Raising the Bar

Agenda

Visit our photo gallery and slideshow from 2009!

November 6, 2009

Workshops Session IV (9:00 – 10:15)

The Changing Role of Leadership, Part I

Gerri King, Ph.D, Social Psychologist & Organizational Consultant, Human Dynamics Associates, Inc.

Since leadership deficits are the primary cause of workplace problems, those with a repertoire of skills have a secure foundation and the trust of their employees, resulting in enhanced satisfaction and performance. This skill-filled session is based on the premise that it is natural for people to supervise and want to be supervised differently, and that those differences can be used to enhance good relationships, work toward creative solutions, and add value to the organization.

Examine new leadership and supervisory models that are empowering rather than controlling, and will allow you to integrate newly learned skills into your prevailing leadership and personality styles. Learn what works and what doesn't during times of change, the effects of change, and how to effectively deal with resistance. Develop an understanding of how to build teams and maintain trust as a leader, as well as mentoring/supervisory skills and tools that are immediately applicable.

Re-Careering: A Holistic Approach to Career Planning

Pamela McHugh, MA/SPHR/CCMC, President/Owner, Career Synergy, LLC

More than ever, it is imperative for all individuals to understand that they are responsible for their own careers and the inevitable twists and turns their career may take. Part of this responsibility includes having the knowledge, resources and tools available to ensure resiliency, particularly during times of transition. Workforce development professionals are on the frontlines and the one's job seekers turn to in times of turbulence, requiring a variety of tools in your collective toolbox from which to draw.

Take a holistic look at re-careering and explore a framework to be used as a springboard to a new beginning. Assist your job-seeker customers in creating their ideal career plan based on informed decision making. Learn the seven steps in the Re-Careering Model. Define the three phases of transition and how they relate to the Re-Careering Model. Examine the six steps that will not only aid your customers to survive, but thrive in today's workplace.

Create Your Vision, Part I

Michael Dannenberg, GCDF

Why not start living for the you that is going to be? Create a vision of success that brings your career, home, family and friends into focus. A vision statement helps to identify, explore, and strengthen your values, goals and motivation.

Discover how we already use imagining in our lives and how personal visions have changed the world. While a specific vision may change, the vision process will remain as a personal guide.

Put the distinctive aspects of your life together and leave this workshop with a personal vision statement and a daily affirmation.

Meeting the Needs of a Defense Community: The Role of Workforce Organizations

Kent Menser, USA (Ret), Executive Director, Howard County BRAC Office and Deputy Coordinator of the Fort Meade Regional Growth Management Committee

Presentation (pdf, 4.36MB)

Workforce professionals across the State need to focus on, and prioritize, the resources necessary to address the real local issues related to BRAC - specifically, the shortage of the highly-skilled workforce required by the Defense Industry. Define a "Defense Community" and learn how the 6 Maryland counties surrounding Fort Meade form a major Defense Community with national and international stature. Differentiate between the Fort Meade Defense Community workforce requirements and those of other less technological locations, and strategize to meet a critical workforce issue in the Fort Meade Region.

Turning Challenges into Victories: Learning to SOAR in Times of Uncertainty

Elaine Kempski, Founder/Certified Coach/Inspirational Speaker/Writer, Inner Journey Coaching

Presentation (pdf, 493KB)

These days there seems to be no shortage of challenges in our lives. Yet, it is in times of great uncertainty that we learn the most about ourselves – what we're really made of, how resourceful we can be, and the depth of our resilience. Every great success story in history begins with adversity at its core. So what makes the pivotal difference for those who rise above life's challenges and claim victory?

We are what we believe ourselves to be! Join this highly energized, insightful, and practical session that will put you on the path to being truly victorious. Discover how to overcome beliefs that limit growth, development, and success in today's challenging work environment. Learn the core strategy to success and fulfillment – how to choose your beliefs so you can create the life you really want and deserve.

Using the Internet for Career Entry Preparation

Lydia Whitney, Director of Curriculum and Program Development, Alliance for Career and Education, Inc.

