Winter 2010

the
Workforce Quarterly
A Quarterly Update for the Central Pennsylvania Workforce Investment Board
Executive Director Message
Dean Girton, President of Girton Manufacturing
Company, Inc., has served as a member of the Central
Pennsylvania Workforce Investment Board (WIB) since its
inception. In December 2009, Dean stepped down from his
post as Chairman after serving as the Board’s leader since
2004. Dean will remain an active member of the Board.
Dean has served the region well in his capacity as
Chairman, overseeing the ongoing challenges of workforce issues in a rural, multi-county Workforce Investment
Area. His leadership, guidance and support for the programs operated through the Central Pennsylvania
Workforce Development Corporation have been appreciated and will be greatly missed. He is a vocal proponent
regionally and statewide for the issues facing Central
Pennsylvania and is responsible for much of the recognition that the Board has received for successes over the
past ten years. He encourages and challenges the staff
Volume 4, Winter 2010
and fellow Board members in a manner that allows us to
continually grow and adapt to the needs of the workforce. I want to take this opportunity to thank him for his
leadership and tireless hours of support toward the betterment of the region and its workforce.
In January 2010, William “Billy” Robinson, Kreamer
Feed, Inc., will assume the key leadership position. Billy
has been an active Board member and chaired the Youth
Council since the Board’s inception. He has been an
instrumental part of the transition team that will assist
him during his tenure as Chairman. Billy will be joined
by Vice-Chair Jamie Aurand, Susque-View Home, Inc.;
Second Vice-Chair Teri MacBride, PPL Services
Corporation; and Treasurer Kevin Varano, Varano’s
Warehouse, Inc.
— Shannon Miller
CPWDC Executive Director
Inside:
•
News Flash:
Youth Build (p. 2)
•
Spotlight:
WorkKeys Career Readiness
Certificate (p. 2)
•
Partnerships:
InternsPlus & ProConnect
Initiatives (p. 3)
•
Board Member Profile:
Marc Baranouski (p. 3)
•
Grants:
FIT 4 Careers Short Term
Training Programs (p. 4)
•
PA CareerLink
Summer Employment
Experience Outcomes (p. 4)
•
Labor Market Facts ( p. 5)
•
Acronym ( p. 5)
Guest Article…
The Effects of Literacy
on the Nation’s Economy
— KayLynn Hamilton
Director, Workforce Education Research
Center, Penn State University
In the Employer Guide to Adult Education
for Work, a recently published report by
the National Center on Education and
the Economy, research indicated that
the United States is the only highlydeveloped country where young people
are less likely to complete high school
than the previous generation. Considering that almost twice as many jobs
over the next decade will require some
postsecondary education or training, it
will be difficult to fill jobs when over
1 million young adults drop out of
school and 12 million adults without a
high school diploma are already in the
labor force. While a daunting task
alone, improving our schools will not
solve the basic skills problem. Already
the number of adults in the workforce
is greater than the number of schoolaged children, and school reform, if
achievable, cannot impact the workforce
for many years. An estimated 65% of
the American workforce in 2020 is
already beyond the reach of our school
system. For the most part, the workforce
of the future in the United States is the
workforce of the present.
continued on insert, page 5
…the w orkforc e c o r p o rati on
2
News Flash…
YouthBuild
Central Pennsylvania YouthBuild commenced in Shamokin on November 2,
2009 with 30 young adults, age 18 to 24,
who lack high school diplomas, vying for
21 slots in the intensive academic and
construction skills training program.
Following the two-week orientation and
screening process, selected youth are participating for six months as part of a team
to rehabilitate two properties owned by
the Housing Authority of Northumberland
County (HANC) in Shamokin and Coal
Township while simultaneously earning
their GED. Participants will have the
opportunity to earn a nationally recognized Pre-Apprenticeship Certificate
through the Home Builders Institute, a
WorkKeys® Career Readiness Certificate
and complete over 40 hours of service
learning projects. The national program,
funded through the US Department of
Labor, also emphasizes leadership
development and life skills training.
A formal graduation ceremony will be
held in May 2010. Two additional
YouthBuild classes are slated to begin
in May 2010 and January 2011. The
program is operated in partnership
with CSO, Inc. Community Action
Agency and the Home Builders
Institute. Future classes will continue
to partner with HANC and construct
new housing for the Union-Snyder
Habitat for Humanity.
YouthBuild Class of 2009
Spotlight
The Career Readiness Certificate
– Powered by WorkKeys®
0
1,60
C E R T I F I C AT E S
0
1,40
0
1,20
OF
In the last six months alone, the Central Region
issued more than 450 CRCs in the region as well as
signed on more than 45 employers agreeing to recognize the credential. For more information on
Central Pennsylvania’s WorkKeys CRC program,
please visit www.cpwdc.org and click on the
WorkKeys tab; or visit www.workkeys.org.
(DECEMBER 31, 2009)
800
NUMBER
In Central Pennsylvania, we have succeeded in issuing
more than 2,500 Career Readiness Certificates (CRC)
to individuals from a variety of programs in each of
the seven PA CareerLinks®. Currently, over 375
Central Pennsylvania employers recognize the CRC
and consider it part of their hiring process, many of
which prefer their applicants to have a CRC.
