Insights and PerspectivesRead the latest from Geographic Solutions.https://www.geographicsolutions.com/News-Events/BlogSkills for Growth: How Registered Apprenticeships Yield New Career Pathshttps://www.geographicsolutions.com/News-Events/Blog/PostId/344/skills-for-growth-how-registered-apprenticeships-yield-new-career-pathsApprenticeships,Career PathwaysTue, 18 Apr 2023 13:53:53 GMT<p>In many ways, an apprenticeship provides a faster track to employment than four-year degrees -- especially in industries ripe for expansion. </p> <p>Apprenticeships have long been responsible for developing talented individuals into trusted teammates and sought-after leaders at companies large and small. The earn-while-you-learn model simultaneously establishes living wages and upskilling, which is vital to long-term career success.</p> <p>In 2019, when the U.S. Department of Labor (USDOL) <a href="https://www.geographicsolutions.com/News-Events/Blog/year-of-apprentice-how-states-employers-are-creating-apprenticeship-programs">announced the availability of Apprenticeship State Expansion Grants</a>, Geographic Solutions began a partnership with St. Petersburg College (SPC). The community college, based in Pinellas County, Florida, assisted in crafting a Registered Apprenticeship Program that would help to grow and support new talent.</p> <p>Six apprentices have completed the program since its start, while five have transitioned into full-time roles at the company. These individuals have worked their way up into key roles, supporting departments such as quality assurance, workforce and unemployment insurance development, and business analysis.</p> <p><span style="font-size:16px;"><strong>Mapping Out the Journey</strong></span></p> <p>The <a href="https://www.geographicsolutions.com/Careers/Apprenticeships-GSI">Geographic Solutions (GSI) Apprenticeship Program</a> takes one year to complete. At the end of their tenure, if they are a good fit, and if there is a position available, they can be hired for a full-time position.</p> <p>The program starts with an experienced mentor walking the apprentice through the entire process. The components of the apprenticeship include department involvement, structured on-the-job training, rewards for skills gain, and credentials. During the supervisory part of the program, apprentices learn through a step-by-step process that follows a job competency chart.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="font-size:18px;"><strong><span style="color:#3498db;">The earn-while-you-learn model encompasses technical and educational training.</span></strong></span></em></p> <p>For the in-class segment, SPC provides entry points with four courses throughout the year, enabling them to ‘learn while they earn.’ Each quarter, apprentices earn a certificate for course completion. Upon completion of all courses, program participants celebrate with a live graduation in front of friends and family.</p> <p><span style="font-size:16px;"><strong>From College to Career Path</strong></span></p> <p>Lee Noel, a Programmer/Analyst on the Unemployment Insurance Adjudication Team, started the GSI Apprenticeship Program while studying data science analytics at the University of South Florida. Through this program, he saw the opportunity to not only learn programming and planning skills but to understand how to thrive in a professional workplace setting.</p> <p>“This is my first-ever technology company where I'm working in software, in a professional environment, on a daily basis,” said Noel. “I’ve learned about deployment into production and also skills to make sure my communication is clear to the end user.”</p> <p>Bisi Adeshina, a Programmer/Analyst on the Reporting and Print Forms Services Team, was immediately able to apply what she learned in class to her work. After going back to school for web development, a career counselor informed her about the program while she was applying to entry-level tech positions.</p> <p>“I feel that an apprenticeship is a great option for those looking to join the workforce quickly, simply because you can get hands-on experience,” said Adeshina. “You are getting paid for the time and you're getting the training and it’s [the length of the apprenticeship] less than a four-year degree.”</p> <p>Careers have many peaks and valleys. Adeshina has been able to learn about how to come back from the valleys by listening to senior developers share stories of success and failure.</p> <p>“Everybody starts from somewhere, and you can’t do it alone,” said Adeshina.  </p> <p><span style="font-size:16px;"><strong>Soft Skills for Hi-Tech</strong></span></p> <p>Kyleigh Ross was one of the first participants in the program. She sought a job in tech after working in hospitality. What drew her in was the chance to dabble in multiple positions and try several things before deciding on a path.</p> <p>“I think it’s very important for companies to offer apprenticeship programs because it gives people the opportunity to focus only on real-life skills,” said Ross. “It’s beneficial to the company because the incoming apprentice is being built to fit the company’s needs.” </p> <p>Employed with the company for three and a half years, she’s learned to ask for help during key points in projects and to accept every opportunity to advance or learn a new skill. She advises incoming apprentices to consider all guidance given, be open to constructive criticism, and stay eager to learn and grow.</p> <p>Jimmy Pham found the program by searching for opportunities on various job boards. With a background in education, the program piqued his interest.</p> <p>“I liked how we were able to combine what we were learning in the classes toward our work environment,” said Pham. “My recommendation for anyone who’s looking towards apprenticeship to get into information technology -- go for it.”  </p> <p><span style="font-size:16px;"><strong>Continuous Growth in Apprenticeships</strong></span></p> <p>According to the most recent data from the USDOL, apprenticeships have <a href="https://www.dol.gov/agencies/eta/apprenticeship/about/statistics/2021">experienced a 64% increase</a> since 2012, with close to 15,000 programs created by employers around the country.</p> <p>Doug Carruthers was an established employee in a career field unrelated to software development. He started over when he came to Geographic Solutions, having only a few generic information technology certifications and little idea what kind of jobs were available beyond working at the help desk or writing code. He was able to work in multiple roles and departments until he found his niche.</p> <p>“Apprenticeship is one of the best ways to grow a skill,” said Carruthers. “Shadowing different people exposes you to different approaches while reinforcing the core concepts common to the company as a whole.”<br />  </p> 344Paving The Way For Reemploymenthttps://www.geographicsolutions.com/News-Events/Blog/PostId/314/paving-the-way-for-reemploymentCareer Pathways,Education,Employment Statistics,General,Reemployment,Workforce DevelopmentTue, 23 Aug 2022 14:33:52 GMT<p>Did you know that the employment rates in many of Connecticut’s industries are higher now than they were before the start of the Covid-19 pandemic? According to Patrick Flaherty, Director of the Office of Research at the Connecticut Department of Labor, <a href="https://www1.ctdol.state.ct.us/lmi/laborsit.asp">job growth has been consistent in 2022</a> and the unemployment rate is down to its early 2019 level.</p> <p>This upswing in job growth can be partly attributed to the state’s Jobs First Employment Services Program, or JFES. Each year since 2018, thousands of participants are referred to <a href="https://www.workforcealliance.biz/jobs-first-employment-services/">American Job Centers</a> in cities throughout the region.</p> <p>The JFES program’s goal is to provide employment services to families receiving <a href="https://www.geographicsolutions.com/TANF">Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF)</a> and help parents gain skills to obtain employment. The program gauges success on several elements, including:</p> <ul> <li>Freedom from cash assistance within the 21-month program time limit</li> <li>Continuous employment and independent from assistance</li> <li>Increase in basic and occupational skills, job coaching, and work experience</li> </ul> <p>To be eligible for JFES, an individual must be receiving Temporary Family Assistance (TFA). Weekly participation of approximately 20 hours of employment activities is required for any person with children under the age of six, while persons with children over the age of six must participate in 30 hours.</p> <p>Thanks to added flexibility in participation requirements, if participants perform at least 50% of their required hours, their TFA benefits will not be taken away. CTDOL partners with the Connecticut Council of Family Service Agencies (CCFSA) to aid JFES clients who struggle meeting their participation requirements through intervention and removal services.</p> <p>“The CTDOL partners with other state agencies and community partners to deliver the JFES program,” said Acting Director of WIOA Administration, Erica Tew during a recent <a href="https://go.geographicsolutions.com/connecticutpathwaysvideo">Pathways to Employment</a> webinar. “The Connecticut Department of Social Services (CTDSS) is the agency that administers the benefits, and [partners with] the five workforce development boards that oversee the Employment and Training and case management programs.”</p> <p><strong>Operating in Covid Times</strong></p> <p><b></b>During the pandemic, the program was suspended, but virtual services were offered to customers. According to Tew, “on average, nearly half of our caseload continued to participate during this time.” In July 2021, the program was reopened and CTDSS referrals were accepted again, but with dramatic changes to the foundational rules of the program.</p> <p>“We have made many changes to the JFES program over the course of the past 13 months to make it easier for clients to participate,” said JFES Unit Director, Mike Bartley. “About 33% of JFES participants performed work and have overcome significant barriers to employment.