viewpoint

PERSPECTIVES FROM NEVADA’S SIERRA REGION

WINTER/SPRING 2015

THE SIERRA REGION’S

WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PLAN LEADS TO A...

VERY

BRIGHT FUTURE

1 VIEWPOINT WINTER/SPRING 2015

TABLE OF CONTENTS

6

10

3 State of Nevada

18 Western Nevada College

Governor’s Note

4 NNDA

View from the trailhead

6 Carson City School District Race to the Top Recipient

8 Western Nevada College

New Internship Program Benefits Students & Businesses

10 Douglas County School District Project Lead the Way

12 Dream It Do It Nevada

Moving Careers in Manufacturing Forward

14 Join, Inc.

Training Nevadans for Careers

16 Nevada Department of Education Fast-Tracking Students to First Level Postsecondary Credentials

14 2 VIEWPOINT WINTER/SPRING 2015

12

20

Manufacturing & Western Nevada College Collaboration Delivers Targeted Workforce Education

19 JobConnect

Connecting Businesses and Skilled Jobseekers

20 Nevada Community Colleges

Our Workforce Development Engine for the Twenty-First Century

24 Workforce

Education Summit Bringing Workforce Educators Together

26 Nevada Industry Excellence

Workforce Development for the Industrial Community

29 NeuroSense Consulting

Workforce Development After the Hire: A Win-Win-Win

29

ANDREW HASKIN Editor ROB HOOPER NNDA Executive Director DARIN BLISS Design & Layout PAT BRIDGES Project Coordinator CHAUNA RENAUD Advertising Director MARK RAYMOND Publisher

PUBLISHED BY:

775.882.2111 nevadaappeal.com

775.782.5121 recordcourier.com

775.423.6041 lahontanvalleynews.com

FROM THE OFFICE OF THE

GOVERNOR Dear Friends: It’s a great time to be a Nevadan! The lights are coming back on in our economy and new opportunities are arriving. As a state, we are seeing businesses grow, new companies arrive and people going back to work. I am proud to say; Nevada has again, become one of the fastest growing economies in the United States.

Our economic growth is driven by many different factors including low taxes, common sense regulations, the availability of materials and perhaps most importantly, the ability to assemble a skilled workforce. Access to a labor force with the right knowledge, skills and abilities is absolutely vital to businesses in our state. No matter how great the business environment is or how low our taxes are in Nevada, companies would be forced to go elsewhere if it were not for our skilled employment base.

As a Nevadan and your Governor, I celebrate our great state’s dedication to workforce education and the many people and programs on the front lines of educating our skilled labor force. Our state is delivering on the need. This is a result of thoughtful dedication and hard work. Years ago Nevada recognized the coming demand for a workforce educated in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields as well as a need for career and technical education (CTE) courses. Programs like those offered through our State College and University System with support and leadership from the numerous other non-profit organizations dedicated to workforce development are essential for equipping our workforce and providing employers with the skilled employees they need.

As demand continues to grow nationwide for skilled employees, these programs will become even more important. Continuing to grow and develop STEM and CTE programs must be a priority in order to stay relevant in the competitive economic development world and our global economy. As a state, we need to lead the way in STEM and CTE. If we continue to grow these programs and continue to grow our skilled workforce Nevada’s future will shine bright.

I assure you that our dedication to education and workforce development will continue to be a major focus for the Great State of Nevada.

All Nevada!

775.883.4413 nnda.org WINTER/SPRING 2015 VIEWPOINT 3

By Rob Hooper, Executive Director, Northern Nevada Development Authority

At NNDA, we have for years, maintained the belief and position that the reason we do economic development is NOT about “what’s in it for me”, but rather; economic development is about “what is in it for our kids, our grandkids and for our community’s future.” Nowhere is this more relevant than in our education system and our career readiness programs. It is to this subject that we dedicate this issue of Viewpoint.

Within this edition, you will read about many great programs that are active and successful within the Sierra Region. It truly is good news that our educational and workforce development leadership has been on the job and focused on our community’s success for many years; their hard work and dedication is paying off. I think you will enjoy reading about all the wonderful opportunities that exist for our students, our unemployed and our under-employed.

Whether we are talking about relocations, expansions or the retention of our current employers, workforce is a key issue. Employees in today’s business environment are expected to have a much higher skill level and more capabilities than workers of old. No longer is it “just show up and collect your pay.” More than ever it is about employees being able to merge into a technical workplace where the skills of a company’s employees are critical to the profitability and success of the employer. Employees have to personally strive to learn and achieve, it is not handed to them on a platter.

In the Sierra Region, we are fortunate. We have over 54 organizations addressing the various aspects of workforce development. These organization work together in an increasingly seamless manner to provide a broad net of support with the ability to accelerate careers for those who make the commitment to work, study hard, and reach for the rewards of a dynamic career.

We are thankful to Governor Sandoval, his Directors and Staff for their continuous and tireless support of our education system and workforce development agencies. His leadership has positioned the region and the State for a new growth era that will be diversified and sustainable. I believe that Nevada has not yet seen its greatest days.

But hang on; they are coming fast.

Thanks to all for your continued support of the Northern Nevada Development Authority.

Best,

Robert C. Hooper 4 VIEWPOINT WINTER/SPRING 2015

DAWN OF A NEW DAY

BELIEVE “ ITHAT NEVADA

HAS NOT YET SEEN ITS GREATEST DAYS. BEST HANG ON; THEY ARE COMING FAST Rob Hooper

WINTER/SPRING 2015 VIEWPOINT 5

Carson City School District:

RACE TO THE TOP RECIPIENT

By Dr. Steven Pradere, Transformation Office Director, Carson City School District

One of the primary reasons to relocate to a new community is the quality of its educational institutions. The Carson City School District has been recognized for both the quality and innovative practices that promote college and career readiness for all students.