Career Readiness Certificates Issued
600
0
1,00
SILVER
1,540
400
200
GOLD
641
BRONZE
379
C E R T I F I C AT E L E V E L
3
Legislative Update
Partnerships
In an unanticipated turn of events, the passage of the
Commonwealth’s annual budget on October 9, 2009
restored $9.2 million dollars to continue the support of
Industry Partnerships and Worker Training grants
through the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and
Industry. As a result, CPWDC will receive $600,000 to
implement industry-driven projects and consortium
training in the Advanced Manufacturing, Factory Built
Housing and Health Care industries.
CPWDC, in conjunction with the Forum for
Pennsylvania’s Heartland, is now overseeing two initiatives that combine the resources of the region’s colleges and universities, local businesses and non-profit
organizations. InternsPlus works with employers to
develop internships, practicums, service-learning and
volunteer positions for undergraduate students. All
available opportunities are posted on the InternsPlus
website to provide interested students with access to
details of each learning experience and the employers’
contact information. The ProConnect initiative offers
regional employers the opportunity to collaborate in
recruiting and hiring professionals. ProConnect facilitates a resume exchange that is intended to provide
additional exposure and possible employment leads for
persons who typically follow a professional hire moving
into the region. For more information, please visit
www.internplus.com or www.paproconnect.com.
Board
Member
Profile
Marc Baranouski
Human Resources Director
Cherokee Pharmaceuticals LLC in Riverside
In 1979, Merck & Co., Inc. Pharmaceuticals
Manufacturing Division attracted this Chemical
Engineer from Quincy, Michigan to Central
Pennsylvania where he has made his home and
raised a family. When Marc became a technical
manager for Merck, his recruiting skills, and an
MBA from nearby Bloomsburg University, paved
his transition into Human Resources in 2002.
When Cherokee took over in 2008, Marc’s knowledge of the plant’s business, and human resources,
made him the logical choice as HR Director for the
new Division. Marc experienced a multitude of HR
“opportunities” during the transition, but it has
turned into a rewarding challenge, yielding the
recruitment of over 65 people in the last 22
months! Appropriately serving on the Workforce
Trends and Strategy Committee, Marc considers
this an exciting time for workforce development,
for Cherokee, and for the Central Region. CPWDC
welcomes the talents of Marc Baranouski.
Staff Members
Shannon Miller
Executive Director
Kate Lomax
Senior Youth Coordinator
Rachel V. Smith
Assistant Director
Korrie Lucas
Workforce Coordinator
Jacob Smith
Finance Manager
Cheryl Reish
Senior Fiscal Coordinator
William Berry
Research Coordinator
Laura Seward
Office/Board Coordinator
Sandie Fairman
Quality Assurance Coordinator
Chris Wilusz
Workforce and Community
Development Educator
Sarah Gill
Fiscal Coordinator
Tracy Hower
Research Coordinator
Stacey Kifolo
Project Coordinator
Kristy Anderson
Senior WorkKeys/Operations
Assistant
Jeannette Calhoun
Grant Assistant
… t he w o r k f o rc e c o r p o rati on
4
Grants
PA CareerLink
FIT 4 Careers Training Programs
With funds through a Pennsylvania Department of Labor
and Industry Career Opportunity Grant, the CPWDC is
working with the Central PA CareerLinks® to offer a series
of FIT 4 Careers short-term training programs that provide
foundational industry training to prepare participants for
entry-level employment in Advanced Manufacturing,
Building & Construction, Health Care and Natural Gas
occupations. The FIT 4 Careers series combines four essential elements into a multi-week program:
• Structured job readiness activities and career coaching
• Assessment of foundational work skills through the WorkKeys®
Career Readiness Certificate and WIN courseware
• Industry specific technical training
• Exposure to local employers through industry tours,
speakers and an exclusive networking fair.
The entry-level skills were identified through the Industry
Partnerships and upon successful completion of the
FIT 4 Careers program, the job seeker can verify skills,
both technical and employability, to employers. In order
to enroll in the program, interested job seekers must be
at least 18 years old, have a high school diploma or
GED and commit to 100% attendance for all program
requirements. A full schedule of FIT 4 Careers programs,
including PA CareerLink® location and local
employers endorsing each session, is available at
Summer Employment Experience
(SEE) Program Final Outcomes
More than 80 CareerLink staff members are to be
commended for placing 618 youth into a seven-week
summer employment opportunity in the SEE Central
PA program. Youth worked a total of 97,690 hours at
one of 162 worksites as an individual or as part of 36
teams in an array of industries and agencies including
information technology, child care, manufacturing,
clerical, general maintenance, outdoor conservation
and health care. Just over 40% of the participants
were out-of-school and 17% were high school
dropouts. More than 75% of the participants positively completed the program. All participants took part
in academic enrichment activities based on the PA
Academic Standards for Career Education and Work.
