November 6 & 7, 2006

Central States WorkKeys Conference

Missouri Sponsors Conference

Missouri is very excited to host a conference focusing on WorkKeys for the central part of the country. The conference will be November 6-7 at the Sheraton Westport Chalet, not far from the St. Louis airport. We hope that as you review the attached information, you’ll see this as a worthwhile conference for you. Many states are using WorkKeys assessments but with a wide variety of levels of application. With ACT’s announcement of a National Career Readiness Certificate, this is the perfect time to learn more about how to better make this certificate available to your state’s workforce. Besides learning about the National Career Readiness Certificate, this conference will provide the perfect opportunity to share what’s working in your state (and maybe some things that you wouldn’t suggest anyone repeat). As part of the opportunity to share information, please submit a status of what your state is doing (please, no more than one page) and we’ll have copies to share with those attending. So, what’s going to happen at this conference? On November 6, the conference will open at 1:00 with a general session. Mid-afternoon, we’ll go into two break-outs. At the end of the day, WIN is sponsoring a networking event so you can talk about what you heard earlier in the day and continue those discussions over dinner on your own. The next morning, KeyTrain is sponsoring a breakfast buffet (again, more time to network). There will be more break-out sessions with a closing general session. The conference will adjourn at noon and you can head for home. Topics covered in the break-outs will include promoting WorkKeys to business, return on investment (ROI), integration into apprenticeship programs, working with schools, and how to educate your agency partners on the value of WorkKeys. Jon Erickson from ACT will give us the lowdown on the National Career Readiness Certificate and an introduction of what’s to come with ACT’s new soft skills assessment. This promises to be a very productive conference, so make your hotel reservations now. Conference registration forms are not yet available. Please feel free to share information regarding this conference to anyone you think might be interested in attending. We are very appreciative of our conference sponsors: ACT, KeyTrain, and WIN. Also, as this is on Election Day, make sure you cast your absentee ballot before you come so you don’t miss the opportunity to exercise your right to vote. I voted earlier this week, so I’m good to go. Whether you fly or drive, we wish you safe travels and genuinely look forward to the first of many opportunities to discuss WorkKeys in the Central Region!

December 20, 2005

Ameren Community Development Grant Award

RCEW at UM-St. Louis Receive award

Ameren Community Development Corp. announced $1.65 million in grant awards for the statewide projects, which included the Regional Center for Education and Work (RCEW) at the University of Missouri-St. Louis. The RCEW will implement a pilot project introducing the Missouri Career Readiness Certificate to the St. Louis/St. Charles region.

The goal of the pilot project is to institute a replicable system for retention and creation of employment and employment opportunities (as recommended by the 2004 Missouri State of the Workforce Report) by quantifying a career-ready workforce with basic work skills and learning potential, and a corresponding record of matching employment opportunities. This will be accomplished through:

A. Increasing the number of jobs that have been profiled so that job requirements and skills are clearly communicated.

B. Increasing the number of qualified workers who obtain employment in participating companies. (a minimum of 175 job placements in first year)

C. Increasing the job-readiness of the workforce with specific emphasis on the unemployed or marginally employed.

November 8, 2005

Missouri Offender Summit

Career Readiness Certificate Presentation

Career Readiness Certificate system was presented to Missouri practitioners serving the offender population. The intent was to give offenders another alternative to emphasize their work related skills to companies with job openings.

November 3, 2005

Meeting with new St. Louis County WIB Director

Gene Gordon Meeting

Jim Duane met with Gene Gordon the new Workforce Investment Board Director for St. Louis County MO. Mr. Gordon came from the St. Louis Regional Commerce and Growth Association with extensive knowledge in both economic and workforce development. He was also aware of WorkKeys. Mr. Gordon wanted to have his staff involved in the development of the system and how it would help their clients.

October 24 - 31, 2005

Boeing SMAR Occupational Profile

Profile for Sheet Metal Assembler Riveter Training

Jim Duane and Karen Putnam conducted a Profile for the Boeing Co. and St. Louis Community College. The SMAR position is one of the largest occupations at the St. Louis facility. The Subject Matter Experts came from all projects throughout the facility. The Profile went exceptionally well because of the previous training the workers had on working in a team environment. The results will be used to develop and evaluate future curriculum as well as assist in preparing individuals for training to be conducted by St. Louis Community College.

October 21, 2005

Hazelwood School District Luncheon

Business Advisory Council Recognition Luncheon

Career Readiness Certificate system was presented to Hazelwood business and educators (administrators, counselors and teachers). The presentation demonstrated how in the future business will be measuring the skill level of people they hire. Educators can then use the skill information to prepare curriculum that will meet the basic needs of companies in the region.

October 12, 2005

Governor's Workforce Development Conference

Career Readiness Certificate Presentation

The Missouri Workforce Development conference had a panel presentation on the Career Readiness Certificate (CRC). The panelists included Jim Duane from UM-St. Louis as Moderator, John Gaal from the St. Louis Carpenters, Kim Mildward from the Northwest Workforce Investment Board, Steve Coffman from Missouri Dept. of Elementary and Secondary Education, and Mike McKown from Missouri Workforce Development. The Panel started with a statewide skill gap perspective and then went into 2 local programs that have successfully used the WorkKeys assessments. The final presentation outlined what Missouri was planning to do within the next year. There was a very good Q&A with questions about the value of these assessments. As at the previous conference, everyone appreciated the information and the panel received high marks on its evaluation.

