A Community Conversation: Building Central New York’s Construction Work Force Thursday, April 30, 2009 Rosamond Gifford Zoo, Syracuse Advisory Committee Members • • • • • • • • • • • • SUNY-College of Environmental Science & Forestry Outreach Office Associated Builders and Contractors CNY Works and Journey 2 Jobs Metropolitan Development Association-CNY & Syracuse OCM-BOCES Onondaga Community College City of Syracuse Economic Development Onondaga County Economic Development Workforce Development Institute Building & Trades Council SUNY-College of Environmental Science & Forestry Department of Construction Management & Wood Products Engineering Northside Collaboratory Welcome and Overview Mr. Jim Farrell, Chairman, Education Committee of the Associated Builders and Contractors of NYS, CNY Chapter This program is supported, in part, by a 2009 Journey to Jobs (J2J) grant and with funds made available by the Metropolitan Development Association of Syracuse and Central New York (MDA). Plenary Panel Members Moderator: Lenore Sealy, Executive Director, CNY Works Construction Industry Perspective: Scott McClurg, Owner, McClurg Associates Peter Dulcich, IBEW, Joint Training Center Jake McKenna, President, Parson-McKenna Construction Company Community Perspective: Dominick Robinson, Director, Northside Collaboratory Economic Perspective: Frank Caliva, Director of Talent Initiatives, Metropolitan Development Association-CNY & Syracuse Workplace Workforce Development Perspective: Robert Leslie, Director, Career & Technical Education, OCM BOCES Education Perspective: David Wall, Director, Corporate & Public Partnerships/Workforce Development, Onondaga Community College Susan Anagnost, PhD, Chair, Construction & Wood Products Engineering, SUNY College of Environmental Science & Forestry Plenary Panel Question What are the near and long-term challenges associated with the construction industry’s workforce development in the current global and local marketplace? Guidelines for Selecting A Roundtable • Every table will be presented the same question • Pick a table that is not occupied by your coworkers or people in the same field as you • The goal is to have people representing diverse groups at each table • Each table should have 5-6 people and a facilitator Roundtable Discussion Facilitators • • • • • • • • • • • Mary Ellen Mangino, Regional Director, Workforce Development Institute Kurt Roulston, Empowerment Zone Coordinator, City of Syracuse Economic Development Mark Spadafore, Board Member, Syracuse Alliance for New Economy (SANE) Corliss Kaiser, Superintendent, F-M School District Mary Thompson, Executive Director, Home Builders & Remodelers Association Joel Delmonico, AMOS Project Penny Hazer, Vice President, Workforce Development of ABC, Empire State Chapter Paul Crovella, Instructor, Construction Management & Wood Products Engineering Ron Kenyon, AIA, Educational Facilities Planner, Syracuse City School District Gail Sandle, Project Manager, CNY Works Tina Brown, Coordinator of Workforce Development, OCC Roundtable Question How can we further leverage our region’s considerable educational, business, and community resources to support the construction industry of Central New York’s employee pipeline and career ladder needs? Roundtable Reports Moderator: Jim Farrell, ABC Roundtable Reports • Educate guidance counselors—numerous lists included this one • Communication vehicle between employers and education providers • commitment to provide jobs • Education – raw materials • Community—materials • Business—end user • Jr. Achievement, career days, • Inform parents / guidance counselors Roundtable Reports 2 • • • • • career /professions language Coordinate the sectors Another forum to draw employers/recruiters Green jobs centralized bulletin board Say Yes to Education expand to include part time and vocational/technical education • Expand/nourishing community programs without changing Roundtable Reports 3 • Local projects use local workers • Create hands on experiences for kids – ”Summer Construction Camp” • Continue to make connections—educate one another on existing resources –how to have a central information resource • Provide kids opportunity to “see” the jobs in action, learn what’s needed. Round Table Reports 4 • Need ways to provide accurate perception of the industry • Need to ensure acquistion of reading and math skills • How to help the industry become more diverse • Job retention program—training resources • Need to collaborate Round Table Reports 5 • Continue similar forums, one stop shop events and resources—matching jobs with job seekers • Do better with educating kids about the industry • Help workers overcome obstacles to employment and retention • Consistent marketing message from the industry there are jobs in the community BREAK Please return in 15 minutes Summation Frank Caliva, Director of Talent Initiatives, MDA-CNY What have we learned? What are the next steps? How do we put today’s efforts into action? Summary Business • Communication • opportunities • Applicants • Training available • Schools • students Connections • • • • • • • Business to business Business to academic resources Business to job applicants Business to students Providers Cbos One Stops Resources Collaborate, don’t duplicate Of, by and for communities Focus Coordinate Leverage existing resources Flex to new realities How to pay for it? Summary Part 2 Employees • • • • understand the demand Get the basic skills Get math skills Retention skills – Shared responsibility between business and employees Do Tomorrow • Call legislators to promote legislation • Follow up meeting, May 20, 5 PM at Spa at 500— building a directory • Each person here writes up what they do and email to portal@creativecoreny.com • Discover your Talent Day—hands on career exploration opportunities • Open opportunities –creating a video to see a green project in progress –let ESF know other projects Do Tomorrow • DOL grant to create green jobs and business opportunities – hehrenreich@cnyworks.com • PEB can work with schools/guidance counselors • Use resources of contractor organizations ABC, Home Builders & Remodelers • Media resources—Clear Channels—get the word out--news series, highlight issues and exciting things; town hall meeting; Amos Project Do it Do it Fast Concluding Remarks Jim Farrell, ABC Contact Information: SUNY-ESF Outreach Office 315-470-6889 www.esf.edu/outreach/construction