Women's Employment Issues Committee Meeting

May 23, 2014: 1:00 PM
Frances Perkins Conference Room, Maine Department of Labor
45 Commerce Drive, Augusta ME 04330

SWIB Women?s Employment Issues Committee

May 23, 2014

Present; Sharon Barker, Gilda Nardone, Michelle Hale, Christie Cross, Lib Jamison, Valerie Carter, Garret Oswald

Sharon Barker, committee Chair, opened the meeting with welcomes and introductions. For the benefit of Michelle Hale, Sharon asked for extended introductions, so Michelle could understand who was around the table.

After introductions Michelle Hale gave a presentation about the Career Connect program. Career Connect is a Bangor-based nonprofit program of the University of Maine Rising Tide Center. It is funded by a $284,093 grant from the National Science Foundation, will work to network a consortium of employers in central and eastern Maine with newly relocated professional families, with an emphasis on spousal employment. Professionals will receive networking assistance, both in seeking employment and also building social connections. Customized portfolios of vetted local resources will be offered to help families meet their particular needs outside the workplace. The program, based on an innovative model adopted by Tech Valley Connect in Troy, N.Y., will benefit the region by helping to attract and retain talented professionals in a variety of fields.

Sharon asked for a vote to approve the WEIC meeting minutes from 3/28/14 ? the vote was unanimous by all in attendance to approve as written.

Sharon then spoke about her pending retirement from u Maine in August. She will also be resigning from the WEIC. She is working to finalize transitions activities for the university and the WEIC. She also said that Gilda Nardone has been nominated to replace Sharon as the Chair of the WEIC. Fred Webber, Chair of the SWIB, is the one who is responsible to appoint the committee chairs.

The meeting wrapped up with announcements by members;

Christie ? The Liability issue related to the ASPIRE Program has been resolved but childcare and transportation are still a challenge for particpants.

Lib ? Women Unlimited has a new data base which will help in producing report and outcome data.

Valerie ? the Bureau of Labor Education has a new Director and the Guide to Employment Law has been updated and is now available.

Gilda ? WWC continues to work on the college completion issue.

Next meeting is scheduled for 6/27/14. Respectfully submitted by Garret Oswald

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