Central to this belief system is that all students have access to the best curriculum and classroom teachers. The district has been recognized nationally for this work in its receipt of the Race to the Top award, which provided the district ten million dollars to further develop its “Learner Centered Model” for quality education. This innovative approach is based on the development of an individualized academic approach for each student, essentially building a system that will move all students to college and career readiness upon graduation.

a college ready curriculum. The district has developed minimum curriculum standards that all students must experience that meet post-secondary requirements for students entering college in each of the core areas.

In the past, students could opt out of this rigorous curriculum. Secondly, the district has created a career ready curriculum for all students. Career exploration begins in the 6th grade. By 9th grade, students select a possible career pathway at which time the student’s academic and career pathways are

aligned. The district expects all students to enter some sort of post-secondary educational experience that will include at least one of the following: professional internship, military career, technical/trade school, community college, and/or university system. Each of these opportunities will culminate in the opportunity for all students to land a highskilled, high wage job.

Unique to Carson City School District is its “Learner Centered System”. As an

In 2012 the district moved through the development of a comprehensive strategic plan that serves as a roadmap for the district in its development of an educational system. This transparent process brought our families, community, and business leaders together to set expectations for building the most effective school system for Carson City families. This plan has been embraced by the community and a significant alignment of school and community resources has begun.

In order to fulfill the promise of this initiative the district has recognized that it must enhance both its commitment to academic and career opportunities for all students. In the academic area, the district has redesigned its curriculum so that every student will be interacting with 6 VIEWPOINT WINTER/SPRING 2015

Health Occupations:: Carson High students exploring medical offices as part of the Health Occupations Program (2014).

organization we have a belief that all students can meet high academic and career expectations. As a district we see teaching and learning as a symbiotic partnership where the teacher and student can both define the learning expectations and student progress toward those expectations at all times. Simply put, when we have met our district goals in this area we should be able to ask a student, “What are you learning in a course?” We expect students to respond by stating the

key learning targets for the unit, define what an excellent performance looks like related to those targets, and define how well are they doing in the process of meeting those expectations. At the same time we expect our teachers to identify which students are doing well and which need further support in specific areas related to the unit.

The district is developing student, parent, and school partnerships that align and provide access to the school system. In the same way we expect students to define academic expectations in each classroom we want students and families to be able to define the college and career pathway for every student. Our expectation is that we want students to be able to define their course requirements, internship Women in Engineering:: expectations, and progress Carson High Students working with local toward post high school goals engineers learning about the requirements when called upon to do so. for movements into the engineering field. (2014) Through the use of student

led conferences, online access to student electronic portfolios, and parent university opportunities the district is moving to improve partnerships and ongoing communication with all parents.

Finally, the district believes that education must extend beyond the traditional walls of a brick and mortar classroom. The district has begun to implement a 1:1 computer to student initiative in which all students are issued a computer for twenty four hour individual access.

This electronic medium allows for quicker feedback, wider access to information, and more individualized academic experience for all students. The district has already implemented this project in grades 3-8 and has plans to expand it in grades 9-12 in the coming year.

The Carson City School District is continuing to build excellent academic and career opportunities for all students.

For further information about the Carson City School District and the Race to the Top Project please go to: http://www.carsoncityschools.com/

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Western Nevada College:

NEW INTERNSHIP PROGRAM BENEFITS STUDENTS & BUSINESSES

By Steve Yingling

Job internships are a proven way to learn about careers and gain work experience. Students get acquainted with the professional work environment in their field of study, while providing their respective employers with a temporary employee to facilitate their needs.

Finding the right fit for student and business can be complex, but in some cases, it can lead to full-time employment after graduation.

Western Nevada College’s new internship coordinator, Chris Graham, is working to coordinate internship opportunities in a variety of career fields. Graham, who also serves as the voice of Wildcats baseball, broadcasting games live online, is aiming to develop new community partnerships that will benefit WNC students.

“I’m working with (Career and Technical Education Director) Sherry Black and (Tech Prep Coordinator) Kevin Edwards, the college staff and our partners to make this work. This is going to be a big success for the college, the students and the community as well,” Graham said.

Black developed the internship program last year, placing 18 students, including 17 paid positions. “Currently, a large majority of recent college grads are unemployed, underemployed or not working in their field of study,” she said.

“Internships are a great way for a student to gain experience, decide if the area of study is a good choice, and get a foot in the door.”

8 VIEWPOINT WINTER/SPRING 2015

Students can also use an internship to develop additional skills, generate professional connections, build their resume and earn college credit.

Crystal Sandoval recently interned with the Carson City Department of Alternative Sentencing and came away from the experience with an appreciation of how the justice court operates. The WNC undergraduate also earned a volunteer contract with the department, which promotes public safety while holding those on probation accountable to the community.

“The experience that I had while doing this internship is phenomenal. You get to learn so much,” Sandoval said. “You experience how the justice court works and what a big role they play in assisting our community.

You also get to experience how it feels to be working with individuals who are held accountable to the community.”

Sandoval was the first intern in the Department of Alternative Sentencing’s Life Enhancement Academic Program. She focused her efforts on assisting individuals who were under the department’s

supervision through formal probation or pretrial supervision.

“I work with individuals who committed a variety of crimes. It may sound scary, but it is such a great experience,” she said.

The department’s chief, Tad Fletcher, said he developed a vision for a future internship program after talking to a colleague in law enforcement in Annapolis, Md. “He mentioned how valuable internships are to departments, then we brought in Crystal and gave her a new program and let her run with it,” Fletcher said.

Sandoval helped people acquire their GED, gain employment and fill out resumes and job applications. She even helped arrange transportation for those in need.

“She did a great job and brought a lot of credibility to what we are doing, and the courts loved it,” Fletcher said. “We’re hoping to find another intern to keep the program going.”

Graham has set a rudimentary goal of placing more than two dozen students in internships during the 2014-15 academic year.

