August 14, 2024 (Regional) Minutes

Workforce Development Board Regional Minutes

Employment Services - 315 N. 11th Ave, Bldg. B, Greeley, CO 80631
Meeting Location: First Floor Conference Room
Meeting: August 14, 2024 - 10:45 .m. - 1:00 p.m.

Board Members Present:
Alex Kloehn, Lutheran Family Services, Rocky Mountains; Ann Hutchison, Fort Collins Chamber of Commerce; Bill Johnson, Yoder Family Companies; Bob Brasser, CWDC; Carol Salter, Larimer County; Cheryl DeGrave, Larimer County; Colleen DePasquale, Estes Chamber/EDWC; David Roecker, Broadcom; Deena McBain, Aims Community College; Hope Hartman, SBDC; Jennifer Miller, The Elizabeth Hotel; John Kefalas, Larimer County; Julie Cila, Lincoln Electric; Justin Booker, City of Greeley Fire Department and IAFF Professional Firefighter's Union, Local 888 - Greeley Firefighters; Karla Torczon, Elevations Credit Union; Lauren Price, Aurora Mental Health & Recovery; Lisa Taylor, The Weld Trust; Heather Lechook, Aims Community College; Joe Martinez, Denver Pipefitters Local 208; Abigail Weiss; CWDC; Luke Margheim, Larimer County; Marcy Kasner, Larimer County; Mark Johnston, Larimer County; Matthew Hortt, High Plains Library District; Misti Trefry, Project Self Sufficiency; Nick Peterson, Larimer County; Ridge Overholt, Express Employment; Sandra Jackam, Larimer County; Rich Werner, Upstate Colorado; Scott James, Weld County Board of County Commissioners; Shawn Croissant, Envision; Victoria Cordova, Banner Health; Zach Huston, Chevron U.S.A. Inc.; Cecil Courtney, Pipefitters Local 208; John Kefalas, Larimer County Commissioner; Thomas Hartman, CWDC; Jesus Borrego, CDLE; Josh Alvarez, CSU; Keri Funkhouser, CWDC; Amanda Ericson, HrX; CeCe Majchrowski, Employment Services; Greg Cordova, Employment Services; Karina Amaya Ragland, Employment Services; Ruth DeBoer, Employment Services; Tami Grant, Employment Services;

Timeline

10:45 a.m. Mingle and get food
11:00 a.m. Welcome (Julie & Matt)
11:15 a.m. Local Plan Approvals (Karina & Mark)
11:20 a.m. Adam’s presentation on Data and the Need for Pivots in the Future
11:45 p.m. Activity* (Kelsey); 5 min instructions; 10 min sessions, 1 min rotation time
12:30 p.m. Share Out & Next Steps
1:00 p.m. Conclusion & Adjourn (Julie & Matt)

Activity

  • Exploring creative and unique ways of gaining resources through.
    • Accessibility – Marketing & Awareness
    • Quality – Customized Training
    • Affordability – Alternative Talent Pipeline Models – Apprenticeships, WBL
    • Equity – Talent Finance Model
  • Below are the notes summarizing the discussions from each table:
    • Table 1: Affordability
      • Focused on making workforce systems more user-friendly and accessible with minimal effort (e.g., single mouse clicks).
      • Discussed increasing paid internships at all levels (high school, college) and providing support like transportation and equipment needs.
      • Explored how smaller businesses can better engage with apprenticeship programs, highlighting the role of the state apprenticeship office and workforce centers in easing the process.
      • Suggested hosting workshops with businesses already involved in apprenticeships to share their experiences and possibly implementing a door-to-door outreach strategy for small businesses needing support.
    • Table 2: Quality
      • Emphasized the need for customizable training programs that can be applied across multiple industries rather than narrowly focused ones.
      • One-on-one customized training was seen as more feasible for employers compared to training large groups.
      • The Colorado Workforce Development Council (CWDC) is working on quality career pathways, and Thomas is developing a talent pipeline report that will include information on micro-certifications.
      • Discussed the idea of sabbaticals to allow workers to receive necessary training.
    • Table 3: Equity
      • Highlighted the importance of providing work-based learning opportunities, particularly for immigrant and refugee populations.
      • Emphasized the value of trusted messengers within specific communities.
      • Explored how private sector businesses can integrate more internships and part-time roles into their budgets to increase access and equity in the workforce.
      • Discussed supporting industry shifts in policies related to working with youth, including addressing hesitancy in the private sector by showcasing best practices.
      • Career counseling capacity in high schools was identified as limited, with a need for more workforce exposure for students.
      • Childcare was noted as a critical issue, with the potential to increase access to education and quality jobs.
      • Encouraged thinking about career pathways in terms of employment leading to education, rather than education to employment.
      • Flexible work schedules and partnerships with businesses were suggested to prevent burnout and increase success rates for those juggling work and education.
    • Table 4: Accessibility
      • Identified challenges with the "Connecting Colorado" system, noting a lack of return on investment (ROI) for users.
      • Stressed the importance of building relationships with businesses before they have specific needs.
      • Suggested the public workforce system needs rebranding, including a clear tagline and marketing plan to define the target audience.
      • Highlighted difficulties in disseminating large amounts of information to the public and the need for centralized resources.
      • Proposed creating 30-60 second videos for public outreach, particularly targeting youth, schools, and parents.

Assurance

Veterans and eligible spouses are entitled to priority access to Department of Labor-funded programs. Auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities. Dial 711 for Relay Services. Employment Services of Weld County is an equal opportunity program and employer.

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