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Presenter Information

Pre-conference Session #1 - Sunday, April 6th 1:00 – 4:00 pm
Cost: complimentary with paid registration
Title: “WIA 101”
Description: Don't know an OJT form an ITA? How about an MOU from an CAA? This workshop is for you. The is workshop is designed as an introduction to the Workforce Investment Act for new and somewhat new employees. It will provide an overview of the Act and the responsibilities of staff, Workforce Boards, and elected officials under the law. The workshop will very practical in nature. It will also include ample time for discussion.
Presenter(s):
Chuck Stewart, President, Partners in Job Training and Placement
Cheryl Welch, CEO, FoxValley Workforce Development Board
John McLaughlin, Director, Minnesota Workforce Service Area 9

Pre-conference Session #2 - Sunday, April 6th 1:00 – 5:00 pm
Cost: $100
Title: “Selling Intensive Services to One Stop Customers and Case Managing for WIA Performance”
Description: Part I – Selling Intensive Services
Many WIA customers want to jump from core services to education/training when they enter the one stop. They see no value in the intensive service component. Yet serving more in intensive reduces cost, increases the number of people who can obtain a service and can increase performance. But often times staff aren’t adept at selling and providing intensive level services. We will examine a host of services that can be provided at the intensive level. You will learn how to effectively market those services so that more customers are satisfied at the intensive level.
Part II – Case Managing for WIA Performance
Staff need to understand the implications of the decisions they make in terms of recruitment and moving clients through layers of service. They need to understand how each decision impacts performance. The intensive services prescribed WIA are targeted toward harder to serve. Performance standards are tougher: six months of retention, customer satisfaction, earnings gains and credentials.

So what is the best way to service individuals with major employment barriers and still achieve these stricter performance standards? How can you do this within the Aone stop@ career center environment? How do you decide who needs intensive and training services? When should you register a person? How do you get clients to let you know where they are at months after they exit? What’s the difference in post-placement and post-exit services and how do those differences impact case management?
Trainer: Jodie Sue Kelly, Owner, Trainer, Cygnet Associates

Pre-conference Session #3 - Monday, April 7th 9:00 – 12:00 noon
Cost - $75
Title: “Quality Management in a One Stop Environment”
Description: One of the many ways that supervisors of frontline staff can weave today’s talent is by practicing quality management. This session will provide tools and techniques to supervisors and managers (or anyone that wishes to be in that role) that will enhance the quality of supervision you provide to your staff. Specifically discussed will be coaching, mentoring, delegations as a teaching tool, and the importance of providing strategic direction.

Trainer: Ann Merrifield, Director of Program Development, Dynamic Works Institute
Pre-conference Session #4 - Monday, April 7th 8:30 – 10:00 am
Cost - $10
A Tour of Busch Stadium
Description: Take a tour and see the “back stage” of the new Busch Stadium.

Opening Plenary - Monday, April 7th 1:00 – 2:30 pm
Title: “Boomtown USA: The 7 1/2 Keys to Big Success in Small Towns”
Description: As CEO of a company whose mission, in part, is to develop business in rural communities, Jack Schultz felt like a detective looking for clues to answer a number of questions he had about hometown health and prosperity. The questions boiled down to these: What separated the thriving towns from the struggling ones? Did the people within a prosperous town approach their lives differently than those in a struggling town? Can communities that are struggling rebound? If so, how? Schultz’s feelings about what distinguished successful towns from the average ones became first a theory, then a conviction. He continually saw the same characteristics from one great town to another. These characteristics by themselves weren’t earth-shattering, but considered together, they began to build a case for exactly how successful towns set themselves apart, often by a wide margin. The keys to success emerged as if from a milk-white fog, hazy and distant at first, with lines and definitions obscured; but over time, the fog lifted and the keys became clear. These keys don’t come together to form a magic wand; they can’t be used to resuscitate a near-dead town within a few weeks or months. But they can lead to significant improvement in a town’s economy and growth. Boomtown USA constructs a case for exploring America’s hometowns. Whether you’re a local entrepreneur, government leader or CEO of a company looking to relocate, the story of the agurbs are worthy of investigation.
Keynote: Jack Schultz, Founder and CEO, Agracel, Inc./Boomtown Institute

Closing Plenary - Wednesday, April 9th 10:00 – 11:30 am
Title: “The Future Is Here: Emerging Technologies & Partnership Models”
Description: If you want to understand the future, just look at the technologies we use as part of every day life. $300 video game consoles have as much computing power as a $100 million computer from 1995. Cars made in the past decade have as much computing power as the NASA Moon missions in the 1960s.
Since 1995, Jim Brazell has entertained, motivated and captured the imagination of audiences worldwide. Whether you are an executive, an educator, a student, a workforce board member, an economic developer, an employer or a parent, Jim has a message for you.
Keynote: Jim Brazell,VentureRAMP, Inc.