Presentation (pdf, 2MB)

In today's economy, it is harder than ever to supply students and job-seekers with the assistance they need to prepare for, find, and get hired for a job. By focusing on providing resources that customers can use independently, become better able to serve the much larger pool of customers who are seeking new jobs and/or returning to the workforce, and youth preparing to enter the workforce for the first time.

Explore a showcase of internet resources and independent study approaches – alternative methods of providing workforce development services, rather than traditional group workshops and time-consuming one-on-one sessions. Discover the wealth of internet resources available to the many that require assistance in career planning and the job search process.

Motivating TANF Participants: Meeting Participation Rates

Jodie Sue Kelly, President, Cygnet Associates

Meeting participation rates in the TANF program is critical, yet programs struggle to engage clients and to maintain participation. This lively and interactive session will provide techniques that you can use to engage and maintain the motivation of TANF participants. Develop an explanation of all the financial arguments for working and learn to design motivational upfront activities to engage participants so they want to participate.

Essentials of Employer Engagement

Denise Bissonnette, MS Multicultural Education, Author/Speaker/Trainer, RtB 2009 Closing Keynote

Presentation (pdf, 637KB)

Based on concepts introduced in her celebrated book, Beyond Traditional Job Development, Denise will provide an overview of key principles, strategies and approaches critical to fostering and strengthening the job developer-employer relationship in the following four areas: Carrying out an in-depth employer assessment; Choosing language carefully when making a marketing presentation; Replacing a sales approach with a partnership approach; and, Resolving employer concerns about hiring people with barriers to employment.

PROMISING PRACTICES: The New Face of Homelessness: How the Workforce Development System Can Help

Christine Poulsen, Program Manager/Community Initiatives, Anne Arundel County DSS
Keli Sobers, Homeless Management Information Systems Administrator, Anne Arundel County DSS

Presentation (ppt, 7.17MB)

In today's economic climate, more and more people are losing their jobs and homes, making it difficult for them to provide for their families. Many first-time homeless have no idea where to begin to look for help and what resources are available for them.

Anne Arundel County has developed a novel concept where homeless families and individuals can access most vital services, in one place, to resume their lives – medical services, employment services, legal consultations, and vital records, to name a few. Learn how the workforce development system can be a part of addressing the needs of the homeless by participating in or duplicating a similar concept in your local area.

PROMISING PRACTICES: Innovations in Summer Youth Employment Programs

Moderator: Marcita Bentley-Pinkston, Assistant Director for Youth Services, Prince George's Economic Development Corporation/Workforce Services Division

Remember those lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer? With ARRA providing funds for summer youth employment opportunities for the first time since WIA became effective in 2000, and the short time in which to develop those opportunities, many local areas were unsure of where and how to begin. If you are interested in improving and expanding your summer employment program and making sure the work experiences offered are high-quality, you'll want to hear how some areas in the State brought innovative ideas to their programs and developed successful summer work experiences for their youth participants. Learn about their program designs and take away ideas and suggestions that will enhance your future summer employment plans.

Workshops Session V (10:45 – 12:00)

The Changing Role of Leadership , Part II

Gerri King, Ph.D, Social Psychologist & Organizational Consultant, Human Dynamics Associates, Inc.

Create Your Vision, Part II

Michael Dannenberg, GCDF

Why not start living for the "you" that is going to be? Create a vision of success that brings your career, home, family and friends into focus. A vision statement helps to identify, explore, and strengthen your values, goals and motivation.

Discover how we already use imagining in our lives and how personal visions have changed the world. While a specific vision may change, the vision process will remain as a personal guide. Put the distinctive aspects of your life together and leave this workshop with a personal vision statement and a daily affirmation.

Enhancing Employability: Certification Preparation Training

Kent Smedley, Interim Dean, Workforce Development/Division of Continuing Education, Community College of Baltimore County (CCBC)
Mickey Jancewski, Director of Allied Health, CCBC
Beth Arman, Director of Technical Training, CCBC
Sue Moylan, Director of Intensive Training, CCBC
Wanda Johnson, Asst. Coordinator for Commercial Vehicle Training, CCBC
Lynette Higgins, Coordinator Business/Management, CCBC

It is the intent of the Recovery Act (ARRA) that WIA Adult funds be used to provide the necessary services and support to substantially increase the number of adults entering or re-entering the job market. Because workers may need to up-skill or re-skill to compete for limited career opportunities, training will be a particularly vital service during the economic recovery. And, industry certifications will give your job seekers an edge.