September 29, 2005

Meeting with Youth Build, St. Louis County

Integration of WorkKeys Assessment

The WorkKeys system was presented to Youth Build staff. The intent of the meeting was to determine how WorkKeys could assist Youth Build in in preparing their youth to continue their education. Youth Build wants to be a pre-apprentice program that will feed candidates to the St. Louis Carpenters Joint Apprentice Program which already uses WorkKeys scores as part of their entrance requirements. By taking the WorkKeys assessments in advance of applying for the program, applicants can work on any skill gaps that they may have during their pre-apprenticeship.

August 11, 2005

East Central College Curriculum Profile

Occupational Profile Conducted on Administrative/Office Management Curriculum

Jim Duane and Karen Putnam conducted a Profile for East Central College. The curriculum educated individuals who would take jobs such as secretary, office administrator, human resource clerk, and administrative assistant. The Subject Matter Experts came from companies in Union, MO and its surrounding area. The results will be used to evaluate the existing curriculum to determine if it continues to meet the needs of employers in their community.

July 27th, 2005

MAWD Conference

Missouri Association for Workforce Development CRC Presentation

the Career Readiness Certificate (CRC)was presented at the 2005 MAWD conference. The panelists included Jim Duane from UM-St. Louis as Moderator, John Gaal from the St. Louis Carpenters, Kim Mildward from the Northwest Workforce Investment Board, Mac McKinnis from the Virginia Workforce Development, and Mike McKown from Missouri Workforce Development. The Panel started with a national perspective and then went into 2 local programs that have successfully used the WorkKeys assessments. The final presentation outlined what Missouri was planning to do within the next year. There was a very good Q&A with questions about the value of these assessments. The panel received high marks on its evaluation.

February 8, 2005

Missouri Economic Development Council

MEDC endorses Career Readiness Certificate

At the Missouri Economic Development Council (MEDC) Winter Conference, the MEDC executive board heard a presentation by Jim Curran, City of Fenton, MO, and Jim Duane, UM-St. Louis, in regards to the Missouri Career Readiness Certificate (CRC). With the workforce being one of the key reasons for companies to stay or move to the state, economic developers need a tool to best describe the capabilities of Missouri's workforce. The CRC is portable certificate that can be used in any region of the state. Other states have started using a similar certificate. MEDC saw the need to insure that we do not lose the competitive edge to another state or country. It unanimously endorsed the use of the CRC in Missouri. It also endorsed recommending that the Missouri Dept. of Economic Development make the WorkKeys assessments available to laid off workers who want assistance in determining what education/skill training they may need to find another job. This use of the CRC will assist in any further brain drain from the state. For additional information, please contact Jim Duane at jduane@umsl.edu

February 22, 2005

St. Louis Ford Plant to assess laid off workers

WorkKeys is chosen to determine core learning-skills

The St. Louis region received a Trade Adjustment Act grant to assist laid off Ford workers. Through the leadership of the St. Louis County and City, as well as the St. Charles, Jefferson and Franklin County, Workforce Investment Boards, the ACT WorkKeys assessments will be made available to any worker requesting assistance. The results will help the workers in making their transition decisions by making them aware of the need for additional education and/or work skills. The workers will also be eligible for a Career Readiness Certifcate (CRC) that can be used as a portable acknowledgment of their learning-skills acheivements. St. Louis Community College has started the assessments in the region. Any questions can be directed to Joe Ruzicka at 314.644.9787

March 21, 2005

Meeting set with Director of Missouri Economic Development

Greg Steinhoff Meeting, March 29, 2005

On February 18th Jim Duane and Jim Curran briefly met with Greg Steinhoff prior to his presentation and St. Louis RCGA meeting. Mr. Steinhoff was given a copy of the Career Readiness Certificate (CRC) White Paper and a brief discussion about what was in the paper. He agreed that after he has had time to read the paper, we should determine a date for further discussion. The date has now been set for March 29th in Jefferson City. The focus of the meeting will be to determine if a statewide use of the CRC can be another economic development tool for Missouri. It will also be shown how it compliments the new Missouri Quality Jobs Act. If there is agreement that the CRC would be beneficial, it will be recommended that pilot projects be established throughout Missouri.

December 20, 2004

Missouri Economic Development Council

Moving Missouri to the Vanguard:  An Analysis of Incentives and Statewide Development Programs in Missouri

The economic development business has changed radically since Missouri last benchmarked its programs and tactics in the early 1990’s. For decades, U.S. communities grew a manufacturing economy by selling low labor costs to headquarters in the Midwest and East....

January 7, 2005

Competing States - Midwest update

Indiana expands the use of WorkKeys

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – Today the Gov. Joe Kernan announced that seven additional Northeastern Indiana businesses have joined the state’s innovative new workforce development program, Indiana@Work.....

December 12, 2004

Economic Development White Paper Released

A Skilled Workforce: Competing in a Global Economy Through the Utilization of a Career Readiness Certificate

Funding, raw materials, infrastructure and land are no longer leading factors as to where global corporations will grow and locate. With the workforce being a primary concern of business, Missouri's economic development portfolio must contain an effective and measurable system to communicate and evaluate the skills of its great workers....

December 7, 2004

Workforce Development White Paper Released

A Skilled Workforce: Competing in a Global Economy Through the Utilization of a Career Readiness Certificate

Funding, raw materials, infrastructure and land are no longer leading factors as to where global corporations will grow and locate. With the workforce being a primary concern of business, Missouri's economic development portfolio must contain an effective and measurable system to communicate and evaluate the skills of its great workers....