“We have seven internships available and I’ve only been in the position two months. My goal is to have 30 internships this year, and I’ll work to exceed that,” Graham said.

To be considered for an internship, students must prepare and submit a resume to Graham and indicate what type of internship interests them. Graham will then forward the resumes to the appropriate companies or agencies to find the best fit. Businesses will make the final decisions on students they wish to hire.

Internships are available in construction, business, law enforcement, technology, service industries and more. Education and experience vary.

Student performance will be crucial to extending relationships with participating companies. “The student is a reflection of the college, and the importance of good placement cannot be overstressed,” Black said. “When an internship is rewarding for the company, the company is more likely to accept another intern in the future.”

“Some internships demand more student knowledge, while others are entry-level positions that require a good attitude and a strong work ethic,” Black said. “That will be one of Chris’ challenges, to understand what each internship demands and what qualities the student needs to be successful.”

Western Nevada College’s new internship coordinator, Chris Graham.

Not only does an internship provide the student with real-life work experience, it often comes with compensation.

“When you think of an internship, you think of working for free, but a lot of companies out there are willing to pay,” Graham said.

Learn more about WNC’s internship program by contacting Graham at 775-445-4412 or by emailing him at chris.graham@wnc.edu.

W

WINTER/SPRING 2015 VIEWPOINT 9

DOUGLAS COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT:

By Lisa Noonan, Superintendent, Douglas County School District

PROJECT LEAD THE WAY One of the best things about northern Nevada is the diversity within the business community. Most people would be surprised by the businesses that call the Sierra Region home.

If you are familiar with the Carson Valley, you probably know that Douglas High School is located at the intersection of U.S. 395 and State Route 88 in Minden. The school currently serves just over 1,200 students in grades 10-12 but if you drive by these days, you’ll see the exciting project that is underway. As part of a roll over bond passed by Douglas Voters in 2008, a $22 million revitalization and expansion project is in full swing at DHS this year. The work will culminate next fall when local 9th graders are welcomed back to DHS as a 9-12 campus after 20+ years of ninth graders being housed in the Valley’s local middle schools.

Among the many improvements across the DHS campus is the overhaul of the “500 Wing” where several CTE and Fine Arts programs are housed. Quite a bit more obvious to passersby is the brand new STEM Center under construction in the front of campus. It is on schedule to open with fall semester 2015. Why does Douglas County value STEM education for its students?

Don’t take DCSD Superintendent Lisa Noonan’s word for its importance – check any forecast of economic vitality and where the jobs will be for our youth in the 21st Century. “One of our richest sources of employment and economic

10 VIEWPOINT WINTER/SPRING 2015

growth will be jobs that require skills in these areas, collectively known as STEM.”* While Douglas High is planning for a wide variety of STEM projects for students in the upcoming year, one particular strand of Career and Technology Education is already enjoying its second year of offerings to students who are catching the STEM bug in high school. Project Lead the Way (PLTW) is the nation’s leading provider of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) programs. Through world-

A $22 MILLION REVITALIZATION AND EXPANSION PROJECT IS IN FULL SWING AT DOUGLAS HIGH SCHOOL THIS YEAR

class K-12 curriculum, high-quality teacher professional development, and outstanding partnerships, PLTW is helping students develop the skills needed to succeed in the global economy. Thanks to a starter grant provided by NNDA, Douglas County School District has been able to send high school teachers to summer training at various U.S. universities to earn their PLTW endorsements.

Two DHS teachers kick-started the project when they were selected for the specialized professional development in the summer of 2013. Technology Teacher Jim Abbott now has 70 students studying Introduction to Engineering Design while Math Teacher Christina Brown is teaching Principles of Engineering. A third teacher was selected in 2014 to join in the training (Science Teacher Lori Korzeniewski) and now she is teaching introduction to Biomedical Engineering to almost 60 students.

access to the new Flex Lab and hundreds of students will be enrolled in classes offered in the new building. Four new science labs for Chemistry and Physics will be housed on the second floor while the oversized Flex Lab and technology labs will be found on the first floor. Douglas County School District extends their appreciation to the many supporters of this effort and others - all to make education in Douglas County rigorous, relevant and engaging for our students. In addition to the voters who supported the Bond, organizations such as NNDA, Douglas County’s Office of Economic Vitality, Minden-based GE and the Bingham Charitable Fund (by way of the Community Foundation of Western Nevada) are all owed a great and collective Thank You from the 6,000 students of Douglas County School District.

When the new DHS STEM Center is open next fall, many more teachers will have

SOURCE: US News and World Report (June 15, 2012 by John Engler)

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DREAM IT DO IT NEVADA:

By George W. Gussak, Executive Director, Dream It Do It Nevada

MOVING CAREERS IN MANUFACTURING FORWARD

The country has seen a resurgence of manufacturing, sometimes it’s hardly discernable but it’s there nonetheless. It’s encouraging and hopeful.

Sometimes it’s enough to get people to place bets on projects that not long ago they would have abandoned but with optimism comes pride, resilience and a willingness to do what it takes.

asking a lot and expect a lot but the rewards are many: good pay, opportunities to advance, and access to additional education just to name a few.

2008 was a blow, a measurable punch to the gut that doubled over the country but like in every Rocky picture it seems like we as a society need to get our collective noses bloodied before we come back swinging. I think we are starting to see that.

The recession taught companies to search for better, leaner ways to perform a task.

Technology came in as employees went out.

It was a way to stay alive, and many have, but reflecting on the workplace then and now shows just how much things have changed and how the term “skills gap” resonates across the

To be sure the recovery is slow and in it we lost a lot of momentum but jobs are starting to come back. The problem: the post-recession jobs are not the jobs that were lost, today’s jobs require a greater degree of technical savvy. These jobs require STEM based education, they require problem solving skills, they require commitment, dedication, and a willingness to learn and not stop learning.