</p> <p><strong>How Do Participants Arrive at the JFES program?</strong></p> <p><b></b>The CTDOL partners with state agencies and communities to deliver the JFES program. Unlike other workforce programs, participants can’t join the program simply by walking into an American Job Center. Those taking part in the program must be referred by a state agency and receiving TFA.</p> <p>“It’s similar to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Employment and Training where persons receiving a particular benefit have to participate in some type of employment and training activity for a certain number of hours per week,” said Tew.</p> <p>The most common referral path happens when a participant applies for benefits through the DSS. Case managers assess each applicant and refer them to their region’s JFES program orientation.</p> <p><strong>Program Innovations</strong></p> <p>Over the last few years, the JFES program has relied on several innovations to succeed.</p> <ul> <li><strong>Family Centered Coaching</strong>: This is an approach that helps case managers engage with the whole family, rather than just the individual participants. It takes into account that one approach does not fit all families, considering that families may address challenges in different ways. It helps to create customized solutions for each family. </li> <li><strong>Financial Literacy</strong>: The second innovation was established with the Connecticut Association for human services, or CAHS, which provides financial literacy education classes. These sessions are provided to the public by a network of volunteers who have worked in the financial services industry. And these workshops denote the first introduction to the concept of saving and budgeting for many clients. </li> <li><strong>Refugee Resettlement</strong>: In addition, a pilot program was launched that partners with Workforce Alliance and the Refugee Resettlement Agency. JFES case managers are embedded within families to address some of the historical issues that refugees have had in connecting to our jobs first program. Originally, multiple organizations helped the refugee and there tended to be miscommunication between them all. Placing a JFES case manager at the refugee resettlement agency has helped to cut out miscommunication and make the clients feel safe and comfortable while trying to transition into getting employment support and services.</li> </ul> <p><strong>Inspiring success stories</strong></p> <p><b></b>Geographic Solutions supports the efforts of the Connecticut Department of Labor as they provide employment services to people. Their work encourages skills gain in the name of employment, lays the groundwork financial independence. See inspirational JFES success stories by <a href="https://trainingvideos.geosolinc.com/Marketing/Jobs_First_Employment_Services_%28JFES%29_SFY19_Annual_Report.mp4">clicking here</a>.</p> 314Find the Right Path to the Career That’s Right for Youhttps://www.geographicsolutions.com/News-Events/Blog/PostId/310/find-the-right-path-to-the-career-thats-right-for-youApprenticeships,Career Pathways,Education,Virtual Career CenterThu, 11 Aug 2022 18:45:17 GMT<p>Career-seekers are spoiled for choice these days. With <a href="https://www.onetonline.org/#:~:text=There%20are%201%2C016%20occupation%20titles,the%20current%20O*NET%20system.">unlimited iterations of job titles available under the 1,016 O*NET occupation titles</a>, it can be a daunting task to determine exactly how a person will spend the next 50 years of their life. For decades conventional wisdom held that graduating high school seniors should seek a bachelor’s degree at all costs to obtain an upwardly mobile, high-paying career. The modern world, however, is trying to establish <a href="https://www.onpointcu.com/blog/8-practical-college-alternatives/">more alternative career paths</a> pursuable without the <a href="https://educationdata.org/student-loan-debt-statistics#:~:text=Report%20Highlights.,of%20all%20student%20loan%20debt.">heavy debt often associated</a> with traditional college or university education.</p> <p>Vocational education and trade schools are all solid options to learning a skill with great earning potential and embarking on a fulfilling career.  As early as high school,  <a href="https://careertech.org/CTE">Career and Technical Education concentrators</a> are exploring career themes of interest while learning a set of technical and employability skills for current and emerging occupations; these programs prepare students for postsecondary degrees or certificates, apprenticeships, or employment. Entrepreneurship is another option which allows an individual to capitalize on their creativity, think outside the box, establish, manage, and grow a business. <a href="https://www.militaryonesource.mil/military-life-cycle/friends-extended-family/reasons-why-the-military-is-a-great-career-choice/#:~:text=Leadership%20skills%3A%20In%20the%20military,some%20level%20of%20leadership%20skills.">Careers in the military</a> can also be the right path for the right person. Many of these pathways, and others, may include experience through travel, self-paced and free online courses, working your way up in an organization, and more. </p> <p>Career exploration platform <a href="https://geographicsolutions.com/VCC">Virtual Career Center (VCC)</a>, designed specifically for students and those reevaluating their career paths, takes a staged approach to guiding students through self-discovery, pathway exploration, and employment preparation. VCC assesses and capitalizes on users’ skills, interests, and goals to thoughtfully point young learners to potential job options and the education and training needed for successful job placement. Ideally, the system will also create a stream of talent supplying the most in-demand occupations. </p> <p><strong>Know Yourself</strong></p> <p>By constructing an educational roadmap to complement individualized learning and/or career plans, VCC creates a conduit for young learners to discover and connect to lifelong, interest-driven careers that do not sacrifice a living wage for an individual’s passion. Career assessment results help students better understand their strengths and align viable career paths centered on their interests, goals, values, and skills. <br /> Once assessment results are received, VCC introduces detailed information on best-match occupations. The system’s integrated labor market information allows users to easily identify the quality pathways that prepare learners for high-skill, high-wage, and in-demand jobs.</p> <p><strong>Know Your Options</strong></p> <p>As users drill down into the careers and occupations they want to pursue, VCC maps the occupation to postsecondary certificate and degree programs, essentially tracing the path to the starting line for the user. It also maps related occupational codes to military occupational codes to easily transition between military and civilian opportunities. Typically, some kind of postsecondary education or certification will be a critical step in working towards employment or, perhaps, towards an advanced degree.</p> <p>At this stage, users are able to clearly see the routes open to them through multiple career pathways. As they refine the occupations they would like to pursue, it is posible to sort and filter their results by the amount of training or education necessary to break into a specific field. Users can explore postsecondary programs throughout their state, and locate the right program to upskill, earn credentials, and ready themselves for the occupations with which they most identify. These results will include trade schools, certification courses, or other, non-traditional options for career learning – to explore all viable options to obtain experience and knowledge.</p> <p><strong>Know the World of Work</strong></p> <p>With an ability to capture and reflect upon the essential employability skills developed while building a strong, positive work history, VCC provides a way for users to find specific work-based learning opportunities. Users can identify and pursue opportunities in entrepreneurship, <a href="https://geographicsolutions.com/Apprenticeships">apprenticeship</a>, internship, volunteering, and more.</p> <p>In addition to the experiential learning opportunities, VCC connects users to the working world by providing real-world labor market information. Users can adjust expectations based on current salary ranges and projected growth for intriguing careers and occupations. Users are given the necessary information to align their possible career with their income needs. </p> <p><strong>Know Your Starting Point</strong></p> <p>Whatever career path is pursued by the user, the goal is to find the way to a fulfilling and sustaining career. VCC provides users with intelligent tools to conduct manual or automated job searches, compose cover letters to employers, build résumés, practice interview skills, research employer/company information, and review job market trends based on real-time labor market information.  </p> <p>According to recent research, <a href="https://www.zippia.com/advice/career-change-statistics/">the average American will have 12 jobs</a> across the course of their career. It would appear to be more important than ever to choose a career that not only satisfies individual passions, but also develops transferable skills. Any individuals curious about non-traditional career pathways should explore the resources and tools available in VCC and discover for themselves the best path to their future. </p> 310Paint By Cluster: How Career Clusters Became More Visually Appealing, And Their Role In Education’s Futurehttps://www.geographicsolutions.com/News-Events/Blog/PostId/233/paint-by-cluster-how-career-clusters-became-more-visually-appealing-their-role-educations-futureCareer Clusters,Career Pathways,Virtual Career CenterTue, 03 Dec 2019 14:52:00 GMT<p style="margin-bottom:11px"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:107%"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Did you know that there are 16 career clusters and 79 career pathways that help students of all ages navigate their way to success in their college and career journeys?