Napa WIB Highlights - Napa-Lake Workforce Investment Board

Highlights Report
2010 to 2011
Table of Contents
Page
Introductory Statements
3
From the Chair and Vice Chair of the Workforce Investment Board
5
From the Director of the Workforce Investment Board
Workforce Investment Board
7
Mission & Vision
9
5 Core Roles
13
15
Board Members
Our Basic Programs and Services
Highlights & Accomplishments
19
Two new websites
20
Three new satellite career centers
21
Sector Initiatives
22
GREEN Grant
24
Greenoccupedia
25
Career & Training Network
26
Napa County’s Emerging Green Economy
27
Economic Opportunity and Workforce Development in Napa County
29
Looking Back
30
Looking Ahead
31
About Napa County
1
The Napa County Workforce Investment
Board is proud to release this report which
serves to highlight some of our
accomplishments over the past two years.
It is an honor and a pleasure to serve as
Chair and Vice Chair of the Board and we
would like to extend our sincere
appreciation to the dedicated board
members, partners and staff that make a
difference in our local community.
In our opinion, the Napa County
Workforce Investment Board is an
exemplary model of how the public and private sectors can work together to respond to
the needs of the community. The Board does an excellent job overseeing numerous
important programs and our focus on building relationships is evident through the
creation of many strategic initiatives discussed in this report.
Through its many programs and initiatives, the Board helps to ensure that Napa
businesses have a skilled workforce and residents have opportunities to develop the
skills needed to work locally, with an eye on fulfilling and satisfying employment that
provides good wages. This win-win, linking job seekers with employment opportunities,
strengthens our economy and improves the quality of life for our residents.
We look forward to continuing our efforts on strategic initiatives while at the same
time continuing to work with the leaders in our region to resolve workforce
development challenges.
Mary Ann Mancuso, Chair
Brad Wagenknect, Vice Chair
Napa County Workforce Investment Board
3
As the director of the Napa County Workforce
Investment Board, it gives me great pride to
release this report on our highlights and
accomplishments from 2010 to 2011.
This report shows how we have taken great
strides in the past two years to develop a
Board that has become a leader in our
community.
We have built and strengthened our
relationships with the business community as
well as civic, city and economic development leaders.
Our business services model and our layoff aversion efforts have helped us to achieve
our core goal of supporting the needs of local businesses.
We also continue to create self-sufficiency for job seekers through our WorkforceNapa
Business & Career Center and supplemental grants such as our California Clean Energy
Workforce Training Program.
The combined efforts of the Board, service providers and our partners helped us to
meet and exceed all of the performance measures set by the State of California. I’d like
to thank the board members and staff for all of their hard work and dedication to the
community.
I look forward to working with the Board, the business community and elected officials
to build upon the strong initiatives started in 2009.
Bruce Wilson
Director, Napa County Workforce Investment Board
5
Mission & Vision of the Napa County
Workforce Investment Board
The Napa County Workforce Investment Board (WIB) is our
community's only organization that has workforce
development at the center of all of its work. We understand
that a strong local economy is characterized by an
abundance of well-paying jobs and that the availability of a
skilled workforce will assure continued economic success
for our businesses. In order to promote a strong local
economy, the WIB assures the integration of effective
employment, training, education, and business services for
job seekers, workers and employers.
OUR VISION is a strong local economy in which
employers have an ample supply of skilled labor resources
and residents have access to an abundance of quality jobs.
OUR MISSION is to respond to the labor and training
needs of our employers and job seekers by designing a
workforce delivery system that is outcome based, leverages
community resources, explores new training alternatives,
and influences education and workforce policy.
The Workforce Investment Board works in partnership with
the Napa County Board of Supervisors, which serves as the
chief elected official and fiscal recipient for the local
workforce investment area. Together these two bodies
oversee local workforce development activities and
establish programs and services in response to the
workforce needs of Napa County. The County’s Health and
Human Services Agency functions as the one-stop manager
in delivering key services through the WorkforceNapa
Business & Career Center.
7
Five Core Roles of the
Workforce Investment Board (WIB)
1. CONVENER
WIBs are an important nexus of communication, facilitating dialogue about workforce
issues among employers, policymakers, labor, education, economic development and
the public.