Employers are not asking for bodies to be in place to perform functions that are monotonous and mind numbing. Workers who come to the job site are asked to perform complicated tasks, work on expensive machinery and if something isn’t right, are asked to find out what is wrong and figure out how to fix it. Employers are 12 VIEWPOINT WINTER/SPRING 2015

THE RECESSION TAUGHT COMPANIES TO SEARCH FOR BETTER, LEANER WAYS TO PERFORM A TASK

LIKE IN EVERY ROCKY PICTURE IT SEEMS LIKE WE AS A SOCIETY NEED TO GET OUR COLLECTIVE NOSES BLOODIED BEFORE WE COME BACK SWINGING

country. It almost seems that from the time of the recession to today technology surged ahead but the ability for the workforce to adapt and learn fell behind. This lack of adaptability has to change, and that’s a difficult thing to contend with. The gap between what companies are looking for and what the workforce has to offer is sizable, that gap is shrinking slowly, but it is still there.

Dream It Do It Nevada is a statewide industry lead 501 (c)(3) organization that develops crosssectional efforts to close the skills gap while helping to create a highly skilled and motivated workforce ready for the 21st century workplace.

Dream it Do it works to encourage a better

perception of manufacturing and industry; to promote and encourage the wide spread use of Career Pathways and the National Certificate System. In addition Dream It Do It offers a platform where those in industry, government and education can sit at the same table and work together to understand workforce needs so stakeholders can collaborate to supply manufacturers with the skilled and educated workforce they need.

For more information about Dream it Do it please visit our website: DreamItDoItNevada.com or call (775) 315-6728

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JOIN, INC:

TRAINING NEVADANS FOR CAREERS

By Ann Silver, Executive Director

Nevada is well-known for its many resources including unlimited sunshine, ski resorts, desert beauty, and independent spirit. What many don’t know is that northern Nevada has an abundance of skilled, work-ready individuals, determined to maintain their self-sufficiency and economic independence by giving their best to employers.

JOIN, Inc., a non-profit organization funded primarily by the Department of Labor’s Workforce Investment Act, provides free occupational and educational training for eligible residents who seek long-term careers that pay living wages rather than jobs offering minimum wage.

For 26 years, JOIN has remained the premier career training agency with metric-driven outcomes firmly in place.

JOIN focuses on its ROI and consistently delivers a return-on-investment to taxpayers by deploying over 80% of its resources for occupational and educational training and minimizing overhead expenses. Each location office is led by a Branch Manager who maintains close contact with local business and industry leaders and regularly monitors both sectorspecific training expenditures and clients’ earnings at the time of employment.

Serving 13 counties in northern Nevada over 65,000 square miles, JOIN enables screened clientele to obtain outstanding

14 VIEWPOINT WINTER/SPRING 2015

career training at the University of Nevada-Reno, Great Basin College, Truckee Meadows Community College, Western Nevada College, in apprenticeship programs or through other accredited training schools and institutions in northern Nevada. Each client must have achieved high school graduation or be currently enrolled in a high school equivalency course in order to enroll due to JOIN’s core belief: completion of high school is the minimum prerequisite for a meaningful career in virtually any industry.

Upon completion of training, each client has the necessary certification, licensure, credential, or degree needed for employment in a high-demand occupation.

JOIN links its services with the Northern Nevada Development Authority, the Economic Development Authority of Western Nevada, DETR, and local Chambers of Commerce to ensure its awareness of the hiring needs of new and

expanding employers, the employment requirements, and future projections for hiring. JOIN’s success is measured by its ability to screen, enroll, and guide its clients to those employers who want drugfree, motivated, and skilled individuals with the work ethic needed to succeed.

Across the country, employers cite the lack of “soft skills” exhibited by prospective candidates and new employees; these complaints include tardiness, frequent absences and limited communication and interpersonal skills. JOIN recognizes that attitudinal competencies are as essential as the technical and educational components and therefore, requires each client to participate in a pre-training instruction in resume preparation, interview skills, professional presentation, personnel policies, individual goal-setting, and values clarification. In addition, each client completes a skills inventory that assists JOIN’s Client Coordinators in determining the most appropriate career training course,

taking into account the client’s prior work history, education, and capabilities.

TESLA is currently on JOIN’s radar, as are other companies due to relocate to or expand operations in northern Nevada. As a result, our clients are currently enrolled in career training in fields such as logistics, engineering, clean and renewable energy, machine and robotic operations, computer technology, programming, medical services, composite manufacturing, warehouse operations, forklift and welding certifications, composites, CDL licensure, and human resources, accounting, business marketing, management, and cyber security.

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job-search development, and other courses that renew and refresh managerial aptitude. Hundreds of employers in northern Nevada rely on the extensive bench strength of ProNet’s clients and find ready and mature managers to fill their professional openings.

The economic vitality of northern Nevada will continue to rely on the inventory of skills and abilities available to respond to growth and innovation. JOIN, Inc. remains committed to providing reliable, engaged and highly trained employees to employers who demand productivity and excellence in their workforce.

JOIN also offers services through its ProNet division to middle-to-senior level managers who have lost employment due to corporate downsizing or layoffs. ProNet, provides free career transition assistance,

Call or visit a JOIN office in Carson City, Reno, Winnemucca, Elko, Fernley, Fallon or Ely or log on to: www.Join.org for directions, phone numbers, and more information.

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Nevada Department of Education:

FAST-TRACKING STUDENTS TO FIRST LEVEL POSTSECONDARY CREDENTIALS

By Mike Raponi, Director, Office of Career Readiness, Adult Learning & Education Options

In 2013, I had the privilege of submitting an article about a paradigm shift for career and technical education (CTE), to redefine and redesign its role in preparing students for careers.

In that article, I described the changes that were well underway in CTE, changes that affect virtually all programs in NNDA’s service area and throughout the State.

