1. BEST PRACTICES IN BUILDING AND SUSTAINING EFFECTIVE ADVISORY BOARDS
NCWE 2019 Annual Conference
San Antonio, October 8-9, 2019

2. Ten Centers of Excellence – Driving the State’s Economy
Aerospace & Advanced Materials Manufacturing
Agriculture
Allied Health
Careers in Education
Clean Energy
Construction
Global Trade & Supply Chain Management
Homeland Security & Emergency Mgmt.
Information & Computing Technology
Marine Manufacturing & Technology

3. Role of Career and Technical Education in Economic Development
A skilled workforce has become one of the main factors a company uses to determine where to locate or expand their business

4. 21st Century Skilled Workforce
How do we recruit, train, and retain them?
Employer engagement is key!

5. Defining Employer Engagement
According to Jobs for the Future’s “A Resource Guide to Engaging Employers” there are specific qualities that define employer engagement. of successful engagement.
These include:
Comprehensive
Intensive
Empowering
Institutionally varied
Continuous
Strategic
Mutually valuable
Wide-ranging

6. Shared Responsibility, Shared Impact

7. Considerations for Effective Employer Engagement
Identify various platforms for collaboration:
Focus on translation (industry “lingo”)
Rely on employers to help inform the state of the industry and identify skills gaps
Celebrate successes along the way
Engage with employers in their environment (Shouldn’t always be in the college environment)
Possible engagement activities – How can you involve employers?
Work-based learning opportunities
Student interviews
Host meetings
Resume review
Curriculum/program development
Legislative/policy advocacy
Guest speakers
Industry credential recognition

8. Ladder of Employer Engagement
New Relationship
Working Relationship
Strategic Partnership
Level I
Level II
Level III
Level IV
Level V
Key Employer Role
Advising
Capacity-building
Co-designing
Convening
Leading
Stage of Relationship
Initial contact / new relationship
Establishing trust and credibility
Working
relationship
Trusted provider and collaborator
Full strategic partner
Activity
Examples
Discuss hiring needs, skills, competences, advise on curriculum, contract training, hire graduates.
Job site tours; speakers; mock interviews, internships, needs assessment, loan/donate equipment, recruiting
Curriculum/path way
development, adjunct faculty and preceptors
College- employer, sectorial, partnerships
Multi- employer/ multi-college partnerships
Ladder of Employer Engagement

9. Key Elements for Success
Collaborative Leadership
Collaborative Mindset
Strategic Thinking
Active Engagement

10. Partner Perspective What’s in it for employers?

11. Where Labor Advocates for CTCs
COMMUNITY
awareness
partnerships
support
EDUCATION
engagement
promotion
mentorship
GOVERNMENT
programs
policies
funding

12. Why We’re Invested Our members are CTC students
Our members are CTC staff & faculty
Union industries rely on a strong CTC system
Registered apprenticeships are integrated with CTCs
We believe in access & opportunity for all students and workers

13. Consider the benefits to employers
Participation equals $$$, not just time. There MUST be something in it for them (Return on Investment)
Must feel that their voice is not only heard, but makes a difference
Encourage them to set the agenda
Get their input first, at the beginning of the meeting (or prior to planning the meeting)
Point out changes that were initiated by their suggestions

14. Show you care and value employers’ time
Make efficient use of their time
Schedule meetings well in advance
Start and end on time
Stay organized – assign staff roles and responsibilities
At least one month notice (some set entire year’s schedule)
Must work best for the partner (college, staff, secondary)
Get creative with meeting times and locations

15. Recruiting and Retention of Members
Pay EXTRA attention to new partners
Have a “welcome pack” ready to go for all new members
Contact info of committee members, staff and faculty
Minutes of prior meetings
Calendar of events/activities
Have them share 2-3 minutes about themselves to get them engaged from the start.
Arrange tours of campus and relevant programs
Work hard to help them feel valued from the start

16. Presenters Shana Peschek, Director, Construction Center of Excellence
Jamie Wells, Director, Center of Excellence for Careers in Education
Kairie Pierce, Workforce Development Director, Washington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO

17. QUESTIONS AND DISCUSSION