Regional economies have complex
sets of workforce issues that span
across business, community
organizations, government,
organized labor and residents.
Workforce issues are about skilled
workers, but they are also about the
changing workplace, access to jobs
for all populations, transportation
and housing, and support for
workers such as health care and
childcare.
As intermediary organizations with participation from business, labor, non-profits,
government, and educational institutions, WIBs can ensure that all of the right people
are in the room for critical discussions about the region's economy and workforce
needs.
WIBs bring together business leaders to respond to local workforce needs with an
understanding and focus only possible at the regional level. Convening businesses
within key industry sectors to better understand the needs of the industry provides
valuable information for organizations providing education and job readiness services.
WIBs also convene around specific issues of critical importance to the community, such
as low wage workers, the aging workforce, or school drop-out rates.
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2. WORKFORCE ANALYST
WIBs play a key role in collecting and analyzing labor
market data for their region. This entails not only
finding and using statistical data to paint a picture of
the local economy, but turning that data into useful
information for educators, policy makers and the
business community. Often, statistical information is
several years old, so the WIB also takes a proactive
role in using its convening role to bring together
employers through focus groups and other mechanisms to understand the current and
future skill requirements and hiring needs of key industries. Understanding and
disseminating information about trends in employment can be valuable to One-Stop
Career Centers, community colleges, and schools.
Mapping the gaps between the needs of the economy and the current delivery system
is also a key function of the WIB. WIBs often initiate asset mapping in their
communities, to provide information about the services that are available. They also
scan their region to learn about the potential mismatches between the skills required
and the current workforce, or the education and training needed by residents and the
actual programs offered.
Information about jobs and career pathways, described in accessible ways for students
and job seekers is also a critical function of the WIB. Often, employers can't see the
career pathways within their industry, and the WIB works with tools to map occupations
and skill requirements in ways that can be used by both people who want to enter a
career field or industry, and incumbent workers who want to advance in their careers.
3. BROKER
WIBs play an important role in bringing people and groups
together, providing them with access to the information
that they need to make informed decisions, and brokering
agreements between employers, government agencies, and
various programs. A WIB functioning as an intermediary
provides a mechanism to connect organizations,
institutions, businesses and people to each other and to
the services and information they need.
WIBs serve an important role in bringing together the
business community in specific industry sectors and
educational agencies to help "translate" from one system
to the other, and to help develop services that meet the
needs of business.
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4. COMMUNITY VOICE
An important function underlying these
roles is that of communication. WIBs serve
as a community voice in a number of ways.
By using the information gathered as a
result of convening employers, WIBs can
help regions articulate their needs to
policymakers at all levels of government.
WIBs can use information gathered as part
of their workforce intelligence activities to
communicate key skill shortages, skill
gaps, the need for labor and/or job
opportunities.
WIBs also serve as the voice of the community, by articulating the needs of individuals
looking for training and jobs. Returning Veterans, people being released from the
correctional system, and individuals with disabilities or special needs often need more
intensive services that the WIB is prepared to provide.
With its diverse membership, the WIB is uniquely positioned to tell the whole story - not
from the point of view of business, government, labor or community group - but from
the whole. This voice can provide powerful messages to the legislators, Government
administrators, and other policy leaders.
5. CAPACITY BUILDER
As a capacity builder, the WIB has a responsibility to scan the performance and
effectiveness of local One-Stop Career Centers, training programs and other
community resources, and ensure that services are of high quality.
The WIB can provide critical guidance to
agencies in the form of technical assistance,
well-articulated goals and performance
measures, and insistence on excellence.
Using their role as convener, the WIB can
bring together service providers and
educators to inform them of current and
future workforce needs, to learn about best
practices on the ground, and to facilitate
dialogue about the most effective ways to
serve businesses and job seekers.
