NORTH CENTRAL FOCUS ERIC S COMMENTS

Transcription

1 A North Central Employee Newsletter ERIC S COMMENTS North Central will be recognized and respected as a premier regional development organization by providing first-class services to our customers

2 NORTH CENTRAL WORKFORCE INVESTMENT BOARD LEADS EMPLOYER AND WORKFORCE PANELS AT RURAL LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE The North Central Workforce Investment Board (NCWIB) plays an intermediary role in increasing the connection between business and education in North Central PA. Pam Streich and Susie Snelick from the NCWIB led the Preparing our Youth for the 21 st Century session at the Intermediate Unit 9 (IU9) Rural Leadership Conference on June 27, 2013 at the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford. Pam and Susie provided an update of an online tool developed for teachers and counselors to utilize to connect with local employers. They also moderated 2 panels: Workforce Program representatives and Business and Industry representatives. The panel of workforce representatives discussed the career preparedness programs available to schools and students in the IU9 service area. Local business and industry representatives discussed the skills they are looking for in potential employees, the work-based learning program that work best for them and what positions require college degrees and which require shorter-term education and training among other topics. Employer Panel L to R: Jackie Lenox, GKN Sinter St. Marys Plant, Shane Oschman, Northwest Savings Bank, Heidi Boser, American Refining Group, Inc., Ben Bickford, Charles Cole Memorial Hospital and Eric Wolfe, Horizon Technology, Inc. North Central will be recognized and respected as a premier regional development organization by providing first-class services to our customers 2

3 NORTH CENTRAL WORKFORCE CONT. Ann Dunkerton, 4-H Cooperative Extension, Natalie Aiello, 4-H Cooperative Extension, Bob Veilleux, Potter County Education Council, Larry Horning, North Central Workforce Development, Troy Johnson, North Central Workforce Development, Loretta Lininger, IU9 Participants at the Rural Leadership Conference listen intently to the employer panel members. North Central will be recognized and respected as a premier regional development organization by providing first-class services to our customers

4 ADDITIONAL FUNDS FOR THE NORTH CENTRAL REGION TO SERVE DISLOCATED WORKERS The North Central Workforce Investment Board is excited to share that we will be receiving additional funds to serve our Dislocated Workers through the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry s Dislocated Worker Training (DWT) National Emergency Grant (NEG). Our region will receive an initial allocation of $100,000 to assist with training Dislocated Workers through On-the -Job Training, Apprenticeships, and Customized Training. Priority is to serve the long-term unemployed and veterans and other priority occupations. OJT Reimbursements: $45,000 will be available in OJT Reimbursements. Our goal is to serve 10 additional dislocated workers at an average cost per of $4,500. On the Job Training is provided by the employer to a WIA eligible trainee who has completed the required core and intensive services available at the PA CareerLink centers, who has been unsuccessful in obtaining employment through such services, and who has been approved for OJT participation by the PA CareerLink staff and the North Central WIB. Customized Training: $30,000 will be available for customized training. Our goal is to serve 7 additional dislocated workers at an average cost per of $4,500. Customized training will be provided by an employer in our region who has identified a need for a group of like individuals in a specific occupation where customized training is the best option. This service with be procured as required. Registered Apprenticeships: $20,000 will be available for registered apprenticeship training. Our goal is to serve 4 additional dislocated workers at an average cost of $4,500. We have been working with employers in our region to identify opportunities for registered apprenticeships and this grant will provide the opportunity to provide resources to individuals within a company. This is a great opportunity for career advancement. If we are successful in the implementation of the program we may be eligible for additional resources. Staff are currently working to identify Dislocated Workers specifically from the two priority areas of long-term unemployed and veterans. If you know of anyone in need of assistance in their job search please refer them to the nearest PA CareerLink center North Central will be recognized and respected as a premier regional development organization by providing first-class services to our customers 4

