ICW Monthly Conference Calls
Join ICW the the Second Wednesday of every month to hear from experts on the latest education and workforce research, reports, activities, legislation, and events.
Time: 1:00 - 2:00 pm ET
Dial-in # 1-866-238-0637
View the 2008 Call Schedule
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Next Call: Wednesday, December 10
Policy Primer: K-12, Postsecondary, and Workforce Development Federal Policies
Get up to speed on current education and workforce training policies including NCLB, HEA, Carl D. Perkins Vocational and Technical Education Act, the Workforce Investment Act, and more. Learn the status of these bills, proposed changes, Congress' agenda, and the inside scoop on policymaking in Washington.
Speaker:
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Vic F. Klatt, III, Vice President, Van Scoyoc Associates, Inc. and Former GOP Staff Director for the House Education and Labor Committee
2008 Conference Call Archive:
Nov. 12: Spotlight on the 2008 Community Competitiveness Award Winner
Oct. 8: Wading into the Talent Pool:
What the Multi-Generational Workforce Means for Local Economic Competitiveness
Sept. 10:Your Regional Vision: Turning Ideas into Consensus and Action
July 9: Community Colleges and Industry Partners: Models for Regional Solutions
June 11: Digital Skills: A Business Imperative
May 14: Charter Schools: An Employer Guide and Promising Practices
Apr. 9: Career and Technical Education: A Workforce Solution
Mar. 12: Skills2Compete: A National Campaign for Middle Skill Jobs
Feb. 13: Evaluating the Return on Investment (ROI) in Early Childhood Programs
November 12: Spotlight on the 2008 Community Competitiveness Award Winner
Being a competitive community means putting together successful partnerships. This year's Community Competitiveness Award-winning community, Louisville, Kentucky, discusses two of its initiatives, the HIRE Education Forum and the Metropolitan College program.
Speakers included:
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Kathy Zandona, Director, Education, Greater Louisville Inc. – The Metro Chamber of Commerce
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Sam Mannino, Manager, Education and Workforce Development, Greater Louisville Inc. – The Metro Chamber of Commerce
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Lynn Howard, Louisville Metro Office of Policy and Management
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Dana Shumate, Coordinator, Business Involvement, Jefferson County Public Schools
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George Poling, Executive Director, Metropolitan College
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Larry Mand, Vice Chancellor for IT and Community Engagement, Indiana University Southeast
 Listen to the November 12, 2008 audio file
Additional Resources:
October 8: Wading into the Talent Pool: What the Multi-Generational Workforce Means for Local Economic Competitiveness
The American workplace is as diverse as ever, with workers from four generations – Traditional, Baby Boomers, Gen Xers and Generation Y – having their own values, goals and communication styles in the workplace. For employers, generational dynamics affect morale, productivity, recruitment and retention. Likewise, communities need to think about how to manage their regional talent strategies. A panel of speakers will address regional talent strategies with regard to young professionals as well as the 50+ workforce, while also examining how employers turn their workforce diversity into an asset.
Speakers Included:
- Molly Foley, Lead Consultant, Next Generation Consulting
- Mary Sue Vickers, Director, 50+ Initiative, American Association of Community Colleges
- Stanton Smith, National Director, Next Generation Initiatives, Deloitte & Touche USA LLP
September 10: Your Regional Vision: Turning Ideas into Consensus and Action
One of the biggest challenges when trying to "move the needle" on workforce and education reform is building consensus among a wide range of community stakeholders. Making partners out of these advocates requires focus, actionable goals and measureable results. Not to mention the ability to frame issues for multiple audiences. Yet, it is these collaboratives that present the greatest opportunity for community change. But, no two partnerships work the same. In advance of ICW's Workforce & Education Summit in Philadelphia in October, two communities discussed their experiences forming coalitions, moving them into the action stage, and achieving outcomes.
Speakers Include:
- John Wade, CEO, Rochester (MN) Chamber of Commerce
- David Butler, Executive Director, Linking Education and Economic Development (Sacramento CA)
Listen to the Sept, 10 2008 audio file
July 9: Community Colleges and Industry Partners: Models for Regional Solutions
The U.S. economy is facing a shortage of "middle-skilled workers", or workers for jobs in the middle of the skilled labor market that require some training past high school, but not a four-year degree. These jobs, in industries such as health care, construction, and manufacturing, make up half the job openings for the next 5-10 years. Therefore, community colleges can play a vital part in developing this portion of the workforce, and enabling regional economic development. Learn about the innovative models at three forward-thinking community colleges across the U.S., their strategies for implementation, and their outcomes.
