E.U.P. WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT BOARD
The E.U.P. Workforce Development Board meeting was held at the Cisler Center of Lake Superior State University in Sault Ste. Marie. President Jim Wagner called the meeting to order at 4:05 p.m.
Workforce Development Board Members Present:
Anderson, Maxine
Boissineau, Ed
Bosbous
Burrows, Dan
Daniels, Betty
Durm, Jim
Holt, Jeff
Kangas, Wayne
Langhals, Kathy
Maas, Ernie
Shaffer, Carl (Alt)
Raappana, Sandee
Ramsay, Dave
Shimmens, Pat
Wagner, Jim
Workforce Development Board Members Absent:
(Bold
names denote private sector.)
Cameron, Allyn
Goldthorpe, David
Hazel, Jill
Sherlund, Ferne
Guests
Present:
Conklin,
Lynn
Klempp, Dianne
Panton
Waisanen, Mel
Staff
Present:
Connolly, Debbie
Wilcox, Kim
Worley, Gwen
Under
Public Comment, Mel Waisanen and Lynn Conklin of Lake Superior State University
updated the Workforce Development Board with regard to a University task force
that was created to research programs which would be more responsive to the
Eastern Upper Peninsula’s needs. They
are in the process of modeling a step approach in obtaining degrees whereby a
student could first receive a certificate, then associates, and then a
bachelor’s degree. They are also
looking into a general health care certificate program.
The minutes of the December 6, 2001, Workforce Development Board Meeting were approved as submitted following a motion by Tony Bosbous and support by Jim Durm.
The
next item on the agenda was the election of officers. Director Worley indicated that all of the current officers
have agreed to serve again if appointed. The
current officers are Jim Wagner (President), Tony Bosbous (Vice President), Jeff
Holt (Secretary), and Jim Durm (Treasurer). There were no nominations received from the floor.
Dave Ramsay moved to re-elect the current officers.
Betty Daniels supported. Motion
passed.
Several
informational items were reviewed.
The
Workforce Development Board discussed the possibility of hosting a table at the
Sault’s Chamber of Commerce Spring Show.
The WDB agreed that this could be done if there were enough volunteers to
man the table. Members who
expressed an interest in volunteering to work a 4-hour shift were Betty Daniels,
Ernie Maas, Ed Boissineau, Jeff Holt, Maxine Anderson, and Jim Wagner.
Director Worley indicated that staff members and members of the Education
Advisory Group will also be asked to assist in working at the Spring Show.
President
Jim Wagner described the results of the WDB Self-Assessment and Quality
Improvement Surveys. The top four
areas requiring improvement are Customer Focus, the Board’s Own Human
Resources, Information and Analysis, and Process Management. Workforce Development Board members and guests were divided
into four groups to focus on one individual area.
Each group was to answer the following questions regarding the assigned
area:
1.
Where are we now?
2.
Where should we be?
3.
What are some strategies to improve?
The
work groups assigned are as follows:
Customer Focus:
Dan Burrows, Maxine Anderson, Debbie Connolly, and
Jim Durm
Human Resources: Ed
Bossineau, Allan Frappier, Ernie Maas,
Wayne
Kangas, Diann Klempp, and Sandy
Raappana
Information and Analysis:
Jeff Holt, Betty Daniels, Carl Shaffer, and
Diane Panton
Process
Management: Tony
Bosbous, Dave Ramsay, Kathy Langhals, and
Jim
Wagner and Gwen Worley were available to provide answers to any questions each
group may have.
At
5:15 p.m. the groups reported their findings.
Customer Focus:
The group determined that the WDB customers were participants and
employers. It was mentioned that
one area the WDB needs to be more knowledgeable is the technological aspect of
the talent bank and other programs. It
was also determined that many in the public and private sector are not aware
that the Workforce Development Board operates many of the programs and services
of the One Stop as many do not know that the WDB oversees the Michigan Works!
Agency. A suggestion of improvement
would be to have Board Members become more knowledgeable of the programs and to
be able to describe these programs to others.
Human Resources: It
was mentioned that currently the membership of the Workforce Development Board
is at capacity. Due to the
State’s requirement to have 150% of private sector nominations when appointing
private sector replacements, this Group would like to have a Private Sector
“waiting list” so ongoing recruitment efforts would be necessary.
It was suggested that WDB members mention this to other private sector
employers in the area.
Information and Analysis: This group determined that the Board is currently beginning to
provide more outreach to the community via advertisements and business cards.
Areas of improvement would be to decide how to measure the effectiveness
of the programs as to where we should be and what is needed in the area.
This group questioned if the WDB should be more proactive than reactive
as to the needs of the area. Strategies
of improvement mainly emphasized communicating with employers and students and
to continue with the many forms of advertising currently being employed.
Process Management: The
main issue of this group was the need to have a mission statement for the
Workforce Development Board. It was
suggested that the Board may wish to consider changing their name to something
that would have the Board’s mission more recognizable to the public.
As there was no old or new business, Tony Bosbous
moved to adjourn the meeting at 5:30 p.m. Jeff
Holt supported. Motion passed.
SIGNATURE ON FILE
April 18, 2002
Jim Wagner, President
Date Approved
E.U.P. Workforce Development Board
Prepared by Kim Wilcox