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Napa County Workforce Investment
Board Members, 2010 to 2011
Chair: Mary Ann Mancuso, ipost*
Vice Chair: Brad Wagenknect, Supervisor,
Napa County Board of Supervisors*
Past Chair: William Kreysler, President,
Kreysler & Associates*
Greg Armstrong, National Electrical
Contractors Association*
Lisa Batto, Napa Chamber of Commerce
Mark Bontrager, Executive Director, Aldea
Children and Family Services
Dean Bowen, President, Net-Flow
Corporation
Stephanie Cabral, Manager of Workforce
Services, Experience Works*
David Dias, Sheet Metal Workers Union,
Local 104
Jackie Diaz, Human Resources Manager,
Joseph Phelps Vineyards*
Mounir Fahmy, Owner, Bayleaf Restaurant
Jeri Hansen-Gill, CEO, Sustainable Napa
County
Peter Harsch, California Department of
Rehabilitation
Aurelio Hurtado, Director, California
Human Development*
Drene Johnson, Executive Director,
Community Action of Napa Valley*
Reuben Katz, Director, Culinary Institute
of America at Greystone*
Patrick Kellaher, General Manager,
Mustards Grill*
Susan Knapp, President, A Perfect Pear
Jennifer La Liberte, City of Napa*
Mark Leonardi, President, MLA Events, Inc
Gerardo Martin, Financial Advisor,
Waddell & Reed*
Sherry McKillop, Follow Your Compass*
Sue Nelson, Vice President Instruction,
Napa Valley College
Barbara Nemko, Superintendent, Napa
County Office of Education*
Beth Painter, Executive Director, Napa
Valley Economic Development
Corporation
Janice Payne, Manager of Recruitment
Services, Kaiser Foundation Health Plan
Brett Risley, Sheetmetal Worker's
International Association*
Dorothy Salmon, NewLevel Group*
Peter D. Schiller, Manager, California
Employment Development Department
Don Shindle, General Manager, Westin
Verasa*
Rhonda Slota, Principal, Napa Valley Adult
School
Ronald Souza, Partner, Lynch, Gilardi &
Grummer
Kyle Wheeler, Manager, Pipe Trade
Association
Carol Marie Whichard, President,
Communication Workers of America*
Michael White, Carpenters Training
Committee for Northern California
Teresa Zimny, Deputy Director, Napa
County Health & Human Services
* indicates current member
13
Our Basic Programs and Services
All local Workforce Investment Boards (WIBs) in the U.S. administer Workforce
Investment Act (WIA) Adult, Dislocated Worker, Youth, and Rapid Response programs.
The Napa County Workforce Investment Board’s flagship product is the WorkforceNapa
Business & Career Center, which is managed by the Napa County Health and Human
Services Agency. Services provided through the Business & Career Center include:
SERVICES TO BUSINESSES
 Financial assistance for:
o Incumbent worker training costs
o Customized training costs
o On-the-job training wages
 WorkKeys job profiling
 Rapid Response assistance for
employees faced with downsizing
 Recruitment assistance
SERVICES TO INDIVIDUALS
 Job registration and referrals
 Application and resume assistance
 Interviewing skills training
 Counseling/case management
 WorkKeys and other skills
assessments
 Career counseling and planning
 Referral and financial assistance for
training
The WIA Adult Program provides services to adults aged 18 and older in accordance
with Section 101 of the WIA. The goal of the Adult Program is to assist clients in
achieving self-sufficiency by providing access to Core, Intensive, Training, Placement,
and Post Follow-up Services through the One-Stop Career Center system and its
partners.
The Dislocated Worker Program
provides the same services as the
WIA Adult Program but to
individuals who have been
terminated or laid off, or who have
received termination or layoff
notices. The Dislocated Worker
Program can also provide services
to displaced homemakers and selfemployed individuals who are
unemployed as a result of general
economic conditions.
15
The Youth Program
prepares youth for
postsecondary
educational opportunities,
linking academic and
occupational learning,
career paths, and
employment. Participants
also receive guidance,
counseling and follow-up
services to encourage them to pursue post-secondary education. For the past two
years, the Napa County Workforce Investment Board has been contracting our youth
services to V.O.I.C.E.S., a program of On The Move – a nonprofit organization based in
Napa. V.O.I.C.E.S. is charged with providing a youth-friendly service delivery system
dedicated to the unique needs of at-risk youth. We are also proud to have been able to
provide Summer Youth Employment Programs for two out of the past three years to
Napa youth between 16-21 years of age.
Rapid Response services are for both employers and employees transitioning through
downsizing or plant closures. Rapid Response is a pro-active, business-focused, and
flexible strategy designed to respond to layoffs and plant closings by quickly
coordinating services and providing immediate aid to employers and their affected
workers. Rapid Response can also provide customized services on-site at an affected
employer, accommodate work schedules, and assist employers and workers through
the painful transitions associated with job loss.