Speakers Include:
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Dr. Joe May, State Director, Louisiana Community & Technical College System
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Preston Morgan, Senior Director for Workforce Development, Illinois Community College Board, State of Illinois
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Dr. Keith Bird, Chancellor, Kentucky Community & Technical College System
June 11: Digital Skills: A Business Imperative
U.S. economic growth and competitiveness depend on the effective application of digital technologies in all sectors of the economy. Business, now more than ever, has an urgent need to develop a comprehensive agenda for digital skills development. Join ICW as we discuss how all workers must be prepared with the necessary skills - particularly digital skills, to compete in the 21st century.
Speakers Include:
- Rick Herrmann, Director U.S. Strategic Field Programs, State Education & Local, Intel
- Mary McCain, Senior Vice President, Techvision21
- Brenda Kempster, President, The Kempster Group
Background Information:
May 14: Charter Schools: An Employer Guide and Promising Practices
This month's speakers will discuss the charter school movement, business engagement in charter schools, and why charter schools show so much promise for education reform in the country. The first charter school opened its doors in St Paul, MN over 15 years ago. Today, there are more than 4,100 charter schools serving over 1.2 million children across 40 states and the District of Columbia. Learn what makes charter schools so successful and how communities are preparing their future workforce with quality public education charter schools.
Speakers Included Representatives from the following organizations:
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Eileen Sweeney, Director, Corporate Foundation and Philanthropic Relations, Motorola
Listen to the May 14, 2008 audio file
Apr. 9: Career and Technical Education: A Workforce Solution
This month's call will showcase the latest initiatives in national, state, and local career and technical education (CTE), and how CTE is a workforce solution to America's current skills gaps. This call will also include a "lightning rod rally" at the end when members of the audience can share what they are doing in CTE and help stimulate new programs.
Speakers Include:
Background Information:
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NGA
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ACTE
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State Directors for CTE
Mar. 12: Skills2Compete - A National Campaign for Middle Skill Jobs
Every U.S. worker should have access to the equivalent of at least two years of education or training past high school—leading to a vocational credential, industry certification, or one's first two years of college—to be pursued at whatever point and pace makes sense for individual workers and industries. Every person must also have access to the basic skills needed to pursue such education.
Skills2Compete is a non-partisan campaign to ensure our workforce has skills needed to meet business demand, foster innovation, and grow broadly shared prosperity. We encourage America to address U.S. competitiveness in a way that includes the vast majority of America's future workers—that is, adults already in the workforce—and the largest portion of jobs in the U.S. economy—that is, jobs in the middle of the skilled labor market which require some training past high school, but not a four-year degree.
Speakers Included:
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Rachel Unruh, Communications Director, The Workforce Alliance
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Erick Ajax, Vice President, E.J. Ajax and Sons, Inc.
Background Information:
Finding the Forgotten Middle: A New Approach for Workforce (PDF)
presented by: Andy Van Kleunen, Rachel Unruh, and Erick Ajax
Bios:
Andy Van Kleunen is founding Executive Director of TWA, which he helped create with other leaders from the workforce development field. He was previously the Director of Workforce Policy for the Paraprofessional Healthcare Institute, where he worked with employers and advocates to improve job quality and training opportunities for low-wage workers within the nation's long-term care industry. He also has over 14 years experience in community organizing and development.
Rachel Unruh is the Communications Director for TWA, where she oversees organizational communications as well as the Skills2Compete communications campaign. She previously served as Director of Community Relations and Senior Policy Associate for Women Employed in Chicago, where her work included two successful campaigns to expand state funding for postsecondary education for Illinois' low-income adults.
Erick Ajax is the Vice President of E.J. Ajax and Sons, Inc. a third generation contract manufacturer of progressive metal stampings with 50 full time employees located in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Erick worked in the telecommunication industry for five years before joining his family business E.J. Ajax and Sons in the early 80's. Today Erick is responsible for human resources, employee safety, education, professional development and all sales and marketing for his company.
