Introduction
The
Greater Wilkes-Barre Chamber of Business and Industry’s Workforce
Development/Education Division is a resource to business,
education and training organizations on finding, hiring and
training and retaining the work force needed by the region’s
businesses. As part of the Chamber’s Workforce Development
Division, we can help companies and individuals locate resources
to meet their needs. The organization also identifies and
addresses other critical factors such as transportation, health
care, and childcare that enable people to work and advance
in their careers. These efforts are critical to enhance the
organization’s business recruitment and retention efforts.
Purpose
To
design and implement a strategy to address workforce issues
that will enhance the organization with effective and competitive
strategies to attract and retain business and industry and
quality employees.
Mission
To
proactively champion the expansion and improvement of the
current workforce development system to advance the economic
well being of the region.
Vision
To
serve as the BRIDGES between business, education and the community
by bringing partners together, raising awareness of community
resources, involving the community, promoting life long learning,
and connecting individuals with resources.
The
work of the Workforce Development/Education Division will
be carried out through the Chamber’s Director of Workforce
Development using collateral marketing materials, the Workforce
Development/Education section of www.wilkes-barre.org and
through the talents and efforts of the many volunteers serving
on the Workforce Development Advisory Council, Partners-In-Education,
Human Resources, and the Diversity Task Forces.
2003
PLAN OF ACTION
Human
Resource Task Force GOALS and ACTIONS
GOAL
Develop
tools and strategies for member organizations in dealing with
work place/work force issues by connecting employers to resources
and information and provide information on job openings.
·
Increase Human Resource awareness and knowledge to member
organizations, specifically small to mid-size companies, in
all areas of Human Resources including policies and procedures,
disaster planning and recovery strategies, legal issues, employee
benefits, and best practices through the Human Resource Guidebook,
Human Resource Seminar, Human Resource Orientations, Human
Resource Request for Service Program and the Business Disaster
Plan Guidebook.
·
NEW Prepare and distribute a Human Resource Vendor Guide
that identifies human resource related services available
in the region.
·
NEW Establish Human Resource presence on the Chamber’s
NEW Workforce Development/Education web site.
·
NEW Increase awareness of career opportunities through the
Chamber’s Find a Job/Post a Job section of the web site and
by co-sponsoring a regional JOB FAIR 2003.
GOAL
Identify
new service offerings and partnership opportunities to strengthen
the relationship with Human Resource Professionals and Human
Resource Networks.
·
NEW Identify new service offerings that are aligned with
member organization needs by preparing and distributing survey(s)
targeted towards Human Resource Professionals.
Partners-in-Education
Task Force GOALS and ACTIONS
GOAL
Support
the community in preparing ready-to-work individuals by facilitating
and honoring entrepreneurship and business & industry/education
partnerships.
·
NEW Revise and market the Guide to Developing Business &
Industry/Education Partnerships to broaden educational, career,
and economic opportunity for our region’s youth through promoting
business & industry/education partnerships.
·
Continue to support the Guest Teacher Program in conjunction
with the LIU#18 designed to train and certify professionals
with a Bachelors Degree to become day-to-day guest teachers
in local school districts and vocational schools to address
the shortage of substitutes.
·
Cosponsor the 7th Annual Community Reading Day in conjunction
with the Scranton, Pittston, Hazleton, Carbondale, Wayne,
and Wyoming Chambers along with the corporate sponsor Fleet
Bank to promote literacy AND give business people an opportunity
to visit and partner with our schools as well as promote various
careers.
GOAL
Advocate
employer occupational and skill needs to educational and community
leaders, parents, and students.
·
NEW STAY INVENT THE FUTURE INITIATIVE Support the Northeastern
Career Opportunities (NCO) initiative that surveyed employers
to identify current and future job opportunities now and into
the future through a School-to-Work web site, In-School presentations,
and pocket brochure.
·
Co-sponsor the Real Life 101 Program in conjunction with the
Greater Scranton and Hazleton Chambers along with corporate
sponsor Fleet Bank designed to give high school seniors, not
going on to college, information and insights into the kind
of things that can help them find rewarding and productive
careers such as how to complete a job application, workplace
expectations, and appropriate dress attire.
