Veterans Employment Committee

February 17, 2021: 10:00 AM

MINUTES

State Workforce Board (SWB) Veterans Employment Committee (VEC) February 17, 2021 (10:00am - 12:30pm) Via Microsoft Teams

Attending: Mark Cafiso, Mark Cater, Andy Gibson, Bethany Mazzaro, Debbie Kelley, Dave Klein, Auta Main, Joshua Howe, Amy Lyon, Sarah Sherman, Stacy Isaac, David Young, Scott Young, Mike Grey, Camden Edge, Robin Doody, Bill Benson, Jen Giroux, Jen Fulmer, Caleb Roy, Ashley Pringle, Aaron Dombrowski,

Fred Webber has resigned from the SWB VEC. Was former chair of the SWB and a member of SWB VEC for 10 years. Wishes the committee well in the future and looks forward to hearing good things from the committee. Chair offered his thanks to Fred for service as a Marine as well as his engagement with the SWB/SWB VEC.

Approval of Meeting Notes from December 2, 2020 Meeting; Motion to approve Mark Cater, 2nd Caleb Roy- approved by committee

Joshua Howe, Program Coordinator, State Workforce Board SWB meeting remotely for 1 year. SWB and DECD working together to implement the economic development plan, recovery committee and the WIOA State Plan. Working with DHHS as well with regard to the healthcare workforce and the co-enrollment of DHHS programs and DOL programs and mitigating workforce shortages. Could include licensing as well as training and support services. Looking at barriers for immigrant community, SWB established Immigrant Workforce Committee. Working with SWB chairs to re-establish committees (OWC and YWC) and coordinate work of other committees. DOL received TA opportunity Disability Employment Bootcamp focused on support of employers in hiring of PWD. Next SWB meeting March 2021.

Joe Tatem- VEC Vision & Goals for 2021: Prime the pump for a future meeting. Talking about support of veterans and family members, look at how we're doing that during the pandemic and post pandemic and role of technology. Do veterans understand how to use the technology to do job interviews etc.

Current Strategic Planning Priorities 2020/2021 Updates

MARKETING to Veterans and Employers Marc Cafiso -Maine Hire-A-Vet 2020 Campaign Update/Finals: Marc Cafiso, ended December 24 ended 226 employers and 100 hired though there may be more in process still to be reported. First year which weve done all virtual event. Numbers are little lowers from previous years but given doing it remote. Considering a hybrid event next year both live and virtual to allow people from all over the state to participate.

Co-Coordinators, Leo Deon, LVER Lewiston CareerCenter and Mark Cafiso, LVER, Portland CareerCenter

Sarah Sherman; December Follow-up: Veteran Marketing Workgroup report: Team met in December with Martha Bentley from DECD to look at boomerang veterans. DECD working on storytelling, potential for collaborative marketing video, look at how we use technology to reach out to younger veterans. Working on getting list of veterans leaving the military so we can reach out to them. Looking at forming a team to develop a team to do outreach as bases. Virtual coffee break idea as way to reach out to veterans.
Jen Fulmer, Economic Recovery Committee is working to tie into DECD plan grow and attract talent. Look at how economic development committee can feed information to this committee and move some pieces for veterans. Both growing and recruiting talent to Maine. Dont want to duplicate efforts. Bill Benson, on that committee and can help make sure theres coordination between the groups Joe, look at how we can push initiatives to the larger board. Should we be developing teams to go out to bases, need to identify who that will be and where will the money come from.
Group discussion: Work is still in development. Its a larger recruiting effort and to be seen how it will focus on veterans. A number of ideas have been thrown around with the BVS, recovery committee, Live and Work in Maine among others.
Need to ensure that were providing information in multiple ways to reach the different generations of veterans. Discussed work in helping transitioning service members in supporting service members and that there is a difference between supporting those coming to Maine and doing the outreach and recruiting to get people to come to Maine and may be outside the scope of some of the programs. Staying in touch with the DECD committees how that is happening and can be supported will continue.
Need to also ensure that we have employer support and input on these. There is work underway on this with Boots2Roots and DECD to help ensure thats happening.

Mark Cafiso, December Follow-up: Video Production Workgroup report: Met with Destination Occupation, Dick Dyer, also involved in HAV campaign and had some veterans do videos/ elevator speeches for the campaign and proved very successful. Talking about continuing to do that following the campaign with money left over from the campaign. Exploring doing throughout the year, not just during the campaign. BIW roving job fairs continuing. Just hired former special forces person who is spearheading veterans hiring for BIW.

Mike Grey, Civilian 101 training to help support veterans be more ready for civilian employment in Maine. Traditionally done more one on one. Looking at new ways to do this work that would allow veterans to do this on their own time. Presented draft curriculum which Kylie had. Want to offer once a month, video and have available online. Need feedback on the curriculum, missing pieces, things that shouldnt be there. Also, where should videos be posted and shared.
Suggestion to move away from language of civilian 101 and just call it "Job readiness training" which has largely already been done. Discussion: Technology piece missing from curriculum. Need to look at how to prepare veterans for virtual job fairs and interviews. Using QR codes so that interviewer can go straight to LinkdIn site etc. Suspect after pandemic, that many companies will likely stay with virtual interviews. Record short elevator speech. Get practice in doing virtual meetings or coffee meetings to help improve comfort with them before interviews. Lighting/ sound, space preparation such as closing a blind behind the person so they can be seen. Prep and test technology before the meeting so that youre not fixing the sound during the start of the interview. Body language. Tailor interview etiquette to the format (live or virtual) and for people to understand that a Zoom interview is a proper interview and must be taken seriously. Possibly have people do homework such as do 2minute video/elevator speech. Integrate rather than separate as its part of all of the work. Originally there were 10 modules, currently at 6 modules. Will in process of being developed. Where should videos be hosted. YouTube? Other? YouTube is good because it can be easily shared across the country with partners. Possibly establish a Maine Veterans Employment channel on YouTube so that people can subscribe and continue to get updates to the channel.

SWB VEC MEMBERSHIP New Members 2021 Constant Evolution Joe would like to ask Kylie Higgins to become part of the SWB VEC and do a presentation for the committee. Saw presentation by her previously and it was excellent.

VETERAN FRIENDLY EMPLOYER AWARDS Updates. Debbie Kelley, Vets Medallion program application period is open. Did a presentation for employers the other day, had about 30 employers participating. Definition of veteran was question. It is based on the employers definition, not any military definition. Business is based on EIN, not necessarily locations. Depends on how theyre structured.

Debbie Kelley, new federal administration. New priorities, items etc. Stay tuned for more. Under new appropriations, State orders could be covered by UCERA where usually only covered by federal orders. ,

Sarah Sherman, BVS, possible presenter from BIW apprenticeship director, Michael Ross.

Future Dates for 2021 SWB VEC Meetings, VIRTUAL or Frances Perkins Rm, MDOL March 17, May 19, July 21, September 15 and November 17 Andy Gibson Miscellaneous / Adjourn

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