The Workforce Investment Board hosted a focus group and luncheon for representatives across the BRADD region on Wednesday, May 17 at the BRADD Conference Center. The purpose of the meeting was to gather from employers information related to current and emerging needs for workforce development. Participants at the meeting included Sandy Stearns from Sumitomo WinTech of Edmonton; Angela Clemmons from LifeSkills of Bowling Green; Trish Tyson of the Medical Center of Bowling Green; Lynn Williams of Commonwealth Health Corporation of Bowling Green; Theresa Davis of Warren Rural Electric; Trish Jones of Community Action of Bowling Green; Gretchen Bandy of Sumitomo of Edmonton; Mary Hutchins of the Office of Employment Services; Bill Clemmons of Trace Die Cast of Bowling Green; Cheryl Lewis Smith of Western Kentucky University; Missy Johnson of PAN-OSTON of Bowling Green; Larry Pike of RR Donnelly of Glasgow; and Lori Edmunds of Sumitomo of Scottsville.

The group worked through a modified brainstorming approach and created a “Workforce Development Wish List.” Some of the broad categories identified included:

• Develop an Employer Assistance Infrastructure
• Enhance Economic Development Related Initiatives
• Continue Youth Workforce Development Activities
• Improve and Upgrade Basic Skills
• Support Language and Cultural Issues Faced by Employers

 

Within these categories, the focus group identified strategies and tactics that they felt were important for meeting the current and future needs of employers in the region. More detailed information will be provided in a final report that will be presented to the Workforce Investment Board later this summer.