This panel of experts will discuss a wide variety of courses that prepare students for those certifications, including technical, allied health, business and management, and transportation. Learn the importance of industry certifications, the non-credit certification programs that provide new skills to enhance employability.

PROMISING PRACTICE: Teaching Youth the Skills Employers Really Want

Marcia Hall, Founder/CEO, Reputation COUNTS

Presentation (pdf, 471KB)

According to HR.com, two-thirds of North American HR managers would rather hire someone with strong soft skills and weak technical abilities. They believe occupational/technical skills can be taught, but as one employer stated, "I can't teach you how to be friendly and have the desire to do the work". With employers voicing concern about work ethic, punctuality, and other vital workplace skills, workforce development professionals need many resources to help prepare young job seekers and employees for the realities of the workplace.

This session defines the specific soft skills employers want, regardless of the industry, and how to emphasize the importance of these skills to the youth preparing to enter employment. Learn how the CONNECT! Coalition in Anne Arundel County demonstrates an example of organizations partnering to promote these skills and help their youth be more successful.

Is Re-Entry Working: Meet the Success Stories

Mary Davis, Training Consultant, Anne Arundel Community College/Maryland Correctional Institution for Women (MCIW)
Yvette Gordon, Office Manager, Heavy Equipment Training Academy (HETA) Lucy Georgia, Assistant Manager, KFC
Emma Williams, Program Assistant, National Women's Prison Project
Danielle Rodriequez, Business Owner

What do Yvette, Lucy, Emma, and Danielle have in common? All are former MCIW inmates who utilized various re-entry services while incarcerated to successfully transition back into society.

Participate in an open forum to discuss the panelists' re-entry successes using a question and answer format. Hear them discuss the re-entry services they received and how they have used them upon release. Explore how the services assisted with identifying barriers, researching referral resources, and coached them on beginning the process of re-entry while incarcerated. Receive a list of resources that can be used to address barriers, including housing, recovery, financial literacy, aftercare health services and employment.

Changes to the Trade Act: An Overview

Scott Wallace, State Administrator, DDLLR/DWDAL/Dislocated Services Unit
Becca Webster, HCTC Program Manager/ATAA Eligibility Coordinator, Tri-County Council

Presentation Handout (doc, 63KB)
RTAA Information Sheet (pdf, 29KB)
Presentation Handout: Changes 858 (doc, 63KB)
RTAA Application (pdf, 100KB)
WIFI Instructions (pdf, 3MB)
Presentation Handout: Case Management Services (doc, 24KB)

In response to tougher economic times, changes to the Trade Act under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, have expanded the population eligible for Trade Act benefits. Exploring the complexities of the Trade Act will detail how the benefits interact and affect each other.

Examine the new rules in relation to the Trade Act prior to May, 2009 and learn important tips on how to work with two systems simultaneously. Recognize which "reductions in force" and facility closures are potentially Trade impacted. Differentiate fact from myth regarding available Trade Act benefits and develop customized services for your customers.

IT Trends and IT Related Job Trends

Ravi Aggarwal, General Manager/Vice President, New Horizons Computer Learning Center of Baltimore

Presentation (pdf, 537KB)

In these rough economic times, a large number of dislocated workers are seeking help to enhance their skills to secure viable employment, and employers will only hire those who have the necessary skills for the job. This workshop session provides a better understanding of where the current IT jobs are, what skills are needed to secure these jobs, and how the IT industry will change in the coming years.

The four primary IT trends to be discussed include computing, cyber security, virtualization, and databases and business intelligence. Learn about the technologies involved, how the technologies will evolve, the availability of the current jobs in each field, and the impact of the new technologies on future jobs.

