Disney Institute Keys to Excellence Training is a Great Success

South Piedmont Community College (SPCC) in Monroe hosted 429 guests for the Disney Institute March 29 and 30 in the Conference Center on the Old Charlotte Highway Campus. The one-day training event was originally scheduled for March 30 only, but a second date was scheduled to accommodate the demand for the premiere of the program in the Charlotte region. The Centralina Workforce Development Board (WDB) was the primary co-sponsor of the Disney Institute training.

The Disney Institute's one-day program, featuring its renowned brand of professional development, is made up of four segments: Leadership, Disney Style; Management, Disney Style; Service, Disney Style; and Loyalty, Disney Style. It was a chance for businesses and others to learn proven Disney success strategies that they could adapt inside their own organization. The all day session entitled Disney Keys to Excellence challenged business owners, public and private non-profit groups, and others to look at their organizations - small, mid-sized, or large - in an entirely new light. Those in attendance were professionals from all fields ranging from workforce development, to medical, to education, professional services, retail, and more.

Members of each of the seven local JobLink Career Center management teams in the Centralina region attended the training. David Hollars, Centralina WDB Executive Director, stated, "Our Board strongly believes in equipping local businesses with the skills they need to not only survive but to thrive in today's global economy. This includes all of our local JobLink Career Centers. The skills the management teams learned from Disney will ensure even more success from our centers in the future".

The Centralina Workforce Development Board promotes continuing training and continuous improvement for all businesses in the region. For more information on the Centralina Workforce Development Board please contact David Hollars at (704) 348-2717 or by email at dhollars@centralina.org.

Monroe Economic Development Commission Launches New Website

The Monroe Economic Development Commission has launched its new Internet site (www.developmonroe.com) to provide better service and information to existing businesses in the city and to prospective businesses.

"We continue to see direct results from our Web site as both company representatives and site selection professionals are using the Web to refine their searches for communities that are pro-business and aggressive at creating an environment where they can prosper," said Chris Plate, Monroe's director of economic development.

Plate added that the site will provide prospective industries, real estate professionals, existing industries and other allies of Monroe's economic development efforts a single source to access all the resources available to businesses and industry within Monroe.

Some of the enhanced features of the site include a secure client area, a "quick facts" area and a new media library. The site will continue to be enhanced over the next year; enabling it to handle items such as online registration for Monroe's Hook & Slice industry appreciation golf tournament and its existing industry seminar series.

Plate said information was gathered from many of the existing business executives in the community to ensure the site was both user-friendly and conveys Monroe's progressive and pro-business posture. The new Web site can be viewed at www.developmonroe.com. For more information on the Monroe Economic Development Commission please contact Chris Plate at (704) 282-5780.

The Centralina WDB is proud to be a partner with the Monroe Economic Development Commission and their efforts for a better economy in Monroe. For more information on the Centralina Workforce Development Board, please contact David Hollars at 704-348-2717 or by email at dhollars@centralina.org.

Survey finds that New Workers Lack Some Competencies

In a new survey, half of the human resource (HR) professionals polled say that new workers lack some competencies and many business organizations are finding it difficult to fill skills gaps. These major findings of the 2006 Access to Human Capital and Employment Verification Survey, released by the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), are based on responses from 489 HR professionals.

Respondents cite overall professionalism, analytical skills, business knowledge and written and verbal communication as the skills that new employees lack most frequently. To address the skills shortage, organizations are turning to their local workforce development boards, community colleges and other training providers for assistance. Internships, On the Job Training and education assistance from the employer are also being used as a means to provide needed training and close the skills gap.

Two pilot projects underway in the Centralina region are helping to address this issue. The Career Readiness Certification program at Mitchell Community College and Rowan-Cabarrus Community College can help prepare workers with the basic skills in reading, math, and locating information needed for employment and can allow employers to hire the best applicant for the job.

"It will take a collaborative effort by all the stakeholders - workers, government, the business and academic communities, and the HR profession to reverse the skills shortage trend," said Susan Meisinger, SPHR, President and CEO of SHRM. " A skilled workforce is vital for America's future economic health."

For more information on Career Readiness Certification at Rowan-Cabarrus Community College, please contact Carol Allen or Becky Hammill at (704) 637-0760, Ext. 478 and for more information about the CRC program at Mitchell Community College, please contact Beverly Hedrick at (704) 878- 3235.

