Advantage Carroll

Workforce Education Task Force

In 2011, Carroll Tomorrow’s Advantage Carroll cam-paign was completed by 52 local community leaders, the Carroll Tomorrow staff, and First Community Devel-opment, an Atlanta-based planning firm. That new plan identified three focus areas, measurable goals, and the funding plan for Carroll Tomorrow for year’s 2011 to 2015.The three focus areas are:

Economic DevelopmentEducation and Workforce DevelopmentLeadership and Government Relations

Under Education and Workforce Development, the plan called for the creation of a Workforce Development Department and the appointment of a Blue Ribbon Task Force (BRTF) comprised of business leaders charged with generating ideas, solutions, and resources.The Workforce Development Department was created and Kenny Edwards was hired as its director in January of 2013.In February of 2013, Carroll County was the only Georgia county chosen by the Georgia Department of Education to be featured in an assessment as part of

Workforce Education Task Force

Harvard University’s Pathways to Prosperity Initiative. Following a site tour and interviews, Harvard provided a summary report of their findings which were very pos-itive concerning the level of workforce and education activity in Carroll County. However, Carroll Tomorrow leadership knew advances could be made.In March of 2013, the Blue Ribbon Task Force, com-prised of a select and diverse group of business leaders, was launched. The BRTF began researching, debating, discussing, and educating themselves of the challenges and opportunities surrounding education and the prepa-ration of students and adults for the workforce.The BRTF completed its assignment and summarized the findings. In those findings, it has become abundant-ly clear that in today’s world it does take a village to educate our children. The village is comprised of three primary partner groups:

Community Leaders Educators and Schools Business and Industry

The Blue Ribbon Task Force created goals for each of the three focus areas and has asked the Chamber’s

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Workforce Education Task Force

Workforce Education Task Force to communicate, coor-dinate, and report the pursuit and achievement of these goals.

It is understood that while the overall mission and vision behind these goals will not change, the goals and action items will fluctuate as some needs are met and others become more immediate. Therefore, this working document will include adjustments and changes over time.

The Chamber and Carroll Tomorrow have made this work a priority and will commit the resources and staff necessary to partner with the community and schools to pursue and achieve these goals.

The Task Force understands that many factors come into play, including life circumstances, health, family, finan-cial resources, etc., when attempting to set goals for all students. By creating as many opportunities as possible

and eliminating as many obstacles as possible, every student will have a greater chance of successfully com-pleting their studies and finding gainful employment.

From day one, the Task Force has expressed apprecia-tion for our local school systems, including the public and private schools, and UWG and WGTC. The busi-ness community is especially grateful that the educators are willing to incorporate employability skills training into an already demanding schedule and rigorous cur-riculum. The BRTF has concluded that students, as a whole, often lack the soft skills, life skills, and technical skills necessary to satisfy employment expectations and meet specific job requirements. While soft skills and life skills historically have not been the primary responsi-bility of education, it is the belief that schools, with the help of the business community, are the best option for helping students learn these necessary skills.

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The ultimate goal is to give every student the opportunity to discover their natural gifts, skill sets, and interests and identify pathways that

will allow them to successfully pursue those career dreams.

Strategic Plan

Vision To create an environment that ensures every opportunity for a well-trained and highly qualified workforce, resulting in a positive return on investment for all.

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Mission The Workforce Education Task Force will work to identify key workforce and education issues and opportunities, and focus on a strategy using every available resource and partner to pursue measurable goals and achieve exceptional outcomes.

Advantage Carroll

Strategic Plan

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Key Components Of Career Development1. Knowledge (Education)2. Implementation skills (work based training

including soft skills)3. Health (Physical and Mental)

Key Emphasis Area Goals1. FOCUS on career development and implementation

skills to enable young adults to be high achievers by creating value for themselves and society.

2. MOTIVATE our youth to use their interest, knowledge, natural talents and skill sets to develop a sustainable career path.

3. WORK with all partners and stakeholders to create a suitable and effective model for economic devel-opment that results in career/job opportunities that create value for all.

ULTIMATE GOAL is to give every student the opportunity to discover their natural gifts, skill sets, and interests to identify career pathways that will allow them to successfully pursue individual career goals.

Key Measures1. All high school seniors will have the opportunity to

be involved in a work-based learning model.2. All high school students will develop an individual

career plan and pathways that will lead to successful work experiences and career opportunities.

StructureThree committees will be established under the Carroll Tomorrow structure with responsibilities to coordinate support efforts and needs for the: 1) Education Community, 2) Business Community, and 3) Government and Local Leaders.

