mn.us or Koryn Zewers at (651) 284-3305 or koryn.zewers@state.mn.us or Pradeep Kotamraju at (651) 282-5569 or pradeep.kotamraju@so.mnscu.edu.
WIA Incentive Grant funds were also used to help fund an exhibit at the Minnesota State Fair that was viewed by hundreds. The exhibit was the face-off of remote-controlled robots, called “Battle Bots” during six shows daily. The idea behind the “Battle Bots” was to generate hands-on enthusiasm for careers in technology, manufacturing and science, which require mathematics proficiency. This exhibit along with the local initiative funded through the WIA Incentive Grant are a part of Minnesota's strategy for advancing science and math skills of individuals across the state.
Check It Out:
Useful Products, Services, Resources
By Kathy Sweeney
- The U.S. Department of Labor - Employment and Training
Administration has launched a new website which focuses on resources for
customers with limited English proficiency and Hispanic workers.
The website details resources and tools, investments made to date, demonstration projects underway and a glossary of 144 terms used in the delivery of workforce services translated into 17 different languages (see www.doleta.gov/reports/CensusData/LEPhispanic_initiative.cfm). - eFolioMN Summit
Thursday, November 3, 2005, 8 a.m. - 3 p.m. at Hennepin Technical College, 9000 Brooklyn Boulevard, Brooklyn Park, Minnesota.This one-day event is designed to bring together K-12, Higher Education, and Workforce organizations who use, or who are interested in, eFolioMinnesota. Successes, concerns, and strategies using the latest in Minnesota electronic portfolio technology will be shared. There are many opportunities for active participation in the event and registration information is available at www.efoliomnsummit.com. To register, click on the tab at the top of the page labeled “Summit Registration.”
An efolio is a multimedia website designed to store and display academic and career related information, an online version of a resume. More information on efolio is available at www.avenetefolio.com.
- The Great North Alliance E-mail Update is a free twice-monthly e-mail that delivers links to the latest economic climate news in the Twin Cities. This objective news is both comprehensive and easy to read. Subscribers receive notice annually of The Great North Opportunity Forecast, which benchmarks how the Twin Cities are doing against 12 high-performance regions. This years forecast is now available. Sign up at www.thegreatnorth.com.
- Poverty Rate is Among Lowest in U.S.
Minnesota has the second lowest poverty rate among the 50 states. It also boasts the highest average household income and the lowest rate of residents without health insurance. Sources: The U.S. Census Bureau report of August 30, 2005 as published on August 31, 2005 in Minneapolis Star Tribune and U.S. Census Bureau report as published on October 2, 2005 in Minneapolis Star Tribune. - Minnesota
Leads the Way in Workforce Participation of Persons with Disabilities
Minnesota has led the nation in workforce participation of persons with disabilities for the past five years. Source: Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development based on U.S. Census data.
Kudos
Bonnie Elsey Elected to NASWA Board of Directors
During the week of September 12, Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development’s (DEED) Workforce Development Division Director Bonnie Elsey was elected to represent U.S. Department of Labor Region V on the board of directors of the National Association of State Workforce Administrators (NASWA) at its annual meeting in Rapid City, South Dakota. Only one delegate per region is elected. In her new role, Elsey will be focusing on the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) and Unemployment Insurance issues on the federal level. The NASWA board forms policy and works with Congress to try to enact laws to support the workforce development system at the federal level.
“I’m glad to be a member of the board of directors in such a critical time as WIA reauthorization,” said Elsey. Currently, WIA is up for reauthorization, and there are two versions of WIA bills, one passed by the U.S. House of Representatives and another passed by the U.S. Senate. However the members of the conference committee that will reconcile the two bills have not been chosen yet. WIA is the backbone of the federal Workforce development system.
In 2005, Elsey chaired NASWA’s Administrative and Finance Committee, which put together the definitions and methodology to determine the administrative cost of the employment and training system for WIA for Texas and Minnesota. To accomplish this work, the committee made sure to use the definitions from the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration and correctly categorized the components. The fiscal information from DEED also had to be gathered.
Elsey was also chosen to work on a National Governor’s Association (NGA) work group to identify the administrative costs for the employment and training system for other states. Elsey was selected by Martin Simon of the National Governor’s Association Center for Best Practices, partly due to the achievements made through her efforts as part of the NASWA Administrative Finance Committee.
“Getting a good handle on the cost of our system is very important to me in trying to maximize the resources that directly serve customers,” she said.
In addition to serving as a NASWA board member, Elsey will be Vice-Chair of NASWA’s Employment and Training Committee in 2006.
Key Contacts:
Kathy Sweeney Stephen Larson Connie Ireland |
Rick Roy Dave Niermann Jim Wrobleski Joan Danielson |
We Need Your Feedback
We're trying to make this newsletter as timely and useful as we possibly can and, to accomplish that goal, we need to know what you want to know. We need and welcome any feedback you can offer – especially concerning topics of broad statewide or regional interest to the WIBs and all other partners. To register your questions, comments, complaints and suggestions, simply send an e-mail to Kathy.Sweeney@state.mn.us. We'll do our best to address your concerns directly and use your feedback to help us develop articles for future editions of the newsletter.
Thanks.