Improving Center Processes to Increase Training Access and Enrollments

Greg Newton, Greg Newton Associates

The ARRA funds' emphasis on increasing the number of customers (including UI Claimants) in training, the reality of job-finding in a tough economy, and the emerging training focus of WIA reauthorization, means that one-stop career centers must begin to move more customers from the front desk, the resource area, and Reemployment Services into a vibrant, skills development service track. Move to a new skills and jobs organizational culture is imperative – work first doesn't work very well when there aren't many jobs!

Workforce Boards and Centers throughout the country are reinventing their customer flow to respond to these current and emerging expectations by integrating service delivery, giving staff the skills they need to promote skill-development services, and increasing training options that respond to regional economies and customer needs. Let Greg help you to reinvent your flow, respond better to the demands of today, and position for even greater success tomorrow.

ROUNDTABLE: GCDF/OWDS Academy

Ellen "Jinx" Jenkins, GCDF-I, M.Ed., Career Development Associates
Diana Bailey, GCDF-I/OWDS-I/Master, Workforce Development Transition Coordinator, Juvenile Services Education/MSDE

Attention all credentialed GCDFs and OWDSs. The Institute recognizes that, having achieved premiere certifications, you have specific needs – namely, higher-level skills training and certifications for your professional development and continuing education contact hours for recertification.

Join Jinx and Diana in a brain-storming session to develop the GCDF/OWDS Academy – an affinity group being created with you, for you. Catch up on the latest news from CCE/NCDA and activities of GCDF Affinity Groups around the country. Share your ideas about topics/courses you'd like to attend, higher level certifications, best practices, technology, and more…

Workshops Session VI (1:45 – 3:00)

Crisis Management for Job Seekers

Patti Taylor, Co-owner, Integral Life Solutions

Presentation (pdf, 204KB)

As the headlines focus on urgent and challenging economic times, many of our customers wonder how to cope and achieve results in job searching. Obtain a framework designed to assist you in helping customers to analyze and manage crisis, and the tools for evaluating and mitigating the impact of a crisis on their business and personal goals. Learn techniques to help them leverage strengths and overcome obstacles. Become better prepared to assist job seekers in their search for work in this complex and challenging social and economic climate.

5 Tips to Aid Your Customers with the Federal Job Search Process

Pamela McHugh, MA/SPHR/CCMC, President/Owner, Career Synergy, LLC

While jobs in the private sector are being eliminated daily, employment opportunities within the federal sector are increasing. However, there is a shroud of mystery around the federal job search process. Take a look at the federal employment process and learn tips and insights that will help you and your customers navigate a successful job search. Understand how the federal government defines "jobs", analyze federal job vacancy announcements, and take away tips for writing successful federal resumes and KSAs.

Assistive Technology in the Workplace: Tools to Accommodate Employees with Disabilities

Margaret Murphy, MS/CCC-SLP, Assistive Technology Specialist, Maryland Technology Assistance Program (MDTAP)
Denise Schuler, Assistive Technology Specialist, Maryland Technology Assistance Program (MDTAP)

Presentation (ppt, 2MB)

Are you a Business Services or Business Resource Representative with customers who fear that providing accommodations for employees with disabilities can be costly? And, as the Baby Boomer population ages, more employees will become disabled and need accommodations in the workplace.

Participate in a hands-on demonstration of low-tech, mid-tech, and high-tech tools. Practice work- environment scenarios designed to illustrate inexpensive and cost-effective solutions that can be shared with your business customers. Receive your personal copies of "A Guide for Recruiting, Hiring and Employing People with Disabilities"; "Disability Etiquette"; a catalog of sample workplace technologies; and more…

Networking: A Key to Job Seeker Advancement

Marcia Hall, Founder/CEO, Reputation COUNTS

Presentation (pdf, 717KB)

Networking is no longer just a job-finding skill. It is a professional competency. Yet, according to a survey conducted by BNI founder, Dr. Ivan Misner, 88% of us have never received training on how to do it! Whether you are working with job seekers, or don't feel comfortable networking yourself, learning how to develop mutually beneficial relationships will help both you and your customers. Assisting your customers to understand the nature and value of networking is key to their advancement. Learn and practice basic strategies, including how to join and exit conversations easily, what to talk about, and how to follow-up so that each networking experience is productive and comfortable.