Goals for the Workforce Education Task Force

Community ————————————————————————————————————————

The WETF will seek to identify and engage every available partner to embrace and pursue the mission, vision, goals, and action items of the Workforce Development Plan. Additionally, the WETF will create a system to track, measure, benchmark, and communicate the progress and achievements of the strategic plan.

Goals:1. The WETF will develop an effective marketing /

communication plan to help students, parents, and educators understand the many career opportunities in Carroll County, and the pathway options and requirements necessary to pursue those careers.

2. The WETF will work with local and state resources to promote job and career opportunities in West Georgia for students and adults.

3. The WETF will seek to identify, catalogue, and sup-port all workforce and education partners, resources, and institutions and will encourage partnerships, coordination of services, and articulation agreements.

4. The Chamber’s WETF will work with the DOL and other local partners to conduct an annual career expo and will help promote local job fairs.

Education ——————————————————————————————————————————

The WETF will partner with executive leadership, administrators, teachers, counselors, staff, and school boards to communicate, support, and promote all cur-rent and proposed curriculum, activities, and programs as they relate to professional education resources and school systems in our community based on the mis-sion, vision and goals of the Workforce Development Plan.

Goals:1. All high schools will be encouraged to offer general

business and economic principles including basic financial management skills.

2. Every school in Carroll County will be encouraged to incorporate soft skills training into the curriculum for all students.

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Goals for the Workforce Education Task Force

3. Every high school student will be encouraged to par-ticipate in some type of work-based learning program before graduation.

4. Curriculum directors, school counselors, and teachers will be encouraged to utilize business resources (per-sonnel, equipment, manuals, videos, industry tours, etc.) to insure that curriculum and training match workplace needs and requirements.

5. Continue to emphasize that employment is the prima-ry goal for education.

6. Educators will work with the WETF, community outreach organizations, social services, civic clubs, student clubs, the business community, and other resources to improve retention and graduation rates, especially for students classified as “at risk.”

7. Schools will encourage students to pursue Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) opportuni-ties.

Business and Industry ———————————————————————————

The WETF will recruit, engage, and encourage the local business community to support and pursue the goals and action items of the Workforce Development Strategic Plan.

Goals:1. The Business Community will be encouraged to

allow students to tour, intern, job shadow, co-op, and work in industry, business, services, healthcare, etc. to expose them to career options, opportunities, and expectations and provide real life work experiences.

2. The WETF and Carroll Tomorrow staff will seek to identify and recruit other businesses willing to create student work /study programs such as 12 For Life, Tanner Connections, and Southwire’s STEM Academy.

3. The Business Community will be encouraged to advertise available job and career opportunities, to communicate the requirements needed to fill those jobs, to let students know how to pursue appropriate training and skill levels to fill those jobs, and to share the compensation ranges, benefits, and career oppor-tunities associated with those jobs.

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Advantage Carroll

200 Northside Drive, Carrollton, GA 30117 (P) 678-890-2355 (F) 770-832-1300

www.carrolltomorrow.com

Workforce-Education Blue Ribbon Task Force

Sherry Basile Tanner Health SystemsTheresa Fisher Sugar Foods CorporationMark Foster Walker-Cadillac-Buick-GMC, Inc.Chris Gammon PrintpakShirley Garrett Corporate Coach Consultant Edie Haney FOGO, Haney DevelopmentChip Jakins Carroll EMCWayne Johnson ESW Investment CompanyLynn Kress American Sign Depot, Inc.Beth Mullins Randstad Work SolutionsJason Newman Die TechDerick Newton Edwards Jones Investments/NewtonFred O’Neal Edward Jones Investments/O’Neal &

OkumaUrsula Phillip Wal-mart.com Fulfillment CenterGreg Shilling Greenway Medical TechnologiesPete Snell West Georgia Technical CollegeBill Stone Systems & MethodsRichard Tisinger Tisinger & VanceAnne Tolbert Flowers Baking Company of Villa Rica Mike Wiggins Southwire

Task Force Chair: Jim BlevinsExP + Group Inc.

Team 1: Community Chair: Steve HesterChick-fil-A Corporate

Team 2: Education Chair: Si MarounAdvanced Executive Strategies

Team 3: Workforce-Career Development Chair: Jill DuncanState Farm Insurance/Jill Duncan

Kenny Edwards, Director of Workforce Development Carroll County Chamber of Commerce/Carroll Tomorrow