2015 Non-governmental Members Caucus

Margaret Adams – FirstEnergy/Toledo Edison - Facilitator

Topics include: Long discussion of workforce development, updates since 2014 caucus

 

1)      Call to Order/Welcome/Introductions – Meg Adams

Attendees:

Laura Saunders-Kowalec – Huntington Bank

Margaret Adams –FirstEnergy/Toledo Edison

Lindsay Myers –Oregon Economic Development

Dennis McMickens – Safety Council of Northwest Ohio

Philip Rudolph, Jr. – The Rudolph Libbe Companies, Inc.

Timothy Murphy – Civil & Environmental Consultants, Inc.

Stephen Way - DLG Consulting Engineers, LLC

Kathy Streng - DLZ Corporation

Patricia Squire – Maumee Valley Adventurers, Inc.

Tracy Oberleiter – Monroe Bank & Trust

John Leibig – NORED

Linda Amos – Poggemeyer Design Group, Inc.

Michael Jay – Regional Growth Partner ship

Patrick Etchie, AICP – The Mannik & Smith Group, Inc.

Lauren Schubach – WSOS Community Action Commission, Inc.

Kenny Benjamin - WSOS Community Action Commission, Inc.

Rob Burkholder – Monroe Bank & Trust

Pam Mohler – Toledo Regional Chamber

Diane Reamer-Evans – Transportation Project Mgr., TMACOG

Roger Streiffert – Transportation Planner, TMACOG

2)      Election of Representatives to serve on the TMACOG Board of Trustees – Meg Adams

Nominations for Trustee:

Margaret Adams – FirstEnergy/ Toledo Edison

Laura Saunders-Kowalec – Huntington Bank

Edward Hoeffel – Maumee Valley Heritage Corridor

Gary R. Samples – Black Swamp Conservancy

Edward L. Snyder – Northwestern Ohio Rails-to-Trails Assoc.

Joel Schlageter – First Federal Bank

Philip Rudolph, Jr. – Rudolph Libbe Companies, Inc.

Dennis McMickens – Safety Council of Northwest Ohio

Stephen Way – DGL Consulting Engineers

Michael Jay – Regional Growth Partnership

Benjamin Kenny – WSOS

John Leibig – NORED

Lauren Schubach – WSOS

Nominations for Alternates:

Patricia Squire – Maumee Valley adventurers, Inc.

David Kuhn – Feller, Finch & Associates

Richard Kudner – Maumee Valley Heritage Corridor

Edward L. Snyder – Northwestern Ohio Rails-to-Trails Adventurers, Inc.

Nominations Approved (Lindsay Myers – motion to approve, Pat Squire – second)

3)      Introduce Discussion Topics – Meg Adams

Workforce Development:

·         Career development and job training should start at a younger age, such as at the middle-school level, with information on what jobs are available and how do you get a job in various fields or trades.

·         80% of jobs do not require a college education, and many good manufacturing jobs that do not require a degree are going unfilled.

·         The Toledo Regional Chamber is working on a career development plan in partnership with Toledo Public Schools and Partners in Education.  The Chamber stresses “educating the educators” when addressing career development issues (Pam Mohler).

·         WSOS has received a grant for workforce development and has a 4-year plan for career development in various job fields for 17 counties in Northwest Ohio (Lauren Schubach).

·         There are many organizations in the area with a focus on workforce development (such as Jobs and Family Services), but no one champion for addressing the issue.  Could there be a clearinghouse for career development information, and could that be TMACOG?

·         Along with a need for manufacturing and other non-degree jobs, there is also a need for college degree jobs such as engineering.  Pat Etchie reports that it is difficult to find engineering interns.

·         Drug-use issues affect workforce development by limiting those who are physically and mentally able to fill open jobs.

·         It’s important to gear training toward what jobs and industries are located in the area, with local industry possibly partnering with education.

·         As the current workforce ages and retires, it will be difficult to replace those workers with new employees who have the required skills and training.

·         Apprenticeships and mentoring become increasingly important to train new employees for skilled jobs.

·         Need to get the jobs message to younger students.  Some methods that have worked include bus tours to visit industries, career and job fairs, “Construction City” type events, and on-site industry visits.

·         Toledo Chamber is planning a Job Summit, but needs help and partners (Pam Mohler).

·         There are still negative perceptions of vocational education as a path to a worthy career.  These old perceptions need to change to get good students back into vocational education.

·         There are three targets for improving career development:  students, teachers, and parents.

·         Do teachers have time in their schedules for career development activities?

·         Make the career development task fun for students, perhaps involving visual technology, social media, videos, or games.

Other discussion topics on the agenda (Your Experiences with TMACOG; Water Quality Issues; Other issues and concerns) were not discussed due to time constraints.

4)      Updates from 2014 Caucus

·         First Annual Bird Day Ohio, May 10, 2014 (article provided from the Ottawa County Beacon)

·         TMACOG 2015 Directory of Public Officials due out in March

5)      Next Steps (for workforce development)

·         Can TMACOG develop a sub-committee on education and workforce development? 

·         Workforce development could be a good topic for a future TMACOG Tech session.

·         Need to keep this discussion moving forward, need to take action.

Board of Trustees 2015 Meeting Schedule:

(1:30 to 3 p.m., TMACOG Boardroom)

Wednesday, March 18, 2015

Wednesday, June 17, 2015

Wednesday, October 21, 2015

Wednesday, December 16, 2015

6)      Adjourn

Toledo Metropolitan Area Council of Governments | www.tmacog.org