A Summer Youth
Employment
Program experience
for Luis Leon.
Left to Right: John
Conrad, Chief
Engineer for
Embassy Suites of
Napa Valley, Ricardo
Castillo, Head
Landscaper for
Embassy Suites, and
Luis Leon
16
“Most employers don’t even realize the resources
and services out there that can help them and
their employees before, during and after a lay-off
experience,” says Julia Smith, Business Services
Coordinator for the Napa WIB. “EDD's Work
Sharing program, for example, allows for the
payment of Unemployment Insurance benefits to
workers whose have had their hours and earnings
reduced but not eliminated. For some employers
going through a temporary squeeze, it can be a
very practical alternative to layoffs and a Godsend
for the employees.”
The Napa County Workforce Investment Board received a combined $2,869,771 in
fiscal years 2009-2010 and 2010-2011, and used these funds to serve 4,699 residents
in Napa County. In addition, the Napa County Workforce Investment Board was
successful in obtaining significant additional grant funds from ARRA (American
Recovery and Reinvestment Act), CCEWTP (GREEN Grant), and Dislocated Worker
Additional Assistance Funding.
17
Highlights & Accomplishments of the Napa
County Workforce Investment Board
TWO NEW WEBSITES
A new Napa County Workforce
Investment Board website has
been developed to share
information about the
Workforce Investment Board
and its programs, services and
resources, and to provide
important information about
our economy and labor
market.
Looking at our homepage, at
www.napaworkforce.org, you
can download or view all of
our recent reports, or use our
new Career & Training Network
which includes a regional training directory, occupational information, and a
greenoccupedia for those interested in learning more about green jobs.
The center of our local workforce development system is our WorkforceNapa Business
& Career Center, a consortium of local service providers. This important community
resource offers a wealth of training and employment resources, and labor market
information, to assist both
job seekers and
businesses. We’ve just
launched a new website
on behalf of the
WorkforceNapa Business
& Career Center, at
www.workforcenapa.org.
The new website offers
information and services
to both jobseekers and
employers.
19
Our WorkforceNapa
Business & Career Center
is physically located at
650 Imperial Way in Napa.
This is a full-service onestop career center that
serves the entire
community by offering
training and employment
resources, and labor
market information, to
assist jobseekers and
businesses. Besides helping jobseekers get needed training and find jobs, we provide
the local business community with a variety of services and resources, as well as
trained workers who may qualify for government subsidies.
THREE NEW SATELLITE CAREER CENTERS
Napa Main Library
580 Coombs Street, Napa
V.O.I.C.E.S. Napa (for Youth Services)
780 Lincoln Avenue, Napa
American Canyon City Hall
4381 Broadway, American
Canyon
V.O.I.C.E.S. Napa is charged with providing a youth-friendly service delivery system
dedicated to the unique needs of at-risk youth. We are also proud to have been able to
provide Summer Youth Employment Programs for two out of the past three years.
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SECTOR INITIATIVES
The Napa County Workforce Investment Board
is committed to industry sector initiatives in
order to better understand the workforce
needs and challenges of local employers and
to improve our local workforce development
system, including the development of more
effective programs, services and policies.
Comprehensive industry sector reports have
been completed for the following major
industry sectors in Napa County:








Napa Hospitality! (Hospitality &
Tourism)
Food & Beverage Manufacturing
Durable Goods Manufacturing
Healthcare
Transportation, Warehousing & Utilities
Professional & Business Services
Construction & Renovation
Green Economy
Each report includes, at a minimum:






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Industry sector overview
About sector strategies
Workforce needs and opportunities
survey results
Top job opportunities in the industry
sector
Occupation and training profile
Challenges and recommendations
After meeting with interested local employers and conducting workforce needs
surveys, sector initiative recommendations were formulated and have now been shared
with our workforce development partners and employers through a combination of
community forums, report dissemination, and follow-up meetings. The
recommendations have generally included the following for each critical industry
sector:



Establishment of an Industry Skill Panel
Development of a local Education and Training Consortium and
development/providing of programs and courses to help meet industry
workforce needs
Establishment of a skills assessment certificate program for students and job
seekers
The Napa County Workforce Investment Board looks forward to working closely with
our employers and our workforce development partners to implement these and other
recommendations that will ultimately improve our local workforce development
system.
