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>> THE FOLLOWING EPISODE OF JOB
READY IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY
CENTRAL PIEDMONT COMMUNITY
COLLEGE AND VIEWERS LEEK YOU.
BEING LIKE YOU.
THANK YOU.
>> HELLO, WELCOME TO JOB READY.
I'M TONY ZEISS AND THE PURPOSE
OF THIS SHOW IS TO SHOW EMERGING
WORKFORCE TRENDS IN THE
CHARLOTTE REGION AND IDENTIFY
CAREER OPTIONS AND RESOURCES
THAT ARE AVAILABLE TO YOU AND
YOUR FAMILY.
MY GUEST TODAY IS STEVE
PARTRIDGE WITH CHARLOTTE WORKS.
STEVE, WELCOME.
>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME DR.
ZEISS.
>> IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME SINCE
WE'VE RUN INTO EACH OTHER.
I'M REALLY EXCITED TO LEARN WHAT
YOU'VE BEEN DOING AND WHAT
CHARLOTTE WORKS IS DOING.
BUT BEFORE WE GO THERE TELL US
ABOUT YOURSELF.
I KNOW YOU WERE BORN IN
CALIFORNIA.
>> YES.
>> AND THEN WHAT HAPPENED FROM
THEN?
>> THEN MY FATHER USED TO BE
FROM NESTLE CORPORATION, WE HAD
A LOT OF CHOCOLATE GROWING UP.
BUT SPENT SOME TIME TRAVELING
THE COUNTRY.
AND ABOUT TEN YEARS AGO, SETTLED
IN SCOTTSDALE, ARIZONA.
WENT TO ARIZONA STATE IN GRAD
SCHOOL.
SPENT A COUPLE OF YEARS WORKING
FOR THE GOVERNOR IN ARIZONA.
>> WHAT WAS YOUR MAJOR IN GRAD
SCHOOL?
>> I COULDN'T DECIDE, I CHOSE
INTERDISCIPLINARY.
IT WAS EDUCATION, POLITICAL
SCIENCE, MADE MY OWN DEGREE.
>> THEN YOU MADE YOUR WAY TO
CHARLOTTE.
FOR JOB OPPORTUNITIES.
>> I DID.
>> WHO. DID YOU WORK WITH FIRST?
>> I SPENT FIVE YEARS WORKING
FOR THE CHARLOTTE CHAMBER.
LEARNED ABOUT THE BUSINESS AND
GOVERNMENT DO PARTNER HERE TO
GET THINGS DONE LOCALLY.
>> THEY DO.
AND THAT'S PART OF THE MAGIC OF
THE CHARLOTTE AREA, WE HAVE THIS
CAN DO SPIRIT.
AND I RESH WHEN YOU WORKED FOR
THE CHAMBER AND YOU FIT IN LIKE
A GLOVE.
>> IT WAS A GREAT TIME.
I MET SO MANY GREAT PEOPLE LIKE
YOURSELF AND OTHERS.
WHICH MADE THE TRANSITION TO
CHARLOTTE WORKS HARD BUT IT MADE
IT A NATURAL FIT.
>> LET'S TALK ABOUT CHARLOTTE
WORKS.
JUST FIF US A GENERAL IT'S A
FEDERAL PROGRAM.
GIVE US A BRIEF SUMMARY OF WHAT
IT IS.
>> CHARLOTTE WORKS AS AN IS
ORGANIZATION HAS BEEN AROUND FOR
15 YEARS.
IT USED TO BE CALLED THE
CHARLOTTE MECKLENBURG WORKFORCE
DEVELOPMENT BOARD.
THAT DIDN'T ROLL OFF THE TONGUE
WELL ENOUGH.
SO WE CHANGED IT TO CHARLOTTE
WORKS.
WE GET OUR FEDERAL DOLLARS WE
GET ABOUT $6.5 MILLION A YEAR TO
HELP GET PEOPLE BACK TO WORK.
WORKING WITH BUSINESSES TO FIND
GOOD TALENT, BUT A LOT OF TIMES
WE SEND PEOPLE BACK TO WORK IN
SCHOOL IN HIGH DEMAND AREAS AND
TEACH THEM HOW TO LOOK FOR A
JOB.
HOW WE FIND JOBS HAS CHANGED IN
THE LAST DECADE.
A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T KNOW HOW
TO MARKET THEMSELVES OR STAND
OUT IN THE CROWD.
EVEN NETWORKING, SOMETHING WE
ALL TAKE FOR GRANTED IN A SALES
ROLE, A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE
TERRIFIED OF IT.
>> COULDN'T BE MORE APPROPRIATE
AS A TOPIC TODAY, THAN ANY OTHER
TIME, BECAUSE THERE ARE SO MANY
PEOPLE WHO ARE UNDEREMPLOYED AND
UNEMPLOYED.
BUT NOW CHARLOTTE WORKS GOES
BACK IF YOU TRACE ITS
BEGINNINGS, PROBABLY ALL THE WAY
TO THE MANPOWER DAYS BACK IN THE
1960s AND THEN IT WAS FOLLOWED
BY CETA AS I REMEMBER THESE ARE
FEDERAL ACRONYMS AND JTPA AND
JOB TRAINING WORKS
ADMINISTRATION, THE WIA I THINK
IT'S CALLED.
>> WORKFORCE INVESTMENT ACT.
>> YOU COME OUT OF A FEDERAL
PROGRAM.
