January 2017 Partner Express Newsletter

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January 2017                                                  

Director’s Corner

Happy New Year everyone!

I am pleased to announce that our team has brought Chelsea Georgesen on as our new Grants and Policy Coordinator. Chelsea provides a brief bio below – please take a look. I’m sure that you will each have the opportunity to meet and get to know her in the coming months.

As you know, our Legislature has convened – and we are preparing for a busy session. The Dislocated Worker program will likely be the subject of many conversations at the Capitol this session. In addition to working on our mandated annual report, we are working on revamping and clarifying the ways in which we communicate our program's benefit to so many individuals and employers. All in the name of overall program and continuous improvement!

Third and finally – now that our Grants and Policy team is finally getting back to where it should be – we will be reaching out soon regarding the Sector Partnership National Dislocated Worker grant. I know I’ve said this before, but we are ready to delve in to this work in earnest. Please be ready to help us plan ahead on this.

Aside from that, I would just like to wish you all a very happy new year. 

Annie

PERFORMANCE/POLICY

National Dislocated Worker Grants (DWG)

Quarter report data will be calculated on January 20, 2017. Please have all your DWG data up-to-date in Workforce One by the end of the day January 19, 2017.

If you have questions or concerns related to performance or data entry, contact Amy Carlson at amy.carlson@state.mn.us

POLICY/GRANTS

Happy New Year! As the new Policy & Grants Coordinator for the Dislocated Worker Program I am looking forward to our collaboration and partnership in 2017 and beyond. I come to DW from DEED’s Government Affairs team, where I was the Government Affairs Coordinator for 2 years. Before that, I worked as a project coordinator for the Health Economics Program at the Minnesota Department of Health after completing my Masters of Public Health in Health Policy and Administration. I am excited to bring my experience in public policy and commitment to serving Minnesotans to our work, and hope for the chance to get to know your organizations better in the coming months. Best wishes for the New Year!

Chelsea Georgesen

Cameron Macht

CORNER ON THE MARKET:
WITH CAMERON MACHT

Regional Analysis & Outreach Manager
Minnesota Dept. of Employment & Economic Development
cameron.macht@state.mn.us
320-441-6596

New Jobs for the New Year!

Recent data shows that the state of Minnesota added 32,000 new jobs to the economy over the past year, a solid 1.1 percent increase. “Minnesota’s economy remains fundamentally strong, with steady job growth and rising wages,” said DEED Commissioner Shawntera Hardy. “Those trends are likely to continue through 2017.” 

Corner on the Market Graphic

These new jobs have been added in a wide range of industries, with the largest amount added in health care and social assistance. This included huge expansions in ambulatory health care services such as offices of physicians, outpatient care centers, and home health care services; as well as rapid gains in social assistance and nursing care facilities.

The state also welcomed loads of new jobs in construction, transportation, retail trade, real estate, utilities, insurance carriers, food manufacturing, and professional and business services. Data shows that new opportunities abound for workers across the state.

Jobseekers that are interested in something new can use DEED’s data tools to explore careers that are in demand in Minnesota. Occupations in Demand presents a list of jobs that are in high demand in each region of the state, based on local labor market information. The top 15 list statewide includes health care occupations like registered nurses, personal care aides, nursing assistants, and licensed practical nurses; transportation jobs like truck drivers, laborers and material movers, and stock clerks; and retail and food service jobs like retail salespersons, food prep and serving workers, cashiers, waiters and waitresses, and cooks. Occupations in Demand shows that there are job opportunities for people at every education level, from less than a high school diploma to a professional degree.

In addition to current demand, DEED’s 2014-2024 Employment Projections provide a better understanding of future employment prospects. But even occupations that aren’t adding new jobs will have demand in the future, due to a large number of replacement openings created from existing workers retiring, leaving the workforce for other reasons, or changing careers. 

Corner on the Market Graphic 2

Some of the same occupations – including retail salespersons and cashiers; waitresses and cooks; and registered nurses and nursing assistants – are projected to have the most total openings in the state over the next decade. Many of the fastest growing occupations are expected to be found in health care, retail trade, construction, and professional and business services.

