Chair and Executive Director’s Report
September 2015 – November 2015
Meetings, Events, and Press
Board priorities this past quarter continue to focus on the transition and implementation of
Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, in addition to recruitment of new private sector
leaders to serve on the GWDB. Laura Beeth, Chair, was invited to the White House to
participate in a roundtable on apprenticeships. While attending the event it was announced
that Minnesota was awarded a $5 million dollar apprenticeship grant. Development of
charters for the standing committees for the GWDB, attending the summer meeting of the
National Governor’s Association in Maryland, attending local Workforce Investment Board
meetings around the state, and numerous meetings and conference calls regarding the
Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, WIOA.
In addition to these activities the Chair and Director’s report is as follows:
Monthly Activities:
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Executive Director, ED Connie Ireland attends the monthly meetings of the Minnesota
Workforce Council Association
ED and Chair meet bi-weekly
GWDB weekly staff meetings
GWDB and DEED Workforce Development Policy team meetings bi-weekly
Executive Director participates in quarterly meetings with the Employment Services
Program group (Community-based organizations providing workforce services) along
with Deputy Commissioner Hanson Willis
ED and Chair participate in monthly calls with the National Governors Association
ED Connie Ireland meets bi-weekly with Deputy Commissioner Jeremy Hanson Willis and
meetings with Commissioner Clark Sieben
ED Connie Ireland meets monthly with Anne Kilzer, Director for MWCA
ED meetings with GWDB members
ED Connie Ireland meets with DEED’s Workforce Development Director, Tom Norman
bi-weekly
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Executive Director Connie Ireland attends monthly meetings of MWCA’s Gang of 8
(small group of directors meet to discuss policy and WIOA implementation), DEED, and
interested GWDB WIOA committee members. This committee is addressing WIOA
transition, implementation and opportunities under WIOA legislation
Bi-weekly meetings with the Hiring and Diversity Committee at DEED
September Activities:
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ED presented at the Northwest Workforce Investment Board annual meeting in
Warroad.
ED presented at the Minneapolis Workforce Investment Board meeting.
ED attended the 3rd Annual DEED Leadership meeting.
ED attended the SNAP Employment and Training Expansion meeting.
ED presented at the Ramsey County Workforce Investment Board meeting.
ED met with DEED Workforce development, MN Workforce Council Association, and MN
Department of Education regarding Minnesota’s WIA Incentive award.
ED and staff participated in numerous meetings regarding development of board
materials, state and regional planning, and other WIOA committee meetings
ED and staff held monthly conference call for NGA Policy Academy with co-chairs,
Deputy Commissioners Jeremy Hanson Willis and Steve Dibb, Allison Jones, Governor
Mark Dayton’s office
ED participated in the quarterly meeting with the MN Employment Services Consortium
Chair (also chair of HEIP), and GWDB staff attended the Health Education Industry
Partnership quarterly meeting.
ED and staff participated in several informational webinars on WIOA
Chair Laura Beeth participated in the Central Corridor Anchor Partnership, leading the
workforce initiatives such as Scrubs Camps, Fellows Program, and incumbent worker
strategies including apprenticeships.
Chair Laura Beeth participated in the Cedar Riverside Anchor Partnership focused on
education and job opportunities. Discussions and planning are underway for a Cedar
Riverside Opportunity Hub.
Chair Laura Beeth working with MN DOL on apprenticeship and dual training
opportunities.
Chair held the last GWDB Meeting at Fairview Southdale Hospital, hosting a tour of our
new emergency department.
Chair Laura Beeth invited to the White House Summit on Apprenticeships. Chair
participated in the two days of activities. During this visit, MN was awarded an
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apprenticeship grant. Part of the grant funding goes to the proposal submitted by Chair
Beeth (Fairview) for health care apprenticeships.
Chair attended the Minneapolis Workforce Investment Board Meeting, as a board
member. In addition Chair Beeth participates in the youth workforce committee.
Chair Beeth presented a health care workforce development presentation at the
American Hospital Association Workforce Council Annual Meeting.
Chair attended the state workforce summit for health care laboratory needs.
Chair participates in the NGA Policy Academy on Talent Pipeline.