Transferable Skills: The Often Un-tapped Tool for Desperate Job Seekers

Beth Lengel, M.Ed./CDFI/CWDP, Director of Services, Lengel Vocational Services
Frank Lengel, PhD, Program Manager, Lengel Vocational Services

Presentation (pdf, 226KB)

The layoffs keep coming, job openings are hard to find, and the local One-Stop is flooded with job seekers who are feeling desperate.They need work…They need to pay mortgages, car payments, health insurance, and children's tuition. Everyone is looking to the workforce development professional for some answers and some hope. And, the answers may be right there – below the surface. This workshop explores the powerful potential of an accurate transferable skills analysis coupled with a carefully crafted resume. Those two tools can turn job seeking fear into job seeking confidence.

With many job seekers' inability to describe the job skills they have during an interview, they are missing the real strength of their value to a new employer – their knowledge, skills and abilities. To come to their aid, learn the basic components of Transferable Skills Analysis and its application. Identify and use key labor market information (LNI) resources in identification of skill sets. "Raise the bar" in helping your customers be more competitive in their job search by focusing on job skills, not job titles.

Workforce Literacy for Non-Native English Speakers

Donna Reihl, Ph.D, Dean of Community Education & Service/Continuing Education and Economic Development Division, Community College of Baltimore County (CCBC)
Yuliya England, PhD, Coordinator for Non-Credit ESOL, Community College of Baltimore County (CCBC)
Rachele Lawton, Associate Professor of English for Speakers of Other Languages, Chair of the Reading and Language Department, CCBC
LaSherrie McKinnie Bates, Director of Special Projects, Job Network Program/Continuing Education and Economic Development, CCBC

Workforce development professionals are often faced with job seekers who lack English oral and written communication skills. Speakers of other languages are a challenge and are frequently under-employed because of the language barrier. The intent of this CCBC initiative, sponsored by the MHEC BRAC Higher Education Investment Fund Grant, is to increase the pipeline of immigrant workers to meet the high-demand fields of Hospitality and Healthcare as a result of Maryland's BRAC initiative. Learn the characteristics of Maryland's immigrant population, the hospitality and health care industries' workforce needs, and identify the opportunities programs can provide to facilitate non-native job seekers' entrance into the workforce.

Surfing the Silver Tsunami: Creative Partnerships to Engage Older Workers

Ryan McShane, Human Resource Officer, Baltimore County Office on Aging
Edward Fangman, Executive Liaison, Baltimore County Office of Workforce Development
Peter Naron, Coordinator of Business and Management/Division of Continuing Education and Economic Development, Community College of Baltimore County (CCBC)

Presentation (ppt, 222KB)

Dramatic successes can be achieved through effective partnering. Partnering with agencies and colleges in the local WIA is a "must do" in order to efficiently and wisely allocate and expend ARRA funds, and ensure that resources are used to their best advantage. When considering the current economic conditions, older workers and their employers find themselves dealing with one of two scenarios – either older workers are unable to retire, or must re-enter the workforce, having seen their 401 or retirement plans diminished.

Learn how developing smart partnerships allows the local WIA to help this specific customer base, and employers, take advantage of talents and skill sets in a tight labor market. Delve into the rationale, processes and outcomes of working across agency lines to develop older workers' re-employment skills, as well as identify and engage the older worker who may not be familiar with the services available at the One-Stops. In addition, examine how to organize and implement a "Boomer Career Expo" and "Silver Tsunami Employer Workshop."

Quality is a Verb: Improving Practice in Youth Programs

Nancy Martin, Director, Capacity Building Initiatives, National Youth Employment Coalition

Are you struggling to find affordable methods to assess your youth program? Are you preparing to launch new programming and are wondering where to start? Do you have a successful program you'd like to strengthen?

Join this interactive, resource-rich session to learn answers to these questions and more, using the research and practice-based WIA-aligned PEPNet Quality Standards for Youth Programs. Gain hands-on experience with key tools and resources and learn how to access many more online. Using quality standards, self-assessment tools, and continuous improvement strategies, discover how you can enhance outcomes for youth with minimal additional resources. Receive resources related to quality standards and practices, self-assessment, results measurement, and more to build, assist in building, or improve the quality of existing youth programs and services.

