Gretchen Pettet

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Mapping the route to workforce competitiveness in
Franklin County

• Gretchen Pettet
• East Central College, Center for Workforce
  Development

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MissourisCertified Work Ready Communities

• By strengthening our local workforce
• Franklin County
• can prosper
• and grow!

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Agenda

• Recap of National Career Readiness Certificate
  (NCRC)
• Overview of Certified Work Ready Communities
• Next Steps
• Wrap Up

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Recap of National Career Readiness Certificate
(NCRC)
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The NCRC is a credential that is

• Evidence-based
• Industry-recognized
• Portable
• Certifies essential skills important for
  workplace success
• Awarded at four levels
• Bronze
• Silver
• Gold
• Platinum

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NCRC Documents these Skills . . .

• Reading for Information
• Measures skill used when reading written text
• Applied Mathematics
• Measures skill in applying mathematical
  reasoning, critical thinking and problem-solving
  techniques
• Locating Information
• Measures skill in working with workplace graphics
  to find and analyze information

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Certificate Levels

Certificates are awarded by achieving a minimum Level 3 score on all assessments Level 4 score on all assessments Level 5 score on all assessments Level 6 score on all assessments
Skill levels demonstrate ability for 16 of jobs 67 of jobs 93 of jobs 99 of jobs
Sample Occupation Correlation Auto Body Repair Technician Veterinary Assistant Janitorial Supervisor Drywall Installer Pharmacy Aid Administrative Manager Head Cook Medical Assistant Engineering Technician Machinist School Counselor Pharmacy Technician Semi-Conductor Processor Business Executive Electrician Accountant Technical Writer Sales Manager Registered Nurse Manager Elevator Installer and Repairer
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Benefits to Employers

• Demonstrate skills of the job seeker
• Reduces time and hiring cost
• Reduces turnover
• Reduces training time
• Improves quality of new hires
• Increases productivity

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Whats currently in place?

• Testing Availability
• East Central College (Career/Technical Ed)
• MO Manufacturing Wins
• MO Health Wins
• East Central Missouri Consortium Career
  Preparation Certificate
• Four Rivers Area Career Center
• Missouri Career Centers
• Free of charge for all job seekers who register
• Employers Requiring
• CG Power Systems, Washington
• American Plastics, Union
• Graphic Packaging, Pacific

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Overview of Certified Work Ready Communities
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What is the Certified Work Ready Community
Initiative?

• An initiative to develop a protocol to promote
  the WorkKeys system as a valuable tool for
  evaluation of the local workforce.
• By utilizing the NCRC, Franklin County will be
  able to attract, retain and develop a workforce
  with the education and foundational skills to
  succeed in the 21st century.
• Links workforce development to education
• Matches individuals to jobs based on skill level
• Aligns with the economic development needs of
  communities, regions and states

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What does it mean?

• Achievement of Certified Work Ready Community
  status recognizes that
• A county can provide and deliver a quality
  workforce with the skills employers need to be
  work ready
• Goals have been met for individuals in the local
  workforce earning a National Career Readiness
  Certificate (NCRC)
• Goals have been met for local business
  engagement- either recognizing, preferring or
  recommending the NCRC

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Whats in this for Key Stakeholders?

• Economic Developers and Community Leaders
• Can quantify the skill level of their workforce
  for attracting new business ventures or growing
  their own
• Business and Industry
• Can quickly identify, hire and skill up a
  workforce to enhance productivity and over all
  increase ROI
• Individuals
• Can quantify and demonstrate to current and
  future employers how they meet a company position
• Educators
• Measure skill gaps of students and build career
  pathways that benefit both individuals and
  business

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How does It Work in each County?

• The Certified Work Ready Community is a voluntary
  initiative guided by key community leaders in our
  county.