GREEN GRANT
California's economy is increasingly dependent on "green" technology and many future
jobs will be found in the growing sectors that are often referred to as the “green
economy.” As part of a regional partnership, Napa County was one of four North Bay
Counties to receive a Clean Energy Workforce Training Program (CEWTP) grant from the
California Energy Commission. The grant funds made it possible for the Napa County
Workforce Investment Board to help prepare workers for present and future careers in
energy efficiency, water efficiency, renewable energy, and clean transportation.
22
Scott Kelly was laid off in July of 2008 from his
job as a construction supervisor. After many
frustrating months painting and remodeling
bathrooms, he challenged himself to get his
general contractor's license and start his own
construction business. A friend mentioned to him
news about the new CEWTP program at a local
Community College. The rest is history. He got
his first job remodeling a 90 year old Spanish
house which he says allowed him to apply the
skills learned in the program.
Scott Kelly: "I couldn't have
dreamed for better results!"
As a result, Scott recently pitched an idea to a
friend who had recently been cast on a new show on Bravo called Million Dollar
Decorator. As a result, Scott appeared this Spring in segments of the show featuring
the decorator Nathan Turner and also recently remodeled Dr. Robert Rey's office in
Beverly Hills, also known as Dr. 90210! He says, "I couldn't have dreamed for better
results!" This year Scott became involved in the Energy Upgrade California Program.
In Napa County, 70 GREEN program enrollees were served and 32 found new
employment as a result of those services. Virtually all completed the Certified Green
Building Professional training course provided by Build It Green. In addition, program
enrollees completed a variety of other certificate training programs that were deemed
appropriate based on their individual employment objectives. For some, that included
the Building Performance Institute (BPI)
“Building Analyst Professional” training, which
establishes the building assessment science of
energy auditing and analysis.
Debby Wilkins is a Case Manager for
WorkforceNapa who served as Napa’s
GREEN Program Coordinator
“While our employment outcomes for the GREEN
Program were not what we expected from the
outset due to the economy, the skills and
knowledge our program provided to its
participants will definitely help make them
more employable in the long run,” says Debby
Wilkins, who functioned as Napa’s GREEN
Program Coordinator. “And if you consider the
state of our economy, and especially the
construction industry, anything we can do to
give people a better chance at employment is
important.”
23
The GREEN Grant also included assembling a group of local green business advisors.
These advisors provided feedback and recommendations on green employment and
green training opportunities. Some also represented Napa County by serving on a
regional green employer council.
GREENOCCUPEDIA
To help students and job seekers explore their green career options, a Napa version of
Greenoccupedia was developed. Greenoccupedia’s purpose is to help people learn
about, and prepare for, green jobs and careers. It answers such questions as: What's a
green job or career? Where are the green jobs? What's the green economy? What's a
green business? What kind of training do you need for a green job? How do you land a
green job? And what are the best online resources?
24
In addition, a comprehensive
online training directory was
developed to help Napa
residents find the best
training opportunities in their
region. This tool is called the
Career & Training Network
and is found on our
www.napaworkforce.org
website. (Napa’s
Greenoccupedia is also
located within the Career &
Training Network.)
Using the knowledge and skills of a top
green careers expert, we also provided
many workshops on green jobs and
careers to Napa students, teachers and
job seekers. Such workshops were
provided through the WorkforceNapa
Business & Career Center, the Napa Main
Library, Napa Valley College, and many of
Napa’s schools. In all, our green career
workshops were provided to an estimated
500 individuals ranging from middle
school science students to retired seniors
looking for a twilight career.
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NAPA COUNTY’S EMERGING GREEN ECONOMY
Driven by growing consumer
demand, public policy, venture
capital and public-sector
investment, the emerging green
economy in the U.S. is generating
new job opportunities and a
demand for workers with green
knowledge, skills, and credentials.
These job opportunities include
both new jobs and traditional jobs
that are adapting to changing
market realities. To better
understand the green economy in
Napa, a study was commissioned.