Title: “LMI-101 for Workforce Development Professionals: On Your Mark! Get Set! Go!”
Description: This session, geared toward local WIB staff and other non-LMI staff, promises to give you an easy-to-follow demonstration of the primary workforce information tools needed for career assessment, skill-matching, customized employer listings, as well as a host of other resources essential for Case Management strategies. In particular, this session will provide insight for One-Stop Center staff to best navigate a LMI web system, create user-friendly "layman" pathways for your One-Stop Center so that clients can access the most relevant data in a snap, as well as how to interpret all these workforce terms and lingo. This highly interactive session promises to take the "labor" out of labor market information and empower you to utilize the various online resources needed for your position!
Presenter(s): Mary Bruton, Workforce Analysis Manager, Missouri Economic Research and Information Center

Title: “Leveraging Registered Apprenticeship as a Workforce Development Strategy for the Workforce Investment System”
Description: The 21st century economy demands a workforce with postsecondary education credentials, and the adaptability to respond immediately to changing economic and business needs. The public workforce system is playing a leadership role in meeting these demands by catalyzing the implementation of innovative talent development and lifelong learning strategies that will enable American workers to advance their skills and remain competitive in the global economy. Registered Apprenticeship, a critical postsecondary education, training, and employment option available in every state in our nation, as well as District of Columbia, the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico.
Presenter(s):

Mark Floretta, Apprenticeship Representative, DOL Office of Apprenticeship

Ms. Stephanie Schmitt, Apprenticeship Representative, US DOL Office of Apprenticeship

Title: “Ten Ways to Measure and Improve Business Customer Satisfaction with Your Services”

Description: Are you ready to take the big test and apply private sector customer satisfaction measures to your work with businesses? Be prepared to go into shock! Join the more than 2000 people that have taken this workshop and discover how you can meet your funding source performance standards and at the same time fail business customer satisfaction measures! Your current performance standards (including retention) only measure job seeker outcomes and have nothing to do with measuring business customer satisfaction. You'll come out of shock as this workshop teaches you many innovative ways to improve your work with the business customer so you can get to new levels of success and partnership with the private sector that you never thought possible! Managers, supervisors and staff that want to improve their business services should not miss this session that was a standing room only workshop at a NAWDP national conference and a ten part series in the NAWDP newsletter.
Presenter(s): Larry Robbin, Trainer, Robbin and Associates

Title: “Workforce Development, Education, and Economic Development Solutions for a Regional Economy”

Description: This Super Session will address how we should be working together with Economic Development and education to build a strong regional bond and improve collaborations.
Presenter: Ed Morrison, Center for Regional Development at Purdue University

Title: “Blues in the Schools: Music and Arts Education”
Description: This workshop will provide examples of ways to reach young people through arts education.
Learning Objectives:
1. Attendees will experience how to mix music and arts education tied to state educational standards in an engaging, informative and fun manner.
2. The workshop will provide ways to link history, music, and performance for K-12 audiences interested in after-school and special programs.
3. The workshop will provide information on additional funding resources as well as performance opportunities for arts education programs.
Presenter(s):
Eric Steiner, Employment Advisor, Casey Family Programs
Deb Seitz, Blues Singer

Title: “Business Solutions Professional Accredited Training”

Description: This workshop will showcase how the State of Michigan coordinated efforts with Michigan State University School of Labor and IndustrialRelations and South Central Michigan Works to develop a Business Solutions Professional Accredited training program. The workshop will cover the curriculum development phase, the goals of the initiative, and the results of the training based on actual successes of the newly certified Business Solutions Professionals.
Presenters:
John Beck, Associate Director of Labor Programs, Michigan State University School of Labor and Industrial Relations
Ms. Christine Quinn, President, South Central Michigan Works
Mr. Jim Lautenschleger, Business Solutions Officer, South Central Michigan Works

Title: “Think Global, Act Regional“ Missouri's Focus on the WIRED Framework”
Description: With OneKC, the Southeast Commerce Corridor, and several other regional initiatives, Missouri's Workforce System is thinking beyond traditional, imaginary geo-political boundaries to improve the delivery of workforce services and enhance the partnerships with economic development and education. This presentation will highlight the steps taken and partnerships formed when regional economies were used to frame successful initiatives.
Presenter: Dawn Busick, Interim Division Director, Missouri Division of Workforce Development