</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom:11px"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:107%"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Following the unified concepts of the <a href="https://www.air.org/sites/default/files/CTEClusters.pdf" style="color:#0563c1; text-decoration:underline">National Career Clusters Framework</a>, an organizing tool that began as part of an initiative to create a curricular framework and prepare students for educational transitions, each grouping contains occupations in the same field of work that require similar skills. Students, parents, and educators can use the clusters to focus on the knowledge, competencies, and training necessary for success in a particular pathway. </span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom:11px"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:107%"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><v:rect filled="f" id="Rectangle_x0020_3" o:gfxdata="UEsDBBQABgAIAAAAIQC75UiUBQEAAB4CAAATAAAAW0NvbnRlbnRfVHlwZXNdLnhtbKSRvU7DMBSF dyTewfKKEqcMCKEmHfgZgaE8wMW+SSwc27JvS/v23KTJgkoXFsu+P+c7Ol5vDoMTe0zZBl/LVVlJ gV4HY31Xy4/tS3EvRSbwBlzwWMsjZrlprq/W22PELHjb51r2RPFBqax7HCCXIaLnThvSAMTP1KkI +gs6VLdVdad08ISeCho1ZLN+whZ2jsTzgcsnJwldluLxNDiyagkxOquB2Knae/OLUsyEkjenmdzb mG/YhlRnCWPnb8C898bRJGtQvEOiVxjYhtLOxs8AySiT4JuDystlVV4WPeM6tK3VaILeDZxIOSsu ti/jidNGNZ3/J08yC1dNv9v8AAAA//8DAFBLAwQUAAYACAAAACEArTA/8cEAAAAyAQAACwAAAF9y ZWxzLy5yZWxzhI/NCsIwEITvgu8Q9m7TehCRpr2I4FX0AdZk2wbbJGTj39ubi6AgeJtl2G9m6vYx jeJGka13CqqiBEFOe2Ndr+B03C3WIDihMzh6RwqexNA281l9oBFTfuLBBhaZ4ljBkFLYSMl6oAm5 8IFcdjofJ0z5jL0MqC/Yk1yW5UrGTwY0X0yxNwri3lQgjs+Qk/+zfddZTVuvrxO59CNCmoj3vCwj MfaUFOjRhrPHaN4Wv0VV5OYgm1p+LW1eAAAA//8DAFBLAwQUAAYACAAAACEArGzwxO8CAACgBgAA HwAAAGNsaXBib2FyZC9kcmF3aW5ncy9kcmF3aW5nMS54bWykVclu2zAQvRfoPxC8K5JseZEQJUi8 BAXSJoibD6Ap2iJKkSpJby367x1Scqw4RQ+JDhI5y+PMmxnq8npfCbRl2nAlcxxfRBgxSVXB5TrH z9/nwRgjY4ksiFCS5fjADL6++vzpkmRrTeqSUwQI0mQkx6W1dRaGhpasIuZC1UyCbqV0RSxs9Tos NNkBciXCXhQNw4pwia9OUFNiCdpo/g4ooegPVkyI3BIDkIJmXUkbo6AfRyaZ3N7pelE/ahc5/bZ9 1IgXOQbmJKmAIhy2itYMtuGZ1/oEsF/pytmr1QrtPcrBvT0G21tEQdiPknEE+BRU7bo5o3z4hxct Z//1g2CaQ2HRCcTULgy5fZtZ/5jZE6PQCmvBUP8lyaO5qe+hBAZJNSnBht2YGqyhpcD5KNJa7UpG CuPEDS3AX4PgKTqBAanL3VdVAJ9kY5XvkvdT9ZIyyWpt7B1TFXKLHGsI0oOT7b2xTUxHE8+HmnMh PNtCvhIAZiOBKoGr07l6+fb9nUbpbDwbJ0HSG86CJJpOg5v5JAmG83g0mPank8k0/uPOjZOs5EXB pDvmOEpx8qZPK061MmplL6iqQmgWTtlxnGCY4ug0TEYJXjg4F5LR6+VEaLQlIsdz/7TMd8zC12H4 foVczlKKe0l020uD+XA8CpJ5MgjSUTQOoji9TYdRkibT+euU7rlkH08J7XKcDnoDX6VO0Ge5Rf55 mxvJKm6ZRoJXOYYpgqfpXdeIM1n40lrCRbPuUOHCP1EB5T4WGpamHX+7X/ixsftbVRwcYUv4QvNq Bc0FIwtXq32A10ooyIMKXmNUKv3rXObsoOigwWgHF2uOzc8N0Qwj8UXCvKRxkgCc9ZtkMOrBRnc1 y66GSApQObYYNcuJhR24bGrN1yWcFHs6pbqB4VrxtvGb2F0WwtiFPQjm2fEZMlk8Ek2eIDcB851j JoPnRcs3WAApJxI2hi1qd1s0A9Ww5GkDw7O72bu2/xL3A+jur/4CAAD//wMAUEsDBBQABgAIAAAA IQCSfYfgHQcAAEkgAAAaAAAAY2xpcGJvYXJkL3RoZW1lL3RoZW1lMS54bWzsWUtvGzcQvhfof1js vbFkvWIjcmDJctzEL0RKihwpidplzF0uSMqObkVy6qVAgbTooQF666EoGqABGvTSH2PAQZv+iA65 L1Ki4gdcIChsAcbu7DfD4czszOzwzt1nEfWOMReExW2/eqviezgesTGJg7b/aLD92W3fExLFY0RZ jNv+DAv/7sann9xB6yNKkiFDfDwIcYQ9EBSLddT2QymT9ZUVMQIyErdYgmN4NmE8QhJuebAy5ugE Fojoymql0lyJEIn9DZAolaAehX+xFIoworyvxGAvRhGsfjCZkBHW2PFRVSHETHQp944Rbfsgc8xO BviZ9D2KhIQHbb+i//yVjTsraD1jonIJr8G3rf8yvoxhfLSq1+TBsFi0Xm/Um5uFfA2gchHXa/Wa vWYhTwPQaAQ7TXWxZbZWu/UMa4DSS4fsrdZWrWrhDfm1BZ03G+pn4TUolV9fwG9vd8GKFl6DUnxj Ad/orHW2bPkalOKbC/hWZXOr3rLka1BISXy0gK40mrVuvtsCMmF0xwlfa9S3W6uZ8BIF0VBEl1pi wmK5LNYi9JTxbQAoIEWSxJ6cJXiCRhCTXUTJkBNvlwQhBF6CYiaAXFmtbFdq8F/96vpKexStY2Rw K71AE7FAUvp4YsRJItv+fZDqG5Czt29Pn785ff776YsXp89/zdbWoiy+HRQHJt/7n77559WX3t+/ /fj+5bfp0vN4YeLf/fLVuz/+/JB42HFpirPvXr978/rs+6//+vmlQ/omR0MTPiARFt4+PvEesgg2 6NAfD/nlOAYhIibHZhwIFCO1ikN+T4YWen+GKHLgOti242MOqcYFvDd9aincD/lUEofEB2FkAfcY ox3GnVZ4oNYyzDyYxoF7cT41cQ8ROnat3UWx5eXeNIEcS1wiuyG21DykKJYowDGWnnrGjjB27O4J IZZd98iIM8Em0ntCvA4iTpMMyNCKppJph0Tgl5lLQfC3ZZu9x16HUdeut/CxjYR3A1GH8gNMLTPe Q1OJIpfIAYqoafBdJEOXkv0ZH5m4npDg6QBT5vXGWAgXzwGH/RpOfwBpxu32PTqLbCSX5Mglcxcx ZiK32FE3RFHiwvZJHJrYz8URhCjyDpl0wfeY/Yaoe/ADipe6+zHBlrvPzwaPIMOaKpUBop5MucOX 9zCz4rc/oxOEXalmk0dWit3kxBkdnWlghfYuxhSdoDHG3qPPHRp0WGLZvFT6fghZZQe7Aus+smNV 3cdYYE83N4t5cpcIK2T7OGBL9NmbzSWeGYojxJdJ3gevmzbvQamLXAFwQEdHJnCfQL8H8eI0yoEA GUZwL5V6GCKrgKl74Y7XGbf8d5F3DN7Lp5YaF3gvgQdfmgcSu8nzQdsMELUWKANmgKDLcKVbYLHc X7Ko4qrZpk6+if3Slm6A7shqeiISn9sBzfU+jf+u94EO4+yHV46X7Xr6HbdgK1ldstNZlkx25vqb Zbj5rqbL+Jh8/E3NFprGhxjqyGLGuulpbnoa/3/f0yx7n286mWX9xk0n40OHcdPJZMOV6+lkyuYF +ho18EgHPXrsEy2d+kwIpX05o3hX6MGPgO+Z8TYQFZ+ebuJiCpiEcKnKHCxg4QKONI/HmfyCyLAf ogSmQ1VfCQlEJjoQXsIEDI002Slb4ek02mPjdNhZrarBZlpZBZIlvdIo6DCokim62SoHeIV4rW2g B625Aor3MkoYi9lK1BxKtHKiMpIe64LRHEronV2LFmsOLW4r8bmrFrQA1QqvwAe3B5/pbb9RBxZg gnkcNOdj5afU1bl3tTOv09PLjGlFADTYeQSUnl5Tui7dntpdGmoX8LSlhBFuthLaMrrBEyF8BmfR qagXUeOyvl4rXWqpp0yh14PQKtVo3f6QFlf1NfDN5wYam5mCxt5J22/WGhAyI5S0/QkMjeEySiB2 hPrmQjSA45aR5OkLf5XMknAht5AIU4PrpJNmg4hIzD1Koravtl+4gcY6h2jdqquQED5a5dYgrXxs yoHTbSfjyQSPpOl2g6Isnd5Chk9zhfOpZr86WHGyKbi7H45PvCGd8ocIQqzRqioDjomAs4Nqas0x gcOwIpGV8TdXmLK0a55G6RhK6YgmIcoqipnMU7hO5YU6+q6wgXGX7RkMapgkK4TDQBVY06hWNS2q RqrD0qp7PpOynJE0y5ppZRVVNd1ZzFohLwNztrxakTe0yk0MOc2s8Gnqnk+5a3mum+sTiioBBi/s 56i6FygIhmrlYpZqSuPFNKxydka1a0e+wXNUu0iRMLJ+Mxc7Z7eiRjiXA+KVKj/wzUctkCZ5X6kt 7TrY3kOJNwyqbR8Ol2E4+Ayu4HjaB9qqoq0qGlzBmTOUi/SguO1nFzkFnqeUAlPLKbUcU88p9ZzS yCmNnNLMKU3f0yeqcIqvDlN9Lz8whRqWHbBmvYV9+r/xLwAAAP//AwBQSwMEFAAGAAgAAAAhAJxm RkG7AAAAJAEAACoAAABjbGlwYm9hcmQvZHJhd2luZ3MvX3JlbHMvZHJhd2luZzEueG1sLnJlbHOE j80KwjAQhO+C7xD2btJ6EJEmvYjQq9QHCMk2LTY/JFHs2xvoRUHwsjCz7DezTfuyM3liTJN3HGpa AUGnvJ6c4XDrL7sjkJSl03L2DjksmKAV201zxVnmcpTGKSRSKC5xGHMOJ8aSGtHKRH1AVzaDj1bm IqNhQaq7NMj2VXVg8ZMB4otJOs0hdroG0i+hJP9n+2GYFJ69elh0+UcEy6UXFqCMBjMHSldnnTUt XYGJhn39Jt4AAAD//wMAUEsBAi0AFAAGAAgAAAAhALvlSJQFAQAAHgIAABMAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA AAAAAFtDb250ZW50X1R5cGVzXS54bWxQSwECLQAUAAYACAAAACEArTA/8cEAAAAyAQAACwAAAAAA AAAAAAAAAAA2AQAAX3JlbHMvLnJlbHNQSwECLQAUAAYACAAAACEArGzwxO8CAACgBgAAHwAAAAAA AAAAAAAAAAAgAgAAY2xpcGJvYXJkL2RyYXdpbmdzL2RyYXdpbmcxLnhtbFBLAQItABQABgAIAAAA IQCSfYfgHQcAAEkgAAAaAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAEwFAABjbGlwYm9hcmQvdGhlbWUvdGhlbWUxLnht bFBLAQItABQABgAIAAAAIQCcZkZBuwAAACQBAAAqAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAKEMAABjbGlwYm9hcmQv ZHJhd2luZ3MvX3JlbHMvZHJhd2luZzEueG1sLnJlbHNQSwUGAAAAAAUABQBnAQAApA0AAAAA " stroked="f" style="width:24pt; height:24pt; v-text-anchor:top"> <o:lock aspectratio="t" v:ext="edit"> <w:wrap type="none"> <w:anchorlock> </w:anchorlock></w:wrap></o:lock></v:rect><img id="_x0000_i1027" src="/Portals/0/LiveBlog/Career Clusters Blog/CTEClusters.png?ver=qJr_Dio7HAOu2EVgHoijnw%3d%3d" style="height: 673px; width: 800px;" /> <br /> <b>Source</b>: <a href="https://www.air.org/sites/default/files/CTEClusters.pdf" style="color:#0563c1; text-decoration:underline"><i>air.org</i></a></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom:11px"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:107%"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Finding a comprehensive list of clusters and pathways online is as simple as visiting the <a href="https://www.onetonline.org/find/career?c=0&g=Go" style="color:#0563c1; text-decoration:underline">Occupational Information Network’s website</a>, which is perhaps better known by its acronym, O*NET. The online application provides the general public with broad access to the national database of occupational information.</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom:11px"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:107%"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">But, text-based information can only go so far, especially with the next generation of learners more inclined to watch a video, or similar graphic interpretation. Visually seeing what a job’s day-to-day responsibilities entails is much more invigorating than simply reading about it.</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom:11px"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:107%"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Over the last few years, <a href="https://www.careeronestop.org/Videos/NewCareerVideos/new-career-videos.aspx" style="color:#0563c1; text-decoration:underline">CareerOneStop.com</a>, overhauled their entire library of career pathways videos. Sponsored by the <a href="https://www.doleta.gov/programs/onet/eta_default.cfm" style="color:#0563c1; text-decoration:underline">U.S. Department of Labor</a>, the site is a trusted source of employment information and inspiration, and offers tools for job seekers, students, businesses, and career professionals.