Mendocino County Workforce Investment Board Strategic Planning Retreat Goals

Mendocino County Workforce Investment Board Retreat

Focus Question: What do you want to see in place in the next 3 years as a direct result of your work as a Board?

Answers:

Recognized as Hub for Workforce and Economic Development in Mendocino County	Business community engaged and satisfied	Community Access to Integrated Resources and Services	Youth Prepared for Employment	Relevant Training	Increased Employment for People with Barriers	Youth have a Voice and They Know it
Meetings are about vision not minutiae (committee work)	Be active leaders and resource for business community	Total integration of all workforce related agencies	Connection between employers and schools	Training matching employer needs	Temp agency for job seekers with barriers	Junior Board of Supervisors
Increase overall networking	Business expansion/new businesses	All partners on Softscape, e-mail	Full employment for all youth in County	Hub and leverager of public and private training funds/programs	Latinos/immigrants viewed as valuable new employees	Build enthusiasm and knowledge of local jobs for youth
Respected and recognized and utilized by public and private sectors	Develop training with portable benefits fro IHSS/Hospitality workers	Understanding unique qualities of different 1 stops and communities	Re-establish vocational and training programs K-12	Public transportation for rural communities to educational centers	Increase MW access workstations use by 300 percent	WIB/Youth Council known and respected in community
Exceed mandate to develop Mendocino County programs	Employers come to WIB (OSS) for recruitment	Optimizing resource sharing – private and public	Form connection between schools and employers	Employer opportunity driven training
Key player in community	HR Center for small business	Integrated services known to community	Improve K-12	Meaningful local training
Support non-grape agriculture	WIB leads incubatorr business 30 businesses/ 200 jobs	Increased resource sharing among training agencies
Uniqueness of County to work/live	Market to employers
Sustainable wage policy
Housing – Alliances with other organizations

Focus Question: What innovative practical actions of the Board will deal with the obstacles and move us toward our vision?

Innovation in doing Business	Integrate with Other Economic Development Efforts	Outreach/Marketing/ Influence: Acting with Clout	Youth/Education Outreach	Board Development
Move one policy issue forward to success in a unified voice	WIB take active role in economic summit	Form speakers bureau to represent WIB in front of various key players	Educate school boards to importance of workforce development	Do resource mapping of WIB Board and County
Video conference equipment being compatible	Develop/create employer compensation incentive program for paid education time for employees	Educate key business players to the benefits of participating in an independent and active WIB	WIB employers present employer needs to school boards…Ask how needs to be addressed and how WIB can help	Active recruitment of heads of companies
Develop county-wide video conferencing infrastructure for training and meetings	Expand survey to employers	Assume role of “heavy hitters” by having common vision and promoting it	Open discussion with K-12 re: perception of lack of support for workforce development	Target employer representatives (high ranking) for WIB membership
Geography: continue to expand and decentralize programs and services	Make community economic developer part of the WIB system	Share vision with economic development boards and officials	Share vision with school boards and officials	Identify and recruit at least 4 power players and 1 north county
Create a legislative and lobbying function	Just do it: economic development	Presence at every community business forum – availability of speakers bureau	Presentations to parent bodies re economic development and future of our kids	Leave your agendas at the door
Explore boards merging	Re-offer to assist with OEDP	Name tags and business cards for WIB members	Job shadowing for teachers and administration
50 percent evening meetings with public sector donating time	Economic Development (Tony Shaw) become part of WIB	Educate key political players to benefit of independent and active WIB	Recruiting youth to participate in council
Give unemployed a shovel and dig a tunnel from Ukiah to the Coast	Economic Develop/WIB create business incubator	Develop county-wide training plan with employer input
Auto shop courses – fix cars for disadvantaged to go to work	Board of Sups and WIB have open and honest discussion about role of the WIB
Develop car pool programs
Job first – then training

Calendar for Action

Strategic Direction	Launch Activity	1st Quarter	2nd Quarter	3rd Quarter	4th Quarter	Success!
Innovation in doing Business	Introduce Board resolution to authorize alternate meeting times and techniques	Map video conferencing resources	Assemble list of boards in County	Form exploratory committees to evaluate interaction	Schedule non-business hour meetings	Integrate video conferencing into normal board operations
Integrate with Other Economic Development Efforts	WIB requests that Tony Shaw (and economic reps from cities) be a WIB member	Pass WIB resolution to participate in summit and give $$$	Advocate to do OEDP	Fundraising for and creation of business incubators	Tailor training for incubator participants	Have all economic development reps sitting on WIB
Outreach/Marketing/ Influence: Acting with Clout	Chamber of Commerce mixer – double table of WIB and MPIC with materials	Identity items – cards and badges	Development of speakers bureau talking points for consistent message	Central calendar for all appropriate forums for WIB appearances	Develop a referral list as a point of contact to respond to all inquiries	Retention and addition of private sector members and use of system
Youth/Education Outreach	Develop presentation/dialogue to share with each school district	Schedule/hold meeting with each school district	Review info from meetings, establish ongoing relationships	Develop plan with each school district (e.g. job shadowing, mentoring, job fairs etc.)	Implement plan in each school district	Have strong presence and relationship between WIB, employers and schools
Board Development	Use written brochure to get employers participation	Identify 4 new power player WIB members	Continue to talk to heads of companies	2 additional WIB members		4 additional WIB members
	Use speakers bureau to ask for employers participation	Work outside of committee structure for board recruitment

Ad hoc groups to develop action plans

Innovation in doing Business	Integrate with Other Economic Development Efforts	Outreach/Marketing/ Influence: Acting with Clout	Youth/Education Outreach	Board Development
Mike McCann George Rau Jean Franco Cindy Miller John Ulvila	Jim Mulheren Ernie Waugh Madelin Holtkamp Christine Hance Maggie Watson	Rick Radcliffe Bob Jordan Monte Hill Carol Jarvis Fred Casella Jackie Matson Richard Shoemaker	Tami Mee Alison Glassey Patty Bruder Brent Rutherford Joe Wildman Chuck Whitlock	Rachel Peugh Susan Hofberg Jack Hartley Donna Montag

Strengths of Workforce Investment Board:

One County = one workforce area
The People here
Commitment to value of improved lifestyle
Vocal
A lot of different opinions
Good staff
Experiences Board members bring
History of collaboration among members
Acceptance of Diversity
Openness of honest communication
Common vision and goals
Loss of industry can create new opportunity
Understand importance of work
Long-term commitment and residency

Obstacles to work of Board:

School officials do not give workforce development a high priority
Make up of Board – not enough power players
Political “turfism”
Training driven vs. economic development driven
County geography
Fantasy mandates from federal and state agencies

Mendocino County Workforce Investment Board Retreat Meeting reflections:

Pros

Really helpful
Shared vision
Plan for future to move us
Liked to hear all ideas
Staff find out about WIB activities
Defined goals
Innovative practicality
Progress toward big picture
Work-defined, not micro management
Participation from WIB
Follow up

Improvements

Not enough attention on people with barriers
Labor market panel not enough