To document and validate student performance against state technical and employability skill standards, the Department of Education has invested significant resources to fully establish a standards-based assessment system. For more than sixty CTE programs, from IT Networking to Welding, state standards were developed with a process to ensure industry validation of the standards and include a true end-of-program technical assessment directly aligned to the standards. State requirements to implement employability or soft skills are also standards based.

Students who complete a CTE program can qualify for the State Certificate of Skill Attainment provided they (1) earn a 3.0 grade point average or higher in the CTE course sequence (3 credits); (2) pass the state end-of-program technical assessment; and (3) pass the state employability skills assessment. As the 16 VIEWPOINT WINTER/SPRING 2015

standards-based assessment system has grown, the numbers of students earning the Certificate of Skill Attainment have increased from 706 in 2013 to 2,051 in 2014. This number is expected to grow in 2015 as the standards-based assessment system is almost fully implemented. And, as these assessment results become more transparent, we expect an increase in the rate at which eligible students earn the certificate.

Last year, for example, 39 percent of eligible students earned the certificate.

Or, of the 5,136 students who completed CTE programs, 2,051 or 39 percent met the criteria to earn the Certificate.

Although a system for high school students to earn postsecondary articulated credit has been in place for many years, important changes are underway. The Nevada System of Higher Education is now supporting the alignment of CTE program completion with the awarding of college credit to high school students. That is, starting next year students who complete programs and earn the State Certificate of Skill Attainment will be eligible for college credit, referred to as CTE

College Credit, aligned to postsecondary credentials that include industry certifications, certificates of achievement, and associate degrees. The earning of these college credits while in high school enable students to “fast-track” to a postsecondary credential, saving both time and money. For example, a student who completes an IT Networking program and earns the Certificate of Skill Attainment, may be eligible for up to 15 college credits through an established articulation agreement. At that point, the student can prepare for

STARTING NEXT YEAR STUDENTS WHO COMPLETE PROGRAMS AND EARN THE STATE CERTIFICATE OF SKILL ATTAINMENT WILL BE ELIGIBLE FOR COLLEGE CREDIT

an industry certification, such as CISCO Networking, put those credits towards an associate degree and potentially graduate with the degree in a year and a half, or do both.

To solidify the foundation for CTE College Credit, the Department of Education has established agreements with CSN, GBC, TMCC, and WNC. These agreements have been formalized by memorandums of understanding that authorize the establishment of state level articulation agreements for CTE programs. Once these new state articulation agreements are in place, qualified students from anywhere in the State can access the articulated credits upon admission to the college of choice to continue their technical training in their chosen career path, and at an accelerated pace.

How important is this effort?

Representatives from the Nevada System of Higher Education have cited the following statistics: by 2020, 58 percent of jobs in Nevada will require a workforce certificate or college degree, yet only 28 percent of adults currently have an associate degree or higher, potentially creating a 30 percent skills gap. Creating an accountable system to help fast-track students to earn these credentials is critical. Although much work is ahead of us, especially to ensure alignment of CTE programs to workforce and economic development priorities, CTE is organizing itself to play a critical role in reducing any real or potential skills gap in the NNDA service area and throughout the State.

CREATING AN ACCOUNTABLE SYSTEM TO HELP FAST-TRACK STUDENTS TO EARN THESE CREDENTIALS IS CRITICAL

For more information about CTE, visit our website at http://cteae.nv.gov/.

GE Measurement & Control GE works on things that matter. The best people and the best technologies taking on the toughest challenges. Our men and women take an active role in education, improving the environment and health of those around them, and a host of volunteer activities.

We know that making a better world starts when we work together, here at home. Building, powering, moving and curing the world. Not just imagining.

Doing. GE works.

WINTER/SPRING 2015 VIEWPOINT 17 GEAD132-03_WorksCommunity_3.81x4.8125_R2.indd 1

10/29/12 3:09 PM

Western Nevada College:

MANUFACTURING & WESTERN NEVADA COLLEGE COLLABORATION DELIVERS TARGETED WORKFORCE EDUCATION

By Coach Bob

The Carson Area Manufacturers’ Forum is a cooperative association of local companies in the Carson City, Douglas and Lyon County Areas working together on common issues and problems.

Workforce Development is a key concern to manufacturers. Not only is engineering talent a key need, but a strong assembly and operations workforce that is able to use and understand blueprints, technical tools, technical specifications, work instructions, and that can master geometrical and mathematical relationships essential to increasing product quality, product capability, and manufacturing efficiencies is also needed.

The Manufacturing Foundations program is designed to address fundamental operator and assembly personnel skill and understanding requirements that are key to success in a manufacturing environment.

It has the following expectations of participants who complete the program:

In 2010 the Manufacturers Forum collaborated with WNC and developed the “Manufacturing Foundations” program.

This included discussions with instructors of the actual classes at the college to synchronize expectations and offer suggestions for how the instruction could best apply in the “manufacturing world”.

As such, it reflects not only academic requirements but also has some built in “career readiness” features.

• Understand and be able to perform calculations utilizing fundamental machine shop mathematics.

18 VIEWPOINT WINTER/SPRING 2015

• Read, interpret and understand work instructions and shop drawings.

• Recognize problems and be able to identify and recommend potential solutions.

management, and motivation.

• Learn effective listening and feedback methods, group and team interaction.

• Gain the confidence and ability to communicate verbally and in writing in an understandable, concise, cohesive, and appropriately assertive manner.

• Recognize and appreciate the value and rewards of continuous learning as a tool to embrace rather than resist change.

The Manufacturing Foundations program is a prime example of local manufacturers working together with responsive community resources for the betterment of all.

• Understand themselves and others for effective interactions in the workplace.

• Develop and demonstrate workplace skills in the areas of collaboration, good work habits and attitudes, ethics, conflict

For more information on the Carson Area Manufacturers Forum or the Manufacturing Foundations program, contact David Steiger with WNC via email at steigerd@wnc.edu

DRJOBCONNECT :

CONNECTING BUSINESSES AND SKILLED JOBSEEKERS

By John Parel, Business Services Manager, Nevada JobConnect

Nevada JobConnect is the Silver State’s resource for jobseekers looking for job opportunities and employers looking for skilled workers. Job centers are staffed with professionals who understand the labor market and are familiar with a variety of jobs statewide.