</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom:11px"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:107%"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><b>The Spark That Started It All</b></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom:11px"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:107%"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The movement around <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Career_Clusters" style="color:#0563c1; text-decoration:underline">career clusters</a> began in 1996 as the Building Linkages Initiative, a collaborative effort between the U.S. Department of Education, the Office of Vocational and Adult Education (OVAE), the National School-to-Work Office (NSTWO), and the National Skill Standards Board (NSSB). </span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom:11px"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:107%"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The purpose of the initiative was to establish linkages among state educational agencies, secondary and post-secondary educational institutions, employers, industry groups, other stakeholders, and federal agencies. The goal was to create curricular frameworks in broad career clusters, designed to prepare students to transition successfully from high school to post-secondary education and employment within a career pathway. <br />  <br /> <v:rect filled="f" id="Rectangle_x0020_2" o:gfxdata="UEsDBBQABgAIAAAAIQC75UiUBQEAAB4CAAATAAAAW0NvbnRlbnRfVHlwZXNdLnhtbKSRvU7DMBSF dyTewfKKEqcMCKEmHfgZgaE8wMW+SSwc27JvS/v23KTJgkoXFsu+P+c7Ol5vDoMTe0zZBl/LVVlJ gV4HY31Xy4/tS3EvRSbwBlzwWMsjZrlprq/W22PELHjb51r2RPFBqax7HCCXIaLnThvSAMTP1KkI +gs6VLdVdad08ISeCho1ZLN+whZ2jsTzgcsnJwldluLxNDiyagkxOquB2Knae/OLUsyEkjenmdzb mG/YhlRnCWPnb8C898bRJGtQvEOiVxjYhtLOxs8AySiT4JuDystlVV4WPeM6tK3VaILeDZxIOSsu ti/jidNGNZ3/J08yC1dNv9v8AAAA//8DAFBLAwQUAAYACAAAACEArTA/8cEAAAAyAQAACwAAAF9y ZWxzLy5yZWxzhI/NCsIwEITvgu8Q9m7TehCRpr2I4FX0AdZk2wbbJGTj39ubi6AgeJtl2G9m6vYx jeJGka13CqqiBEFOe2Ndr+B03C3WIDihMzh6RwqexNA281l9oBFTfuLBBhaZ4ljBkFLYSMl6oAm5 8IFcdjofJ0z5jL0MqC/Yk1yW5UrGTwY0X0yxNwri3lQgjs+Qk/+zfddZTVuvrxO59CNCmoj3vCwj MfaUFOjRhrPHaN4Wv0VV5OYgm1p+LW1eAAAA//8DAFBLAwQUAAYACAAAACEAgeo8i+8CAACgBgAA HwAAAGNsaXBib2FyZC9kcmF3aW5ncy9kcmF3aW5nMS54bWykVclu2zAQvRfoPxC8K1oiLxKiBImX oEDaBHHzATRFW0QpUiXpJS367x1Scqw4RQ+JDhI5y+PMmxnq4mpfC7Rl2nAlCxyfRRgxSVXJ5brA T9/nwRgjY4ksiVCSFfiZGXx1+fnTBcnXmjQVpwgQpMlJgStrmzwMDa1YTcyZapgE3UrpmljY6nVY arID5FqESRQNw5pwiS+PUFNiCdpo/g4ooegPVk6I3BIDkILmfUkXo6AfRya53N7qZtE8aBc5/bZ9 0IiXBQbmJKmBIhx2is4MtuGJ1/oIsF/p2tmr1QrtPcqze3sMtreIgvA8SscR4FNQdev2jOr+H160 mv3XD4JpD4VFLxDTuDDk9m1mySGzR0ahFdaCoeQlyYO5ae6gBAZJNanAhl2bBqyhpcD5INJa7SpG SuPELS3AX4vgKTqCAanL3VdVAp9kY5XvkvdT9ZIyyRtt7C1TNXKLAmsI0oOT7Z2xbUwHE8+HmnMh PNtCvhIAZiuBKoGr07l6+fb9nUXZbDwbp0GaDGdBGk2nwfV8kgbDeTwaTM+nk8k0/uPOjdO84mXJ pDvmMEpx+qZPa061Mmplz6iqQ2gWTtlhnGCY4ug4TEYJXjo4F5LR6+VEaLQlosBz/3TM98zC12H4 foVcTlKKkzS6SbJgPhyPgnSeDoJsFI2DKM5usmGUZul0/jqlOy7Zx1NCuwJng2Tgq9QL+iS3yD9v cyN5zS3TSPC6wDBF8LS96xpxJktfWku4aNc9Klz4Ryqg3IdCw9J042/3Cz82dn+jymdH2BK+0Lxa QXPByMLVau/htRIK8qCCNxhVSv86lTk7KDpoMNrBxVpg83NDNMNIfJEwL1mcpgBn/SYdjBLY6L5m 2dcQSQGqwBajdjmxsAOXTaP5uoKTYk+nVNcwXCveNX4bu8tCGLuwz4J5dnyGTJYPRJNHyE3AfBeY yeBp0fENFkDKkYSNYYvG3RbtQLUsedrA8ORu9q7dv8T9APr7y78AAAD//wMAUEsDBBQABgAIAAAA IQCSfYfgHQcAAEkgAAAaAAAAY2xpcGJvYXJkL3RoZW1lL3RoZW1lMS54bWzsWUtvGzcQvhfof1js vbFkvWIjcmDJctzEL0RKihwpidplzF0uSMqObkVy6qVAgbTooQF666EoGqABGvTSH2PAQZv+iA65 L1Ki4gdcIChsAcbu7DfD4czszOzwzt1nEfWOMReExW2/eqviezgesTGJg7b/aLD92W3fExLFY0RZ jNv+DAv/7sann9xB6yNKkiFDfDwIcYQ9EBSLddT2QymT9ZUVMQIyErdYgmN4NmE8QhJuebAy5ugE Fojoymql0lyJEIn9DZAolaAehX+xFIoworyvxGAvRhGsfjCZkBHW2PFRVSHETHQp944Rbfsgc8xO BviZ9D2KhIQHbb+i//yVjTsraD1jonIJr8G3rf8yvoxhfLSq1+TBsFi0Xm/Um5uFfA2gchHXa/Wa vWYhTwPQaAQ7TXWxZbZWu/UMa4DSS4fsrdZWrWrhDfm1BZ03G+pn4TUolV9fwG9vd8GKFl6DUnxj Ad/orHW2bPkalOKbC/hWZXOr3rLka1BISXy0gK40mrVuvtsCMmF0xwlfa9S3W6uZ8BIF0VBEl1pi wmK5LNYi9JTxbQAoIEWSxJ6cJXiCRhCTXUTJkBNvlwQhBF6CYiaAXFmtbFdq8F/96vpKexStY2Rw K71AE7FAUvp4YsRJItv+fZDqG5Czt29Pn785ff776YsXp89/zdbWoiy+HRQHJt/7n77559WX3t+/ /fj+5bfp0vN4YeLf/fLVuz/+/JB42HFpirPvXr978/rs+6//+vmlQ/omR0MTPiARFt4+PvEesgg2 6NAfD/nlOAYhIibHZhwIFCO1ikN+T4YWen+GKHLgOti242MOqcYFvDd9aincD/lUEofEB2FkAfcY ox3GnVZ4oNYyzDyYxoF7cT41cQ8ROnat3UWx5eXeNIEcS1wiuyG21DykKJYowDGWnnrGjjB27O4J IZZd98iIM8Em0ntCvA4iTpMMyNCKppJph0Tgl5lLQfC3ZZu9x16HUdeut/CxjYR3A1GH8gNMLTPe Q1OJIpfIAYqoafBdJEOXkv0ZH5m4npDg6QBT5vXGWAgXzwGH/RpOfwBpxu32PTqLbCSX5Mglcxcx ZiK32FE3RFHiwvZJHJrYz8URhCjyDpl0wfeY/Yaoe/ADipe6+zHBlrvPzwaPIMOaKpUBop5MucOX 9zCz4rc/oxOEXalmk0dWit3kxBkdnWlghfYuxhSdoDHG3qPPHRp0WGLZvFT6fghZZQe7Aus+smNV 3cdYYE83N4t5cpcIK2T7OGBL9NmbzSWeGYojxJdJ3gevmzbvQamLXAFwQEdHJnCfQL8H8eI0yoEA GUZwL5V6GCKrgKl74Y7XGbf8d5F3DN7Lp5YaF3gvgQdfmgcSu8nzQdsMELUWKANmgKDLcKVbYLHc X7Ko4qrZpk6+if3Slm6A7shqeiISn9sBzfU+jf+u94EO4+yHV46X7Xr6HbdgK1ldstNZlkx25vqb Zbj5rqbL+Jh8/E3NFprGhxjqyGLGuulpbnoa/3/f0yx7n286mWX9xk0n40OHcdPJZMOV6+lkyuYF +ho18EgHPXrsEy2d+kwIpX05o3hX6MGPgO+Z8TYQFZ+ebuJiCpiEcKnKHCxg4QKONI/HmfyCyLAf ogSmQ1VfCQlEJjoQXsIEDI002Slb4ek02mPjdNhZrarBZlpZBZIlvdIo6DCokim62SoHeIV4rW2g B625Aor3MkoYi9lK1BxKtHKiMpIe64LRHEronV2LFmsOLW4r8bmrFrQA1QqvwAe3B5/pbb9RBxZg gnkcNOdj5afU1bl3tTOv09PLjGlFADTYeQSUnl5Tui7dntpdGmoX8LSlhBFuthLaMrrBEyF8BmfR qagXUeOyvl4rXWqpp0yh14PQKtVo3f6QFlf1NfDN5wYam5mCxt5J22/WGhAyI5S0/QkMjeEySiB2 hPrmQjSA45aR5OkLf5XMknAht5AIU4PrpJNmg4hIzD1Koravtl+4gcY6h2jdqquQED5a5dYgrXxs yoHTbSfjyQSPpOl2g6Isnd5Chk9zhfOpZr86WHGyKbi7H45PvCGd8ocIQqzRqioDjomAs4Nqas0x gcOwIpGV8TdXmLK0a55G6RhK6YgmIcoqipnMU7hO5YU6+q6wgXGX7RkMapgkK4TDQBVY06hWNS2q RqrD0qp7PpOynJE0y5ppZRVVNd1ZzFohLwNztrxakTe0yk0MOc2s8Gnqnk+5a3mum+sTiioBBi/s 56i6FygIhmrlYpZqSuPFNKxydka1a0e+wXNUu0iRMLJ+Mxc7Z7eiRjiXA+KVKj/wzUctkCZ5X6kt 7TrY3kOJNwyqbR8Ol2E4+Ayu4HjaB9qqoq0qGlzBmTOUi/SguO1nFzkFnqeUAlPLKbUcU88p9ZzS yCmNnNLMKU3f0yeqcIqvDlN9Lz8whRqWHbBmvYV9+r/xLwAAAP//AwBQSwMEFAAGAAgAAAAhAJxm RkG7AAAAJAEAACoAAABjbGlwYm9hcmQvZHJhd2luZ3MvX3JlbHMvZHJhd2luZzEueG1sLnJlbHOE j80KwjAQhO+C7xD2btJ6EJEmvYjQq9QHCMk2LTY/JFHs2xvoRUHwsjCz7DezTfuyM3liTJN3HGpa AUGnvJ6c4XDrL7sjkJSl03L2DjksmKAV201zxVnmcpTGKSRSKC5xGHMOJ8aSGtHKRH1AVzaDj1bm IqNhQaq7NMj2VXVg8ZMB4otJOs0hdroG0i+hJP9n+2GYFJ69elh0+UcEy6UXFqCMBjMHSldnnTUt XYGJhn39Jt4AAAD//wMAUEsBAi0AFAAGAAgAAAAhALvlSJQFAQAAHgIAABMAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA AAAAAFtDb250ZW50X1R5cGVzXS54bWxQSwECLQAUAAYACAAAACEArTA/8cEAAAAyAQAACwAAAAAA AAAAAAAAAAA2AQAAX3JlbHMvLnJlbHNQSwECLQAUAAYACAAAACEAgeo8i+8CAACgBgAAHwAAAAAA AAAAAAAAAAAgAgAAY2xpcGJvYXJkL2RyYXdpbmdzL2RyYXdpbmcxLnhtbFBLAQItABQABgAIAAAA IQCSfYfgHQcAAEkgAAAaAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAEwFAABjbGlwYm9hcmQvdGhlbWUvdGhlbWUxLnht bFBLAQItABQABgAIAAAAIQCcZkZBuwAAACQBAAAqAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAKEMAABjbGlwYm9hcmQv ZHJhd2luZ3MvX3JlbHMvZHJhd2luZzEueG1sLnJlbHNQSwUGAAAAAAUABQBnAQAApA0AAAAA " stroked="f" style="width:24pt; height:24pt; v-text-anchor:top"> <o:lock aspectratio="t" v:ext="edit"> <w:wrap type="none"> <w:anchorlock> </w:anchorlock></w:wrap></o:lock></v:rect><img id="_x0000_i1026" src="/Portals/0/LiveBlog/Career Clusters Blog/Illinois-Career-Clusters-Framework.png?ver=XfsN0uRXxDuFLL3XIfiq4Q%3d%3d" style="height: 608px; width: 800px;" /></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom:11px"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:107%"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><b>Source:</b> <a href="https://blogs.uis.edu/colrs/2018/01/24/the-national-career-clusters-framework/" style="color:#0563c1; text-decoration:underline"><i>blogs.uis.edu</i></a></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom:11px"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:107%"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><b>What’s in Store for the Future of Education?</b></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom:11px"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:107%"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Education’s future will continue to retain its BUILD Initiative and career cluster structure, while taking notes from digital transformation. </span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom:11px"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:107%"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Based on the results from a <a href="https://campustechnology.com/articles/2019/10/24/survey-most-students-find-choosing-a-major-stressful.aspx?admgarea=news" style="color:#0563c1; text-decoration:underline">recent survey</a> conducted by Ellucian, the future of education will embrace new student values perhaps not considered in the traditional education model, such as personalized pathways, technology-driven advisor relationships, and a friction-free approach to career path selection. </span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom:11px"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:107%"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Through 2020, technology will influence several industries, and the education industry is on the cusp of these changes. Although often considered cliché, advancing trends in technology such as voice assistance, predictive analytics, and chatbots will assist in further opening the door to <a href="https://gtlcenter.org/learning-hub/equitable-access-toolkit/moving-toward-equity/what-is-equitable-access" style="color:#0563c1; text-decoration:underline">equitable access</a>. </span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom:11px"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:107%"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Forbes.com recently wrote that <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/danielnewman/2019/08/01/top-5-digital-transformation-trends-in-education-for-2020/#3b67a3215739" style="color:#0563c1; text-decoration:underline">new apps and software</a> will ease learning barriers for students of all learning types. Most notably, video conferencing will play a significant role in accessibility, giving specialized support to even the most remote students.  </span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom:11px"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:107%"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><b>Enter Virtual Career Center</b></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom:11px"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:107%"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Geographic Solutions is committed to playing an evolutionary role in education’s advancing future. <a href="https://www.geographicsolutions.com/VCC" style="color:#0563c1; text-decoration:underline">Virtual Career Center (VCC)</a>, our web-based career services portal, is making strides in giving students a personalized career development experience. </span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom:11px"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:107%"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">CareerOneStop.com’s recent move to visually enhance career pathways has been reflected in VCC. Now, students who are using VCC to map out their school-to-work journey can view all occupational videos within the Occupation Finder. </span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom:11px"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:107%"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><v:rect filled="f" id="Rectangle_x0020_1" o:gfxdata="UEsDBBQABgAIAAAAIQC75UiUBQEAAB4CAAATAAAAW0NvbnRlbnRfVHlwZXNdLnhtbKSRvU7DMBSF dyTewfKKEqcMCKEmHfgZgaE8wMW+SSwc27JvS/v23KTJgkoXFsu+P+c7Ol5vDoMTe0zZBl/LVVlJ gV4HY31Xy4/tS3EvRSbwBlzwWMsjZrlprq/W22PELHjb51r2RPFBqax7HCCXIaLnThvSAMTP1KkI +gs6VLdVdad08ISeCho1ZLN+whZ2jsTzgcsnJwldluLxNDiyagkxOquB2Knae/OLUsyEkjenmdzb mG/YhlRnCWPnb8C898bRJGtQvEOiVxjYhtLOxs8AySiT4JuDystlVV4WPeM6tK3VaILeDZxIOSsu ti/jidNGNZ3/J08yC1dNv9v8AAAA//8DAFBLAwQUAAYACAAAACEArTA/8cEAAAAyAQAACwAAAF9y ZWxzLy5yZWxzhI/NCsIwEITvgu8Q9m7TehCRpr2I4FX0AdZk2wbbJGTj39ubi6AgeJtl2G9m6vYx jeJGka13CqqiBEFOe2Ndr+B03C3WIDihMzh6RwqexNA281l9oBFTfuLBBhaZ4ljBkFLYSMl6oAm5 8IFcdjofJ0z5jL0MqC/Yk1yW5UrGTwY0X0yxNwri3lQgjs+Qk/+zfddZTVuvrxO59CNCmoj3vCwj MfaUFOjRhrPHaN4Wv0VV5OYgm1p+LW1eAAAA//8DAFBLAwQUAAYACAAAACEA9mBpW+8CAACgBgAA HwAAAGNsaXBib2FyZC9kcmF3aW5ncy9kcmF3aW5nMS54bWykVdtymzAQfe9M/0GjdwI4+AITkkls k+lM2mTi5gNkIRtNhUQl+ZJ2+u9dCRwTp9OHhAeQ9nK0e3ZXXFzta4G2TBuuZI7jswgjJqkquVzn +Ol7EUwwMpbIkgglWY6fmcFXl58/XZBsrUlTcYoAQZqM5LiytsnC0NCK1cScqYZJ0K2UromFrV6H pSY7QK5FOIiiUVgTLvHlEWpGLEEbzd8BJRT9wcopkVtiAFLQrC/pYhT048gkk9tb3SyaB+0ip9+2 DxrxMsfAnCQ1UITDTtGZwTY88VofAfYrXTt7tVqhvUd5dm+PwfYWURCeR8kkAnwKqm7dnlHd/8OL VvP/+kEw7aGw6AViGheG3L7NLD5k9sgotMJaMBS/JHkwN80dlMAgqaYV2LBr04A1tBQ4H0Raq13F SGmcuKUF+GsRPEVHMCB1ufuqSuCTbKzyXfJ+ql5SJlmjjb1lqkZukWMNQXpwsr0zto3pYOL5UAUX wrMt5CsBYLYSqBK4Op2rl2/f32mUzifzSRIkg9E8SKLZLLgupkkwKuLxcHY+m05n8R93bpxkFS9L Jt0xh1GKkzd9WnOqlVEre0ZVHUKzcMoO4wTDFEfHYTJK8NLBuZCMXi+nQqMtETku/NMx3zMLX4fh +xVyOUkpHiTRzSANitFkHCRFMgzScTQJoji9SUdRkiaz4nVKd1yyj6eEdjlOh4Ohr1Iv6JPcIv+8 zY1kNbdMI8HrHMMUwdP2rmvEuSx9aS3hol33qHDhH6mAch8KDUvTjb/dL/zY2P2NKp8dYUv4QvNq Bc0FIwtXq72H10ooyIMK3mBUKf3rVObsoOigwWgHF2uOzc8N0Qwj8UXCvKRxkgCc9ZtkOB7ARvc1 y76GSApQObYYtcuphR24bBrN1xWcFHs6pbqG4VrxrvHb2F0WwtiFfRbMs+MzZLJ8IJo8Qm4C5jvH TAZPi45vsABSjiRsDFs07rZoB6plydMGhid3s3ft/iXuB9DfX/4FAAD//wMAUEsDBBQABgAIAAAA IQCSfYfgHQcAAEkgAAAaAAAAY2xpcGJvYXJkL3RoZW1lL3RoZW1lMS54bWzsWUtvGzcQvhfof1js vbFkvWIjcmDJctzEL0RKihwpidplzF0uSMqObkVy6qVAgbTooQF666EoGqABGvTSH2PAQZv+iA65 L1Ki4gdcIChsAcbu7DfD4czszOzwzt1nEfWOMReExW2/eqviezgesTGJg7b/aLD92W3fExLFY0RZ jNv+DAv/7sann9xB6yNKkiFDfDwIcYQ9EBSLddT2QymT9ZUVMQIyErdYgmN4NmE8QhJuebAy5ugE Fojoymql0lyJEIn9DZAolaAehX+xFIoworyvxGAvRhGsfjCZkBHW2PFRVSHETHQp944Rbfsgc8xO BviZ9D2KhIQHbb+i//yVjTsraD1jonIJr8G3rf8yvoxhfLSq1+TBsFi0Xm/Um5uFfA2gchHXa/Wa vWYhTwPQaAQ7TXWxZbZWu/UMa4DSS4fsrdZWrWrhDfm1BZ03G+pn4TUolV9fwG9vd8GKFl6DUnxj Ad/orHW2bPkalOKbC/hWZXOr3rLka1BISXy0gK40mrVuvtsCMmF0xwlfa9S3W6uZ8BIF0VBEl1pi wmK5LNYi9JTxbQAoIEWSxJ6cJXiCRhCTXUTJkBNvlwQhBF6CYiaAXFmtbFdq8F/96vpKexStY2Rw K71AE7FAUvp4YsRJItv+fZDqG5Czt29Pn785ff776YsXp89/zdbWoiy+HRQHJt/7n77559WX3t+/ /fj+5bfp0vN4YeLf/fLVuz/+/JB42HFpirPvXr978/rs+6//+vmlQ/omR0MTPiARFt4+PvEesgg2 6NAfD/nlOAYhIibHZhwIFCO1ikN+T4YWen+GKHLgOti242MOqcYFvDd9aincD/lUEofEB2FkAfcY ox3GnVZ4oNYyzDyYxoF7cT41cQ8ROnat3UWx5eXeNIEcS1wiuyG21DykKJYowDGWnnrGjjB27O4J IZZd98iIM8Em0ntCvA4iTpMMyNCKppJph0Tgl5lLQfC3ZZu9x16HUdeut/CxjYR3A1GH8gNMLTPe Q1OJIpfIAYqoafBdJEOXkv0ZH5m4npDg6QBT5vXGWAgXzwGH/RpOfwBpxu32PTqLbCSX5Mglcxcx ZiK32FE3RFHiwvZJHJrYz8URhCjyDpl0wfeY/Yaoe/ADipe6+zHBlrvPzwaPIMOaKpUBop5MucOX 9zCz4rc/oxOEXalmk0dWit3kxBkdnWlghfYuxhSdoDHG3qPPHRp0WGLZvFT6fghZZQe7Aus+smNV 3cdYYE83N4t5cpcIK2T7OGBL9NmbzSWeGYojxJdJ3gevmzbvQamLXAFwQEdHJnCfQL8H8eI0yoEA GUZwL5V6GCKrgKl74Y7XGbf8d5F3DN7Lp5YaF3gvgQdfmgcSu8nzQdsMELUWKANmgKDLcKVbYLHc X7Ko4qrZpk6+if3Slm6A7shqeiISn9sBzfU+jf+u94EO4+yHV46X7Xr6HbdgK1ldstNZlkx25vqb Zbj5rqbL+Jh8/E3NFprGhxjqyGLGuulpbnoa/3/f0yx7n286mWX9xk0n40OHcdPJZMOV6+lkyuYF +ho18EgHPXrsEy2d+kwIpX05o3hX6MGPgO+Z8TYQFZ+ebuJiCpiEcKnKHCxg4QKONI/HmfyCyLAf ogSmQ1VfCQlEJjoQXsIEDI002Slb4ek02mPjdNhZrarBZlpZBZIlvdIo6DCokim62SoHeIV4rW2g B625Aor3MkoYi9lK1BxKtHKiMpIe64LRHEronV2LFmsOLW4r8bmrFrQA1QqvwAe3B5/pbb9RBxZg gnkcNOdj5afU1bl3tTOv09PLjGlFADTYeQSUnl5Tui7dntpdGmoX8LSlhBFuthLaMrrBEyF8BmfR qagXUeOyvl4rXWqpp0yh14PQKtVo3f6QFlf1NfDN5wYam5mCxt5J22/WGhAyI5S0/QkMjeEySiB2 hPrmQjSA45aR5OkLf5XMknAht5AIU4PrpJNmg4hIzD1Koravtl+4gcY6h2jdqquQED5a5dYgrXxs yoHTbSfjyQSPpOl2g6Isnd5Chk9zhfOpZr86WHGyKbi7H45PvCGd8ocIQqzRqioDjomAs4Nqas0x gcOwIpGV8TdXmLK0a55G6RhK6YgmIcoqipnMU7hO5YU6+q6wgXGX7RkMapgkK4TDQBVY06hWNS2q RqrD0qp7PpOynJE0y5ppZRVVNd1ZzFohLwNztrxakTe0yk0MOc2s8Gnqnk+5a3mum+sTiioBBi/s 56i6FygIhmrlYpZqSuPFNKxydka1a0e+wXNUu0iRMLJ+Mxc7Z7eiRjiXA+KVKj/wzUctkCZ5X6kt 7TrY3kOJNwyqbR8Ol2E4+Ayu4HjaB9qqoq0qGlzBmTOUi/SguO1nFzkFnqeUAlPLKbUcU88p9ZzS yCmNnNLMKU3f0yeqcIqvDlN9Lz8whRqWHbBmvYV9+r/xLwAAAP//AwBQSwMEFAAGAAgAAAAhAJxm RkG7AAAAJAEAACoAAABjbGlwYm9hcmQvZHJhd2luZ3MvX3JlbHMvZHJhd2luZzEueG1sLnJlbHOE j80KwjAQhO+C7xD2btJ6EJEmvYjQq9QHCMk2LTY/JFHs2xvoRUHwsjCz7DezTfuyM3liTJN3HGpa AUGnvJ6c4XDrL7sjkJSl03L2DjksmKAV201zxVnmcpTGKSRSKC5xGHMOJ8aSGtHKRH1AVzaDj1bm IqNhQaq7NMj2VXVg8ZMB4otJOs0hdroG0i+hJP9n+2GYFJ69elh0+UcEy6UXFqCMBjMHSldnnTUt XYGJhn39Jt4AAAD//wMAUEsBAi0AFAAGAAgAAAAhALvlSJQFAQAAHgIAABMAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA AAAAAFtDb250ZW50X1R5cGVzXS54bWxQSwECLQAUAAYACAAAACEArTA/8cEAAAAyAQAACwAAAAAA AAAAAAAAAAA2AQAAX3JlbHMvLnJlbHNQSwECLQAUAAYACAAAACEA9mBpW+8CAACgBgAAHwAAAAAA AAAAAAAAAAAgAgAAY2xpcGJvYXJkL2RyYXdpbmdzL2RyYXdpbmcxLnhtbFBLAQItABQABgAIAAAA IQCSfYfgHQcAAEkgAAAaAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAEwFAABjbGlwYm9hcmQvdGhlbWUvdGhlbWUxLnht bFBLAQItABQABgAIAAAAIQCcZkZBuwAAACQBAAAqAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAKEMAABjbGlwYm9hcmQv ZHJhd2luZ3MvX3JlbHMvZHJhd2luZzEueG1sLnJlbHNQSwUGAAAAAAUABQBnAQAApA0AAAAA " stroked="f" style="width:24pt; height:24pt; v-text-anchor:top"> <o:lock aspectratio="t" v:ext="edit"> <w:wrap type="none"> <w:anchorlock> </w:anchorlock></w:wrap></o:lock></v:rect><img id="_x0000_i1025" src="/Portals/0/LiveBlog/Career Clusters Blog/VCC%20Occ%20Finder%20Better.jpg?ver=DKDaHb2MHHNhRAGiUmuK8Q%3d%3d" style="height: 536px; width: 800px;" /></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom:11px"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:107%"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><b>Source</b>: <a href="https://www.geographicsolutions.com/VCC" style="color:#0563c1; text-decoration:underline"><i>Virtual Career Center</i></a></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom:11px"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:107%"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Meant to give students the opportunity to discover professions that fit their needs, VCC’s Occupation Finder presents results filtering by career path, outlook and demand, wage, education and experience. The occupational profile provides valuable exploration information like top skills, tools and technology, and other competencies required to be successful on the job. </span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom:11px"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:107%"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">To lessen any doubt about a given profession’s monetary outlook, VCC offers regional labor market information to gauge occupational supply and demand. And, students can further explore colleges, programs and current employment opportunities to begin planning their prosperity pathway.</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom:11px"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:107%"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><b>With self-assessments and exploration tools that help learners make key educational decisions, relationship-first technology that drives one-to-one advisor communications, and employer-centric collaboration tools designed to assist in finding reliable, local talent, Virtual Career Center stands at the forefront of the next educational revolution. </b></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom:11px"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:107%"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><b>Find out if Virtual Career Center is right for your region, state, school, or business by contacting Business Development Executive, </b><a href="mailto:cjohnson1@geosolinc.com" style="color:#0563c1; text-decoration:underline"><b>Chuck Johnson</b></a><b>.</b></span></span></span></p> 233Skills-Based Workforce Development: Building Career Pathways To Real-World Jobshttps://www.geographicsolutions.com/News-Events/Blog/PostId/237/skills-based-workforce-development-building-career-pathways-to-real-world-jobsCareer Pathways,Partnerships,Workforce Technology ConferenceTue, 30 Apr 2019 14:08:00 GMT<p style="margin-bottom:11px"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:107%"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><b><i>By Christine Peng</i></b></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom:11px"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:107%"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">In education and workforce development, the consensus is that there is a shift happening. States are reexamining their requirements for graduation and the associated coursework. Schools are now being tasked with equipping students with essential workplace skills, or soft skills, to boost their future employment prospects. With low unemployment, employers are looking to hire but can’t find skilled candidates. This is where skills-based training and career pathways models can help.</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom:11px"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:107%"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><b>The Skills Economy</b></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom:11px"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:107%"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">With the changing landscape of education and workforce, an emphasis on skills competency has emerged as a model for the future. How can you take today’s job seekers and quickly train them with the skills employers need? Skills-based training. How can you ensure that students today are prepared for the jobs of the future? Stackable credentials and transferable skills.</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom:11px"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:107%"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">This forms the basis of career pathways training and education. Career pathways break down industries and occupations into knowledge and skills competencies. At the center of this are foundation skills, such as academic, personal, and workplace. From there, it branches out into industry and occupation-specific skills.