Veterans' Employment Committee Meeting

January 11, 2017: 10:00 AM
Frances Perkins Room, 45 Commerce Drive Augusta

AGENDA State Workforce Board (SWB) Veterans Employment Committee (VEC) January 11, 2017 (10:00am ? 12:30pm) Location: MDOL, Commerce Center, Frances Perkins Room Jonathan Farr, SWB Chair Welcome and Opening Remarks Jonathan Farr Around the Room Introductions Jonathan Farr/ALL Approval of Meeting Notes from November 16, 2016 Meeting Jonathan Farr/ALL SWB VEC Strategic Priorities ? Quick Review o Selected Priorities for 2016/2017  Marketing - focus on driving Vets to MBVS web portal  Education - focus on employers and veterans  Misc Other ? SWB VEC Membership/Veteran Friendly Employer Award, Other SWB VEC Members Strategic Planning Priorities 2016/2017 ? Progress Updates and Guests - Marketing - MBVS Website and Portal, Laura Allen, Outreach Specialist, MBVS - Education/Veterans - CSSP High Wage In Demand Occupations List (Auta) - Education/Veterans ? Occupational Licensing Simplification/Possible Fast Tracks o Commissioner Anne Head, Dept of Professional and Financial Regulation/PFR o And/or Catherine Carroll, Regulatory Board Coordinator, PFR - Education/Veterans ? Fast Tracking Vets in IT Careers/IT Training & Hiring Group o Kelly Rickert, Director of Workforce Development OIT, State of Maine - Education/Veterans ? Medic to RN (and other medical) - Fast Tracking Exploration o Debbie Kelly, Maine Director, Veterans Employment and Training, USDOL o Robin Doody, Talent Acquisition Specialist, Eastern ME Healthcare Systems o Auta Main, Veterans Program Manager, MDOL - Education/Veterans ? Civilian Employment 101 / Demilitarizing Veterans o Dave Stearns, President, Dale Carnegie Maine o Mark Cater, LVER, Lewiston CareerCenter - Education/Veterans ? Internships for Veterans/Advanced Manufacturing / EWI o Bob Carr, Director, Technological Innovations, LLC - Education/Employers - Employer Toolbox and MHAV Update (Auta, Steve, Bill) - Misc Other ? SWB VEC Membership (suggestion to add business and media people to committee); Veteran Friendly Employer Award; Other All SWB VEC Member Updates Dates for 2017 SWB VEC Meetings, Frances Perkins Room, MDOL ◦ Jan 11, 2017 - Mar 8, 2017 -May 10, 2017 ◦ July 12, 2017 - Sept 13, 2017 - Nov 8, 2017 Jonathan Farr Miscellaneous / Adjourn

Meeting Minutes from SWB Veterans Employment Committee MDOL, Commerce Center, Marion Martin Room 11 January 2017, 10:00am ? 12:30pm

Member Attendees:, Laura Allen, Outreach Specialist, Maine Bureau of Veterans Services, Bob Carr, Director, Technological Innovations, LLC, Mark Cater, LVER, Lewiston CareerCenter, Leo Deon, Universal Service Associate, Veterans Inc., Jon Farr, Recruiter T-Mobile Maine, David Keaton, Director, Region Two School of Applied Technology, Debbie Kelly, DVET, Veterans Employment and Training Maine, Jeremy Kendall, Director of Military and Vets, Easter Seals Maine, Steven Roy, LVER, Augusta CareerCenter and MHAV Campaign Coordinator, Dave Stearns, President, Dale Carnegie Maine, Joe Tatem, Executive Director, Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve Maine

Guests & Interested Party Attendees: Robin Doody, Talent Acquisition Specialist, Eastern Maine Healthcare Systems, Jen Fullmer, Executive Director, Boots2Roots, COL Andy Gibson, Director of Deployment Cycle Support, MEARNG, MDOL, Anne Head, Commissioner, Dept of Professional and Financial Regulation, Joshua Howe, Workforce Development Program Coordinator, State Workforce Board, William Hurley, Program Manager, RVCP Program, Amy Line, Coordinator of Veterans Services, UMA, Michael Merrill, Program Mngr, VOANNE Veterans Services, Cheryl Moran, Labor Program Specialist, State Workforce Board, Kelly Rickert, Director of Workforce Development, OIT

Staff: Auta Main, MDOL BES Veterans? Program Manager

Agenda and Discussion Topics:

SWB VEC Chair, Jonathan Farr: Welcome & Opening Remarks

SWB VEC Chair, Jon Farr: Round the room introductions.

SWB VEC Chair, Jon Farr: Approval of notes from November 16, 2016.