State Works program and others. Silver State Works is a program for employers who have an established, verified, paidto-date unemployment insurance account and valid business license. The program allows unemployed jobseekers to receive on the job training, while employers receive financial incentives.

that establishes the agreed upon wage, number of hours to master tasks, and the maximum amount of reimbursement based on the wage paid. Employers are reimbursed up to a maximum of 50 percent of the participant’s initial agreed upon gross wage for the contract period and a maximum of 40 hours per week.

Nevada JobConnect also offers a variety of services to employers who are seeking qualified individuals to add to their teams. The job centers offers Nevada’s largest database of jobseekers and assistance with pre-screening and recruiting. Businesses can also take advantage of incentives that include labor market information, space for interviewing and financial incentives.

Employer based training allows laid-off workers who qualify for unemployment benefits to simultaneously receive on-site workplace training and regular unemployment benefits. This component is also available to other targeted populations. Job seekers would be required to train 24 hours per week up to six weeks while continuing regular work search. Representatives in the Nevada JobConnect offices develop training sites and complete all forms for the employer and participant, at no cost.

The Incentive-Based Employment program supports employers who hire and retain eligible individuals in fulltime employment, 30 or more hours per week, by providing a wage and training subsidy based on the total amount of time the qualified individual remains actively employed. Upon completion and satisfaction of certain requirements, the employer may receive a retention supplement, on average up to $2,000.

Employers can take advantage of financial incentives through the Silver

The Employer-Incentive Job program allows employers to enter into a contract

With 10 locations across the state, Nevada JobConnect offers valuable tools to jobseekers who find themselves unemployed or underemployed. Services include Nevada’s largest database of job openings, resume and cover letter assistance, interviewing techniques, access to a resource center for computer job searching, career and skills assessments and assess to training opportunities.

For more information, visit www.nevadajobconnect.com or www.silverstateworks.com.

WINTER/SPRING 2015 VIEWPOINT 19

Nevada’s Community Colleges:

OUR WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT ENGINE FOR THE TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY

By Frank Woodbeck, Executive Director, Nevada College Collaborative

20 VIEWPOINT WINTER/SPRING 2015

As our great state faces the rebirth of industry and growth of commerce, the Nevada System of Higher Education (NSHE) stands ready to respond to the call for development of the workforce needed to meet the challenges of today and tomorrow.

THE FUTURE IS HERE

WINTER/SPRING 2015 VIEWPOINT 21

Encompassing four community colleges, a state college, two universities and an environmental research institute, NSHE forms a series of collaborative and integrated pathways to careers.

Within NSHE, Nevada’s four public community colleges serve a diverse population across our state. Based in Carson City, Western Nevada College (WNC) serves more than 4,000 students each semester in Carson City, Fallon, Minden/Gardnerville and rural communities. Truckee Meadows Community College (TMCC) serves more than 11,500 students each semester in the Reno area.

Great Basin College (GBC), with its main campus in Elko, educates more than 3,100 students each semester across rural Nevada in a service area larger than the state of Indiana. Serving Las Vegas, North Las Vegas, and Henderson, the College of Southern Nevada (CSN) is NSHE’s largest institution with more than 36,500 students each semester.

These community colleges provide critical and challenging academic programs to match student needs with those of Nevada’s business leaders. As part of NSHE’s ongoing commitment to workforce excellence, we have applied for and received several grants from the Department of Labor that have augmented our funding of programs serving industry growth segments in Nevada. A recent example is the $9.9 million grant (out of a maximum of $10 million) the Nevada Community College Consortium (comprised of CSN, GBC, TMCC and WNC) was awarded by Trade Adjustment Assistance for Community College and Career Training (TAACCCT) program.

, CHOICES CHOICES HEALTH CARE BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY DIESEL TECHNOLOGY MACHINING

• Align training needs and increase capacity across five focus areas (Health Care, Business Administration, Information Technology, Diesel Technology, and Machining) to meet employer-driven demand in each unique and diverse region of the state.

• Build upon and leverage the processes and procedures in place as a result of the previous TAACCCT grants.

This grant will allow our community colleges to invest in the Burning Glass data system. This cutting-edge data system will provide numerous advancements in our ability to determine the regional and national skill set demands of today’s employment opportunities. We will use that information to improve our curriculum development so that our faculty can maintain the accuracy of student instruction to better serve our students. There are also other unique features that will aid our students including

You Only Get One Chance at Your Child’s Education.

This grant enhances our community colleges’ efforts to: • Build a joint system of credit for prior learning across NSHE that will not only honor and leverage the experience of active duty military, veterans, and older students re-entering higher education, but will help make dramatic improvement in their ability to earn higher wages.

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job market demand in key Nevada communities and nationwide for occupations, skills, degrees, or employers, along with tools for identifying typical skill profiles, qualifications, and career pathways needed for placement.

NSHE’s four community colleges will also use grant funds to expand Veterans Resource Centers on the campuses, as well as increase the use of ACT WorkKeys testing to provide National Career Readiness Certificates to successful completers.

In past years, our community colleges received the following TAACCCT grants: • TAACCCT 1 – TMCC was lead institution for the consortium that included CSN, GBC and WNC, and a grant award that totaled $2.7 million that funded the launch of home health care aide training at CSN; and enhanced the technical math program at GBC; invested in the certificate training programs in machining, graphic arts and diesel technology at TMCC; and the machining training program at WNC, aka Right Skills Now.

• TAACCCT 2 – CSN received a grant of $2.5million that funded the development of the facilities management technician program for the hospitality industry.