</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom:11px"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:107%"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Why have skills competencies and stackable credentials become the currency of training? For workforce and human resources professionals, this is no surprise. Employers are challenged with finding skilled workers to fulfill the seven million job openings across the United States today. Some skills may be specialized, while others may apply to different pathways. But, the quickest way to fill positions is to validate an applicant’s exact skills through stackable credentials such as digital badges and industry-recognized certifications.</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom:11px"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:107%"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><v:rect filled="f" id="Rectangle_x0020_9" o:gfxdata="UEsDBBQABgAIAAAAIQC75UiUBQEAAB4CAAATAAAAW0NvbnRlbnRfVHlwZXNdLnhtbKSRvU7DMBSF dyTewfKKEqcMCKEmHfgZgaE8wMW+SSwc27JvS/v23KTJgkoXFsu+P+c7Ol5vDoMTe0zZBl/LVVlJ gV4HY31Xy4/tS3EvRSbwBlzwWMsjZrlprq/W22PELHjb51r2RPFBqax7HCCXIaLnThvSAMTP1KkI +gs6VLdVdad08ISeCho1ZLN+whZ2jsTzgcsnJwldluLxNDiyagkxOquB2Knae/OLUsyEkjenmdzb mG/YhlRnCWPnb8C898bRJGtQvEOiVxjYhtLOxs8AySiT4JuDystlVV4WPeM6tK3VaILeDZxIOSsu ti/jidNGNZ3/J08yC1dNv9v8AAAA//8DAFBLAwQUAAYACAAAACEArTA/8cEAAAAyAQAACwAAAF9y ZWxzLy5yZWxzhI/NCsIwEITvgu8Q9m7TehCRpr2I4FX0AdZk2wbbJGTj39ubi6AgeJtl2G9m6vYx jeJGka13CqqiBEFOe2Ndr+B03C3WIDihMzh6RwqexNA281l9oBFTfuLBBhaZ4ljBkFLYSMl6oAm5 8IFcdjofJ0z5jL0MqC/Yk1yW5UrGTwY0X0yxNwri3lQgjs+Qk/+zfddZTVuvrxO59CNCmoj3vCwj MfaUFOjRhrPHaN4Wv0VV5OYgm1p+LW1eAAAA//8DAFBLAwQUAAYACAAAACEAXVueSO8CAACgBgAA HwAAAGNsaXBib2FyZC9kcmF3aW5ncy9kcmF3aW5nMS54bWykVdtymzAQfe9M/0GjdwI4+AITkkls k+lM2mTi5gNkIRtNhUQl+ZJ2+u9dCRwTp9OHhAeQ9nK0e3ZXXFzta4G2TBuuZI7jswgjJqkquVzn +Ol7EUwwMpbIkgglWY6fmcFXl58/XZBsrUlTcYoAQZqM5LiytsnC0NCK1cScqYZJ0K2UromFrV6H pSY7QK5FOIiiUVgTLvHlEWpGLEEbzd8BJRT9wcopkVtiAFLQrC/pYhT048gkk9tb3SyaB+0ip9+2 DxrxMsfAnCQ1UITDTtGZwTY88VofAfYrXTt7tVqhvUd5dm+PwfYWURCeR8kkAnwKqm7dnlHd/8OL VvP/+kEw7aGw6AViGheG3L7NLD1k9sgotMJaMJS+JHkwN80dlMAgqaYV2LBr04A1tBQ4H0Raq13F SGmcuKUF+GsRPEVHMCB1ufuqSuCTbKzyXfJ+ql5SJlmjjb1lqkZukWMNQXpwsr0zto3pYOL5UAUX wrMt5CsBYLYSqBK4Op2rl2/f32mUzifzSRIkg9E8SKLZLLgupkkwKuLxcHY+m05n8R93bpxkFS9L Jt0xh1GKkzd9WnOqlVEre0ZVHUKzcMoO4wTDFEfHYTJK8NLBuZCMXi+nQqMtETku/NMx3zMLX4fh +xVyOUkpHiTRzSANitFkHCRFMgzScTQJoji9SUdRkiaz4nVKd1yyj6eEdjlOh4Ohr1Iv6JPcIv+8 zY1kNbdMI8HrHMMUwdP2rmvEuSx9aS3hol33qHDhH6mAch8KDUvTjb/dL/zY2P2NKp8dYUv4QvNq Bc0FIwtXq72H10ooyIMK3mBUKf3rVObsoOigwWgHF2uOzc8N0Qwj8UXCvKRxkgCc9ZtkOB7ARvc1 y76GSApQObYYtcuphR24bBrN1xWcFHs6pbqG4VrxrvHb2F0WwtiFfRbMs+MzZLJ8IJo8Qm4C5jvH TAZPi45vsABSjiRsDFs07rZoB6plydMGhid3s3ft/iXuB9DfX/4FAAD//wMAUEsDBBQABgAIAAAA IQCSfYfgHQcAAEkgAAAaAAAAY2xpcGJvYXJkL3RoZW1lL3RoZW1lMS54bWzsWUtvGzcQvhfof1js vbFkvWIjcmDJctzEL0RKihwpidplzF0uSMqObkVy6qVAgbTooQF666EoGqABGvTSH2PAQZv+iA65 L1Ki4gdcIChsAcbu7DfD4czszOzwzt1nEfWOMReExW2/eqviezgesTGJg7b/aLD92W3fExLFY0RZ jNv+DAv/7sann9xB6yNKkiFDfDwIcYQ9EBSLddT2QymT9ZUVMQIyErdYgmN4NmE8QhJuebAy5ugE Fojoymql0lyJEIn9DZAolaAehX+xFIoworyvxGAvRhGsfjCZkBHW2PFRVSHETHQp944Rbfsgc8xO BviZ9D2KhIQHbb+i//yVjTsraD1jonIJr8G3rf8yvoxhfLSq1+TBsFi0Xm/Um5uFfA2gchHXa/Wa vWYhTwPQaAQ7TXWxZbZWu/UMa4DSS4fsrdZWrWrhDfm1BZ03G+pn4TUolV9fwG9vd8GKFl6DUnxj Ad/orHW2bPkalOKbC/hWZXOr3rLka1BISXy0gK40mrVuvtsCMmF0xwlfa9S3W6uZ8BIF0VBEl1pi wmK5LNYi9JTxbQAoIEWSxJ6cJXiCRhCTXUTJkBNvlwQhBF6CYiaAXFmtbFdq8F/96vpKexStY2Rw K71AE7FAUvp4YsRJItv+fZDqG5Czt29Pn785ff776YsXp89/zdbWoiy+HRQHJt/7n77559WX3t+/ /fj+5bfp0vN4YeLf/fLVuz/+/JB42HFpirPvXr978/rs+6//+vmlQ/omR0MTPiARFt4+PvEesgg2 6NAfD/nlOAYhIibHZhwIFCO1ikN+T4YWen+GKHLgOti242MOqcYFvDd9aincD/lUEofEB2FkAfcY ox3GnVZ4oNYyzDyYxoF7cT41cQ8ROnat3UWx5eXeNIEcS1wiuyG21DykKJYowDGWnnrGjjB27O4J IZZd98iIM8Em0ntCvA4iTpMMyNCKppJph0Tgl5lLQfC3ZZu9x16HUdeut/CxjYR3A1GH8gNMLTPe Q1OJIpfIAYqoafBdJEOXkv0ZH5m4npDg6QBT5vXGWAgXzwGH/RpOfwBpxu32PTqLbCSX5Mglcxcx ZiK32FE3RFHiwvZJHJrYz8URhCjyDpl0wfeY/Yaoe/ADipe6+zHBlrvPzwaPIMOaKpUBop5MucOX 9zCz4rc/oxOEXalmk0dWit3kxBkdnWlghfYuxhSdoDHG3qPPHRp0WGLZvFT6fghZZQe7Aus+smNV 3cdYYE83N4t5cpcIK2T7OGBL9NmbzSWeGYojxJdJ3gevmzbvQamLXAFwQEdHJnCfQL8H8eI0yoEA GUZwL5V6GCKrgKl74Y7XGbf8d5F3DN7Lp5YaF3gvgQdfmgcSu8nzQdsMELUWKANmgKDLcKVbYLHc X7Ko4qrZpk6+if3Slm6A7shqeiISn9sBzfU+jf+u94EO4+yHV46X7Xr6HbdgK1ldstNZlkx25vqb Zbj5rqbL+Jh8/E3NFprGhxjqyGLGuulpbnoa/3/f0yx7n286mWX9xk0n40OHcdPJZMOV6+lkyuYF +ho18EgHPXrsEy2d+kwIpX05o3hX6MGPgO+Z8TYQFZ+ebuJiCpiEcKnKHCxg4QKONI/HmfyCyLAf ogSmQ1VfCQlEJjoQXsIEDI002Slb4ek02mPjdNhZrarBZlpZBZIlvdIo6DCokim62SoHeIV4rW2g B625Aor3MkoYi9lK1BxKtHKiMpIe64LRHEronV2LFmsOLW4r8bmrFrQA1QqvwAe3B5/pbb9RBxZg gnkcNOdj5afU1bl3tTOv09PLjGlFADTYeQSUnl5Tui7dntpdGmoX8LSlhBFuthLaMrrBEyF8BmfR qagXUeOyvl4rXWqpp0yh14PQKtVo3f6QFlf1NfDN5wYam5mCxt5J22/WGhAyI5S0/QkMjeEySiB2 hPrmQjSA45aR5OkLf5XMknAht5AIU4PrpJNmg4hIzD1Koravtl+4gcY6h2jdqquQED5a5dYgrXxs yoHTbSfjyQSPpOl2g6Isnd5Chk9zhfOpZr86WHGyKbi7H45PvCGd8ocIQqzRqioDjomAs4Nqas0x gcOwIpGV8TdXmLK0a55G6RhK6YgmIcoqipnMU7hO5YU6+q6wgXGX7RkMapgkK4TDQBVY06hWNS2q RqrD0qp7PpOynJE0y5ppZRVVNd1ZzFohLwNztrxakTe0yk0MOc2s8Gnqnk+5a3mum+sTiioBBi/s 56i6FygIhmrlYpZqSuPFNKxydka1a0e+wXNUu0iRMLJ+Mxc7Z7eiRjiXA+KVKj/wzUctkCZ5X6kt 7TrY3kOJNwyqbR8Ol2E4+Ayu4HjaB9qqoq0qGlzBmTOUi/SguO1nFzkFnqeUAlPLKbUcU88p9ZzS yCmNnNLMKU3f0yeqcIqvDlN9Lz8whRqWHbBmvYV9+r/xLwAAAP//AwBQSwMEFAAGAAgAAAAhAJxm RkG7AAAAJAEAACoAAABjbGlwYm9hcmQvZHJhd2luZ3MvX3JlbHMvZHJhd2luZzEueG1sLnJlbHOE j80KwjAQhO+C7xD2btJ6EJEmvYjQq9QHCMk2LTY/JFHs2xvoRUHwsjCz7DezTfuyM3liTJN3HGpa AUGnvJ6c4XDrL7sjkJSl03L2DjksmKAV201zxVnmcpTGKSRSKC5xGHMOJ8aSGtHKRH1AVzaDj1bm IqNhQaq7NMj2VXVg8ZMB4otJOs0hdroG0i+hJP9n+2GYFJ69elh0+UcEy6UXFqCMBjMHSldnnTUt XYGJhn39Jt4AAAD//wMAUEsBAi0AFAAGAAgAAAAhALvlSJQFAQAAHgIAABMAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA AAAAAFtDb250ZW50X1R5cGVzXS54bWxQSwECLQAUAAYACAAAACEArTA/8cEAAAAyAQAACwAAAAAA AAAAAAAAAAA2AQAAX3JlbHMvLnJlbHNQSwECLQAUAAYACAAAACEAXVueSO8CAACgBgAAHwAAAAAA AAAAAAAAAAAgAgAAY2xpcGJvYXJkL2RyYXdpbmdzL2RyYXdpbmcxLnhtbFBLAQItABQABgAIAAAA IQCSfYfgHQcAAEkgAAAaAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAEwFAABjbGlwYm9hcmQvdGhlbWUvdGhlbWUxLnht bFBLAQItABQABgAIAAAAIQCcZkZBuwAAACQBAAAqAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAKEMAABjbGlwYm9hcmQv ZHJhd2luZ3MvX3JlbHMvZHJhd2luZzEueG1sLnJlbHNQSwUGAAAAAAUABQBnAQAApA0AAAAA " stroked="f" style="width:24pt; height:24pt; v-text-anchor:top"> <o:lock aspectratio="t" v:ext="edit"> <w:wrap type="none"> <w:anchorlock> </w:anchorlock></w:wrap></o:lock></v:rect><img id="_x0000_i1028" src="" style="width:24pt; height:24pt" /></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom:11px"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:107%"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><b>Short-Term Training Solutions as the New Norm</b></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom:11px"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:107%"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Employers are looking for trainable workers, people who have core skills that can adapt to their needs. Micro-credentialing programs are attractive to employers because of time and solid proof of skills. Programs in IT, such as coding and development, have delivered quick results to employers through boot camps both in-person and online. Skills-based training models can be applied to any industry in the same way.</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom:11px"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:107%"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><a href="http://ewib.org/Portals/0/PDF/2017/WSJArticle--CTSubmarineMakerScopesState4SkilledWorkers--11-16-17.pdf" style="color:#0563c1; text-decoration:underline">Written up in the Wall Street Journal</a>, the Eastern Connecticut Workforce Investment Board (EWIB) has perfected their training model for manufacturing through their <a href="http://ewib.org/" style="color:#0563c1; text-decoration:underline">“Eastern CT Manufacturing Pipeline” program</a>. Funded by the US Department of Labor Workforce Innovation Fund in partnership with the CT Department of Labor, EWIB works directly with Electric Boat, a division of General Dynamics, to source 5,000 applicants over the next few years for entry-level positions.</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom:11px"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:107%"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The program is designed for job seekers with no experience to take short-term classroom training and online training to get hired within 12 weeks. Job seekers are screened with assessments evaluating their core knowledge (basic math and reasoning, safety skills). If needed, remedial training is offered to bring their skills up to par. For those passing the assessments, they attend a custom 5-10 week hands-on program at Three Rivers Community College, Quinebaug Valley Community College, or Community College of Rhode Island. In addition to hands-on training, participants also have access to <a href="http://metrixlearning.com/" style="color:#0563c1; text-decoration:underline">Metrix Learning</a> where they can brush up through online courses. Over the past year, more than a thousand participants have been hired by Electric Boat and other local manufacturers. </span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom:11px"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:107%"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><v:rect filled="f" id="Rectangle_x0020_8" o:gfxdata="UEsDBBQABgAIAAAAIQC75UiUBQEAAB4CAAATAAAAW0NvbnRlbnRfVHlwZXNdLnhtbKSRvU7DMBSF dyTewfKKEqcMCKEmHfgZgaE8wMW+SSwc27JvS/v23KTJgkoXFsu+P+c7Ol5vDoMTe0zZBl/LVVlJ gV4HY31Xy4/tS3EvRSbwBlzwWMsjZrlprq/W22PELHjb51r2RPFBqax7HCCXIaLnThvSAMTP1KkI +gs6VLdVdad08ISeCho1ZLN+whZ2jsTzgcsnJwldluLxNDiyagkxOquB2Knae/OLUsyEkjenmdzb mG/YhlRnCWPnb8C898bRJGtQvEOiVxjYhtLOxs8AySiT4JuDystlVV4WPeM6tK3VaILeDZxIOSsu ti/jidNGNZ3/J08yC1dNv9v8AAAA//8DAFBLAwQUAAYACAAAACEArTA/8cEAAAAyAQAACwAAAF9y ZWxzLy5yZWxzhI/NCsIwEITvgu8Q9m7TehCRpr2I4FX0AdZk2wbbJGTj39ubi6AgeJtl2G9m6vYx