Clark State Community College will host the Community College Workforce Consortium (CCWC) and Ohio Tech Net (OTN) Workforce Forum at the Hollenbeck Bailey Creative Arts and Conference Center beginning at 5:30 p.m., today, September 1. The purpose of the meeting is to align demand, skills and training with industry needs.
“Clark State is honored to host a conference of college presidents and workforce professionals that places manufacturing front and center—and identifies ways to close the skills gap,” said Dr. Jo Alice Blondin, president of Clark State.
Blondin will open the forum and John Colborn, director of Skills for America’s Future at The Aspen Institute will follow, speaking on “Upskilling the American Workforce.”
The forum will continue on Wednesday, September 2 and feature numerous workforce development leaders and industry experts from the Midwest.
Ohio State Senator Chris Widener, a Springfield native, will discuss higher education responding to workforce needs. Senator Widener has championed policy that promotes limited government, low taxes, strong schools, and he works to encourage business development and job creation in our local communities.
The afternoon session will feature Emily DeRocco. DeRocco was nominated by President Bush and confirmed by the U.S. Senate as the assistant secretary of labor in 2001. In that position, DeRocco was responsible for managing a $10 billion investment in the nation’s workforce. She created and implemented regional economic development initiatives in 39 regions across the nation during her tenure, using talent development strategies to drive competitive advantage for America’s businesses.
In April 2012, DeRocco launched a Washington, D.C.-based strategic consulting practice focused on linking education, workforce and economic development assets for competitive advantage. She is currently serving as senior strategic advisor to the ACT Foundation and director of the National Network of Business and Industry Associations co-managed by Business Roundtable and the Foundation. DeRocco is also directing the education and workforce strategies for the newly-designated, Detroit-based American Lightweight Materials Manufacturing Innovation Institute. She is the immediate past president of The Manufacturing Institute and will speak on creating talent development strategies aligned to the National Network of Manufacturing Innovation Institutes.
The forum will conclude at 3:30 p.m.
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