Feb. 13: Evaluating the Return on Investment (ROI) in Early Childhood Programs
Discussion topics included:
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The Impact of early childhood education on today's workforce
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The cost benefit from investment in early childhood programs
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Boeing's integrated education strategy for talent
Speakers included:
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Joyce Walters, director, Global Community Investing and Global Corporate Citizenship, The Boeing Company
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Rob Grunewald, associate economist, Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis
Background Information:
 PowerPoint: Key to Long-Term Success: Early Childhood Investments
presented by: Joyce Walters
PowerPoint: Early Childhood Development: Economic Development with a High Public Return
presented by: Rob Grunewald
2007 Conference Call Archive
Dec. 12: Innovation America
Nov 14: Community Colleges Giving A Competitive Edge
Oct. 10: Workplace Flexibility
Sept 12: Spotlight on Durham, NC
Jul 6: Work Supports: The Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC)
Jun 1: Getting WIRED
May 4: Engaging and Retaining Older Workers
Apr. 6: Data Quality Campaign
Mar. 2: Leaders and Laggards: A State-by-State Report Card on Educational Effectiveness
Feb. 2: Business Coalition for Student Achievement
Jan. 5: Commission on the Skills of the American Workforce
December 12, 2007: Innovation America
The National Governors Association's Innovation America initiative focused on strengthening our nation's competitive position in the global economy by improving our capacity to innovate. The goal was to give governors the tools they need to improve math and science education, better align postsecondary education systems with state economies, and develop regional innovation strategies. Speaking on the call was Darcy Renfro, policy advisor on education, innovation, and the economy, Office of the Governor, State of Arizona. Darcy shared the strategies, outcomes and tools that have been developed to help business and education form sustainable partnerships. Also on the call was Karen Elzey, executive director, Institute for a Competitive Workforce. Karen discussed ICW's recently published, "Innovation America: A Private-Public Partnership," and answered questions on how businesses can support innovation in their states.
Background Information:
November 14, 2007: Community Colleges Giving A Competitive Edge
Speakers discussed how community colleges are implementing the many Advanced Technological Education (ATE) programs with leaders from such industries as biomanufacturing, nanofabrication, and agriscience on the most challenging workforce issues facing the nation. Information was shared about the new technologies being used to teach community college students digital literacy and support a more skilled workforce. Also, information was presented on the Educational Testing Service's new assessment tool for determining digital literacy skills in postsecondary/community college students and how business can benefit. Speakers Included: Ann Beheler, Dean of Business, Computer & Career Services, Coastline Community College; Gordon Snyder, Executive Director, National Center for Telecommunications Technologies, Springfield (MA) Technical Community College; and Irvin Katz, Senior Research Scientist, Educational Testing Service.
Background Information:
October 10, 2007: Workplace Flexibility
Are you searching for ways to make your company's workforce more effective and efficient? Panelists from VCU Health System and KPMG LLP, two organizations who have been named 2007 winners of the Alfred P. Sloan Award for Business Excellence in Workplace Flexibility, discussed how their organizations have made strides in creating a culture that attracts and retains the best talent available – and get the most out of them in the process! Speakers included Sharon Jahn, Director of Benefits, Virginia Commonwealth University Health System (Sloan Award Winner in Richmond, VA), and Barbara Wankoff, Director of Workplace Solutions at KPMG LLP (Sloan Award Winner in Boise ID, Chicago IL, Long Beach CA, Long Island NY, and Providence RI).
Background Information:
September 12, 2007: Spotlight on Durham, NC.
This month's call focused on ICW's 2007 Community Competitiveness Award winner, the city of Durham, NC.
Representatives from Durham included: Dr. Terri Mozingo, Chief Academic Officer, Durham Public Schools, Bob Gantt, Director, Career-Technical Education, Durham Public Schools, Pam G. Senegal, Dean, Corporate Education & Off-Campus Programs, Assistant to the President, Hispanic Community Outreach, Durham Technical Community College, Stephen Raburn, Executive Director, The Volunteer Center of Durham, Marsha Basloe, Executive Director, Durham's Partnership for Children, a Smart Start Initiative, Kevin Dick, Administrator, Durham Workforce Development Board, Dennis A. Jarmon, Sr., Employment Specialist, Re-Entry Program, Greater Durham Chamber of Commerce, Durham Co. Criminal Justice Resource Center, Ted Conner, Vice President of Economic Development, Greater Durham Chamber of Commerce, and Kathy Hoffmeier, Vice President of Workforce Development, Greater DurhamChamber of Commerce.