If you would like to learn more about assessing your company's training needs with the Centralina Workforce Development Board, please contact Vail Carter at 704-348-2710 or by email at vcarter@centralina.org.

Union County to hold a Workforce Development Summit

The Union County Workforce Development Summit will take place on Tuesday, May 2 from 8 am - 10:30 am at the Central Academy of Technology & Arts. David Hollars, Executive Director of the Centralina WDB will speak to the group about the State of Workforce Report 2005 for the region, with emphasis on Union County. Summit participants will have an opportunity to discuss and share ideas or strategies to address the challenges faced in Union County.

For more information on the Union County Workforce Development Summit please contact Charles Perry at 704-283-3650. To have a member of one of the members of the Competitive Workforce Alliance present to your group or for more information on the State of the Workforce Study, please contact David Hollars at (704) 348-2717 or at dhollars@centralina.org.

Remember, you can access the State of the Workforce Study - Executive Summary, Full Report, and complete Data Appendix at www.centralinaworks.com.

Each month, the Centralina Workforce Development Board holds a drawing from Business Surveys that area businesses have completed and posted on our website at http://www.centralinaworks.com/survey.

Centralina is pleased to announce that the winner of this month's drawing is Plastiflex North Carolina, LLC in Statesville. Christyne Massey of Plastiflex North Carolina, LLC completed and submitted the survey. We thank Christyne for helping us with our continuous improvement feedback process.

If you haven't completed the survey, you can do so now by logging onto our website at http://www.centralinaworks.com/survey. It only takes a couple of minutes and by completing the survey, it will guarantee your entry into our next drawing.

For more information on the Centralina Workforce Development Employer Survey and the business services available through the Board and our local JobLink Career Centers, please contact Vail Carter at (704) 348-2710 or by email at vcarter@centralina.org.

Anson County JobLink Career Center
116 West Wade Street
Wadesboro, NC 28170
Phone: 704-694-6551

Cabarrus County JobLink Career Center
2275 Kannapolis Highway
Concord, NC 28027
Phone: 704-786-3183

Iredell County JobLink Career Center
Mooresville Center
470-A North Broad Street
Mooresville, NC 28115
Phone: 704-664-4225
Statesville Center
1907 Newton Drive
Statesville, NC 28677
Phone: 704-878-4241

Lincoln County JobLink Career Center
529 North Aspen Street
Lincolnton, NC 28092
Phone: 704-735-8035

Rowan County JobLink Career Center
1904 South Main Street
Salisbury, NC 28144
Phone: 704-639-7529

Stanly County JobLink Career Center
2215 US Highway 52 North
Albemarle, NC 28001
Phone: 704-982-2183

Union County JobLink Career Center
1125 Skyway Drive
Monroe, NC 28110
Phone: 704-283-7541

Youth Council Member Presents Job Skills Workshop for Peers

The Centralina Workforce Development Board's Youth Council was proud to have one of its members, Ms. Corinthia Miller, as the featured speaker at the Youth Council meeting on April 27, 2006 at the Boys & Girls Club in Concord. Corinthia's presentation was well received by the Council.

Corinthia explained that she had noticed that many of her peers were complaining that they could not get jobs and that they did not understand why. She then decided to have a workshop for the youth at Salisbury-Rowan Community Service Council on how to dress for a job interview, how to fill out applications, and the types of questions typically asked by employers.

She walked the youth through the interview process and let them ask the tough questions that employers ask in interviews. Corinthia also helped each of them complete an application and explained to them the proper ways to dress for an interview.

The Centralina Workforce Development and the Youth Council are proud of the youth leaders in our region such as Corinthia Miller. Corinthia currently receives services through the WIA Youth program at Salisbury-Rowan Community Service Council in Salisbury. We congratulate Corinthia on a job well done!

The Centralina Workforce Development Board and its Youth Council provides the funding for WIA programs for youth. For more information on the Salisbury-Rowan Community Service Council in Cabarrus and Rowan County, please contact Joann Diggs at (704) 216-2189. For more information on the Centralina Youth Council, please contact Stephanie Boger at (704) 348-2725 or by email at sboger@centralina.org.

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I-Care, Inc. in Lincoln County Moves to New Location

I-Care, Inc. of Lincoln County has moved from the Lincoln County JobLink Career Center to the United Way Building. The new offices are youth friendly in order to invite more youth and their families to find out what I-Care can offer.

