Heartland Workforce Solutions, Inc.
Executive Committee Meeting Minutes
November 25, 2014 8:00am
Heartland Workforce Solutions Center
5752 Ames Ave, Omaha NE 68104
Meeting Called to Order
Wendy Boyer, Chairperson, called the meeting to order at 8:00 a.m.
Roll Call
Roll was called by Jessica McCormick and a quorum was not established.
Members Present:
Rod Anderson
Wendy Boyer
Members Absent:
Deb Dinsmoor
Connie Eichhorn
Liz Cook
Jessica McCormick
Terry McMullen
Anita Peterson
Jim Hanson, Jr.
Angela Jones
Othello Meadows
Staff & Guests Present:
Justin Dougherty, Linda Kizzier, Regina Bell and Christine Aguilar– Goodwill Industries
Sarah Moylan – Chamber of Commerce
Chris Rodgers – Creighton University
Erin Porterfield, Shirley Carlson, Donna Knerr and Michael Phillips - HWS, Inc.
Notice of Publication
Adequate legal notice of this meeting was posted in the Omaha World Herald. Let the record reflect that
the notice was published in accordance with the open meeting law requirements and published in the Greater
Omaha Area. A copy of the Nebraska Open Meeting Act is available at this meeting and can also be obtained
from the Board staff.
No public comment cards were submitted.
Approval of the Consent Agenda*
A. Approval of the October 21, 2014 Minutes from the Executive Committee Meeting
B. Approval of the October 23, 2014 Minutes from the Board Meeting
C. Approval of the October 2014 Financials
D. Approval of Eligible Training Providers
1. Omaha code School
2. Oklahoma College of Construction
E. Approval of Closed session - Personnel
A quorum was not established and no voting was possible. These Consent Agenda items along with the
acceptance of the FY15 Advance Funds will be moved to the Executive Committee on December 16, 2014.
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Erin Porterfield started the meeting by thanking Wendy for her outstanding work on the Heartland Workforce
Solutions Board. Wendy Boyer thanked the Board for all of their work, and said we will still be working
together, but in a different capacity. Wendy has taken a position with the Peter Kiewit Foundation and will be
leaving the Chamber at the end of November. Several members thanked Wendy for her leadership and vision.
HWS Operations
Finance – Michael Phillips reviewed the financials, and the dashboard. Michael reported that the
money being spent directly on the participants is continuing to trend downward. Michael also reported that the
Notice of Obligational Authority (NOA) was received for the FY15 funds, but there is a slight decrease.
Michael recommended a vote to accept, but due to a lack of quorum a vote could not be taken. Michael
reported that the reason it appears that Goodwill is over on the budget in the Salaries & Benefits is because
there were three payroll periods for that month and they also paid out the staff incentive bonuses. Michael
reported that we received the $50,000 from the Scott Family foundation in October, and the $130,000 from
Sherwood in November. We are on track to receive the money from Lozier as well. The RFP for IT support
services have been completed and the transition went pretty smoothly. Audit results will be available in
January.
Fund Development Committee – Anita Peterson announced that HWS has applied for a grant with Bank
of the West ($5000). It will be announced in the next couple of days. Liz Cook initiated conversation and
requested feedback on sending an email out to the Board on giving versus a mailed letter. The consensus was
that email is the way to go. An invoice will also be prepared for those who have not yet contributed. The Fund
Development team will develop the email for Donna Knerr to send out to the Board.
Strategic Planning-Terry McMullen reported that the Chamber has formed a Manufacturing Council and
they will have a workforce development group that will be led by Jesse DePriest. Terry McMullen, Jessica
McCormick, Erin Porterfield, and Sarah Moylan all attended the meeting to see how HWS could shadow the
Chamber’s lead, and develop Industry Sector Partnerships. This is one direction that the Chamber would like to
see HWS rally around. Wendy Boyer said she would encourage us to pursue. Jessica McCormick reported the
rail industry has a great deal of high skilled trade employees (technicians, engineers, mechanics, etc.). Due to
the rail industry having a large number of baby boomers, they will be facing gaps in their skilled trades. There
will be an opportunity for an organization like HWS to partner with Burlington and UP to try and fill those gaps
with candidates. The Chamber has committed $50,000 per year for a 3 year period. This is 1/3 of their
workforce budget and an indication of their commitment. It was also reported that the HWS staff will draft the
mission, vision, and values statements and provide at the next meeting.
Leading, Convening, and Aligning to Build an Effective Workforce System
WIOA Readiness -Erin Porterfield reported that HWS sponsored a second webinar series consisting of
four sessions on WIOA. These were attended by some board members, HWS Staff, Goodwill, and business
partners. After each session of the webinar, a brief phone conversation took place with NDOL. The regulations
will be coming out in January 2015. Data will be very important to help prioritize and set a focus for the
programs. Goodwill provided their insight on WIOA. Erin would like to have a sub-group of four or more to
help find a way to present the changes to the full board to help them understand the new Act. Discussion was
held on how to communicate with members. Erin then reported that NDOL has given the green light for us to
offer a contract extension to Goodwill Industries, and they have graciously accepted.
Performance Committee- Erin Porterfield announced that the process mapping session was held on
November 10, 2014. A special thanks to Angela Jones for providing a facilitator and lunch for this meeting.
Erin reported that, in mid-January, the Sherwood Foundation will hold a session to explore funding for the
Intake/Data system. Shirley Carlson reported that changes on the funding allocation for distribution in the DLW
funds will be given out at the December board meeting, and there are two options provided by the State; other
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ideas can be submitted. The State is asking for local Board to provide input which will then be shared with the
State Board at their meeting in January 2015. Shirley reviewed the WIA Performance Dashboard and the State’s
PY14 first quarter results. The Adults and Youth are over the 100% aggregate and DLW is below at 82%.
WIA State Monitor Reviews- Shirley Carlson referenced this section on the agenda that will provide an update on the
State Monitor reviews. The Data Validation Review is in process and the EO Nondiscrimination review has been
completed with no corrective action required.
The Closed Session for personnel discussion started at 8:50am.
The meeting adjourned at 9:09am.
Next Board & Executive Committee Meetings
HWS Board Meeting
HWS Executive Committee Meeting
Thursday, December 18, 2014, 8:00am
Heartland Workforce Solutions - AJC
Community Room
5752 Ames Avenue, Omaha, NE 68104
Tuesday, December 16, 2014, 8:00 a.m.
Heartland Workforce Solutions - AJC
Sarpy Room
5752 Ames Ave. Omaha, NE 68104
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