HOW DOES THE MONEY FLOW, DOES IT
GO TO THE STATE?
>> IT DOES.
CONGRESS APPROPRIATES IT, GIVES
IT TO THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR,
AND THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
GIVES IT TO ALL 50 GOVERNORS,
AND THEY DESIGNATE AGENCIES TO
BE RESPONSIBLE, AND HERE IT'S
THE NORTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF
COMMERCE.
>> PERFECT.
WELL, YOU HAVE BEEN IN THE JOB
HOW LONG NOW?
>> ALMOST TWO YEARS.
>> TWO YEARS.
WELL, YOU'VE MADE A LOT OF
CHANGES IN ADDITION TO THE NAME
I MIGHT SAY.
BRILLIANT TO CALL IT CHARLOTTE
WORKS BECAUSE IT CONNOTES
WORKFORCE.
CENTRAL PIEDMONT WE FACED THE
SAME THING, PEOPLE DIDN'T KNOW
THE VISION, SO WE SET THE VISION
AS BEING THE LEADER IN WORKFORCE
DEVELOPMENT.
SO NATURALLY, WE'RE SORT OF
JOINED AT THE HIP HERE.
WE CAN TALK MORE ABOUT SOME OF
THOSE PARTNERSHIPS IN A MOMENT.
BUT FIRST, TELL ME ABOUT SOME OF
THE CHANGES YOU HAVE MADE AND
WHAT ABOUT BIG, REAL OBJECTIVE
IS FOR CHARLOTTE WORKS.
>> SURE. I THINK PROBABLY THE
BIGGEST CHANGE RIGHT OUT OF THE
BOX IS WORKING WITH BUSINESSES.
I THINK AS A WORKFORCE HAVE
SPENT A LOT OF TIME TRAINING
PEOPLE AND SENDING THEM BACK TO
SCHOOL BUT OFTEN IT WASN'T BASED
ON WHAT EMPLOYERS REALLY NEEDED.
THE JOB SEEKER WOULD COME IN SAY
I HAVE AN INTEREST IN A CERTAIN
AREA, WE WOULD SAY SURE, GO BACK
TO SCHOOL.
THEY WOULD GRADUATE GET A DEGREE
AND STILL HAVE TROUBLE FINDING A
JOB.
>> MAY NOT LINE UP.
>> IT DIDN'T.
UNLESS THE EMPLOYER IS AT THE
TABLE YOU DON'T HAVE THAT GOOD
INTELL.
SO OUR JOB IS TO WORK WITH EVERY
JOB SEEKER COMING THROUGH THE
DOOR.
IF THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY'RE
GOING TO DO, FEEL GOING BACK TO
SCHOOL IS NEEDED, WHETHER WE PAY
FOR IT OR THEY'RE TAKING MONEY
OUT OF A 401(K) OR PAYING IT
THEMSELVES THEY NEED GOOD
ADVICE.
LOOKS LIKE MOST PEOPLE, THEY DO
MORE RESEARCH ON A GOOD CAR THAN
WHAT THEY NEED TO DO AS A CAREER
STEP.
>> YEAH, IN FACT YOU'RE EXACTLY
RIGHT.
THERE IS THAT OLD SAW ABOUT MOST
PEOPLE SPEND MORE TIME PLANNING
THEIR FAMILY REUNION THAN THEY
DO THEIR CAREER.
>> YES.
>> YOU'RE ALL ABOUT HELPING THEM
DO THAT.
LET'S SAY THERE'S AN UNEMPLOYED
PERSON OR AN UNDEREMPLOYED
PERSON, AND YOU SAY I NEED SOME
AND THEY SAY YOU KNOW, I NEED
SOME OF THESE JOB SEEKING
SKILLS.
I NEED CAN COUNSELING, I DON'T
KNOW WHAT TO DO.
HOW DO YOU HELP THEM?
>> THEY GO TO
CHARLOTTEWORKS.COM.
THEY GET AN OVERVIEW OF ALL THE
MENU OF SERVICES THAT WE OFFER.
IT MAY BE JUST HELP ON THE
RESUME, THEY CAN MEET WITH A
CAREER COACH.
THEY CAN SIGN UP FOR THAT.
>> HOW MUCH DOES THAT COST?
>> IT IS COMPLETELY FREE, FUNDED
WITH TAX DOLLARS.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE EVERYONE
WHO KNOWS ABOUT OUR SERVICES,
WHO NEED OUR SERVICES KNOW ABOUT
THEM.
AND PEOPLE DON'T KNOW ABOUT
THEM.
SOMETHING HAPPENING AT SOME OF
OUR CENTERS EVERY DAY.
IT MIGHT BE HOW TO WRITE A
RESUME, HOW TO NEGOTIATE SALARY
WHEN YOU GET THAT JOB OFFER, HOW
TO WRITE A PERSONAL BRANDING
STATEMENT OR EVEN HOW TO GO
ABOUT A JOB SEARCH.
>> HOW ABOUT IMAGE?
JOHN T. MOLL LOI WROTE A BOOK
ONE TIME CALLED DRESS FOR
SUCCESS.
IS THAT APPLICABLE TODAY?
>> IT IS. THERE IS A RESURGENCE
OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS,
THE SUIT AND TIE WAS LONG GONE
BUT IT'S BACK.
WE HAVE A DRESS CODE AT OUR
CENTERS.