·
Co-sponsor the 4th Great Valley Computer Contest in conjunction
with the Greater Scranton and Hazleton Chambers and the Great
Valley Technology Alliance to engage students, grades 9-12,
in an Information Technology challenge utilizing basic business
tools and concepts.
GOAL
Build
stronger relationships with business & industry, educators,
students, parents, and advocates with information, links and
supports to increase awareness of available community resources.
·
NEW Promote the Career Education and Work Activity Guide
and develop and Act 80 day presentation/PowerPoint designed
to create awareness among parents, students, educators, guidance
counselors, and administrators regarding skill requirements,
career opportunities and available community resources.
·
Host one (1) interactive session for school board directors
pertaining to Career Education and Work and host one (1) casual
networking evening of hockey and conversation for school board
members at the First Union Arena at Casey Plaza.
·
Maintain the Chamber’s Guide to Business Education Connections
via the Chamber’s web site to provide educators with a tool
to connect to the local businesses, which describes how they
are willing to partner with the schools.
·
NEW In an effort to help retain our youth, Letters of Congratulations
will be sent to area students who receive special recognitions
for their accomplishments. The letter will highlight our area’s
job opportunities and will inform students the Chamber is
available to help locate summer employment, Internships and
networking opportunities.
Diversity
Task Force GOALS and ACTIONS
GOAL
Position
the Greater Wilkes-Barre Chamber of Business & Industry,
its board(s), and its staff to be strong voices for diversity
and role models of cultural competency and to sustain and
further influence the business community’s commitment and
action on diversity.
·
NEW Actively participate and co-sponsor the Northeastern
Pennsylvania Diversity Education Consortium’s Day of Action
Planning and support and promote key diversity initiatives
in the community through Chamber publications such as the
Annual Diversity Picnic and the countywide Martin Luther King
Week.
·
When appropriate, publish position statements on diversity
issues important to the business community, and, ensure that
the face and content of organizations publications represents
the diversity of the region.
·
Host two (2) Diversity Forums, targeted towards CEOs/Human
Resource Professionals, to give employers the opportunity
to exchange best practices and coordinate efforts to address
issues of diversity in the workplace.
·
Raise awareness and expose area 5th graders to diversity issues
by engaging them in discussion and reading by sponsoring the
4th annual Day of Cultural Sharing (formerly Diversity Reading
Day) in conjunction with the Diversity Institute at College
Misericordia.
GOAL
Continue
to identify partnership opportunities and find ways to strengthen
the relationships with and collaboration between the Chamber
and cultural groups in the region.
·
Maintain the existing regional Diversity Guide, including
on the Chamber’s web site.
·
NEW Reach out to the minority population and encourage their
participation in Chamber and community functions through one-on-one
contacts and personal invitations.
·
NEW Prepare a PowerPoint and/or presentation to communicate
the Task Force’s history, actions, accomplishments and value
of diversity.
Honors
for 2003
The Greater Wilkes-Barre Chamber of Business
and Industry's Workforce Development/Education Division is
pleased to announce the following awards:
American Chamber of Commerce Executives
(ACCE) Awards for Communications Excellence (ACE).
"Find a Job / Post a Job" section of www.wilkes-barre.org
website: Honorable Mention in Web Site Category. Visit the
jobsite online at www.wilkes-barre.org/jobsite.
American Chamber of Commerce Executives (ACCE) Awards
for Communications Excellence (ACE). Diversity in NEPA
publication and Online publication: Award for Merit in the Guide/Special
Publication Category. Visit the guide online at www.wilkes-barre.org/diversity.
Work & Play in Northeast PA publication--
Recipient of the 1st Annual John J. Luciani Regionalism Award
presented by NEPA Alliance. Visit Work & Play in Northeast
PA online at www.worknplaynepa.com.
Work & Play in Northeast PA Publication--Recipient
of the Pocono Northeast Community Award--
1st Place in the category of Media/Special Events.
Grants Received
PPL Blue Ribbon Marketing Partnership
Grant for use in developing a Regional Workforce Development
Pocket Folder and Marketing Materials.