95% of all worksites would consider hosting participants again; one worksite learned that “younger workers can be assets.” In addition to the CareerLink SEE
program, 80 younger youth, ages 14 and 15, participated in one of three programs that linked academic
skills with a service learning project. CPWDC visited
and monitored more than 60 worksites and SEE participants authored profiles of 21 worksites to tell the
summer employment story. The profiles are available
by contacting CPWDC or visiting our website. The
SEE Program was funded through the American
Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
Did You Know?
www.cpwdc.org/fit4careers.htm.
• CT •
CT
Customized Training (CT) is designed for new hires or incumbent workers to meet
the special requirements of an employer or group of employers. With funding from
the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), CPWDC can pay up to 50% of
the training costs for in-demand occupations for eligible employers to upgrade the
skills of the current workforce, especially those that have been dislocated,
and provide employers with qualified employees to fill vacancies. CT applications
are available at www.cpwdc.org under “What’s New”.
… t he w o r k f o rc e c o r p o rati on
5
Guest Article
Labor Market Facts
Unemployment
Did you know?
• The unemployment rate in the Central Workforce
Investment Area climbed to 9.0% (seasonally
adjusted) in October 2009, but then saw a decline to
8.5% in November.
• Over 27,000 Central Pennsylvania residents are actively
seeking work or waiting to be called back from a layoff.
• Between January 1 and September 12, 2009,
over 38,000 unemployment claims were filed
in Central Pennsylvania.
• For some eligible individuals, unemployment
compensation benefits may extend to 99 weeks due
to both state and federal extension allowances.
• Central PA CareerLink® job orders have decreased
by 31% since October 2008.
...continued from page 1
As many as 93 million adults score at the lower levels
of national assessments of functioning literacy and are
unprepared to enroll in postsecondary education and
training programs that could prepare them for current
and future jobs.
What can be done to impact the current state of
literacy’s effect on the economy? The answer may be
continue to build and maintain a system that partners
adult education providers, postsecondary education,
social service agencies, labor unions, and workforce
development agencies so that together they can provide
great opportunities for workers and future workers to
focus on work readiness and support adults to persist
and succeed in adult education programs.
Calendar
The Workforce Investment Board, Executive Committee and
other standing Committees will be meeting in January to
finalize their schedules for 2010.
• Based on national averages, for every one job opening,
there are six individuals seeking employment.
• Long-term unemployment (extending beyond
27 weeks) has increased; and more than 50% of
jobless workers cannot find jobs within their
first six months of receiving unemployment
compensation.
Sources: Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry, Baltimore Sun
(10/1/2009) and National Employment Law Project (October 2009).
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… t he w o r k f o rc e c o r p o rati on
Central Pennsylvania Workforce Investment Board Members and Affiliations
Harry Adrian
Union-Snyder Community
Action Agency
William “Joe” Agosta
Greater PA Regional
Council of Carpenters
Jamie Aurand
Susque-View Home, Inc.
Marc Baranouski
Cherokee Pharmaceuticals, LLC.
Diane Belusko
Columbia County Assistance Office
Dave Capperella
Capperella Furniture
Jason Dugan
Morgan Stanley
Ed Edwards
Columbia Montour Chamber/
Columbia Alliance
David Frey
Williamsport Regional Airport
Tim Gage
Brodart Company
Davie Jane Gilmour
Pennsylvania College of Technology
Dean Girton
Girton Manufacturing Company
Dennis Greenaway
Greenaway Certified Appraisals
David Reed
Penn Lyon Homes
Local Elected Official Board &
Affiliations
Eric Hussar
Mid-Penn Energy, LLC.
Russ Reitz
State Farm Insurance Company
Commissioner Rich Rogers
Centre County
Robyn Long
Conestoga Wood Specialties
Pete Rickert
Five County Central Labor Council
Commissioner Tom Bossert
Clinton County
Teri MacBride
PPL Services Corporation
Billy Robinson
Kreamer Feed, Inc
Commissioner Dave Kovach
Columbia County
Harry Mathias
Central Columbia School District
Dennis Robinson
SEDA-COG
Commissioner Jeff Wheeland
Lycoming County
Michele McCardle
Ames True Temper
Roger Sheets
Woolrich, Inc
Commissioner Otis Riden
Mifflin County
Rich Merkle
Geisinger Health System
Carol Shefrin
Tuscarora Intermediate Unit #11
Commissioner Trevor Finn
Montour County
Keith Miller
Lock Haven University
Susan Swartz
Office of Vocational Rehabilitation
Commissioner Kurt Masser
Northumberland County
Chris Minnich
Northumberland County
MH/MR Homekeepers Program
Harry VanSickle
Havsho, Inc
Commissioner Joe Kantz
Snyder County
Kevin Varano
Varano’s Warehouse
Commissioner John Showers
Union County
Bill Moulfair
Bureau of Workforce
Development Partnership
Jim Nemeth
Rieter Automotive North America
Rob Postal
Mifflin County Industrial
Development Corporation
Mike Wilson
Rose Pool and Patios
Ted Wurfel
Chief Gathering
Dave Zartman
Zartman Construction