>> I'M SOLD.
I NEVER LEFT IT.
>> FOR A LOT OF FOLKS, WE SERVE
EVERYONE SO SOME INDUSTRIES YOU
WALK ON THE STREET, PLAN FOR A
CONSTRUCTION JOB, SHOWING UP IN
A SUIT MAY NOT BE APPLICABLE BUT
THERE IS A LEVEL OF HOW YOU
CARRY YOURSELF AS SOMEONE
APPLYING FOR A JOB AND WE TEACH
THOSE SKILLS AS WELL.
SO WE HAVE GOT DRESS CODES.
WE HAVE GOT EMPLOYERS ON SITE AT
OUR CENTERS ALL THE TIME.
WE ARE SHOWCASING TALENT.
>> IT'S ABOUT HELPING THEM GAIN
THE SELF ESTEEM NECESSARY TO
HAVE THE RIGHT POSTURE AND POISE
AND DEMEANOR AND SO ON.
>> YOU HIT A GOOD ONE THERE THE
SELF ESTEEM.
BECAUSE WE HAVE A LOT OF LONG
TERM UNEMPLOYED RIGHT NOW.
NO MATTER HOW GOOD YOU ARE, IF
YOU ARE OUT OF WORK FOR A YEAR
OR MORE, FOR A LOT OF FOLKS, IT
DOES TAKE A TOLL ON YOU, AND THE
LONG TERM EMPLOYED NEED THE
BOOST UP TO KEEP THEIR FOCUS TO
MAKE SURE THEY DON'T LOSE HOPE
OR SIGHT OF A JOB.
>> SO IF SOMEONE IS INTERESTED
AND THEY NEED SOME HELP, IT'S
FREE.
>> FREE.
>> AND HOW DO THEY GET IT, THEY
GO ONSITE AND YOUR CENTERS.
>> WE HAVE ONE ON TYBOLA AND ONE
ON WEST MOOREHEAD.
WE HAVE SNAP POINTS, WHICH IS
SHARED ACCESS WEBSITES.
IF YOU DON'T WANT TO COME DOWN,
YOU MAYBE NEED ACCESS TO
COMPUTER, AND NEED HELP.
WE HAVE GOT 30 SITES LOCATED IN
CHURCHES, FAITH BASED
ORGANIZATIONS AND COMMUNITY
GROUPS THAT YOU CAN ACCESS YOUR
HELP NEARBY.
>> THAT HELPS WITH SELF ESTEEM
BECAUSE THAT PERSON OUT OF WORK
FOR OVER A YEAR, SUDDENLY FINDS
HIMSELF NOT ALONE, WITH MANY A
GROUP OF PEOPLE THAT THAT SAME
THING HAS HAPPENED.
>> WE HAVE LEFT OUR SOUTH
BOULEVARD ONE TO REALLY
UNDERSTAND WE WANT TO BE A
DESTINATION YOU FEEL GOOD ABOUT
ENTERING.
IT FEELS BAD ENOUGH TO BE OUT OF
THE JOB BUT IF WE BRING YOU INTO
A CENTER THAT IS DEPRESSING
>> LIKE A DRIVER'S LICENSE
BUREAU OR SOMETHING.
>> YEAH. YOU WANT TO BE
SOMEWHERE THAT YOU FEEL REALLY
WE CAN HELP YOU YOU HAVE A PLACE
YOU CAN GO AND FOCUS ON YOUR JOB
SEARCH.
BECAUSE A LOT OF PEOPLE DO ON
THEIR OWN AT HOME AND GET
DISTRACTED VERY EASILY.
>> I MUST SAY, THAT IS ONE OF
THE CHANGES YOU HAVE MADE.
I'VE BEEN TO THE CENTER TWO OR
THREE TIMES WITH YOU, AND I MUST
SAY IT'S VERY INVITING,
PROFESSIONAL, EVERYTHING ABOUT
IT IS PROFESSIONAL.
>> A LOT OF FOLKS DON'T NEED OUR
SERVICE ANYMORE, JUST NEED A
PLACE TO TOUCHDOWN, USE THEIR
HOME OFFICE FOR THEIR JOB SEARCH
BECAUSE LOOKING FOR A JOB IS A
FULL TIME JOB.
>> NOW, WHAT IF A STUDENT NEEDS
SOME TRAINING, SAY, AT THE
COLLEGE.
CAN THAT STUDENT GET A GRANT
FROM YOU OR SOMETHING OF THAT
NATURE TO PAY THE TUITION?
>> YES, THEY CAN.
WE HAVE TWO PROGRAMS.
ONE IS AN ITA, INDIVIDUAL
TRAINING ACCOUNT.
IF SOMEONE IS LOOKING FOR A
SKILL SET THEY LACK, OR COMING
FROM AN INDUSTRY THAT IS NO
LONGER GROWING, OR IS REALLY
CONTRACTING, THEN WE WILL ASSESS
THEM TO SEE IF THEY'RE A GOOD
CANDIDATE TO GO BACK TO SCHOOL.
AND A LOT OF OUR TRAINING WE
LIKE TO CHUTE FOR A YEAR SHOOT
FOR A YEAR OR LESS.
IT'S ABOUT THE STACKABLE
CREDENTIALS, THE CERTIFICATE,
THE INDUSTRY RECOGNIZED
RESOURCES SO THEY CAN GET
QUICKLY BACK TO WORK AND IT'S
SOMETHING THAT INDUSTRY
RECOGNIZES.