July 6, 2007: Work Supports: The Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC)
This month's call focused on work supports for retaining frontline and hourly wage workers, specifically the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), the nation's largest and most successful worker support program. Presenters from the Orlando Chamber of Commerce and St. Louis Regional Chamber and Growth Association outlined how promoting the EITC to employers helped spur economic development and worker retention. ICW released a report on retaining the frontline and hourly wage worker in May and has just released its second on the subjectr, "Community Building through the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC)." Speakers Included:Eric Schneider, Director of Public Policy Research, St. Louis Regional Chamber and Growth Association and Maria Diaz Urbino, Project Director, Extra Credit, Orlando Regional Chamber of Commerce.
Background Information:
June 1, 2007: Getting WIRED
Since February 2006, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has announced 26 regions across the nation that have received between $5 million and $15 million to address Workforce Innovation in Regional Economic Development (WIRED) initiatives. These regions were selected because they face various challenges in economic development and sustainability including: remaining competitive with a globalized workforce; managing existing growth opportunities; and creating a more innovative economy by focusing on developing small business.
In April 2007, DOL recievied its third round of applications for the WIRED grants. This call discussed how WIRED is being implemented throughout the country, business' role in the initiative, and how your organization can tap in. Speakers Included Janet Sten, Director,Chief of the Division of Workforce Systems Support, Employment and Training Administration, U.S. Department of Labor, and Greg Handel, Senior Director, Workforce Development, Detroit Regional Chamber of Commerce.
Background Information:
May 4, 2007: Engaging and Retaining Older Workers
In the near future, 1 in 3 American workers will be 50 and over, and by 2025 the number of total workers is expected to be less than one-fifth of today's workforce. With the number of eligible retirees rising and the number of available workers declining, America's ability to remain competitive is at risk. This call discussed in depth the Government Accountability Office's recent report "Engaging and Retaining Older Workers," which addresses these issues in depth. Speakers included Barbara Bovbjerg Director, Education, Workforce and Income Security, U.S. Government Accountability Office
Mike Aitken Director Government Affairs, Society for Human Resource Management
Arthur J. Rothkopf, Senior Vice President and Counselor to the President, U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Ed Redfern, Jr., National Program Consultant, AARP, Evelyn Issa, Manager for Retail Staffing and National Hiring Partnerships, The Home Depot
Background Information:
April 6, 2007: The Data Quality Campaign
This call focused on the Data Quality Campaign, a national, collaborative effort to encourage and support state policymakers to:
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improve the collection, availability, and use of high-quality education data, and
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implement state longitudinal data systems to improve student achievement.
Speakers included Aimee Guidera, director of the Data Quality Campaign, and Phyllis Hudecki, executive director, Oklahoma Business and Education Coalition. ICW is a proud supporter of the Data Quality Campaign and improving data collection in all 50 states.
Background Information:
March 2, 2007: Leaders and Laggards: A State-by-State Report Card on
Educational Effectiveness
This call focused on the Chamber's recently released study: Leaders and Laggards: A State-by-State Report Card on Educational Effectiveness. Speakers included Frederick M. Hess, Director of Education Policy Studies, American Enterprise Institute; Elena Rocha, Education Policy Analyst, Center for American Progress; Ulrich Boser, Freelance Writer and Editor; and Arthur J. Rothkopf, Senior Vice President and Counselor to the President, U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
Background Information:
February 2, 2007: Business Coalition for Student Achievement
This call featured Kathy Havens Payne, Assistant Director, Community Alliances, State Farm Insurance. Ms. Havens Payne discussesed the newly formed Business Coalition for Student Achievement (BCSA), which represents business leaders from every sector of the economy and believes that improving the performance of the K-12 education system in the United States is necessary to provide a strong foundation for both U.S. competitiveness and for individuals to succeed in our rapidly changing world.
Background Information:
January 5, 2007: Commission on the Skills of the American Workforce
This call featured Dr. Susan Sclafani, member of the Commission on the Skills of the American Workforce. Dr. Sclafani discussed the recent recommendations the Commission set forth on December 14th in its final report, "Tough Choices or Tough Times."
Listen to the Jan. 5 audio file  Notes on the Jan. 5 call
Background Information
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