SWB VEC Chair, Jon Farr and MDOL Staff, Auta Main: SWB VEC STRATEGIC PLANNING OVERVIEW/Summary ◦ Selected Priorities for 2016/2017 ▪ Marketing ? focus on driving veterans to MBVS web portal (and other) ▪ Education ? Focus on employers and veterans ▪ Misc Other ? Important and easy to do tasks

Education/Veterans: CSSP High Wage In Demand Occupations List ? Auta Main:
Auta distributed the Competitive Skills Scholarship Program (CSSP) high wage in demand occupations list, highlighting the occupations with the largest number of estimated annual openings through 2024. These occupations are not necessarily the fastest growing, but due to anticipated retirements, they will create a slew of replacement jobs through 2024. These occupations include: - Sales and Related Occupations - Medical Occupations -- Bookkeeper/Accountants - Management ? Constructions

High-Wage-In-Demand Criteria and Explanatory Notes 1. High Demand means the occupation is expected to have at least 20 openings per year between 2014 and 2024. 2. High Wage indicates a median wage above the $16.69 per hour / $34,710 per year median wage of all Maine occupations in 2015. National rates were used when no Maine rate was published, and appear in italics. 3. Some occupations are not listed due to statistical validity and non-disclosure constraints. It should be noted that some of these un-listed occupations may employ substantial numbers. 4. Median wage rates of $90.00 per hour / $187,200 per year or above are noted in italics. This represents the upper limit of the wage analysis program. 5. Entry Wage is defined as the mean wage of the lower one-third of the distribution for the occupation. 6. Many occupations listed in the "High-School Diploma or Equivalent" and "No Formal Educational Credential" category require substantial on-the-job training or work experience in a related occupation for entry. Post-secondary training that leads to a certificate of completion up to an Associate?s Degree may exist as an alternate means of entry into these occupations. Many apprenticeship training programs may fall under this category. Selected High-Wage, In-Demand Occupations in Maine Request: Is it possible to get this list with a regional breakdown of openings? Next Steps: Auta to ask CWRI for revised list by region.

Marketing: Maine Bureau of Veterans Services / Laura Allen, Outreach Specialist, MBVS: MBVS is looking for assistance with its Marketing Campaign. The RFP is out. They expect to select a vendor soon. In the interim, Laura would be interested in getting an Op-Ed from a MHAV employer and/or stories about veterans who were struggling with job search and now have successful employment or other veteran success type stories. If you have other thoughts about the MBVS website, please contact Laura directly. More info coming in March.

Education/Veterans: Occupational Licensing Simplification, Commissioner Anne Head, Dept of PFR Dept of Professional and Financial Regulation houses 36 Licensing Programs. Because occupational licensing has become so complicated there is talk in the field (in Maine and countrywide) about decreasing the number of occupations that need licensing. The Maine Dept of PFR began to step up efforts a couple of years ago to assist veterans whose skills and training were within the required range, but did not yet meet a certain ?degree or curriculum requirement? as outlined by licensing.
- In several of the trade?s occupations, the Dept PFR began to review the veterans VMET. Based on an interview with the veteran, the training and experience listed in the VMET, they were often able to move the veteran much closer to the date of exam. Having military occupational experts (a list maybe) available to DPFR staff to call if questions come up, would be helpful. - The Dept revised their website to reflect a desire to assist veterans in simplifying and expediting the licensing process. They also had Andy Gibson conduct a Military Cutlure 101 training for staff. - It?s important to note that state agencies are short staffed, so there isn?t time to conduct outreach to veterans to bring them through the door. Improving the pipeline/referral system of veterans directly to occupational licensing, would also be helpful. - The Governor?s Executive Order to Promote the Hiring of Skilled Veterans in the State of Maine has helped to move the needle ? at least to a place of making recommendations. - Perhaps the creation of a Permanent Commission to focus on these issues is one way to go.
-Someone at the Dept needs to have the latitude to allow a person to sit for an exam (ASAP) if they can show (through education and experience) that they already meet minimum requirements to sit for the exam. This RECOMMENDATION made to Governor in Feb 1 Report. - More flexibility in the licensing process is a necessity/some loosening can be done - Perhaps assigning a veteran mentor/advocate to all veterans who are seeking licensing to walk them through the process would be helpful. - Veterans need to see pathway, opportunity for accelerated classes and educational institutions needs incentives - Important to note that not all veterans have GI Bill so cannot always rely on that. - Maybe we can showcase examples of veteran licensing success stories on the Dept of PFR website and SWB VEC member websites - State government processes are not designed to be expedited for veterans or others with unique education and experience outside of traditional college courses and degrees. - The way the process works currently: Step 1: Veteran/license seeker must have specified amount of education & experience to sit for exam. Step 2: Take the exam Step 3: Work so many hours before actual license is awarded