• TAACCCT 3 – GBC was lead institution for the consortium that included TMCC and WNC, and a grant award that totaled $8.8 million that funded capacity building for each college’s program in diesel, machining, and advanced manufacturing technologies.

That’s a total investment of $23.9 million in our community colleges through the TAACCCT grant program. We will continue our search for other grant and public/private sector investments in our colleges, and sustain the growth of programs that yield career opportunities for our students.

NSHE COMMUNITY COLLEGES PROVIDE CRITICAL AND CHALLENGING ACADEMIC PROGRAMS TO MATCH STUDENT NEEDS WITH THOSE OF NEVADA’S BUSINESS LEADERS

The Nevada System of Higher Education is a collaborative organization designed to serve the near term and long term needs of our citizens. The four community colleges within NSHE are designed to serve as the springboard for career opportunities and service to industry. We welcome your partnership.

Preparing

Students

for success

Our Community believes: • • • • •

Every student must be connected with learning beyond the classroom Multiple pathways will prepare students for careers and college Student success is enhanced by innovative and creative staff Families can positively impact their child’s education In promoting student wellness (775) 283-2100 1402 W. King Street Carson City, NV 89701 www.carsoncityschools.com WINTER/SPRING 2015 VIEWPOINT 23

Workforce Education Summit:

BRINGING WORKFORCE EDUCATORS TOGETHER

By Andrew Haskin, Director of Marketing Communications, Northern Nevada Development Authority

In the Sierra Region of Northern Nevada, we are fortunate to have many different organizations, both public and private, helping to supply our local businesses with a workforce that has the right skills and abilities.

These great organizations provide training to potential employees, a task that is absolutely vital to our local economic ecosystem. Without a workforce it would be impossible to keep companies in the area let alone attract new ones to move here. Part of the effort to ensure an adequate labor force comes from NNDA’s Workforce Education Advisory Committee which is made up of members from various organizations.

Each month the workforce education committee meets to discuss issues revolving around our labor force, and to work on solutions to these problems.

One of the reoccurring themes has been the lack of communication between organizations, nobody knows what programs the others are offering or how they could collaborate to make the network of educators stronger and better.

The Workforce Education Committee decided to tackle this problem by getting everyone in the same room and holding a Workforce Education Summit this past September.

With over 31 organizations represented, some with multiple participants, the goal 24 VIEWPOINT WINTER/SPRING 2015

of the first Workforce Education Summit was to get everyone talking to each other and to begin breaking down the silos that the various groups have been working in. The biggest portion of the day had participants taking part in a structured networking exercise designed to get the group acquainted with each other.

Participants were asked to introduce themselves one on one and talk a little about the projects their organization has been working on. After the introductions, the room was split into groups and tasked with working on some scenarios that required them to come up with a plan to meet the workforce needs of a fictitious company. The results of the day were quite interesting. Many new connections were made between the staff members of the different organizations. All around the room quotes like “I’ve been meaning to get in touch with your organization about your program and how we can work together” and “I had no idea that program existed in our area, it will be a big help” could be heard all around the room.

At the end of the summit participants were excited about the connections they made and the subsequent possibilities to

advance workforce education. As a result of the meeting, the committee has been working on compiling a directory with information about the organizations and their programs to provide a useful resource to the business community and NNDA’s ongoing expansion, retention and relocation efforts.

EACH MONTH THE WORKFORCE EDUCATION COMMITTEE MEETS TO DISCUSS ISSUES REVOLVING AROUND OUR LABOR FORCE, AND TO WORK ON SOLUTIONS TO THESE PROBLEMS

Workforce Education Summit:

PARTICIPANTS

Adams Hub Associated Building Contractors Apprenticeship Program

Churchill Economic Development Authority City of Fernley Workforce Development

Business Resource Innovation Center

Douglas County Schools Adult Education

Carson City Schools Adult Education

Douglas County Schools Career and Technical Education

Carson City Health and Human Services Carson City Library Carson High School Career and Technical Education Churchill County Adult Diploma Program

Douglas County Social Services Workforce Development Job Connect - Carson City JOIN - Carson City and Fallon Kelly Services

Churchill County Schools Adult Education

Lyon County Schools Adult Education

Churchill County Schools Career and Technical Education

Lyon County Schools Career and Technical Education

Churchill County Social Services

Lyon County Human Services Marathon Staffing

Nevada Industry Excellence Northern Nevada Electrical Apprenticeship Program State of Nevada Department of Education - Career and Technical Education Spherion Staffing Storey County Community Chest DETR Bureau of Vocational Rehabilitation Carson City and Fallon Washoe Native Tribal Assistance for Needy Families Program of Nevada and California Western Nevada College: Counseling Office, Adult Basic Education, Internship Office, Career and Technical Education, Economic Development and Continuing Education

NEVADA ASSOCIATION OF EMPLOYERS Nevada’s HR Resource For Over 75 Years!

• Membership • Training • Consulting

The Nevada Association of Employers devotes time to ensure that employers are able to compete lawfully, ethically and efficiently in the state of Nevada. NAE members receive sound advice from our responsive, pleasant and experienced staff with expertise in all facets of human resources, on both federal and state levels, employee relations and training.

For more information, please contact us at 775.329.4241

nae-online.org

Nevada’s HR Resource since 1938 WINTER/SPRING 2015 VIEWPOINT 25

Nevada Industry Excellence:

WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT FOR THE INDUSTRIAL COMMUNITY

By Sandy Haslem

By Sandy Haslem, P.E., Director, Nevada Industry Excellence (NVIE)

26 VIEWPOINT WINTER/SPRING 2015

Nevada employs over 56,000 manufacturing employees at over 1,800 manufacturing establishments and though this industrial sector is relatively small in Nevada, it is important to the state and to the nation for both financial and national security.

The Sierra Region has a concentration of manufacturing employment per capita and these jobs carry premium wages relative to other industries. The Governor’s Economic Development Plan for the state is clearly impacting the growth of the manufacturing sector.