Title: “Leveraging Resources and Providing Programs Around the Shared Youth Vision”
Description: This workshop will provide information on leveraging dollars to support the national Shared Youth Vision (SYV). Ohio engaged support from Governor Ted Strickland and other state agencies such as Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) to support the neediest youth. We will provide information and data on working with youthful offenders and discuss out-of-school youth.A panel of state staff and local vendors will discuss program implementation of the SYV at this workshop.
Presenters:
Gerry Cain, Youth Administration, Special Projects, Ohio Department of Job and Family Services
Kevin Shepherd, Parole Services Manager, Ohio Department of Job and Family Services
Teresa Egan, Program Officer, Cuyahoga County Department of Justice Affairs
Mark Jackson, Program Manager, Alvis House, Inc.

Title: “Training for the Future: The Universal Employee”
Description: Employers are looking for three things Likability, Dependability and Workability.We have been good at training people for work skills GED, Computers etc,. but many times fail to change their Likability and Dependability Factor. Most employers want people who show up on time. This workshop teaches you ways to help youth turn on their likability and dependability factor. This is a fun and informative class.
Presenter: Paul Clayton, President/Trainer, P.E. Clayton and Associates

Title: “Motivating Yourself Others and Over Coming Burnout”
Description: This is a workshop for people who want to keep themselves motivate and who what to motivate others. Many of us in the industry have lost their original Enthusiasm for our job learn how to restore you motivation and the hard to serve. This is a fun workshop.
Presenter: Paul Clayton, President/Trainer, P.E. Clayton and Associates

Title: “Cluster Weaving: Building Industry Groups to build a regional approach”
Description: Participants will get a first hand look of three central Wisconsin industry cluster groups that have engaged in a regional approach to workforce development. Using the southern Ohio "Network Weaving" technique the audience will take home techniques and tools they can use.
Presenter: Sally Cutler, Executive Director, North Central Wisconsin Workforce Development Board

Title: “Videoconferencing: A Solution for Workforce Development”
Description: Kansas Launches Videoconferencing Solution; Combining Federal and State Training Programs at the State of Kansas, AeroStructures Technology Program at Winfield Correctional Facility; Older Worker Outreach Project
Presenter: Rae Anne Davis, Deputy Secretary for Workforce Services, Kansas Department of Commerce

Title: “Youthful Offender Opportunities”
Description: Learn new ideas for developing work sites for youthful offenders. From building credibility in the business community and correctly matching youth with positions, to helping youth learn to be good workers, this workshop will help you put in place ingredients critical for moving youthful offenders to the world of work. Find out the keys you need to ensure success for youthful offenders, building your workforce and turning a hard-to-serve population into contributors in your community.
Presenter: Debbie Dowell, Career Advisor, Iow@work, Southeastern Community College

Title: “The Middle Apprenticeship Project“ A Unique Approach to Career Development for At-Risk Youth”
Description: This workshop will discuss the experience and early learnings from the Bayless Middle Apprenticeship Project (MAP). MAP serves high school students at risk of dropping out of school. It is a joint effort of a local school in partnership with a vocational and technical education provider and a labor-management apprenticeship training program. This workshop will discuss the innovative approach and its impact on student learning, attendance and performance. Now, in its second year, MAP combines apprentice level technical training with contextualized classroom learnings under the leadership of industry certified trainers. As a result students concurrently meet their high school requirements and complete the classroom skills training requirements of a US-DOL certified industry apprenticeship program. Graduates can then be placed in the industry and concurrently enrolled in an articulated community college program leading to an AAS degree.
Presenters:
John Gaal, Director of Training and Workforce Development, Carpenters District Council of Greater St. Louis
Randy Dillion, Director of Technical Education, St. Louis Special School District
Denise Swager, PhD, High School Principal, Bayless School District
Eric Kastner, Floor Layer Instructor, Bayless High School & Floorlayers Joint Apprenticeship Program Bayless School District

Title: “Missouri Career Center Chartering Improved Integration, Enhanced Quality”
Description: In an effort to truly integrate programs and services at its 42 One Stop Career Centers, Missouri Division of Workforce Development is implementing integrated functional management and chartering.Integrated functional management provides for improved customer service in that customers are identified as a person rather than a participant of a specific program. One stop chartering allows for some standardization across all centers while also serving as a tool for continuous improvement.This workshop will examine the development, challenges, and implementation of these two initiatives.
Presenter: Jason Gat, LWIB Relations Coordinator, Missouri Division of Workforce Development

Title: “Gaps and Alignment: Board Decisions & Provider Operations”