October Activities:
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ED presented at the Ramsey County Workforce Investment Board meeting.
ED met with Mark Schonboom, MN Department of Health
ED met with Anne Willaert from South Central College regarding their TAACCCT federal
grant
ED met with Shar Knutson regarding labor representatives on the GWDB
ED presented at the Disability Employment Initiative meeting in Willmar.
ED attended the planning meeting for regional planning in Redwood Falls.
ED attended the legislative breakfast in Monticello hosted by Central MN Jobs and
Training.
ED, staff, and Rick Roy, DEED attended/facilitated the first GWDB operations committee
meeting. Chair participated in this operations committee meeting.
ED met with DEED fiscal and workforce development division directors to discuss the
GWDB budget.
ED met with Alyssa Klein, DEED Voc-Rehab and Denise Felder, MnSCU to discuss workbased/experiential learning
ED met with Kim Peck, Director of Voc-Rehab DEED.
ED participated in the FSG collective impact webinar series
ED presented at the regional youth summit hosted by DEED in Mankato
ED attended the Southwest MN workforce summit in Marshall.
ED met with DEED staff and representatives from the MN Energy Pipeline Legacy Project
ED, staff, and chair participated in NGA Policy Academy calls and monthly meetings with
the Minnesota team
ED participated in several committee meetings around WIOA implementation
Chair Beeth participated in the Bloomington Public School discussion on the Career
Academy and opportunities for health care career pathways.
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Chair attended and met with IT Leaders regarding the IT Ready Training Opportunity.
Fairview will be participating in this employer opportunity. We also hosted students for
a site visit, tour, and opportunity to meet our IT Leadership.
Chair participated in the HealthForce Executive Alliance Meeting regarding clinical
coordination.
Chair Beeth participated in planning discussions with MN DOL on apprenticeships and
dual training for nursing and HIT.
Chair Beeth participated in the Central Corridor Anchor Partnership Workforce and
Employment Strategies. Chair also gave a workforce apprenticeship program update to
the Central Corridor Anchor Partners. (Twin Cities Meds and Eds)
Chair was a panel presenter for the Rasmussen 5th Annual Women's Leadership Event.
450 community, government, and business leaders were present. The topic of the event
was mindful leadership.
Chair was the keynote speaker for the Minneapolis (Twin Cities MnSCU and Twin Cities
Workforce Center Job Seekers) health care and STEM Career and Job Fair.
November Activities
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ED convened a meeting of state agencies to discuss the RFP announced by NGA for
work-based learning and
ED, chair and vice-chair conference call
ED, vice- chair, and executive committee conference call
ED and staff participated in the 2nd meeting of the career pathways partnership
ED, Rick Roy, and Anne Kilzer, MWCA conference call with FSG regarding the December
3rd presentation on strategy/collective impact
ED and staff prepared final board recommendations and meeting with DEED
Commissioner and Chair Laura Beeth
ED interviewed potential GWDB candidates
ED and Rick Roy convened the operations committee meeting, chair participated in this
meeting.
ED, Chair, and staff participated in the NGA Talent Pipeline monthly meeting
ED presented at the Pathways 2 Prosperity meeting at MCTC
ED participated in the SNAP E & T meeting
ED met with Bill McCarthy from AFL-CIO
ED attended and presented at the Career Pathways meeting Rochester
Chair Beeth participated as chair of the Central Corridor Anchor Partnership Committee
on workforce and employment. This work is focused on strengthening our communities
with education and workforce opportunities while creating health care workforce
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pipelines. Strategies include workforce diversity goals, hiring locally, Scrubs Camps,
Community College Fellowship Program, incumbent worker strategies, and
apprenticeship planning. Chair also gave a presentation to the Central Corridor Anchor
Partner Leaders.
Chair Beeth participated in the Minneapolis Workforce Investment Board Council and
the Youth Committee. In addition, Chair met with the Minneapolis Local WIB Chair to
discuss state and local workforce boards.
Chair gave a presentation to the Minnesota Hospital Association Leaders on how the
health care industry can participate in apprenticeships and dual training opportunities.
We also recognized and celebrated National Apprenticeship Week.
Chair was selected to join the National Governor's Association Executive Committee of
Board Chairs.
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