State Workforce Investment Board

November 20, 2015: 9:30 AM
France Perkins Room, Central Maine Commerce Center

STATE WORKFORCE BOARD MEETING

November 20, 2015

Present: Fred Webber, Kevin Healey, Susan Hammond, Nicole Morin-Scribner, Jeanne Paquette, Becky Green (in behalf of David Bernhardt), Tom Davis, Jennifer McKenna, Tracey Cooley, Scott Knapp (in behalf of Dereck Langhauser), Renee Kelly (in behalf of James Page), Gail Senese (in behalf of William Beardsley), Michael Hersey (in behalf of George Gervais), Jim Howard (in behalf of Joseph Fitzpatrick), Jon Mason (proxy), Ed McKersie (proxy), Mel Clarrage (proxy), Robert Carmichael (phone), Ryan Bushey (phone), Joanne Harris (phone), Terry Young (phone), Liz Rensenbrink (absent), Scott Good (absent), Leo (Chip) Roche (absent), Mary Mayhew (absent), Sallie Chandler (absent), Don Berry (absent), John Leavitt (absent), Amy Volk (absent), Erin Herbig (excused)

SWB Staff: Garret Oswald, Paul Leparulo, Cheryl Moran

Welcome & Introductions • Fred Webber opened the meeting with welcomes and introductions.

• Garret Oswald opened the meeting stating how the agenda is split in half. One section is dedicated to Maine?s overall picture (beyond WIOA/or what is important in Maine) and the other WIOA Compliance. This will be the first opportunity to try the new format. The State Workforce Development Board (as required by the Act) deals strictly with WIOA. WIOA is important but gives us an opportunity to look at a bigger picture.

Maine?s Workforce Development Landscape: Paul Leparulo Challenges/Opportunities/Priorities ? Paul opened his PowerPoint presentation by stating the 3 factors that present a serious challenge to the State of Maine: 1. Shrinking workforce (natural attrition, more deaths than births, oldest workforce in the Nation and Youths leaving the State). 2. Mismatch (shortage of workers lacking skills needed to perform the job, geographic (jobs here, skills there). 3. Quality of the workforce (post-secondary education and soft skills are more important than ever). We need New Mainers but every Mainer is not enough. Many resources are limited which also can present a challenge. The outlook for Maine?s population by 2032, ages 22-64 will decline (130,000/16%). This is where a red light should go off. We need a statewide strategy in the use of data. Data is needed to inform in order to measure success. Maine has thousands of jobs that are unfilled due to lack of skills and education. Post-secondary education and soft skills are more important than ever. Indicators state that educational attainment in Maine is the lowest in the Region and the median wage per capita are the lowest incomes in New England. Final thoughts; the 3 areas (shrinking workforce, mismatch and quality of the workforce) are needed to be addressed strategically.
• Jeanne Paquette ? Paul and I have discussed this presentation. Over the past 20-25 years, we have been hearing about the problem. We need actionable items on paper on what we need to do and everyone in the room carrying the message. If we cannot answer the call, how can we have new jobs? WIOA is not our main focus at this Board, it is bigger than that. This Board has not utilized its efforts in the past. Nothing ever got accomplished. • Scott Knapp ? stated there are no minorities sitting in the room as other States have in common. He felt that this is part of Maine?s problem. • Fred Webber ? we need to look at all minority groups. • Scott Knapp ? after 18 years of significant growth (Community College enrollment), this year we had a decline of 3% statewide. • Kevin Healey ? questioned. Why would people come to Maine? Climate? Location? But we have a lot going for us if they understood it. How do we get the word out? We need to take advantage of this. Older workforce - allow flexibility instead of the traditional way. People with disabilities - they want to work but feel we are not doing enough. Youth ? why do they leave or attend school out-of-state and do not return? We are not doing enough. He suggested maybe incentives. • Susan Hammond ? we need to have a better understanding of their world such as their day to day economic struggles. She also suggested it would be great to have minorities and low-income people on the Board. • Jeanne Paquette ? suggested an informal survey (what are the struggles) perhaps would be helpful to everyone who sits on this Board. • Jennifer McKenna ? asked the question, what is the largest sector of unfilled jobs? • Paul Leparulo ? stated referring to the Maine Center for Workforce and Research Information (CWRI), all sectors across the board. He pointed out how Career Pathways gives people a choice that comes directly from the employer. • Gail Senese ? suggested we need to talk among ourselves in-between meetings. Our new goals should be not just what we are doing in our own little world. When people are working, it will solve a lot of things. • Richard Freund ? we need to establish and quantify some goals. • Tracey Cooley ? stated that skills mismatch is always a struggle for them (Job Corps). However, they produce 500 graduates per year. In-migration is on a very small scale but students that graduate from out-of-state choose to stay in Maine. She stated that she would like to know what some of their credentials might be lacking to fill the needs of employers. • Jim Howard ? stated the employer is our customer. • Ryan Bushey ? High school and CT programs encourage kids to further their education which is wonderful. His concern is that we do not have the capacity as a State. He mentioned that the Tennessee Community College System offers local residents free education which is attractive to entice in-migration. • Renee Kelly ? Real data is needed on jobs and where. As far as barriers, we have never really seen data. Internships can be a key to retaining students after graduation. She mentioned that Rhode Island has a tax-credit incentive to students who do internships. • Robert Carmichael ? suggested education pathway from early age. • Nicole Morin-Scribner ? suggested maybe choose the top 3 positions of what is needed to fill. • Joan Dolan- stated that we need to break out of silos. We need to be more connected. • Joanne Harris ? stated that she would like to have a single point of contact especially with the Grant Programs. • Tom Davis ? the Pulp and Paper Industry is shutting down. Members approached him stating they cannot get training. His concern is that apparently they are falling through the cracks. • Garret Oswald ? stated that what he is hearing that energy will be focused around the un-tapped labor pools. This is WIOA driven. This is our opportunity that we never had before. He advised what the process will be to stay connected.  Every 2 weeks after the meeting all Board members will receive the minutes and summary.  4 weeks after the meeting the background data piece.  6 weeks after the meeting will send a reminder email including the agenda and goal connected to the next meeting.

