WELCOME & INTRODUCTIONS
Martin G. Knott, Jr., Chair, Governor's Workforce Investment Board (GWIB), called the meeting to order at 3:40 pm and welcomed all members to the September 2014 Quarterly
Board Meeting. We have a ton of new board members, let us go around the table and introduce ourselves. Thank you.
Words of praise and appreciation were given to two Board members during the September 17, 2014, meeting. We will be losing Gino Gemignani, CEO of The Whiting-Turner
Contracting Company, Inc. and former Chair of the Board along with Marion Pines, Senior Fellow at Johns Hopkins University Institute for Policy Studies who has been a
long-term GWIB member. We will miss her. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
A motion was made, seconded and adopted to approve the minutes of the September 17, 2014, Quarterly Board Meeting.
CHAIRMAN REMARKS
Chairman Knott, spoke about how workforce development improves the state's business climate by designing and implementing strategies that help Marylanders enter the
workforce as well as advance by increasing their skills. The successful and continuous development of our workforce benefits businesses and the entire state. He emphasized,
the more highly skilled our workforce, the more we attract new businesses and diversify our economy in Maryland. We are providing everyone with a copy of the book titled,
"Connecting People to Work." This book describes a collaborative process whereby the workforce needs of businesses help determine where opportunities exist to match workers
with good jobs through education and other training opportunities. Our Local Workforce Investment Boards are an example of this workforce development system today.
ENHANCED EMPLOYER/LOCAL WORKFORCE INVESTMENT BOARD (LWIB) PRESENTATION
Chairman Knott introduced Ron Peterson, GWIB Vice-Chair, and the President of Johns Hopkins Hospital and Health System who will present on enhanced employer /Local Workforce
Investment Board (LWIB) Relationships. Mr. Peterson began his presentation stating, we have a philosophy that Johns Hopkins is the "community" of Baltimore. We need to do
something about creating opportunities. This community has disproportionately high rates of unemployment, dysfunctional families, crime and abandoned homes. It is in our best
interest to take constructive steps to introduce the people of Baltimore into the workforce. We know that some of the people living in the communities where we conduct our business are the best people for our jobs, and through our support, access and opportunity we are able to create a win-win scenario. Our win-win scenario is tied to our mission to develop and maintain the workforce development relationships and partnerships that support the workforce development approach.
We have developed a 3-pronged approach to our Workforce Development
- Engaging & supporting the advancement of incumbent workers;
- Exciting youth about health careers & encouraging academic excellence; and
- Reaching out to & hiring from non-traditional sources.
One example of how we apply this approach is through the Mayor's Office of Employment Development (MOED) One Stop Centers who support the talented members of our
communities. These Centers have access to resources, expertise and data that make working together good business & fiscal sense. I encourage you to think about ways
your business could partner with our existing organizations. As a large business, these partnerships have made our ability to serve our community and the entry-level
employees so much easier and economical. No matter what your organizational size you can benefit from these One Stop partnerships.
Leonard J. Howie, III, Secretary, Maryland Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation stated, that was a powerful testimony to how a healthcare system, is using the
resources.
ADJOURNMENT
There being no other business, Mr. Knott thanked everyone and the meeting was adjourned at 5:40 pm.
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