SO WHEN YOU SHOW UP ON THE DOOR
YOU MAY NOT HAVE FIVE YEARS
EXPERIENCE BUT YOU KNOW YOU HAVE
THAT SIX OR 12 MONTH DEGREE TO
GET BACK TO WORK QUICKLY.
>> IF THIS IS AN UNEMPLOYED
PERSON OR UNDEREMPLOYED PERSON,
THEY HAVE GOT SOME SKILLS BUT
THEY ARE NOT SURE WHERE TO GO
NEXT, AND THEY'RE NOT SURE
WHETHER THOSE SKILLS WILL
TRANSLATE INTO ANOTHER
OCCUPATION.
DO YOU HAVE COUNSELORS?
>> WE DO. OUR CAREER COACHES ARE
GREAT AT THAT.
MAYBE A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE
LEAVING FINANCIAL SERVICES.
ONE SIDE OF THE BANK IS GROWING
BUT THE OTHER IS SHRINKING.
SO WE TAKE THOSE BASE SKILLS AND
DO ASSESSMENTS, TO FIND OUT WHAT
THOSE SKILLS ARE.
WE ASK GIVE ME YOUR TOP TEN
SKILLS, A LOT OF US STRUGGLE
WITH SAYING I'M A GOOD SPEAKER
OR I'M GOOD AT SHOWING UP ON
TIME.
IT'S HARD TO TRANSLATE INTO WHAT
WE DO EVERY DAY TO SOMETHING
ANOTHER EMPLOYER IN ANOTHER
INDUSTRY MAY NOT BE ABLE TO
UNDERSTAND.
WE HELP THEM FIT INTO OTHER
INDUSTRIES, OTHER SECTORS ARE
GROWING IN CHARLOTTE AND WE HELP
THEM UNDERSTAND WHO THE PLAYERS
ARE, HOW YOU SELL YOURSELF IN
THOSE INDUSTRIES, EVEN FIGURE
OUT HOW TO CONNECT THEM TO HR
FOLKS OR PEOPLE WE MAY KNOW TO
DO INFORMATIONAL INTERVIEWS TO
FINDING OUT WHAT IT'S LIKE TO
WORK THERE.
>> IN THAT PROCESS, THAT CAREER,
AS THEY WORK THROUGH THAT
PROCESS WITH THEIR CLIENT THEY
CAN DEVELOP A CUSTOMIZED CAREER
PLAN, FOR THAT PARTICULAR
PERSON?
>> THAT'S RIGHT.
>> FITS THAT PERSON.
SAY NOW, YOU REALLY NEED A
CREDENTIAL IN WHATEVER IT IS,
PRODUCTION MANAGEMENT OR PROCESS
MANAGEMENT OR SOMETHING OF THAT
NATURE, RIGHT?
>> CORRECT.
>> AND THEN THEY CAN COME TO
WHATEVER SERVICE PROVIDER,
INCLUDING THE COLLEGE.
>> UH HUH.
>> PROVIDES THOSE SERVICES,
RIGHT?
>> YEP.
>> AND WE MAY GET PEOPLE THAT
DON'T NEED TRAINING AT ALL.
BUT LET'S SAY THEY HAVE THE
REQUISITE SKILLS, THE EMPLOYER
SAYS, THEY MAY HAVE 70% OF WHAT
I'M LOOKING FOR BUT I'M LOOKING
FOR THE PERFECT HIRE.
WE HAVE ON THE JOB TRAINING
DOLLARS AVAILABLE SO WE CAN
SUBSIDIZE THE INDIVIDUAL WHILE
THEY LEARN ON THE JOB.
>> THAT'S CRITICAL.
>> YEP.
>> HOW DO YOU GET THAT
COMMUNICATED TO THE EMPLOYERS?
>> WE HAVE MEETINGS WITH
EMPLOYERS AND RETENTION BENEFITS
ARE THERE CRITICAL, THEY GET
THEM WHAT THEY NEED.
>> WHAT ARE THOSE BENEFITS?
GIVE ME AN EXAMPLE, IF I'M AN
EMPLOYER AND I'M GOING TO TAKE
ONE OF THESE ON THE JOB TRAINING
STUDENTS WHAT DO I GET OUT OF
IT?
>> ONE, YOU GET SOMEONE WHO
REALLY UNDERSTANDS YOUR WORK
PROCESSES.
IF I HAVE SOMEONE THAT COMES IN
WITH 70% OF THE KNOWLEDGE, AND
THE OTHER 30 IS MY COMPANY
SPECIFIC INFORMATION, THIS IS A
KEY ELEMENT FOR A LOT OF SMALL
TO MEDIUM SIZE FIRMS.
YOU HAVE TO WEAR A LOT OF HATS
IN THESE COMPANIES BECAUSE YOU
DON'T HAVE A CERTAIN DEPARTMENT
TO DO SOMETHING YOU ARE A JACK
OF ALL TRADES.
>> YOU NEED CROSS TRAINING.
>> SO SPENDING THE TIME TO
SUBSIDIZE THOSE WAGES GIVES THE
TIME FOR THE OWNER OF THE
COMPANY OR KEY LEADERS THAT ARE
TAKING THEIRSELVES OUT OF THE
PRODUCTIVE DAILY ACTIVITIES TO
TRAIN THIS PERSON, IT'S A WIN
WIN.