The staff has already seen an increase in the number of students and parents that have come in since they have been at the new location. The new offices have computers for students to use to do homework, research projects, as well as resume writing. Students are free to use these resources at any time.

The new location also offers additional privacy for the students to talk about what they are doing, what they are going through, or just what they want to share.

"We feel that that they aren't as intimidated coming here where they know that this is their space as well," says I-Care, Inc. and Workforce Investment Act (WIA) case manager Ali Cecchini.

I Care - WIA Youth staff greatly appreciates the Lincoln County JobLink Career Center and manager Judi Morton for providing space for staff over the past few years. Ali Cecchini states that the I Care - WIA Youth staff will continue to service youth customers at the JobLink Career Center in Lincolnton on a part-time basis.
The new address for I-Care, Inc. in Lincoln County is 206 East Main Street, Lincolnton NC.

The Centralina Workforce Development Board and its Youth Council provides the funding for WIA programs for youth in the region. For more information on the I-Care, Inc. in Lincoln County, please contact Ali Cecchini at (704) 748-6444 or a.cecchini@excite.com.

For more information on the Centralina Youth Council, please contact Stephanie Boger at (704) 348-2725 or sboger@centralina.org.

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Anson County 4-H Youth Promise Helps Seniors on National and Global Youth Service Day

On April 20 -22, 2006, millions of youth participated in National and Global Youth Service Day. National and Global Youth Service Day supports youth on a lifelong path of service and civic engagement, and educates the public, the media, and elected officials about the role of youth as community leaders.

Locally, the Anson County 4-H Youth Promise program took on the challenge of National and Global Youth Service Day. They had 12 youth that volunteered from 8:00am until 4:00pm on both days. Those truly blessed were the six senior citizen families who volunteered their yards for service by the 4-H youth.

Families were recruited from Grace Senior Center and Peachland's Senior Center. The youth completed a variety of yard chores including weed eating, raking, pouring cement to make a foundation for an outdoor fire kiln (they enjoyed the cement task tremendously) and organizing a utility shed. They also picked up hundreds of gumballs by the bag and wheel barrel and loads of other yard waste.

The youth also donated handmade stepping-stones to two families - Mr. and Mrs. Charlie Wilson of Peachland and Ms. Clara Colson of Wadesboro - and they donated the rest of their creations to community-based organizations. The Stepping Stone project has been on-going since August of 2005 and this project will be continued. It also looks like the Anson County 4-H Youth will continue to assist Anson County's senior citizens periodically with their yard chores as the word has gotten out of how well they did on National and Global Youth Service Day!

The Centralina Workforce Development Board and the Centralina Youth Council are proud to be partners with the Anson County 4-H Youth Promise program and believes in promoting opportunities for young people to get connected to education, good jobs and a bright future. For more information on the Anson County 4-H Youth Promise program, please contact Crystal Bennett at (704) 694-2915.

For more information on the Centralina Youth Council, please contact Stephanie Boger at (704) 348-2725 or by email at sboger@centralina.org.

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Rowan Cabarrus Community College Hosts Community BioTech Information Meetings

An Evening with NorthEast Medical Center
Time: 6 to 8 p.m.
Date: May 2, 2006
Location: Cannon Village Center

Youth Town Hall: "What's in it for me?"
Time: 5:30 to 8 p.m.
Date: May 9, 2006
Location: Northwest Cabarrus High School

Cyber Night
Time: 6 to 8 p.m.
Date: May 16, 2006
Location: A.L. Brown High School Cyber Campus

For more information on the BioTech community forums visit the Rowan-Cabarrus Community College website, www.rccc.cc.nc.us or you can visit the new NC Research Campus page on the Centralina WDB website at www.centralinaworks.com.

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Study conducted by Achieve Inc., faults all 50 States for the "Expectations Gap"

A study conducted by Achieve Inc., faulted all 50 states for the "expectations gap" in math and English course requirements. They found that too few students are graduating high school with the skills they need for college or for the workforce.

One major finding of the report is that not one state currently requires its graduates "to take the courses that reflect the real-world demands of work and postsecondary education," said Michael Cohen, president of Achieve.

Employers were canvassed on the basis of occupations that were "high growth and paid well," Cohen said. These were primarily high-skilled occupations and "therefore require reasoning, problem-solving, communications and mathematics skills that are pretty advanced."

The Expectation Gap - A 50-State Review of High School Graduation Requirements is available online at www.achieve.org.