The green economy study identified
174 green businesses in Napa
County spread across several green
market segments. Green product
and service businesses comprised
1.2% of all businesses in Napa County. This compared favorably with the nation (0.9%)
and state (1.0%). Almost two-thirds of Napa’s green businesses were located in the
City of Napa (62.5%) followed by St. Helena (17.9) a distance second, and Calistoga
(6.5%) with the third largest number of green businesses. American Canyon has the
distinction of being Napa County’s second largest city, but the city with the fewest
green businesses per capita. The study did not include public sector employers,
although it should be noted that public sector employers, including government
agencies and public schools, are increasingly expressing a value and commitment to
environmentally responsible practices.
The study found that almost 95% of Napa’s green businesses are small firms with
fewer than 100 employees. Green businesses with the largest number of employees
include green wineries and environmental services remediation firms.
In total, there are approximately 3,687 workers employed in Napa’s green businesses.
This employment represents 5.4% of the total employment in the county. Employment
in green businesses cuts across a broad range of industry sectors with manufacturing,
business support, and hospitality sectors having the largest number. However,
employment in green businesses does not imply all of their jobs are green jobs. The
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largest numbers of jobs are in businesses utilizing green business practices and
production processes, including sustainable agriculture, green wineries and certified
green businesses. Most of the jobs in these sectors involve occupations where there is
no significant change in the work or skill requirements.
In contrast, jobs in businesses producing green products or providing green services
are nearly always considered to be green jobs. These jobs account for approximately
1% of Napa County’s total private sector jobs. This compares favorably with a recent
Pew study of the nation’s clean energy economy (0.7%).
Many of the employers surveyed for the Napa green economy study expressed
confidence that they will continue to add jobs over the next two years. Although the
survey was conducted during tough economic times (late 2010), the majority of green
business employers expect the number of jobs in their company to remain the same,
and nearly one in five employers expect to add new workers over the next six months.
ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT
IN NAPA COUNTY
The purpose of this study and report was
to assess the overall economy and job
market in Napa County in order to better
understand the challenges and
opportunities it presents to the workforce
development community.
In summary, the Napa economy revolves
around and is highly dependent upon the
wine industry. As an established and welldeveloped industry cluster, the wine
industry – from vineyards to wineries –
supports and in turn is supported by other
industry sectors including retail and
wholesale trade, manufacturing,
transportation and warehousing,
professional and business services, leisure
and hospitality services, and construction.
The Institute for Strategy and
27
Competitiveness at Harvard Business School has profiled the Napa Valley wine industry
cluster and its competitiveness as a leading example of a well-defined industry cluster.
For economic development purposes, industry clusters allow for the development of
related and supporting industries and institutions, as well as an infrastructure of
professional, legal, financial and other specialized services.
The Napa Valley draws an estimated five million-plus visitors a year who come to tour
the wineries, but also hire limousine services for wine tasting tours, take balloon rides
for aerial views of the vineyards, or enjoy the comforts of relaxing in a spa, staying in a
bed & breakfast inn, and eating at the many fine restaurants in the valley. Factory
outlet retail centers cater to the tourist trade. Specialized construction companies build
barrel storage spaces, tasting rooms, and wine production facilities.
The study found that overall employment in Napa County grew at a faster pace (17.6%)
between 1999 and 2008 compared to statewide job growth of 6.8%. Several sectors
experienced significant employment growth over the past decade including beverage
manufacturing (wineries), hospitality, construction, and business support services.
Only three sectors lost employment between 2000 and 2008: real estate, information,
and agriculture.
The largest employers in Napa County are in healthcare, hospitality, education, and the
wine industry. Small businesses with fewer than 100 employees are a key component
of the local economy, accounting for 97.8% of all businesses and 64% of the total
number of jobs. Micro-enterprises account for the majority of businesses in Napa
County, but provide only a small percentage of the total employment and typically pay
lower wages. In 2008, micro-enterprises included more than 60% of all establishments,
but only 6.1% of the jobs.