THEY GET SOMEONE EXACTLY THE WAY
THEY WANT TRAINED TO WHAT THEY
NEED, THE JOB SEEKER GETS A JOB.
I MEAN, THE PERFORMANCE FOR THIS
PROGRAM IS OFF THE ROOF.
>> AND DO THEY GET A TAX BREAK?
>> THEY GET WE ARE REIMBURSING
THEM FOR THE WAGES.
THEY GET SOMEONE WORKING ON THE
JOB AND WE ARE PAYING FOR IT.
>> ON THE JOB?
>> YES.
>> THAT IS A WIN WIN.
>> FOR A SMALL BUSINESS IT'S UP
TO 90% OF THE WAGES.
IT GETS LARGER, UP TO 50% BUT
IT'S A GREAT TOOL.
ESPECIALLY FOR OUR SMALLER
EMPLOYERS.
>> OVER A CERTAIN PERIOD OF TIME
THAT BACKS OFF AND THEY'RE NOW A
FULL TIME EMPLOYEE.
>> IT'S USUALLY SIX MONTHS OR
LESS.
IT'S REALLY DURING THE STAGE OF
WHEN YOU'RE DOING THE TRAINING.
SO THERE'S PRODUCTIVITY THERE
BUT IT'S NOT 100% PRODUCTIVITY.
>> I WONDER HOW MANY PEOPLE YOU
PUT THROUGH THAT PROGRAM PER
YEAR?
>> IT'S AN EXPENSIVE PROGRAM.
PROBABLY FEWER THAN 100 PER
YEAR.
>> SO IT'S REALLY
>> BUT IT'S AVAILABLE?
>> IT'S AVAILABLE.
>> FOR THE RIGHT PEOPLE AND THE
RIGHT EMPLOYER?
>> RIGHT IT'S ALL ABOUT CREATING
THAT MATCH.
>> NOW YEARS AGO, IF EMPLOYERS
HIRED THESE FOLKS THEY USED TO
GET SOME SORT OF A TAX BREAK.
I'M NOT SPECIFIC BUT DO THEY
STILL GET SOMETHING LIKE THAT?
>> THERE ARE VARIOUS BREAKS FOR
HIRING CERTAIN TARGET
DEMOGRAPHICS.
SOMETIMES TANF RECIPIENTS.
BUT STATISTICALLY THOUGH,
RESEARCH SHOWS, THAT TYPE OF
BREAK IS NOT AS PRODUCTIVE, IT'S
HIT AND MISS BECAUSE WHEN YOU
FOCUS ON ONE DEMOGRAPHIC, WHEN
YOU ARE LOOKING THROUGH AN
APPLICANT POOL YOU DON'T KNOW
WHETHER THEY QUALIFY OR NOT.
>> YOU ARE AN OPEN DOOR TO
EVERYONE.
>> YES.
>> HOW ABOUT AN EX OFFENDER?
>> YEP. THAT'S A GROWING PART OF
SOCIETY AND LIKE EVERYONE ELSE
THEY NEED TO WORK.
SO GET BACK ON THEIR FEET.
THAT'S A CRITICAL PART OF THEIR
REHABILITATION.
BOTH WITH GOODWILL WHICH IS ONE
OF OUR PARTNERS IN OUR JOB
LINKS, CPCC AND OTHERS, WE HAVE
TARGETED AREAS TO HELP THOSE
FOLKS.
HOW YOU ADDRESS THAT QUESTION,
WHEN THAT QUESTION IS ASKED IN
AN INTERVIEW HOW DO YOU EXPLAIN
WHAT HAPPENED AND GIVE SOME
CONTEXT TO MAYBE SOME CRIMINAL
HISTORY.
>> HOW MANY COUNSELORS DO YOU
HAVE?
>> WE HAVE 20 PEOPLE ON SITE AT
OUR WEST MOOREHEAD FACILITY.
AND ABOUT A DOZEN MORE
>> THAT'S MORE THAN AT THE
COLLEGE!
DO YOU CALL THEM CLIENTS?
>> WE DO.
>> HOW MANY CLIENTS IN AN
AVERAGE YEAR WOULD YOU HAVE
RECEIVING SOME SORT OF SERVICE
FROM YOU?
>> OUR YEAR JUST CLOSED JUNE
30th AND WE SAW OVER 63,000
PEOPLE.
>> THAT'S REMARKABLE.
>> YEAH.
>> I MEAN, THAT'S LIKE ABOUT 8%
OF THE TOTAL POPULATION.
>> YEP.
>> THAT'S REALLY REMARKABLE.
SO IT'S CALLED CHARLOTTE WORKS
AND YOU'RE ONLINE AND THEY CAN
FIND YOU THERE.
CAN THEY FIND YOU IN THE PHONE
BOOK?
>> WE RECOMMEND YOU GO TO THE
WEBSITE FIRST BECAUSE THAT WAY
YOU CAN GO AHEAD AND REGISTER
AND GET RIGHT UP.
BUT IF THEY NEED TO CALL US IT'S
704 206 1350.
>> WELL, THESE ARE IMMIGRATE
PROGRAMS THAT YOU'VE TOLD US
ABOUT.
NOW, TELL US ABOUT WHAT YOU'RE
DOING FOR YOUTH.
>> SURE. LOT OF PEOPLE THAT
REALIZE, THEY SEE CHARLOTTE
WORKS, THEY WORK WITH EMPLOYERS,
A LOT OF DISPLACED WORKERS THEY
SAY THAT'S ALL YOU DO.