jeJGka13CqqiBEFOe2Ndr+B03C3WIDihMzh6RwqexNA281l9oBFTfuLBBhaZ4ljBkFLYSMl6oAm5 8IFcdjofJ0z5jL0MqC/Yk1yW5UrGTwY0X0yxNwri3lQgjs+Qk/+zfddZTVuvrxO59CNCmoj3vCwj MfaUFOjRhrPHaN4Wv0VV5OYgm1p+LW1eAAAA//8DAFBLAwQUAAYACAAAACEAcN1SB/ACAACgBgAA HwAAAGNsaXBib2FyZC9kcmF3aW5ncy9kcmF3aW5nMS54bWykVdtymzAQfe9M/0GjdwI4+AITkkls k+lM2mTi5gNkIRtNhUQl+ZJ2+u9dCRwTp9OHhAeQ9nK0e3ZXXFzta4G2TBuuZI7jswgjJqkquVzn +Ol7EUwwMpbIkgglWY6fmcFXl58/XZBsrUlTcYoAQZqM5LiytsnC0NCK1cScqYZJ0K2UromFrV6H pSY7QK5FOIiiUVgTLvHlEWpGLEEbzd8BJRT9wcopkVtiAFLQrC/pYhT048gkk9tb3SyaB+0ip9+2 DxrxMsfAnCQ1UITDTtGZwTY88VofAfYrXTt7tVqhvUd5dm+PwfYWURCeR8kkAnwKqm7dnlHd/8OL VvP/+kEw7aGw6AViGheG3L7NDFqgzeyRUWiFtWBo8pLkwdw0d1ACg6SaVmDDrk0D1tBS4HwQaa12 FSOlceKWFuCvRfAUHcGA1OXuqyqBT7KxynfJ+6l6SZlkjTb2lqkauUWONQTpwcn2ztg2poOJ50MV XAjPtpCvBIDZSqBK4Op0rl6+fX+nUTqfzCdJkAxG8yCJZrPgupgmwaiIx8PZ+Ww6ncV/3LlxklW8 LJl0xxxGKU7e9GnNqVZGrewZVXUIzcIpO4wTDFMcHYfJKMFLB+dCMnq9nAqNtkTkuPBPx3zPLHwd hu9XyOUkpXiQRDeDNChGk3GQFMkwSMfRJIji9CYdRUmazIrXKd1xyT6eEtrlOB0Ohr5KvaBPcov8 8zY3ktXcMo0Er3MMUwRP27uuEeey9KW1hIt23aPChX+kAsp9KDQsTTf+dr/wY2P3N6p8doQt4QvN qxU0F4wsXK32Hl4roSAPKniDUaX0r1OZs4OigwajHVysOTY/N0QzjMQXCfOSxkkCcNZvkuF4ABvd 1yz7GiIpQOXYYtQupxZ24LJpNF9XcFLs6ZTqGoZrxbvGb2N3WQhjF/ZZMM+Oz5DJ8oFo8gi5CZjv HDMZPC06vsECSDmSsDFs0bjboh2oliVPGxie3M3etfuXuB9Af3/5FwAA//8DAFBLAwQUAAYACAAA ACEAkn2H4B0HAABJIAAAGgAAAGNsaXBib2FyZC90aGVtZS90aGVtZTEueG1s7FlLbxs3EL4X6H9Y 7L2xZL1iI3JgyXLcxC9ESoocKYnaZcxdLkjKjm5FcuqlQIG06KEBeuuhKBqgARr00h9jwEGb/ogO uS9SouIHXCAobAHG7uw3w+HM7Mzs8M7dZxH1jjEXhMVtv3qr4ns4HrExiYO2/2iw/dlt3xMSxWNE WYzb/gwL/+7Gp5/cQesjSpIhQ3w8CHGEPRAUi3XU9kMpk/WVFTECMhK3WIJjeDZhPEISbnmwMubo BBaI6MpqpdJciRCJ/Q2QKJWgHoV/sRSKMKK8r8RgL0YRrH4wmZAR1tjxUVUhxEx0KfeOEW37IHPM Tgb4mfQ9ioSEB22/ov/8lY07K2g9Y6JyCa/Bt63/Mr6MYXy0qtfkwbBYtF5v1JubhXwNoHIR12v1 mr1mIU8D0GgEO011sWW2Vrv1DGuA0kuH7K3WVq1q4Q35tQWdNxvqZ+E1KJVfX8Bvb3fBihZeg1J8 YwHf6Kx1tmz5GpTimwv4VmVzq96y5GtQSEl8tICuNJq1br7bAjJhdMcJX2vUt1urmfASBdFQRJda YsJiuSzWIvSU8W0AKCBFksSenCV4gkYQk11EyZATb5cEIQRegmImgFxZrWxXavBf/er6SnsUrWNk cCu9QBOxQFL6eGLESSLb/n2Q6huQs7dvT5+/OX3+++mLF6fPf83W1qIsvh0UBybf+5+++efVl97f v/34/uW36dLzeGHi3/3y1bs//vyQeNhxaYqz716/e/P67Puv//r5pUP6JkdDEz4gERbePj7xHrII NujQHw/55TgGISImx2YcCBQjtYpDfk+GFnp/hihy4DrYtuNjDqnGBbw3fWop3A/5VBKHxAdhZAH3 GKMdxp1WeKDWMsw8mMaBe3E+NXEPETp2rd1FseXl3jSBHEtcIrshttQ8pCiWKMAxlp56xo4wduzu CSGWXffIiDPBJtJ7QrwOIk6TDMjQiqaSaYdE4JeZS0Hwt2Wbvcdeh1HXrrfwsY2EdwNRh/IDTC0z 3kNTiSKXyAGKqGnwXSRDl5L9GR+ZuJ6Q4OkAU+b1xlgIF88Bh/0aTn8Aacbt9j06i2wkl+TIJXMX MWYit9hRN0RR4sL2SRya2M/FEYQo8g6ZdMH3mP2GqHvwA4qXuvsxwZa7z88GjyDDmiqVAaKeTLnD l/cws+K3P6MThF2pZpNHVord5MQZHZ1pYIX2LsYUnaAxxt6jzx0adFhi2bxU+n4IWWUHuwLrPrJj Vd3HWGBPNzeLeXKXCCtk+zhgS/TZm80lnhmKI8SXSd4Hr5s270Gpi1wBcEBHRyZwn0C/B/HiNMqB ABlGcC+Vehgiq4Cpe+GO1xm3/HeRdwzey6eWGhd4L4EHX5oHErvJ80HbDBC1FigDZoCgy3ClW2Cx 3F+yqOKq2aZOvon90pZugO7IanoiEp/bAc31Po3/rveBDuPsh1eOl+16+h23YCtZXbLTWZZMdub6 m2W4+a6my/iYfPxNzRaaxocY6shixrrpaW56Gv9/39Mse59vOpll/cZNJ+NDh3HTyWTDlevpZMrm BfoaNfBIBz167BMtnfpMCKV9OaN4V+jBj4DvmfE2EBWfnm7iYgqYhHCpyhwsYOECjjSPx5n8gsiw H6IEpkNVXwkJRCY6EF7CBAyNNNkpW+HpNNpj43TYWa2qwWZaWQWSJb3SKOgwqJIputkqB3iFeK1t oAetuQKK9zJKGIvZStQcSrRyojKSHuuC0RxK6J1dixZrDi1uK/G5qxa0ANUKr8AHtwef6W2/UQcW YIJ5HDTnY+Wn1NW5d7Uzr9PTy4xpRQA02HkElJ5eU7ou3Z7aXRpqF/C0pYQRbrYS2jK6wRMhfAZn 0amoF1Hjsr5eK11qqadModeD0CrVaN3+kBZX9TXwzecGGpuZgsbeSdtv1hoQMiOUtP0JDI3hMkog doT65kI0gOOWkeTpC3+VzJJwIbeQCFOD66STZoOISMw9SqK2r7ZfuIHGOodo3aqrkBA+WuXWIK18 bMqB020n48kEj6TpdoOiLJ3eQoZPc4XzqWa/Olhxsim4ux+OT7whnfKHCEKs0aoqA46JgLODamrN MYHDsCKRlfE3V5iytGueRukYSumIJiHKKoqZzFO4TuWFOvqusIFxl+0ZDGqYJCuEw0AVWNOoVjUt qkaqw9Kqez6TspyRNMuaaWUVVTXdWcxaIS8Dc7a8WpE3tMpNDDnNrPBp6p5PuWt5rpvrE4oqAQYv 7OeouhcoCIZq5WKWakrjxTSscnZGtWtHvsFzVLtIkTCyfjMXO2e3okY4lwPilSo/8M1HLZAmeV+p Le062N5DiTcMqm0fDpdhOPgMruB42gfaqqKtKhpcwZkzlIv0oLjtZxc5BZ6nlAJTyym1HFPPKfWc 0sgpjZzSzClN39MnqnCKrw5TfS8/MIUalh2wZr2Fffq/8S8AAAD//wMAUEsDBBQABgAIAAAAIQCc ZkZBuwAAACQBAAAqAAAAY2xpcGJvYXJkL2RyYXdpbmdzL19yZWxzL2RyYXdpbmcxLnhtbC5yZWxz hI/NCsIwEITvgu8Q9m7SehCRJr2I0KvUBwjJNi02PyRR7Nsb6EVB8LIws+w3s037sjN5YkyTdxxq WgFBp7yenOFw6y+7I5CUpdNy9g45LJigFdtNc8VZ5nKUxikkUigucRhzDifGkhrRykR9QFc2g49W 5iKjYUGquzTI9lV1YPGTAeKLSTrNIXa6BtIvoST/Z/thmBSevXpYdPlHBMulFxagjAYzB0pXZ501 LV2BiYZ9/SbeAAAA//8DAFBLAQItABQABgAIAAAAIQC75UiUBQEAAB4CAAATAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA AAAAAABbQ29udGVudF9UeXBlc10ueG1sUEsBAi0AFAAGAAgAAAAhAK0wP/HBAAAAMgEAAAsAAAAA AAAAAAAAAAAANgEAAF9yZWxzLy5yZWxzUEsBAi0AFAAGAAgAAAAhAHDdUgfwAgAAoAYAAB8AAAAA AAAAAAAAAAAAIAIAAGNsaXBib2FyZC9kcmF3aW5ncy9kcmF3aW5nMS54bWxQSwECLQAUAAYACAAA ACEAkn2H4B0HAABJIAAAGgAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABNBQAAY2xpcGJvYXJkL3RoZW1lL3RoZW1lMS54 bWxQSwECLQAUAAYACAAAACEAnGZGQbsAAAAkAQAAKgAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACiDAAAY2xpcGJvYXJk L2RyYXdpbmdzL19yZWxzL2RyYXdpbmcxLnhtbC5yZWxzUEsFBgAAAAAFAAUAZwEAAKUNAAAAAA== " stroked="f" style="width:24pt; height:24pt; v-text-anchor:top"> <o:lock aspectratio="t" v:ext="edit"> <w:wrap type="none"> <w:anchorlock> </w:anchorlock></w:wrap></o:lock></v:rect><img id="_x0000_i1027" src="" style="width:24pt; height:24pt" /></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom:11px"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:107%"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"> </span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom:11px"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:107%"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The success of the "Eastern CT Manufacturing Pipeline" program hinges on job seekers gaining the exact skills the employer needed. The workforce board sat down with their local employers and outlined the immediate needs, developed a quick solution, and implemented it for stellar results. Where there were skill gaps, hands-on and online training filled it in. The flexibility of online and short-term training helps benefit the employer, the community, and the economy. The new hires will then gain work experience and continue building their skills directly through the employer. This skills-based model can be replicated with other industries as well. The program has been so successful that EWIB is developing their health care pipeline program next.</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom:11px"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:107%"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><v:rect filled="f" id="Rectangle_x0020_7" o:gfxdata="UEsDBBQABgAIAAAAIQC75UiUBQEAAB4CAAATAAAAW0NvbnRlbnRfVHlwZXNdLnhtbKSRvU7DMBSF dyTewfKKEqcMCKEmHfgZgaE8wMW+SSwc27JvS/v23KTJgkoXFsu+P+c7Ol5vDoMTe0zZBl/LVVlJ gV4HY31Xy4/tS3EvRSbwBlzwWMsjZrlprq/W22PELHjb51r2RPFBqax7HCCXIaLnThvSAMTP1KkI +gs6VLdVdad08ISeCho1ZLN+whZ2jsTzgcsnJwldluLxNDiyagkxOquB2Knae/OLUsyEkjenmdzb mG/YhlRnCWPnb8C898bRJGtQvEOiVxjYhtLOxs8AySiT4JuDystlVV4WPeM6tK3VaILeDZxIOSsu ti/jidNGNZ3/J08yC1dNv9v8AAAA//8DAFBLAwQUAAYACAAAACEArTA/8cEAAAAyAQAACwAAAF9y ZWxzLy5yZWxzhI/NCsIwEITvgu8Q9m7TehCRpr2I4FX0AdZk2wbbJGTj39ubi6AgeJtl2G9m6vYx jeJGka13CqqiBEFOe2Ndr+B03C3WIDihMzh6RwqexNA281l9oBFTfuLBBhaZ4ljBkFLYSMl6oAm5 8IFcdjofJ0z5jL0MqC/Yk1yW5UrGTwY0X0yxNwri3lQgjs+Qk/+zfddZTVuvrxO59CNCmoj3vCwj MfaUFOjRhrPHaN4Wv0VV5OYgm1p+LW1eAAAA//8DAFBLAwQUAAYACAAAACEAWXKzIO8CAACgBgAA HwAAAGNsaXBib2FyZC9kcmF3aW5ncy9kcmF3aW5nMS54bWykVdtymzAQfe9M/0GjdwI4+AITkkls k+lM2mTi5gNkIRtNhUQl+ZJ2+u9dCRwTp9OHhAeQ9nK0e3ZXXFzta4G2TBuuZI7jswgjJqkquVzn +Ol7EUwwMpbIkgglWY6fmcFXl58/XZBsrUlTcYoAQZqM5LiytsnC0NCK1cScqYZJ0K2UromFrV6H pSY7QK5FOIiiUVgTLvHlEWpGLEEbzd8BJRT9wcopkVtiAFLQrC/pYhT048gkk9tb3SyaB+0ip9+2 DxrxMsfAnCQ1UITDTtGZwTY88VofAfYrXTt7tVqhvUd5dm+PwfYWURCeR8kkAnwKqm7dnlHd/8OL VvP/+kEw7aGw6AViGheG3L7NbHzI7JFRaIW1YGj8kuTB3DR3UAKDpJpWYMOuTQPW0FLgfBBprXYV I6Vx4pYW4K9F8BQdwYDU5e6rKoFPsrHKd8n7qXpJmWSNNvaWqRq5RY41BOnByfbO2Damg4nnQxVc CM+2kK8EgNlKoErg6nSuXr59f6dROp/MJ0mQDEbzIIlms+C6mCbBqIjHw9n5bDqdxX/cuXGSVbws mXTHHEYpTt70ac2pVkat7BlVdQjNwik7jBMMUxwdh8kowUsH50Iyer2cCo22ROS48E/HfM8sfB2G 71fI5SSleJBEN4M0KEaTcZAUyTBIx9EkiOL0Jh1FSZrMitcp3XHJPp4S2uU4HQ6Gvkq9oE9yi/zz NjeS1dwyjQSvcwxTBE/bu64R57L0pbWEi3bdo8KFf6QCyn0oNCxNN/52v/BjY/c3qnx2hC3hC82r FTQXjCxcrfYeXiuhIA8qeINRpfSvU5mzg6KDBqMdXKw5Nj83RDOMxBcJ85LGSQJw1m+S4XgAG93X LPsaIilA5dhi1C6nFnbgsmk0X1dwUuzplOoahmvFu8ZvY3dZCGMX9lkwz47PkMnygWjyCLkJmO8c Mxk8LTq+wQJIOZKwMWzRuNuiHaiWJU8bGJ7czd61+5e4H0B/f/kXAAD//wMAUEsDBBQABgAIAAAA IQCSfYfgHQcAAEkgAAAaAAAAY2xpcGJvYXJkL3RoZW1lL3RoZW1lMS54bWzsWUtvGzcQvhfof1js vbFkvWIjcmDJctzEL0RKihwpidplzF0uSMqObkVy6qVAgbTooQF666EoGqABGvTSH2PAQZv+iA65 L1Ki4gdcIChsAcbu7DfD4czszOzwzt1nEfWOMReExW2/eqviezgesTGJg7b/aLD92W3fExLFY0RZ jNv+DAv/7sann9xB6yNKkiFDfDwIcYQ9EBSLddT2QymT9ZUVMQIyErdYgmN4NmE8QhJuebAy5ugE Fojoymql0lyJEIn9DZAolaAehX+xFIoworyvxGAvRhGsfjCZkBHW2PFRVSHETHQp944Rbfsgc8xO BviZ9D2KhIQHbb+i//yVjTsraD1jonIJr8G3rf8yvoxhfLSq1+TBsFi0Xm/Um5uFfA2gchHXa/Wa vWYhTwPQaAQ7TXWxZbZWu/UMa4DSS4fsrdZWrWrhDfm1BZ03G+pn4TUolV9fwG9vd8GKFl6DUnxj Ad/orHW2bPkalOKbC/hWZXOr3rLka1BISXy0gK40mrVuvtsCMmF0xwlfa9S3W6uZ8BIF0VBEl1pi wmK5LNYi9JTxbQAoIEWSxJ6cJXiCRhCTXUTJkBNvlwQhBF6CYiaAXFmtbFdq8F/96vpKexStY2Rw K71AE7FAUvp4YsRJItv+fZDqG5Czt29Pn785ff776YsXp89/zdbWoiy+HRQHJt/7n77559WX3t+/ /fj+5bfp0vN4YeLf/fLVuz/+/JB42HFpirPvXr978/rs+6//+vmlQ/omR0MTPiARFt4+PvEesgg2 6NAfD/nlOAYhIibHZhwIFCO1ikN+T4YWen+GKHLgOti242MOqcYFvDd9aincD/lUEofEB2FkAfcY ox3GnVZ4oNYyzDyYxoF7cT41cQ8ROnat3UWx5eXeNIEcS1wiuyG21DykKJYowDGWnnrGjjB27O4J IZZd98iIM8Em0ntCvA4iTpMMyNCKppJph0Tgl5lLQfC3ZZu9x16HUdeut/CxjYR3A1GH8gNMLTPe Q1OJIpfIAYqoafBdJEOXkv0ZH5m4npDg6QBT5vXGWAgXzwGH/RpOfwBpxu32PTqLbCSX5Mglcxcx ZiK32FE3RFHiwvZJHJrYz8URhCjyDpl0wfeY/Yaoe/ADipe6+zHBlrvPzwaPIMOaKpUBop5MucOX 9zCz4rc/oxOEXalmk0dWit3kxBkdnWlghfYuxhSdoDHG3qPPHRp0WGLZvFT6fghZZQe7Aus+smNV 3cdYYE83N4t5cpcIK2T7OGBL9NmbzSWeGYojxJdJ3gevmzbvQamLXAFwQEdHJnCfQL8H8eI0yoEA GUZwL5V6GCKrgKl74Y7XGbf8d5F3DN7Lp5YaF3gvgQdfmgcSu8nzQdsMELUWKANmgKDLcKVbYLHc X7Ko4qrZpk6+if3Slm6A7shqeiISn9sBzfU+jf+u94EO4+yHV46X7Xr6HbdgK1ldstNZlkx25vqb Zbj5rqbL+Jh8/E3NFprGhxjqyGLGuulpbnoa/3/f0yx7n286mWX9xk0n40OHcdPJZMOV6+lkyuYF +ho18EgHPXrsEy2d+kwIpX05o3hX6MGPgO+Z8TYQFZ+ebuJiCpiEcKnKHCxg4QKONI/HmfyCyLAf ogSmQ1VfCQlEJjoQXsIEDI002Slb4ek02mPjdNhZrarBZlpZBZIlvdIo6DCokim62SoHeIV4rW2g B625Aor3MkoYi9lK1BxKtHKiMpIe64LRHEronV2LFmsOLW4r8bmrFrQA1QqvwAe3B5/pbb9RBxZg gnkcNOdj5afU1bl3tTOv09PLjGlFADTYeQSUnl5Tui7dntpdGmoX8LSlhBFuthLaMrrBEyF8BmfR qagXUeOyvl4rXWqpp0yh14PQKtVo3f6QFlf1NfDN5wYam5mCxt5J22/WGhAyI5S0/QkMjeEySiB2 