Education/Veterans: Outreach at Maine OIT ? Kelly Rickert, Workforce Development Specialist We are trying to change rigidness in licensing and hiring of OIT professionals. At OIT, in large part due to projected staffing shortages - the graying of the workforce - we are reaching out in every way we can to simplify the process. And we are hiring applicants with less experience/education than we have in the past.
-27% of OIT workforce eligible to retire in 2 years -50% of new milleniums see technology as a way of life ? not necessarily a career -Number of women in IT has declined from 30% to 18% over the past few years -The tech world has changed! - Veterans come to us with more maturity -IT Group meeting quarterly ? with purpose of coming up with solutions for hiring jobseekers in IT. Group includes staff from: WEX, Tyler Technologies and Cianbro and others. -Employers are no longer requiring a 4 year degree, but looking more at competencies ? skills in specified areas -Private companies pay double what the state pays so the state has to be competitive in different ways.
- State is promoting exciting careers / IT job fairs, training grants, technology nights. We are looking at temporary Interns and OJTs that can lead to jobs and apprenticeships. We are recruiting specifically to veterans, girls (especially HS seniors) and women AND to all other jobseekers, too.

Education/Veterans: Medic to Nurse Coalition Again - due to staffing shortages around the state, healthcare employers are stepping up to recruit, hire and train medical staff, opening the door to innovation and opportunity where possible. Licensing, as we discussed earlier at today?s meeting is a big issue because so many of the medical occupations are licensed. The coalition includes staff from State and Federal government, as well as hospital and medical employers, military medic experts and/or liaisons, schools/college nursing staff and others. The goal is to ensure that the veteran is getting credit for what they have already learned and experienced ? again to simplify and fast-track veterans as much as possible. Military education and experience is often very extensive, where a medic might actually be doing surgery in a combat zone. Getting a better handle of this education and experience and being able to share it (concretely) with licensing boards so that they truly understand what has already been done is key. Maybe a form with checkboxes indicating competencies achieved would help.

Maine Hire-A-Vet Outcomes: Steve Roy, LVER, Augusta CareerCenter, MHAV Campaign Coordinator 2016 ? 146 Employers Joined the campaign to date - 195+ Veterans Hired ? Average wage $22.23 per hour - Jobs and Hires in every county ? Employer recognition luncheon, March 22, 2017, Hilton Garden Inn, Freeport

Education/Veterans: Dale Carnegie Training and One Day Option at CareerCenters for Veterans Dave Stearns, President, Dale Carnegie Maine and Mark Cater, LVER, Lewiston CareerCenter ▪ Civilian 101 ? Demilitarize to Civilianize. Dave, Auta, Mark and Mark met to discuss the existing Dale Carnegie curriculum focused on veterans transitioning into the civilian workforce. Suggest the following if funding is available. ▪ OPTIONS:
? 3-4 DAY PILOT for Vet Reps and Others ? Dale Carnegie ◦ 3-4 DAY COURSE: A 3-4 day version of the course (see outline attached) is slated to be offered possibly in summer 2017 for DVOPs/LVERs and other SWB members who may want to participate (4-5 extra slots available). The idea is to give those who work in the veterans? employment arena an opportunity to experience the training and provide feedback about what worked and what didn?t. ? 1 DAY FREE PROGRAM FOR VETERANS - offered at Maine?s CareerCenters ◦ PROPOSAL FOR A ONE DAY TRAINING FOR VETERANS: The group that attends the 3-4 day course may then be asked for feedback ? how to drill the curriculum down to a ONE DAY workshop, for veterans in transition. The one day course might be facilitated by trained DVOPs/LVERs (others who are interested?), and hosted monthly, at Maine?s CareerCenters later in 2017 on an ongoing basis. TBD. After the one day course, the next step would be to refer veterans to the longer Dale Carnegie Course, as funding and scholarships are available. ? 3 DAY CIVILIAN 101 (referred from 1 Day course above) ? Dale Carnegie

Education/Veterans: Internships for Veterans/Advanced Manufacturing/EWI, Bob Carr, Director, Technological Innovations, LLC This model is currently being used in NY and Colorado. Not in Maine yet ? but Bob (and others) would like to bring this model to Maine, at the Brunswick Landing.
-Manufacturing is returning to the state in different forms ? advanced technology, prepare for industry 4.0 -Expert knowledge needed in robotics, precision manufacturing, composite trades ? yet enrollment in these programs at SMCC, for example, is at only 50% capacity -75-85% of manufacturers are small ? with very high priced machinery -Want to promote these opportunities to veterans and to entrepreneurs -Statewide openings for welders, machinists, composite occupations - How can we better promote advanced manufacturing to veterans, other jobseekers and to students? -Vision is to train people at the tech center at Brunswick Landing ? like what is happening in NY and Colorado. This is the future! -This is a proposed project ? not yet concrete. -SWB VEC voted to support this effort by conducting outreach to veterans when/if the project gets off the ground. Bob will keep us informed as next steps are considered.

? MARK YOUR CALENDARS FOR SWIB VEC MEETINGS 2017 ? Jan 11, 2017 Mar 8, 2017 May 10, 2017 ? July 12, 2017 Sept 13, 2017 Nov 8, 2017

The meeting adjourned at 12:30pm

Attachments