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Franklin Countys Leadership Team
Role Organization Name Community
Local Business Henniges Kevin Carpenter New Haven
  American Plastics Fred Martels Union
  CG Powers Brandy Hagedorn Washington
Economic Development City of Washington Darren Lamb Washington
  City of Union Joey Graves Union
City of Sullivan J.T. Hardy Sullivan
  City of New Haven Steve Roth New Haven
Chambers of Commerce St. Clair Chamber Angela Crawford St. Clair
  Pacific Chamber Fran Kopsky Pacific
K-12 Education Union School District Steve Bryant Union
  Four Rivers Andy Robison Washington
Local Elected Officials Franklin County John Grieseheimer Franklin County
Workforce Investment Board GH Tool Julie Scannell Washington
  WIB Director Shirley Wilson County
  DWD Donna Mantle County
Community College East Central College Gretchen Pettet Union
  East Central College Dr. Jon Bauer  
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Next Steps
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Leadership Team

• Develop a protocol to promote the WorkKeys system
  as a valuable tool for evaluation of local
  workforce
• Enroll businesses in county to promote/use NCRC
• Employer partnership letters
• Encourage recognition of/enthusiasm for
  Certified Work Ready Communities with entire
  community by explaining benefits for individuals,
  businesses, and state

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National Career Readiness Goals

• Each county has goals for the of NCRCs
  achieved/awarded.
• Franklin Countys Goals are

Workforce Goals 11/1/12 Current
Emerging (those preparing to graduate) 256 40 45
Current (those currently employed) 17 42 61
Transitioning (those seeking new employment) 176 80 145
TOTALS 449 162 251
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Tracking our progress
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Tracking our progress
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Employer Engagement is Key

• Business supporting means a company is agreeing
  to recognize, prefer or recommend the NCRC in
  hiring
• Obtain signed Partnership Letters from supporting
  businesses -- company name will be listed on CWRC
  state site and ACT national site
• Goals are based on county size and 2010 census
  information

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Partnership Letter

• Fillable PDF form
• Available online or from a member of the
  leadership team http//jobs.mo.gov/employer

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Employer Engagement
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Current Franklin County Employer Supporters

• American Plastics Group
• CG Power Systems USA, Inc.
• G.H. Tool Mold, Inc.
• Intek Corporation
• PLZ Aeroscience Corporation
• Town Country Metals
• Henniges Automotive
• St. Clair Chamber of Commerce
• Franklin County
• East Central College
• Innovative Machine Tool, Inc.

• Hellebush Tool Die
• Advanced Sight Center
• Fricks Quality Meats
• Enduro Binders, Inc.
• Manpower, Inc.
• Washington Area Chamber of Commerce
• Ace Manufacturing
• Meramec Group
• Metalcraft Enterprises

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Other Franklin County Supporters

• Washington City Council
• East Central College Board of Trustees
• Union Development Corporation
• Jeff/Frank Workforce Investment Board
• Washington Civic Industrial Corporation
• Washington Chamber of Commerce
• Union R-XI School District

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Endorsing the CWRC

• Missouri Economic Development Council
• State Chamber of Commerce and Industry
• Associated Industries of Missouri-AIM

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Endorsing the CWRC

• Missouri School Boards Association
• Missouri Community College Association
• Missouri Workforce Investment Board (MoWIB)

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Why This is Important

• Platform for Regional Cooperation and Economic
  Competitiveness
• Strengthen/expand existing businesses
• Retain businesses and attract new business
• Close skill gaps by qualifying our workforce
• Keep our young people in Missouri

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What can you do?

• As a group, pass a resolution or motion of your
  support
• Sign a partnership letter on behalf of your
  business or organization
• Consider preferring the NCRC when you hire
• Schedule an appointment to learn more
• At the very least recognize and acknowledge if an
  applicant says they have their NCRC.

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Wrap Up
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ded.mo.gov/getcertified
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Mapping your route to workforce competitiveness
For Additional Information

• Gretchen Pettet, East Central College, Center for
  Workforce Development
• 636-239-0598
• gapettet_at_eastcentral.edu