Oklahoma’s Premier Work Ready Region

1. Oklahoma’s Premier Work Ready Region Best Practices Conference 2010

2. Why – To ensure that SE Oklahoma can offer to industry a pipeline of innovative talent with the ability to compete in a knowledge- based economy. What – Development of a tool to up-skill and to validate our labor pipeline and bring new employment opportunities to the region.How – Develop a strategic partnership among area agencies who share the common goal of sustaining economic growth to support and enhance the lives of citizens.

3. Key Partners • Choctaw Nation Career Development • Kiamichi Technology Centers • SE OK Workforce Investment Board • OK Dept. of Commerce • OK Dept. of Career & Technology Ed. • OK Employment Security Commission • Supporting Schools & Agencies

4. Choctaw Nation Career Development • Program Purpose • To facilitate education & training which leads to industry recognized certifications or licensures and self-sustaining employment for Choctaw tribal members • Services • Career Counseling & Exploration • Academic Assessment & Enhancement • WorkKeys & Career Readiness Certification (CRC) • Education & Training • Employment Services

5. www.choctawcareers.com

6. Kiamichi Technology Centers www.ktc.edu 10 Campuses within region

7. SE Oklahoma WIB • Training & employment development programs • Economic development initiatives • OK Department of Commerce • Governor’s Council for Workforce Development • Work Ready Communities • http://www.okcommerce.gov/Community-Resources/Work-Ready-Communities • OK Dept. of Career Tech • http://www.okcareertech.org/cac/workkeys/index.htm

8. The Process • Defining the “Region” • 13 Counties included: Choctaw Atoka McCurtain Haskell Bryan McIntosh Latimer Coal Pittsburg Leflore Johnston Hughes Pushmataha • Meetings & Committees • Presentations

9. Innovative Program • Oklahoma’s Premier Work Ready Region will link economic development, education and workforce to provide a talent pool of skilled, work-ready job candidates that will… • Align with the needs of industry and goals of the individual worker • Increase the wealth of our citizens and communities and…

10. Give your community a competitive advantage! • As “Oklahoma’s Premier Work Ready Region”, we can verify to business that we have a sustainable, reliable pipeline that delivers the right workers with the right skills at the right time.

11. Anticipated Results: • Gain a competitive advantage over surrounding regions • Attract new businesses and investments • Improve high school graduation rates • CRC aligns curricula to meet job skills employers need • Develops more efficient teaching strategies to prepare students for employment • Alternative EOI exam • Provide a common language between industry and education • Help existing companies grow and add new jobs! (see list of OK CRC Employers)

12. Higher Skills = Higher Pay Sources: Bureau of Labor Statistics, ACT data

13. Eligibility • To qualify as a “Certified Work Ready Community,” we must meet the following requirements #1. 3% of our existing workforce must be Career Readiness Certified and #2. 25% of the available workforce must be Career Readiness Certified and #3. The region must have either a minimum of 82% high school graduation rate OR 82% of high school seniors have Career Readiness Certificates

14. “Oklahoma’s Premier Work Ready Region” You defined our region! • Counties included: Choctaw Atoka Haskell Bryan Latimer Coal LeFlore Johnston McCurtain McIntosh Pittsburg Hughes Pushmataha

15. “Oklahoma’s Premier Work Ready Region” “Not only can we offer clean air, good schools, a great economy and affordable homes, but we have what very few communities in America have – a workforce that is certified to be work ready! And you can take that to the bank!”

16. Partners in Oklahoma’s Premier Work Ready Region • Kiamichi Technology Centers • Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma • KEDDO • Southeast WIB • Eastern Oklahoma State College • Kiamichi Tech Prep Consortium • Eastern WIB • Southern WIB • Oklahoma Employment Security Commission • Carl Albert State College • City of Eufaula • City of Poteau • City of Wilburton • Oklahoma Department of Commerce LET’S ADD YOUR ENTITY TO THIS LIST!!

17. To learn more and add your organization to these partners…. Go to: www.OKcommerce.gov/workready Karen Davidson : 800.722.8180 ked2286@yahoo.com Jodie White: 888.567.2264 jwhite2@okktc.org Rhonda Mize: 580-920-2260 rmize@choctawnation.com

18. Testing • WorkKeys Assessments • High School Students • Career Tech Students • Choctaw Members • OESC Clients • Career Readiness Certifications Issued to Citizens

19. The Application • Completed Written Application • Guidance from Dept. of Commerce • CRC Data • Hurdles • Additional testing needed • Timing • Celebration plan

20. Regional Stats • 3.1% of Existing Workforce credentialed with Career Readiness Certificates (CRCs) • 26.1% of Available Workforce credentialed with CRCs • 86.0% high school graduation rate (statewide average is 79.6%) ~~~We Did It!~~~

21. Oklahoma’s PremierWork Ready RegionCelebration CeremonyNov. 10, 2009Idabel, OK

22. Governor’s Commendation • “Your vision and outstanding achievement of 13 southeastern Oklahoma counties working together to equip its citizens with the necessary skills and education to provide a work ready region lays a foundation for stimulating economic development and strengthening your communities.” --Gov. Brad Henry

23. Congratulations! Congratulations on a truly remarkable achievement! Because of the diligent and focused efforts of you, your committee, and your partners, the 13-county area of southeastern Oklahoma known as “Oklahoma's Premier Work Ready Region” can officially be known as an Oklahoma Certified Work Ready Community. Yours is the first – the premier – multi-county area to attain this distinction. Continuing best wishes, Kirk Martin, Director of Programs, OK Dept. of Commerce

24. Celebration Ceremony Certification Presentation by: Norma Noble, Deputy Secretary of Commerce for Workforce Development Governor’s Commendation by Sec. of State, Susan Savage

25. Promoting OK’s Premiere Work Ready Region • Employers • HR Group Meetings • Civic Group Meetings • Choctaw Career Expo • Choctaw Employment Services Team • Career Tech Business Service Coordinators Trained • Brochures • Billboards • Website • Oklahoma Horizons TV Show

28. Promoting OK’s Premier Work Ready Region • Citizens • Continue assessing individuals • High School End of Instruction Exams (EOI’s) • Job ads requesting/requiring CRC’s • Kiamichi Technology Center requires all employees to take WorkKeys exams • Expansion of Choctaw Career Development Academic & Employment Services team • State-wide promotion of KeyTrain and WorkKeys projects

29. Results • Doubled number of WorkKeys Profiles completed • Increasing number of higher level CRCs • Increasing numbers of employers utilizing CRC’s in hiring • Hurdles • Economy • Political Changes • Slow Process

30. Awards • Workforce Readiness Award -- Oklahoma State Council for Human Resource Management • Distinguished Achievement Award – Oklahoma Association of Career & Technology Education

31. Future Plans • Re-application • Data currently being calculated • Promotion of WorkKeys Profiles to employers • OK CRC Summit • Continuation of previous promotional efforts • Use OK’s Premiere Work Ready Region certification to bring in new business & industry.

32. Questions • Rhonda Mize Academic & Employment Services Coordinator Choctaw Nation Career Development rmize@choctawnation.com 866-933-2269 Office 580-931-7624 Cell **Please leave me your card if you would like a copy of this presentation.

33. Recommendations • Build strong partnerships with organizations who have multiple common goals. • Support of state agencies & leadership • Employer support • Find and utilize those who understand the WorkKeys system • Perseverance & Patience!!!