WIOA Compliance Issues: Committee Recommendation ? Garret Oswald ? this recommendation was put forth by the Committee on Disability and Employment (CD & E). Jennifer Kimble, Chair of the CD & E is the original author. • Jennifer Kimble ? she stated how she comes across people every day who have barriers that keeps them out-of-work. She felt the system needed changes where a person can access services easily but it did not happen at a CareerCenter. She mentioned how the CareerCenter should have a trained skilled staff person who can effectively serve. This is what triggered her to craft this recommendation. • Fred Webber ? formal recommendation to be included in the Plan. • Garret Oswald ? stated look for approval of recommendation to be included in the Plan that will be submitted to the Governor. • Fred Webber asked for approval. Tracey Cooley motioned. Gail Senese seconded. Vote was unanimous. Regions/Local Workforce Areas • Ginny Carroll ? The purpose is this policy identifies planning regions within the State as required by WIOA and articulates the criteria the State considered in identifying such regions for the purpose of administering WIOA Subtitle-B and regional planning. How we align not only at the State level but also at the local level. The Regions consists of three areas: 1) Five Counties, 2) Central Western and 3) Coastal Counties. She stated how the economic development districts are divided almost equally. • Garret Oswald ? this policy needs to be included in the Plan and articulated before it goes out for public comment. • Fred Webber ? asked for votes on Regions ? set policy as written. Tracey Cooley motioned. Gail Senese seconded. Vote was unanimous. • Richard Freund announced that Joanna Russell will continue as Executive Director of the new Local Workforce Development Board. He stated that he is delighted with the decisions on consolidation. . • Fred Webber ? this is a defining moment. By Laws • Garret Oswald ? stated that he received a couple of changes such as terminology. He asked for approval before submitted to the Governor. Kevin Healey motioned. Jim Howard seconded. Vote was unanimous. Minutes • Garret Oswald ? asked for approval of 10/2/15 minutes. He stated there has been no change since last meeting. Tom Davis motioned. Tracey Cooley seconded. Vote was unanimous. Transition Activity Update • Garret Oswald ? WIOA Planning Update - It all started with a 3 day Vision Workshop. Local areas and regions will be articulated in the Plan. A lot of workgroups have formed which developed a Steering Committee. All groups work very diligently together. He stated Maine is in great shape. He mentioned Ed McKersie has a new website for recruitment of new members. www.liveandworkinmaine.com Ed would like to have feedback. We will send the website electronically. • Jeanne Paquette ? she closed by saying, let?s reinvent this Board to be an actionable Board. Get the word out! Next meeting will be held on January 29, 2016, 9:30 ? 12:00 in the Frances Perkins Room, MDOL Commerce Drive, Augusta.

Meeting adjourned.

Respectfully submitted by Cheryl Moran

Attachments