5 NORTH CENTRAL WIC PROGRAM WELCOMES SUMMER INTERN Shelby Davison joined the North Central WIC Department as our summer intern on May 13, Shelby graduated from Ridgway Area High School in June She will be entering her 4 th year of studies at Gannon University in the Physician Assistant Program. The Physician Assistant Program at Gannon University is a high demand major. 48 seats are available for each new incoming freshmen class. Interested students must submit a completed application (application, official transcripts and test scores) by November 1 st of their senior year of high school in order to be considered for acceptance into the program. General requirements for acceptance include a minimum SAT score of 1050 or ACT score of 23, minimum GPA of 3.2, and recommendation by the student s High School Counselor or Principal. Physician Assistant Students are required to maintain a minimum 3.0 GPA to continue to advance within the program. At the conclusion of the 4 th year of studies, Shelby will obtain a Bachelors Degree of Physician Assistant Science. Her 5 th year curriculum will be predominately clinical. Following the completion of her 5 th year, Shelby will graduate with a Master of Physician Assistant Science degree. In order to become a certified PA (Physician Assistant), students must pass the Physician Assistant National Certifying Exam (PANCE). This exam is a computer based, multiple choice test comprised of questions that assess basic medical and surgical knowledge. Shelby has been a great asset to our WIC Program. She works primarily in the Ridgway WIC Clinic setting. On days that the Ridgway office is closed, Shelby is assigned duties in the office setting. Some of Shelby s main WIC clinic duties include: issuance of food instruments to applicable participants, distribution of checks and client education of the Farmers Market Nutrition Program, weighing/measuring infants & children, scheduling & rescheduling client appointments and answering the phone/checking voice messages and responding to client calls appropriately. Shelby was a huge support to the WIC staff in the clinic setting. While working in the main office setting, Shelby s main responsibility was to review and update our county Outreach Books. She also organized games & information for Staff Outreach Events and collected necessary supplies for the Ridgway clinic site. Our staff is appreciative of having the opportunity to work with Shelby. We hope that Shelby s experience with the WIC Program will stay with her throughout her career as a Physician Assistant. North Central will be recognized and respected as a premier regional development organization by providing first-class services to our customers

6 NORTH CENTRAL EXPORT CO-HOSTS EVENTS FOR THE HARDWOOD INDUSTRY Over the past few weeks, the Hardwood Industry in the North Central Region had the opportunity to participate in two events. The first event, Hardwood Boot Camp, was held on August 22 in Clarion. The event was sponsored by the Pennsylvania Forest Products Association for member companies. Both North Central and Northwest Export programs had the opportunity to provide an in-depth presentation of the services offered by the Regional Export Networks as applicable to the hardwood industry. Sixteen representatives from 8 companies were in attendance, North Central was represented by seven individuals from four hardwood companies Kane Hardwood, Matson Lumber, Rorabaugh Lumber and Walker Lumber. In addition, the Export Program in cooperation with the Northwest Commission and the Hardwood Development Council (HDC) hosted a Hardwood Inbound Buyers Mission on August 29, 2013 in Clarion. Five Buyers, four from Turkey and one from the United Arab Emirates met with eight hardwood suppliers. Four North Central companies participated, McDonald Owen, Matson Lumber and ITL. Participating companies provided positive feedback towards both the event and about the buyers. Pictured: Jack Monnoyer from MacDonald & Owen Lumber and Gorkem Sever from Severler Veneer meet during the recent Turkish Hardwood Buyers Inbound Mission North Central will be recognized and respected as a premier regional development organization by providing first-class services to our customers 6

7 SOFT SKILLS IN THE WORKPLACE John recently landed a position with Big Lots as a stocker. John stated he will work across three different shifts for his employer. In conversation, John informed his Employability Counselor he learned a great deal from the Work Ready Workshops at the PA CareerLink. John stated the Interview Skills Workshop helped him to understand how to answer the questions during his interview. Prior to the workshop, he had many questions. He commented on the importance of having a professional resume and the help he received to write the resume. John appreciated the class that taught him the importance of getting along with others on the job. The information provided John with the knowledge of what to do when someone makes him angry; he now writes his concerns on paper at the end of the day, instead of "blowing up" as a way to handle issues while on the job. During the ShaleNet training John learned how to operate a forklift and currently he is safely operating a hand lift. John attributes his ability to do parts of this job to his ShaleNet training. John was recently asked to work a double shift and he said "yes" to his employer because he learned the importance of meeting his employer's expectations and needs. When asked what motivates John; he stated, the fear of losing my job. John really wants to work and more importantly, he wants to be considered a highly valued employee. L-R Susan Galbraith, Busines Service Representative Dubois Area, Kathleen Margle, Employability Counselor, DuBois Area, and John O Harah, job seeker North Central will be recognized and respected as a premier regional development organization by providing first-class services to our customers

8 ANNIVERSARY DATE - YEARS OF SERVICE DATE OF HIRE EMPLOYEE DEPARTMENT YRS. OF SERVICE 09/05/1989 Mary Lou Jessop Administration 24 Yrs. 09/24/1990 Ann Dixon Workforce 23 Yrs. 09/10/1997 Denise Hetrick WIC 16 Yrs. 09/01/2002 Michele McCamley WIC 11 Yrs. 09/11/2006 Troy Johnson Workforce 7 Yrs. 09/25/2006 Eric Bridges Administration 7 Yrs. 09/01/2010 Jean Dippel WIC 3 Yrs. 09/04/2012 Pattie Dilts WIC 1 Yr. North Central will be recognized and respected as a premier regional development organization by providing first-class services to our customers 8