As the economy continues to improve and the labor market continues to tighten, jobseekers that are looking for something new can use these data tools to make informed career decisions.

Sharon Success Story

SUCCESS STORY: Sharon

North Mankato -
WIOA Adult Program

Sharon’s career journey began in fall 2013 when she completed her GED and then enrolled in the South Central Minnesota FastTRAC Pathways to Healthcare Program and Workforce Investment and Opportunities Adult Program.  Sharon dropped out of school in 9th grade while living in Texas. She is currently married with two boys and living in South Central Minnesota.  Sharon has a limited paid work history and has only had a few entry level jobs in cleaning, retail and fast food. She has been a homemaker most of her working career, raising both her sons and handling the medical needs of her youngest. Her son's medical needs have prevented her from pursuing her education and employment dreams until recently.

After completing her GED and FastTRAC Pathways to Healthcare Careers exploration class, Sharon's confidence started rising.  She learned about different healthcare careers in the class and earned her National Career Readiness Certificate (NCRC).  Sharon started her career path by taking the Nursing Assistant and Medical terminology course at South Central College through the FastTRAC program where she received additional educational and navigational support in the college course. 

Sharon enrolled into the Certified Medical Assistant program and pursued her Associates Degree in science with the help of the WIA/WIOA Adult program.  Sharon has since graduated with high honors as a Medical Assistant in May 2016.  She just completed her summer internship and is currently interviewing for Medical Assistant positions.  Sharon is excited to start working in her new career and help her family financially.  Sharon stated, “After being out of school for so long, I couldn’t have done it without the program help.”  Sharon has also given back to the WIOA program by speaking to the WIOA youth groups about pursing your dreams and being successful.   Sharon now has a lifelong skill in a field she loves and is thankful for the help from the WIOA Adult and FastTRAC programs.  

    We want this e-Newsletter to meet your needs! We encourage you to send your comments and suggestions to Liz.McLoone@state.mn.us,

    View past editions of the Partner Express Newsletter at http://mn.gov/deed/programs-services/dislocated-worker/counselors/news/index.jsp

    Wanting to subscribe to this newsletter? Contact Liz McLoone at Liz.McLoone@state.mn.us  with your request!


    UNIT DIRECTORY


    ANNIE WELCH,
    DIRECTOR
    651-259-7525 

    DW LINE
    651-259-7537 

    RAPID RESPONSE
    MAI NENG MOUA
    (RR COORDINATOR)
    651-259-7137

    MARLA BEATY
    218-259-1380

    MOHAMMADKHEIR GABA
    651-259-7535

    SYLVIA GARCIA
    651-259-7519

    MO MALIN
    651-259-7535

    LIZ MCLOONE
    (LABOR LIAISON)
    651-259-7145 

    JASON WADELL
    651-259-7552

    GRANTS

    CHELSEA GEORGESEN
    (GRANTS & POLICY COORDINATOR)
    651-259-7508

    MONICA WEBER
    651-259-7560

    PERFORMANCE
    AMY CARLSON 
    651-259-7542

    TAA LINE 651-259-7543

    TAA TEAM

    DEBRA GRAMZA
    (TAA COORDINATOR)
    651-259-7570

    JENNIFER ANDERSON  (9)
    651-259-7690

    CINDY BOYLE  (2)
    651-259-7551 

    JACKIE BREKKEN  (Follow-up)
    218-739-7560

    ADELE CLOUTIER  (0)
    651-259-7566

    MARY GARCIA (1)
    651-259-7553

    ESTELA HERNANDEZ  (6)
    651-259-7501

    KELLY KALLI  (5)
    651-259-7527 

    LAURIE LARSON   (Follow-up)
    651-259-7681

    SARAH SAITO  (7)
    651-259-7546

    LINDA SKOGEN  (3)
    651-259-7588

    THOMAS SOMMER  (8)
    651-259-7585

    OLAJIDE WILLIAMS  (4)
    651-259-7431