Strategies and Models for Engaging Business Maria Flynn, Startup Quest, & Tech SF

Employer Engagement The Holy Grail of workforce development… “a thing that is being earnestly pursued or sought after.” 2

What Kinds of Engagement? Employer involvement in education and training programs resulting in:  Employers as instructors and teachers  Work-based learning opportunities  Use of employers’ equipment for student training  Increased hiring of graduates Improving employer systems and practices to provide better advancement and career opportunities for incumbent employees Increasing employer contributions for external education and training programs Encouraging action by employers that promotes:  Alignment/consensus on competencies, credentials  Sharing and adoption of employer best practices  Advocacy for education, training and workforce development policy 3

What Makes it So Difficult? Limitations on funding, staff and time. Need to make a compelling case for investment. Overcoming prior negative experiences. Others?? 4

5 Business Advocacy Self Employment Consortium (BASEC) Kim Tesch-Vaught – Executive Director of CSNCFL, Focused Management Solutions Angela Pate – CIO of CSNCFL, Focused Management Solutions Diane Burke – Finance Manager CSNCFL, Focused Management Solutions Vicki Piazza – Program Manager CSNCFL, Focused Management Solutions David Williams – Special Projects Manager CSNCFL, Focused Management Solutions Christina Jaynes – Program Coordinator CSNCFL, Focused Management Solutions Neha Nanda, PhD – Evaluator, IMPAQ International Focused Management Solutions is the contracted Administrative Entity for CareerSource North Central Florida in Alachua and Bradford Counties

6 Entrepreneurship to Engage Business

7 TechSF Workforce Innovation Partnership Krista Canellakis – Innovation Officer, San Francisco Mayor's Office of Civic Innovation Emylene Aspilla – Director of Strategic Initiative, San Francisco Office of Economic and Workforce Development Lupine Seran – Workforce Innovation Project Manager, San Francisco Office of Economic and Workforce Development

Sector: ICT: Information & Communications Technology Key Strategies for Workforce Innovation CoLab: Structure: Collaborative laboratory for experimentation in workforce development. Goals: Design, develop, and deploy innovative workforce tools and services. Members: Employers, technology providers, researchers, designers, and government agencies. 8 TechSF Workforce Innovation Partnership