PART OF OUR FUNDING REALLY IS
TARGETED AT AT RISK YOUTH.
WE WORK WITH CMSS, CPCC AND HELP
FIGURE OUT WHAT TO DO NEXT.
A LOT OF OUR YOUTH BECOME
DISENGAGED.
WHAT THEY TELL US IS, THEY DON'T
REALLY FEEL THAT SCHOOL IS FOR
THEM.
HOW THEY FIT IN.
WE AS A SOCIETY HAVE MADE HIGH
SCHOOL ESPECIALLY IS PREP FOR
COLLEGE.
IF YOU ARE NOT COLLEGE BOUND
WHAT ARE YOU DOING THERE?
WE PARTNER WITH MECK ED TO GET
THE KIDS THAT ARE AT RISK OF
DROPPING OUT BY KEEPING THEM IN
SCHOOL AND GETTING THEM EXCITED
ABOUT THE CAREERS OF THE FUTURE.
OUR NEW YOUTH WORKS INITIATIVE
WE ARE GOING TO BE REVEALING
VERY SHORTLY IS BASICALLY A WEB
PORTAL TO CONNECT THE COMMUNITY
TO OUR YOUTH.
THEY HAVE GOT CMSS AS A PARTNER,
CPCC AS A PARTNER.
IS GET MORE INTERNSHIP
OPPORTUNITIES FOR TODAY'S YOUTH.
WE ARE NOT GOING TO SEE SKILLS
DEVELOPMENT THAT THE EMPLOYERS
ARE TELLING US ABOUT, 100% WITH
TODAY'S WORKFORCE.
>> WELL I'M SURE YOU PROBABLY
KNOW ABOUT THIS.
THE COLLEGE CENTRAL PIEDMONT IS
COLLABORATING WITH CMSS, THE
PUBLIC SCHOOLS SYSTEM, MORE THAN
EVER BEFORE AND WHAT WE ARE
FOCUSING ON IS THOSE STUDENTS.
PARTICULARLY WITH TECHNICAL
TRAINING BECAUSE THEY DO FEEL
OUT OF IT.
THEY SAY, I DON'T WANT TO GO TO
THE UNIVERSITY.
I'M THINKING ABOUT DROPPING OUT.
IF WE CAN GET THEM SOMETHING
RELEVANT AND THEY CAN SEE
SOMETHING VALUABLE NOW SUCH AS
TECHNICAL TRAINING AND THEY GET
COLLEGE CREDIT FOR IT AND IT'S
FREE AND THEY COME ON OUR CAMPUS
AND THEY GO TO SCHOOL IN THE
MORNING AND COME TO OUR CAMPUS
IN THE AFTERNOON AND TRAIN IN
AUTOMOTIVE MECHANICS OR
CONSTRUCTION OR WHATEVER IT
HAPPENS TO BE, THAT'S ONE OF
THEIR WIN WINS.
SUDDENLY, EDUCATION BECOMES RENT
OF RELEVANT TO THEM.
I'M SURE YOU'RE AWARE OF THOSE
PLANS.
>> ACROSS THE COUNTRY WE REALIZE
THAT COLLEGE DEGREE IS NOT
REQUIRED FOR EVERYONE.
NOT EVERY JOB IS REQUIRED FOR
ONE.
IT'S GREAT AS AN ASPIRATIONAL
GOAL.
BUT PEOPLE WHO NEED TO USE THEIR
HANDS, WE'VE KIND OF GOTTEN AWAY
FROM THAT AS A SOCIETY AND I ANY
I THINK THAT PEOPLE NEED TO USE
THEIR HANDS AND THAT'S COMING
BACK INTO VOGUE AGAIN AND WE'RE
PLAYING CATCH UP TRYING TO
FIGURE OUT HOW TO DO THAT AGAIN.
>> AND THAT'S COMING BACK INTO
VOGUE, MECHANICAL IS NOT ALL
GREASY IT'S TECHNICAL KNOWLEDGE
AND COMPUTER KNOWLEDGE.
NOW HOW DO YOU IDENTIFY THESE
YOUTH?
>> WELL WITH OUR IN SCHOOL
PROGRAM WE PARTNER WITH MECK ED.
THEY'RE IN FOUR HIGH SCHOOLS,
AND THEY ARE GOING TO IDENTIFY
WHO THESE YOUTH ARE, GET THEM
INTO THE PROGRAM AND THE GIVE
THEM WORK EXPERIENCE, GIVES THEM
THE REAL WORLD KNOWLEDGE OF WHAT
IT TAKES TO GO INTO THE
WORKPLACE.
WE NOT ONLY WANT THEM TO HAVE AN
HE INTERNSHIP BUT PREPARE THEM
FOR SUCCESS IN THOSE
INTERNSHIPS.
>> THAT'S A GOOD IDEA.
YOU WERE MENTIONING A LOT OF THE
PEOPLE YOU SEE THEY DON'T
UNDERSTAND HOW TO DRESS, THEY
DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW TO LOOK
PEOPLE IN THE EYE SHAKE HANDS
HOW TO DO THE INTERVIEW, ET
CETERA.
THE MORE WE COULD DO THAT, THE
BETTER.
MAYBE A PROGRAM ON WTVI, I DON'T
KNOW.
BUT IN THE SCHOOL SYSTEMS.