The study concluded that Napa’s competitive advantage is its globally recognized
brand. Present and future economic development efforts should focus on
strengthening the Napa Brand and expanding and extending the brand to other
sectors. Workforce training organizations can assist by identifying future growth
sectors and developing training programs to meet the workforce needs of these new
emerging industries. As the national economy recovers from the Great Recession, local
employment growth will improve as well. However, employment projections show a
slow recovery trajectory as Napa County and the state and national economies all
struggle to gain back the jobs that were lost during the recession. Over the next five
years, the average annual job growth rate is expected to be around 1.2% per year,
down from 1.6% during the 2001 through 2008 period.
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LOOKING BACK
William (Bill) Kreysler founded
Kreysler & Associates in 1982
after 10 years manufacturing
sailboats in San Rafael. "The
company is based in American
Canyon and specializes in
manufacturing custom products,
usually made from fiberglass
reinforced polymers or
composites," says Kreysler.
Kreysler & Associates employs 30
craftsmen, producing work for
artists, architects, engineering
firms and building owners in the
US, Europe and Asia.
Bill’s involvement with the Workforce Investment Board, both as a board member and
as WIB Chair, was inspired by an understanding that we all make a difference. Bill
observes that not everyone has the opportunity or the inclination to pursue an
academic education, but everyone who wants to can nevertheless make important and
valuable contributions. Kreysler says "Helping businesses find these folks and helping
willing workers find rewarding and meaningful employment is the fundamental goal of
the WIB and one of the best tools we have to realize these goals."
"As Past Chair of the Napa County Workforce Investment Board, I am most proud of our
efforts to balance our focus between the needs of the employee and the needs of the
employer. It is vital that we understand what work is available and where. Until we
know this, we cannot provide meaningful training, coaching or advice. Knowing what
your customer wants is a fundamental principle of a successful business and seeing
Napa employers as customers, too, is a key to success. Although the WIB has a long
way to go in streamlining its services, we have a solid foundation, good staff
participation and an optimist vision for a future where Napa employers and qualified
and motivated employees find each other through WIB services."
The Napa County Workforce Investment Board and its staff wish to give Bill Kreysler a
warm thanks for his years of valuable service, including as our WIB Chair when most
of the initiatives in this report were undertaken!
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LOOKING AHEAD
On July 1, 2011, the Napa County Workforce Investment Board officially became the
Napa-Lake Workforce Investment Board per a joint powers agreement between the
Napa and Lake County Boards of
Supervisors.
The Napa-Lake Workforce Investment
Board is now responsible for the
workforce development system and WIA
programs in both Napa and Lake
Counties.
Within Lake County, business and
employment services will continue to be
provided by Lake One-Stop Inc. with its
facility located at 55 First Street in
Lakeport.
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About Napa County
Napa County is part of one of the
state's busiest urban areas - the
San Francisco Bay Area. There are
nine counties which significantly
contribute to the economy of the
Bay Area as an urban center: Napa,
Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin,
Santa Clara, San Francisco,
Sonoma, Solano, and San Mateo.
The majority of Napa County
remains primarily agricultural due
to the highly productive and
successful wine-growing industry.
Since much of Napa’s land is cultivated for grapes, newer residential and commercial
development is concentrated in the existing cities, mostly located in the southern part
of the county.
Much of the economic activity in Napa County is directly or indirectly associated with
the wine industry. The Napa Valley draws an estimated five million-plus visitors a year
who come to tour the wineries, but also hire limousine services for wine tasting tours,
take balloon rides for aerial views of the vineyards, or enjoy the comforts of relaxing in
a spa, staying in a bed & breakfast inn, and eating at the many fine restaurants in the
valley.
Overall employment in Napa County grew at a faster pace (17.6%) between 1999 and
2008 compared to statewide job growth of 6.8%. Several sectors experienced
significant employment growth over the past decade including manufacturing
(primarily wine manufacturing), hospitality, construction, and business support
services. Only three sectors lost employment between 2000 and 2008: real estate,
information, and agriculture. The largest employers in Napa County are in healthcare,
hospitality, education, and the wine industry. Small businesses with fewer than 100
employees are a key component of local economy accounting for 97.8% of all
businesses and 64% of the total number of jobs.
As the national economy recovers, local employment growth will improve. However,
employment projections show a slow recovery as Napa County and the national
economy struggle to gain back the jobs that were lost during the recent recession.
Over the next five years, the average annual job growth rate is expected to slow to
around 1.2% per year down from 1.6% during the housing boom which occurred
between 2001 and 2008.
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