AG 2002 12 16 (Regular) - Laserfiche WebLink

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12- g-02; 4: 14PM; ;7043474710 # Dec-O4-OZ 03:41P Bob VanGor'den 704 782 1615 p. Cu~ent responsi~ffities I hc~ve over 40 years experience ~n management. I I~ve managed several large orgcmizatiofls. I stc~rted my consulting service ~ o years ago with the idea that I would ~se my many years of Soles croci Marketing experience os my center~ece. I have been working with a client for the past five years i, strategic planting, recruiting, arid developing their organization ?or the ?uture. One of my most revealing experiences over the past few yeorq WaS WOrking with the Conven~llce Store Industry. While researching the employment behcn~or i.e. patterns of this industry, I discovered that o m~orlty o~ the workqeorce is tmprepared. It clppe~tr~ that the tensldlled emerging workforce is the pipe for this industry. However, I am convinced that in 4o years or/ess the unskilled emerging workforce will not be qualified to fill the jobs in this industry. My concern is how this S~"uotion c~m be avoided. I have served on many committees with Caba~rt~s Regional Chamber. I currently chair a committee fpr The Business School for Entrepreneurial Education. Critical workfarce issues The emergirlg workforce - understand their needs - on their terms It is obvious'that education plays a major role in preparing people for the workforce, but the education system cannot be held accmmtable for the desire and interest that each person has ?or leamine or developing life long s~alls. I believe before we can address the issues with the emerging worl~orce we have to understand why there is this lack of interest in learning. ! don't think the problem can be corrected until we understand the reason far this lack of interest on the part of the emerging workforce. The recycle workforce - bmld your resume while employed. We have to f~nd a way to retr~n the employee that looses his or her job regardless of the reason. ! am ~mozed cd: the n~enber of people that call me in an effort to find work. In reading their resumes, 1 ~ind that in mom/cases they have not add, ted to the changes ~ the work place, in most cases~they lack.the technical skills, and even more amaz4ng when ask about there technical slalls, the normal answer is they believe they are too old to learn. ! think one win/to help this group is to educate them to improve their slalls while they are employed. It may be too late when they are out of work. It is difficult for the average person to improve their s~aqls while seeidng emldoyment. What do I brine to thd Centralina WBD? I worked with WorkforCe Development during 1995 and 1996. 1 feel confident that having been part of the original development group ~wql be helpful However, I believe my more recent experience in cot~sultJl~J will be equally helpful. While I knew little about Workforce Development Jn 1995, I became fascinated in the challenge that it offered. It was a great learning crowe for me. Last, but not least I f~d trying to be a part Of the solution rather them a sideline critic more f~n. What value do I hope to gain by participating on the Centralina WDB?. 1 IRe the following quote by Mac McM~ian: 'You are the same person today that youll be in five years from now except for two things: the people you meet and the books you read." ! feel certain that I will be a wiser person for serving on the Centraltna WDB. !