>> THE WEBSITE WE'RE CREATING
WAS DIRECT FEEDBACK FROM THE
EMPLOYERS.
THEY WOULD LOVE TO OFFER
INTERNSHIPS BUT THE QUESTION IS,
WHO DO I CALL.
THEY GO TO THEIR COLLEGE MAYBE
WHO THE RECRUITING MANAGER WENT
TO.
YOU LOOK FOR THOSE RIMS.
BUT THEY SAY IF I WANT TO OFFER
IT UP TO THE A HIGH SCHOOL
STUDENT IS THERE A HOT LINE?
IS THERE A WEBSITE?
THERE REALLY WASN'T.
AND SO WE WERE MISSING THESE
OPPORTUNITIES TO MAKE THESE
CONNECTIONS.
THEN MAYOR FOXX WAS REALLY INTO
GROWING SUMMER YOUTH PROGRAMS
UNDER THE MAYOR'S SUMMER YOUTH
INITIATIVE AND HE WOULD PICK UP
THE PHONE AND MAKE CALLS AND TRY
TO GET BUSINESSES TO ENGAGE.
BUT YOU CAN'T DO THAT WITH EVERY
BUSINESS, WITH THE MAYOR PICKING
UP THE PHONE.
SO WE THOUGHT A WEB PORTAL
TARGETING THE BUSINESS
COMMUNITY, HOW YOU OFFER
INTERNSHIPS WHO YOU CONTACT BUT
HOW YOU REALLY MAKE A SUCCESSFUL
INTERNSHIP.
WHAT DO YOU AS AN EMPLOYER HAVE
TO LAY THE GROUNDWORK AND ARE
EXPECTED TO DELIVER ON.
ARE
>> DO YOU SEE WHERE EMPLOYERS
REALIZE HOW TO GET SKIN IN THE
GAME AND DEVELOP A SUPPLY OF
FUTURE WORKERS?
>> THEY'RE GITTING IT.
I THINK FOR A LONG TIME THE
COMMUNITY GIVE BACK WAS NOT AN
ECONOMIC IMPERATIVE.
OTHER FIELDS REALIZE THAT THEIR
WORKFORCE IS GRAYING AND THERE'S
NOT ENOUGH PEOPLE IN THE
PIPELINE TO REPLACE THEM.
STARTING TO SAY YEAH, I WANT TO
GIVE BACK BUT IT IS ALSO MY OWN
VESTED INTEREST TO DO SO.
>> IT'S NOT JUST ALTRUISTIC.
ESPECIALLY THE GERMAN BASED
EUROPEAN BASED PROGRAMS, THEY
WANT APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAMS.
SIEMENS IS A GREAT EXAMPLE.
AND IT MAY NOT BE THE EXACT
MODEL THAT THEY DO IN EUROPE BUT
IT'S A SIMILAR MODEL LIKE
CAROLINA CATERPILLAR HAS A GOOD
ONE.
I'M ENCOURAGED AND I HOPE YOU
ARE TOO.
I AM. THE WORK YOU GUYS ARE
DOING, THE APPRENTICESHIP
PROGRAM CS AND SOME OF THE
THINGS WE'RE PUTTING RESOURCES
INTO, SAY HIGH CONCENTRATION
COMPANIES GERMAN COUNTRIES.
LIKE SIEMEN'S AND OTHERS, UNC
CHARLOTTE AND CHARLOTTE WORKS.
IT'S REALLY HELPED FOCUS SOME OF
OUR EFFORTS.
>> I THINK THE SECRET STEVE IS
THAT WE ALL HAVE LEARNED TO
COLLABORATE AND WE HAVE TO.
BECAUSE WE GOT TO STICK TOGETHER
FOR THE GOOD OF OUR FOLKS, OUR
CITIZENS, AND OF COURSE, OUR
BUSINESSES.
THAT'S YOU, US, GOODWILL, ALL
THE OTHER SERVICE PROVIDERS, THE
UNIVERSITIES PUBLIC AND PRIVATE,
CERTAINLY COUNCIL OF
GOVERNMENTS.
ANYONE AT CHAMBERS HAVING IN TO
DO WITH ATTRACTING COMPANIES OR
HELPING OUR EXISTING COMPANIES
EXPAND.
IN THAT REGARD, WE HAVE AN
EMERGING NEW ECONOMIC VISION, IN
THE CHARLOTTE REGION.
AND IT'S ALL ABOUT BECOMING THE
NEXT GLOBAL HUB OF BUSINESS.
AND SO I KNOW THAT YOU HAVE TO
PLAY A ROLE IN THAT.
BECAUSE IT TAKES ALL OF US, AND
THAT VISION OF COURSE IS TO HELP
US LEARN TO EXPORT ADVANCED
MANUFACTURING AND HELP US
BROADEN OUR ECONOMIC BASE TO
INCLUDE MORE ADVANCED
MANUFACTURING,
ENTREPRENEURIALISM, I DON'T KNOW
IF YOU'RE INVOLVED IN THAT BUT
THAT'S A BIG PART OF IT AND OF
COURSE, THE INTERMODAL FACILITY
AT THE AIRPORT IS A GAME
CHANGER.
ARE YOU PLAYING ANY ROLE IN
THAT?
>> YES, WE ARE.
WE ARE KIND OF FOCUSED RIGHT NOW
ON THE FIVE SECTORS.
