Transitioning Skills to New Market Realities – Developing Workforce Training Programs in Disaster-Impacted Communities

Date: November 20, 2013
Time: 2:00 to 3:30 Eastern
Price: Free

Please note: Webinars in this series are not eligible for CEcD certification points.

On November 20th IEDC will host a webinar on developing workforce training programs in disaster-impacted communities. A major disaster can disrupt market flows and impact local businesses in ways beyond the imagination. Either temporary business closures or permanent business relocations can cause major redundancies for the local workforce as well as discourage new talent from moving into the impacted communities. The situation can also exacerbate difficulties faced by disadvantaged populations.

This webinar will explore how economic developers can work with workforce development organizations to develop and implement new training programs that are based on changing market realities caused by the event. Learn about the process to identify skills to address business needs that help to strengthen the region’s recovery and growth prospects. Speakers will present case examples from Joplin, Missouri following their EF-5 tornado and Katrina- impacted communities.

Attendees will learn:

• How to leverage additional federal funds to support workforce systems already in place
• About best practices to engage private employers in your workforce training efforts
• Strategies to tie disaster recovery workforce initiatives to growing industrial sectors/clusters within your region.

Speakers:

Jasen Jones
Executive Director
Workforce Investment Board Southwest Missouri
Joplin, MO

Since 2003, Jasen Jones has led the Southwest Missouri Workforce Investment Board in Joplin, MO to successfully integrate economic development and workforce development. Mr. Jones came to the WIB in 2003 following economic development posts at regional chambers of commerce. He graduated from the Economic Development Institute at the University of Oklahoma in 2003, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Institute for Organization Management at Colorado College in 2002, and earned the Professional Community Economic Development certification in 2012. He also holds a degree in Mass Communications from Missouri Southern State University in Joplin. Mr. Jones will share experiences of implementing an innovative workforce training program following the EF-5 tornado in 2011.

Barbara Johnson
Principal
The Johnson Group
New Orleans, LA

With over 20 years as a leader and practitioner, Barbara Johnson has held executive positions in economic and community development that have led community change in the New Orleans Region. Her career in urban revitalization includes an extensive track record in: (1) leading business recovery strategies in communities hard hit by disaster and economic decline; (2) forging solutions to retain, attract and develop talent in communities; (3) building ecosystems of support for small business and entrepreneurs; and, (4) facilitating board leadership strategies to improve organizational performance, capacity and collaboration. While at Greater New Orleans, Inc. (GNO, Inc.), she led workforce training initiatives for Greater New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

About this Webinar Series

With funding from a grant from the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA), the 2013 Disaster Preparedness and Economic Recovery Webinar Series is produced by the International Economic Development Council (IEDC). This training series provides practical information on key topics in disaster preparedness, recovery and resiliency for economic development organizations, chambers of commerce, and community stakeholders concerned about the local economy.