Near term growth of the manufacturing industry from both expanding and new companies further fuels the Sierra Region’s emphasis to be prepared for exponential growth of the manufacturing workforce.

As manufacturing jobs move from lowtech to high-skill, the manufacturing workforce will be increasingly important for helping sustain the American way of life. To keep up with increasing demands for both the number of workers in the pipeline and the technological skills needed, the Sierra Region is responding in a big way. Essential components of these efforts include access to

Solutions. The focus is to help companies to see past their problems and to the solution with an emphasis on measurable results and achieving economic impact for Nevada Manufacturers.

career ladders, internships, training opportunities and much more.

Nevada Industry Excellence (NVIE) is just one of the many dedicated resources supporting this effort. NVIE’s focus is on the manufacturing employer, providing business and technical consulting solutions to more than 350 Nevada Manufacturers each year.

In Nevada, nearly 80 percent of manufacturers have fewer than 20 employees. These companies’ managers and employees wear many hats and often do not have their own staff dedicated to engineering, marketing, HR, and other key functions contributing to the success of the business. NVIE’s private-industry experienced Project Managers essentially work as extended staff for these firms, helping them in the core areas of Business Growth, Quality Solutions, Lean Manufacturing, and Energy

What does this have to do with workforce development? Everything. Engaging the workforce is a critical component and one that can often be overlooked.

Forward-thinking employers know that their employees will have the best ideas for how to improve processes and results, and that the employer can lead a cultural change to drive it.

Here is just one simple example. Imagine a company that is experiencing a problem with the quality of its products and at the same time is in need of capturing new customers, or worse – the potential of losing current customers. Employees can be taught skills about how to track, analyze, troubleshoot, define root causes,

Contact us today to find out how we can partner with you for higher performance

www.NevadaIE.com Growth Services Energy Services Statewide: 800-637-4634

Quality Systems Lean Systems Northern Nevada: 775-784-1935

Southern Nevada: 702-895-2615 WINTER/SPRING 2015 VIEWPOINT 27

FORWARDTHINKING EMPLOYERS KNOW THAT THEIR EMPLOYEES WILL HAVE THE BEST IDEAS FOR HOW TO IMPROVE PROCESSES AND RESULTS

and more – all in a simulated, low pressure experience. Once those skills are learned and employees are comfortable, then they can more skillfully move on to assisted implementation of those same techniques to tackle and refine their specific workplace products and processes. This can all happen on their own plant floor and the impacts are phenomenal when coupled with the right company culture. The pattern repeats itself as new opportunities arise and guess who benefits from this? – Employers, Employees AND Customers.

Whether it’s helping the workforce to develop skills in product development, cost savings, implementing strategic planning initiatives, or other company efforts, support for this is available in the Sierra Region at a moment’s notice. Once employers make a request, subject matter experts are introduced and engaged by NVIE from within the region and from a national database of manufacturing experts.

LOOK FOR THE SEAL. ACCREDITED BUSINESS ®

NVIE is administered by the University of Nevada, Reno and regularly connects University and Community College researchers and trainers to manufacturers.

Other experts are readily brought in from the region and throughout the nation depending on the manufacturing employer’s needs. This is a huge advantage to manufacturing employers as the process saves precious time to get the right help for companies when they need it. In 2013 alone, based on 60 surveys completed by companies taking advantage of NVIE’s assistance stated that they experienced a total of $24.5 Million in increased or retained sales, 657 increased or retained jobs, $29.3 Million in new investments, and $9.7 Million in Cost Savings.

For more information about NVIE please contact Sandy Haslem, shaslem@nvie.nevada.edu or call (775) 784-1935.

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NeuroSense Consulting:

WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AFTER THE HIRE: A WIN-WIN-WIN

By Susan Strating, Co-Owner of NeuroSense Consulting

In this accelerating economy, qualified talent will be an increasingly valuable investment for regional employers. Investing in the ongoing development of your workforce is a critical ingredient in making sure your business continues to thrive and grow.

After months of looking and interviewing, you’ve landed a great new person, or people, for your company. They come in with great technical training, and you’ve spent more time onboarding them. How do you protect this tremendous investment of time and money?

Answer: you keep developing.

Many managers confuse training with development. There is overlap; some training is developmental. However, much of what happens is what I call “spray and pray” – large groups of listeners getting lectured at in a seminar, with few if any transferrable outcomes back to the workplace. The outcome for the individual? A day away from work; a free lunch; meeting other people.

This is training, without development, without results or real value to you or the participant. It just cost you, big.

How do you develop people? That is, increase their skills, knowledge, satisfaction, and productivity? First,

make sure it relates to your organization’s goals. Then, get creative-even without a training budget, you can develop people; often with better retention of the learning than traditional training delivers. At my last company, a small green energy start up, we had time but no money for training, but a lot of project work in process. The COO and I recruited one of our technical managers, recently certified through PMP, to design and deliver a Project Management workshop. We had interest from everyone in the company!

Second, utilize peoples’ strengths: Chris, the wonderful project manager in the example above, loved doing it. People love to learn, and learners love to share what they know.

Last, understand why development is so important. It is a huge factor in employee engagement, and of course in increasing productivity through a more skilled workforce. The famous twelve Gallup questions that measure employee engagement include three

about development. Engagement is a key ingredient in retaining those wonderful new hires of yours. Everyone wins: you, your people, and your company. Make your company known for how well you develop your people!

PEOPLE LOVE TO LEARN, AND LEARNERS LOVE TO SHARE WHAT THEY KNOW

WINTER/SPRING 2015 VIEWPOINT 29

FUL, S S E C C U S TO BE OUR Y E V A H O T YOU HAVE ESS N I S U B R U O HEART IN Y ESS N I S U B R U AND YO ART E H R U O Y IN

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30 VIEWPOINT WINTER/SPRING 2015

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WINTER/SPRING 2015 VIEWPOINT 31