VAKS ED MANUFACTURING AND ENERGY
ARE THE NEWEST ONE WHICH IS
TRANSPORTATION LOGISTICS.
IT FITS VERY WELL IN INTERMODAL,
SO WE'RE DOING SOME RESEARCH AND
CREATING NEW MARKETING PIECE HE
TO GET KIDS EXCITED ABOUT DOING
THIS.
WHAT WE DO IS WORK WITH THE
CHARLOTTE CHAMBER WHEN THEY ARE
LOOKING TO RELOCATE COMPANIES TO
CHARLOTTE.
IT USED TO BE COMPANIES WOULD
COME IN AND SAY DO YOU HAVE THE
WORKFORCE AND WE WOULD SAY YES,
AND THEY DECIDE TO MOVE THEIR
COMPANY HERE.
NOW THEY SAY PROVE IT.
THEY WANT TO SEE RESUMES.
I'VE HAD EXAWNS THAT HAVE PASSED
UP ON INTERVIEWS FOR POTENTIAL
HIRES WHEN THE JOBS DON'T REALLY
EXIST YET.
THEY WANT TO SEE THE TALENT TO
SHOWCASE AND IT'S BECOME VERY
COMPETITIVE.
OUR CENTER IS DESIGNED TO
SHOWCASE THAT TO GET MORE DATA
FROM THE JOB SEEKER.
BECAUSE THE MORE WE CAN TALK
ABOUT WHO IS HERE FROM THE
TALENT PERSPECTIVE, NOT JUST THE
UNEMPLOYMENT WHO IS LOOKING
UNEMPLOYED WHO IS LOOK TO
CHANGE.
WE HAVE THE GREAT TALENT IN
CHARLOTTE.
>> WE HAVE SOME GREAT EXAMPLES
WE CAN POINT TO NOTABLY THE SIE
MEN'S COMPANY.
YOU SCREEN THEM, WE ATTRACT
THEM.
NOW THEY'RE HIRING ABOUT 800
PEOPLE OR SO.
>> YOU TALK ABOUT TRAINING
OPPORTUNITIES, THAT'S GREAT, DID
YOU SCREEN THEM?
LET'S CALL STEVE.
>> YOU'RE THE EXPERTS.
>> WE DO A LOT OF SCREENING.
THE RATIO IS 10 TO 1.
IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR PEOPLE TO
HIRE, THEY ARE LOOKING FOR 800
TO A,000.
THEY HAVE AN HR OF 3, THEY WERE
STRUGGLING TO SORT OF MEET THAT
DEMAND.
SO WE CREATE A WEB PORTAL THAT
REALLY SCREENED EVERYONE.
WE SENT THEM TO ONE WEBSITE, IT
SCREENED PEOPLE.
THIS HAD DECISION TREES BUILT
INTO IT.
SO ONCE EVERY NIGHT THEY COULD
LOOK AT THE DATA, MOVE
CANDIDATES FORWARD BUT ALSO
VERIFY THE SKILLS.
SO IF THEY WENT TO SOMEONE THAT
SAID THEY COULD DO BLUEPRINT
READING, WE COULD INVITE THEM
INTO A BLUEPRINT READING
WORKSHOP AT CP.
THEY COULD BE EVALUATED, AND
MOVED FORWARD.
BY THE TIME THE JOB SEEKER MADE
IT TO THE PERSON THEY WERE
VERIFIED.
>> AND IF THEY DIDN'T PASS THEN
THEY COULD ATTEND A COLLEGE
COURSE AT CENTRAL PIEDMONT VERY
QUICK FAST COURSE TO GET CAUGHT
UP TO SPEED SO THEY COULD APPLY
AND BE QUALIFIED.
>> RIGHT.
>> WELL THAT WAS A WONDERFUL
EXAMPLE OF HOW COLLABORATION
WORKS.
AND I MUST SAY THAT WE'RE VERY
PLEASED TO BE A PARTNER WITH
CHARLOTTE WORKS.
AND STEVE PARTRIDGE YOU ARE
DOING A WONDERFUL JOB.
WE APPRECIATE ALL OF YOU AND
YOUR STAFF, YOU CAN'T DO IT BY
YOURSELF AND YOUR BOARD.
IF THERE IS ONE LAST THING THAT
IF YOU HAD A MAGIC WAND THAT YOU
NEEDED THAT YOU WANT TO TELL US
ABOUT?
>> THE BIGGEST THING IS WE NEED
MORE INFORMATION ABOUT WHO IS
HERE IN TOWN.
WE HAVE A NEW DATABASE THAT JUST
LAUNCHED WITH THE STATE AND IT'S
GOT ALLOT OF UNEMPLOYED PEOPLE
THAT ARE FILLING IN BUT I NEED
TO KNOW ABOUT THE TALENT
EVERYWHERE IN CHARLOTTE.
YOU MAY NOT KNOW YOU NEED A NEW
JOB BECAUSE QUICKLY PEOPLE ARE
GOING OHAVE 12 CAREERS
THROUGHOUT THEIR LIFETIME IS THE
NEWEST NUMBER SO YOU ALWAYS NEED
TO BE IN THAT MODE OF KEEPING
YOUR SKILLS UP TO SPEED AND
BEING RELEVANT.
>> THEY NEED TO CONTACT YOU.
>> YEP.
>> THANK YOU, IT'S BEEN GREAT
HAVING YOU HERE.
>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.