hPrmQjSA45aR5OkLf5XMknAht5AIU4PrpJNmg4hIzD1Koravtl+4gcY6h2jdqquQED5a5dYgrXxs yoHTbSfjyQSPpOl2g6Isnd5Chk9zhfOpZr86WHGyKbi7H45PvCGd8ocIQqzRqioDjomAs4Nqas0x gcOwIpGV8TdXmLK0a55G6RhK6YgmIcoqipnMU7hO5YU6+q6wgXGX7RkMapgkK4TDQBVY06hWNS2q RqrD0qp7PpOynJE0y5ppZRVVNd1ZzFohLwNztrxakTe0yk0MOc2s8Gnqnk+5a3mum+sTiioBBi/s 56i6FygIhmrlYpZqSuPFNKxydka1a0e+wXNUu0iRMLJ+Mxc7Z7eiRjiXA+KVKj/wzUctkCZ5X6kt 7TrY3kOJNwyqbR8Ol2E4+Ayu4HjaB9qqoq0qGlzBmTOUi/SguO1nFzkFnqeUAlPLKbUcU88p9ZzS yCmNnNLMKU3f0yeqcIqvDlN9Lz8whRqWHbBmvYV9+r/xLwAAAP//AwBQSwMEFAAGAAgAAAAhAJxm RkG7AAAAJAEAACoAAABjbGlwYm9hcmQvZHJhd2luZ3MvX3JlbHMvZHJhd2luZzEueG1sLnJlbHOE j80KwjAQhO+C7xD2btJ6EJEmvYjQq9QHCMk2LTY/JFHs2xvoRUHwsjCz7DezTfuyM3liTJN3HGpa AUGnvJ6c4XDrL7sjkJSl03L2DjksmKAV201zxVnmcpTGKSRSKC5xGHMOJ8aSGtHKRH1AVzaDj1bm IqNhQaq7NMj2VXVg8ZMB4otJOs0hdroG0i+hJP9n+2GYFJ69elh0+UcEy6UXFqCMBjMHSldnnTUt XYGJhn39Jt4AAAD//wMAUEsBAi0AFAAGAAgAAAAhALvlSJQFAQAAHgIAABMAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA AAAAAFtDb250ZW50X1R5cGVzXS54bWxQSwECLQAUAAYACAAAACEArTA/8cEAAAAyAQAACwAAAAAA AAAAAAAAAAA2AQAAX3JlbHMvLnJlbHNQSwECLQAUAAYACAAAACEAWXKzIO8CAACgBgAAHwAAAAAA AAAAAAAAAAAgAgAAY2xpcGJvYXJkL2RyYXdpbmdzL2RyYXdpbmcxLnhtbFBLAQItABQABgAIAAAA IQCSfYfgHQcAAEkgAAAaAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAEwFAABjbGlwYm9hcmQvdGhlbWUvdGhlbWUxLnht bFBLAQItABQABgAIAAAAIQCcZkZBuwAAACQBAAAqAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAKEMAABjbGlwYm9hcmQv ZHJhd2luZ3MvX3JlbHMvZHJhd2luZzEueG1sLnJlbHNQSwUGAAAAAAUABQBnAQAApA0AAAAA " stroked="f" style="width:24pt; height:24pt; v-text-anchor:top"> <o:lock aspectratio="t" v:ext="edit"> <w:wrap type="none"> <w:anchorlock> </w:anchorlock></w:wrap></o:lock></v:rect><img id="_x0000_i1026" src="" style="width:24pt; height:24pt" /></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom:11px"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:107%"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><b>Developing Your Own Career Pathways</b></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom:11px"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:107%"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">You can follow EWIB's example to develop career pathways for your own community. Take the reins and invite employers to speak with you on their hiring needs. Sit down with industry groups or individual employers to find out what's relevant to your city. Attend community meetings to find out what's happening on the ground. Look at labor market data and employment trends to identify needs. Think about your current job seekers and barriers they may face. Consider how to address these challenges and create new opportunities.</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom:11px"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:107%"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">To build your own workforce pipeline program, consider these steps:</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom:11px"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:107%"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><v:rect filled="f" id="Rectangle_x0020_6" o:gfxdata="UEsDBBQABgAIAAAAIQC75UiUBQEAAB4CAAATAAAAW0NvbnRlbnRfVHlwZXNdLnhtbKSRvU7DMBSF dyTewfKKEqcMCKEmHfgZgaE8wMW+SSwc27JvS/v23KTJgkoXFsu+P+c7Ol5vDoMTe0zZBl/LVVlJ gV4HY31Xy4/tS3EvRSbwBlzwWMsjZrlprq/W22PELHjb51r2RPFBqax7HCCXIaLnThvSAMTP1KkI +gs6VLdVdad08ISeCho1ZLN+whZ2jsTzgcsnJwldluLxNDiyagkxOquB2Knae/OLUsyEkjenmdzb mG/YhlRnCWPnb8C898bRJGtQvEOiVxjYhtLOxs8AySiT4JuDystlVV4WPeM6tK3VaILeDZxIOSsu ti/jidNGNZ3/J08yC1dNv9v8AAAA//8DAFBLAwQUAAYACAAAACEArTA/8cEAAAAyAQAACwAAAF9y ZWxzLy5yZWxzhI/NCsIwEITvgu8Q9m7TehCRpr2I4FX0AdZk2wbbJGTj39ubi6AgeJtl2G9m6vYx jeJGka13CqqiBEFOe2Ndr+B03C3WIDihMzh6RwqexNA281l9oBFTfuLBBhaZ4ljBkFLYSMl6oAm5 8IFcdjofJ0z5jL0MqC/Yk1yW5UrGTwY0X0yxNwri3lQgjs+Qk/+zfddZTVuvrxO59CNCmoj3vCwj MfaUFOjRhrPHaN4Wv0VV5OYgm1p+LW1eAAAA//8DAFBLAwQUAAYACAAAACEAdPR/b+8CAACgBgAA HwAAAGNsaXBib2FyZC9kcmF3aW5ncy9kcmF3aW5nMS54bWykVdtymzAQfe9M/0GjdwI4+AITkkls k+lM2mTi5gNkIRtNhUQl+ZJ2+u9dCRwTp9OHhAeQ9nK0e3ZXXFzta4G2TBuuZI7jswgjJqkquVzn +Ol7EUwwMpbIkgglWY6fmcFXl58/XZBsrUlTcYoAQZqM5LiytsnC0NCK1cScqYZJ0K2UromFrV6H pSY7QK5FOIiiUVgTLvHlEWpGLEEbzd8BJRT9wcopkVtiAFLQrC/pYhT048gkk9tb3SyaB+0ip9+2 DxrxMsfAnCQ1UITDTtGZwTY88VofAfYrXTt7tVqhvUd5dm+PwfYWURCeR8kkAnwKqm7dnlHd/8OL VvP/+kEw7aGw6AViGheG3L7NbHTI7JFRaIW1YGj0kuTB3DR3UAKDpJpWYMOuTQPW0FLgfBBprXYV I6Vx4pYW4K9F8BQdwYDU5e6rKoFPsrHKd8n7qXpJmWSNNvaWqRq5RY41BOnByfbO2Damg4nnQxVc CM+2kK8EgNlKoErg6nSuXr59f6dROp/MJ0mQDEbzIIlms+C6mCbBqIjHw9n5bDqdxX/cuXGSVbws mXTHHEYpTt70ac2pVkat7BlVdQjNwik7jBMMUxwdh8kowUsH50Iyer2cCo22ROS48E/HfM8sfB2G 71fI5SSleJBEN4M0KEaTcZAUyTBIx9EkiOL0Jh1FSZrMitcp3XHJPp4S2uU4HQ6Gvkq9oE9yi/zz NjeS1dwyjQSvcwxTBE/bu64R57L0pbWEi3bdo8KFf6QCyn0oNCxNN/52v/BjY/c3qnx2hC3hC82r FTQXjCxcrfYeXiuhIA8qeINRpfSvU5mzg6KDBqMdXKw5Nj83RDOMxBcJ85LGSQJw1m+S4XgAG93X LPsaIilA5dhi1C6nFnbgsmk0X1dwUuzplOoahmvFu8ZvY3dZCGMX9lkwz47PkMnygWjyCLkJmO8c Mxk8LTq+wQJIOZKwMWzRuNuiHaiWJU8bGJ7czd61+5e4H0B/f/kXAAD//wMAUEsDBBQABgAIAAAA IQCSfYfgHQcAAEkgAAAaAAAAY2xpcGJvYXJkL3RoZW1lL3RoZW1lMS54bWzsWUtvGzcQvhfof1js vbFkvWIjcmDJctzEL0RKihwpidplzF0uSMqObkVy6qVAgbTooQF666EoGqABGvTSH2PAQZv+iA65 L1Ki4gdcIChsAcbu7DfD4czszOzwzt1nEfWOMReExW2/eqviezgesTGJg7b/aLD92W3fExLFY0RZ jNv+DAv/7sann9xB6yNKkiFDfDwIcYQ9EBSLddT2QymT9ZUVMQIyErdYgmN4NmE8QhJuebAy5ugE Fojoymql0lyJEIn9DZAolaAehX+xFIoworyvxGAvRhGsfjCZkBHW2PFRVSHETHQp944Rbfsgc8xO BviZ9D2KhIQHbb+i//yVjTsraD1jonIJr8G3rf8yvoxhfLSq1+TBsFi0Xm/Um5uFfA2gchHXa/Wa vWYhTwPQaAQ7TXWxZbZWu/UMa4DSS4fsrdZWrWrhDfm1BZ03G+pn4TUolV9fwG9vd8GKFl6DUnxj Ad/orHW2bPkalOKbC/hWZXOr3rLka1BISXy0gK40mrVuvtsCMmF0xwlfa9S3W6uZ8BIF0VBEl1pi wmK5LNYi9JTxbQAoIEWSxJ6cJXiCRhCTXUTJkBNvlwQhBF6CYiaAXFmtbFdq8F/96vpKexStY2Rw K71AE7FAUvp4YsRJItv+fZDqG5Czt29Pn785ff776YsXp89/zdbWoiy+HRQHJt/7n77559WX3t+/ /fj+5bfp0vN4YeLf/fLVuz/+/JB42HFpirPvXr978/rs+6//+vmlQ/omR0MTPiARFt4+PvEesgg2 6NAfD/nlOAYhIibHZhwIFCO1ikN+T4YWen+GKHLgOti242MOqcYFvDd9aincD/lUEofEB2FkAfcY ox3GnVZ4oNYyzDyYxoF7cT41cQ8ROnat3UWx5eXeNIEcS1wiuyG21DykKJYowDGWnnrGjjB27O4J IZZd98iIM8Em0ntCvA4iTpMMyNCKppJph0Tgl5lLQfC3ZZu9x16HUdeut/CxjYR3A1GH8gNMLTPe Q1OJIpfIAYqoafBdJEOXkv0ZH5m4npDg6QBT5vXGWAgXzwGH/RpOfwBpxu32PTqLbCSX5Mglcxcx ZiK32FE3RFHiwvZJHJrYz8URhCjyDpl0wfeY/Yaoe/ADipe6+zHBlrvPzwaPIMOaKpUBop5MucOX 9zCz4rc/oxOEXalmk0dWit3kxBkdnWlghfYuxhSdoDHG3qPPHRp0WGLZvFT6fghZZQe7Aus+smNV 3cdYYE83N4t5cpcIK2T7OGBL9NmbzSWeGYojxJdJ3gevmzbvQamLXAFwQEdHJnCfQL8H8eI0yoEA GUZwL5V6GCKrgKl74Y7XGbf8d5F3DN7Lp5YaF3gvgQdfmgcSu8nzQdsMELUWKANmgKDLcKVbYLHc X7Ko4qrZpk6+if3Slm6A7shqeiISn9sBzfU+jf+u94EO4+yHV46X7Xr6HbdgK1ldstNZlkx25vqb Zbj5rqbL+Jh8/E3NFprGhxjqyGLGuulpbnoa/3/f0yx7n286mWX9xk0n40OHcdPJZMOV6+lkyuYF +ho18EgHPXrsEy2d+kwIpX05o3hX6MGPgO+Z8TYQFZ+ebuJiCpiEcKnKHCxg4QKONI/HmfyCyLAf ogSmQ1VfCQlEJjoQXsIEDI002Slb4ek02mPjdNhZrarBZlpZBZIlvdIo6DCokim62SoHeIV4rW2g B625Aor3MkoYi9lK1BxKtHKiMpIe64LRHEronV2LFmsOLW4r8bmrFrQA1QqvwAe3B5/pbb9RBxZg gnkcNOdj5afU1bl3tTOv09PLjGlFADTYeQSUnl5Tui7dntpdGmoX8LSlhBFuthLaMrrBEyF8BmfR qagXUeOyvl4rXWqpp0yh14PQKtVo3f6QFlf1NfDN5wYam5mCxt5J22/WGhAyI5S0/QkMjeEySiB2 hPrmQjSA45aR5OkLf5XMknAht5AIU4PrpJNmg4hIzD1Koravtl+4gcY6h2jdqquQED5a5dYgrXxs yoHTbSfjyQSPpOl2g6Isnd5Chk9zhfOpZr86WHGyKbi7H45PvCGd8ocIQqzRqioDjomAs4Nqas0x gcOwIpGV8TdXmLK0a55G6RhK6YgmIcoqipnMU7hO5YU6+q6wgXGX7RkMapgkK4TDQBVY06hWNS2q RqrD0qp7PpOynJE0y5ppZRVVNd1ZzFohLwNztrxakTe0yk0MOc2s8Gnqnk+5a3mum+sTiioBBi/s 56i6FygIhmrlYpZqSuPFNKxydka1a0e+wXNUu0iRMLJ+Mxc7Z7eiRjiXA+KVKj/wzUctkCZ5X6kt 7TrY3kOJNwyqbR8Ol2E4+Ayu4HjaB9qqoq0qGlzBmTOUi/SguO1nFzkFnqeUAlPLKbUcU88p9ZzS yCmNnNLMKU3f0yeqcIqvDlN9Lz8whRqWHbBmvYV9+r/xLwAAAP//AwBQSwMEFAAGAAgAAAAhAJxm RkG7AAAAJAEAACoAAABjbGlwYm9hcmQvZHJhd2luZ3MvX3JlbHMvZHJhd2luZzEueG1sLnJlbHOE j80KwjAQhO+C7xD2btJ6EJEmvYjQq9QHCMk2LTY/JFHs2xvoRUHwsjCz7DezTfuyM3liTJN3HGpa AUGnvJ6c4XDrL7sjkJSl03L2DjksmKAV201zxVnmcpTGKSRSKC5xGHMOJ8aSGtHKRH1AVzaDj1bm IqNhQaq7NMj2VXVg8ZMB4otJOs0hdroG0i+hJP9n+2GYFJ69elh0+UcEy6UXFqCMBjMHSldnnTUt XYGJhn39Jt4AAAD//wMAUEsBAi0AFAAGAAgAAAAhALvlSJQFAQAAHgIAABMAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA AAAAAFtDb250ZW50X1R5cGVzXS54bWxQSwECLQAUAAYACAAAACEArTA/8cEAAAAyAQAACwAAAAAA AAAAAAAAAAA2AQAAX3JlbHMvLnJlbHNQSwECLQAUAAYACAAAACEAdPR/b+8CAACgBgAAHwAAAAAA AAAAAAAAAAAgAgAAY2xpcGJvYXJkL2RyYXdpbmdzL2RyYXdpbmcxLnhtbFBLAQItABQABgAIAAAA IQCSfYfgHQcAAEkgAAAaAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAEwFAABjbGlwYm9hcmQvdGhlbWUvdGhlbWUxLnht bFBLAQItABQABgAIAAAAIQCcZkZBuwAAACQBAAAqAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAKEMAABjbGlwYm9hcmQv ZHJhd2luZ3MvX3JlbHMvZHJhd2luZzEueG1sLnJlbHNQSwUGAAAAAAUABQBnAQAApA0AAAAA " stroked="f" style="width:24pt; height:24pt; v-text-anchor:top"> <o:lock aspectratio="t" v:ext="edit"> <w:wrap type="none"> <w:anchorlock> </w:anchorlock></w:wrap></o:lock></v:rect><img id="_x0000_i1025" src="" style="width:24pt; height:24pt" /></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom:11px"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:107%"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">You can focus on pre-existing partnership and develop new connections to form your local pathways. Consider what assets exist today (trade schools, community colleges, etc.) and how to bridge any gaps in your training pipeline. Are there opportunities to fill in gaps?</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom:11px"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:107%"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Looking for advice on developing your career pathways? Need fresh ideas on skills-based training programs? Join Metrix Learning at the <a href="https://www.geographicsolutions.com/wtc2019" style="color:#0563c1; text-decoration:underline">2019 Workforce Technology Conference</a> to find out more.</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom:11px"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:107%"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><b>About the Author:</b> Christine Peng is a Metrix Learning workforce solutions consultant working closely with clients from 15 states to customize and implement workforce development and training portals. Her experience includes in-depth career pathways analysis and learning management system design. </span></span></span></p> 237