Quick Steps to Success for Dislocated Workers

Greg Newton, Greg Newton Associates

Presentation (pdf, 93KB)

One of the President's key economic recovery strategies is to reemploy down-sized workers as quickly as possible, with increased "reemployment service" requirements. To meet that objective, local areas can learn from best practice research with proven results; target and improve processes and services to different groups of customers with common needs; and improve implementation of reemployment services, including mandatory services for unemployment insurance (UI) claimants that are profiled as "likely to exhaust".

Get tips for reemployment strategies, learn how to map process improvements and reallocate staff and resources. Join Greg to learn about these dislocated worker solutions: positioning unemployment insurance as "reemployment insurance", overhauling bureaucratic UI "notices" to promote reemployment services, and process improvement strategies between and among customers, one-stop centers and UI call centers or internet sites. Hear how to improve the "rapid response" meeting, presentations, processes and documents, and turn UI claimants into job seekers or training participants ASAP. Discover how to use "high-volume" traffic in centers to once-and-for-all move beyond (just) the "unemployment office" to recognition as a true Career Center…and much, much more.

PROMISING PRACTICES: Vehicles for Change: Independent Transportation for Low-Wage Families

Martin Schwartz, President, Vehicles for Change

Transportation is a major barrier to employment for low-wage families. Discover how one of the recognized leaders in car ownership programs provides a means to alleviate this barrier in a low cost, effective manner. Learn how to access this program for your customers or start a program in your local area.

Closing Keynote (3:15 – 4:30)

Rekindle the Flame: Renewing Purpose and Passion in Work

Denise Bissonnette

Presentation (pdf, 316KB)

Inspired by her newest publication, The Wholehearted Journey: Bringing Qualities of Soul to Everyday Life and Work, Denise Bissonnette offers yet another dynamic, inspiring and life altering experience! Designed to re-ignite the power, passion and purpose which originally drew people to their work, this keynote presentation intertwines poetry, parables, and practical applications to put soul back into the everyday realities of life on the job. With warmth, humility and humor, Denise delivers ideas and insights from the world's great wisdom traditions in a way that is easy to understand, process and apply to the 21st century workplace. It is said that the coal that has been an ember is easily kindled. This keynote provides the gentle but deliberate breath that can set the fire within the heart and spirit of the working person aglow.

Speaker Biography

Denise Bissonnette

After completing her Masters Degree in Multicultural Education at the University of San Francisco, Denise began to work in ESL programs. Her early literacy work with political refugees drew her to the difficulties that they faced in trying to establish themselves in American workplace. In response, she made a career change and became a Job Developer – working with employers to secure jobs for people from groups that were not traditionally part of the workforce.

Her extraordinary success as a job developer led to requests for her to share her expertise with other practitioners and organizations. Soon, as a partner in the firm of Milt Wright & Associates, Denise was in demand throughout North America - delivering seminars to Job Developers and Employment Specialists throughout the Employment and Training field.

Denise's job search curriculum, Pathways, became a cornerstone for the placement services of many social service agencies and educational systems. Her book Beyond Traditional Job Development stands as the definitive text for job development professionals throughout the continent. Denise's early program Crossroads and the later Cultivating the Spirit to Work respond to the "motivational" issues encountered in clients of placement services. Her revolutionary concept of "activity-based placement" led to the development of the comprehensive Cultivating True Livelihood curriculum. Denise's new 30 Ways to Shine as a New Employee is a proactive response to emerging job retention issues.

Concurrent to her work in the arena of Human Services, Denise has worked closely with the Corporate sector. Companies like Oracle, EDS, Hyatt Hotels and the Society for Human Resources Management (SHRM) have drawn on her expertise to enhance their Workforce Diversity efforts.

In recent years, Denise has also been called upon to design training programs and manuals to enable companies to effectively engage the talents of employees emerging from welfare-to-work initiatives. These are primarily tools for Managers and Supervisors to skillfully deal with the diverse backgrounds and experiences that these individuals are bringing to the workplace. Developing the New Employee (training curriculum) and Helping the New Employee Succeed (supervisor handbook) are exciting products that have emerged from this work.