Our mission is to develop and advance the workforce of Southeast Minnesota.
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Meet Dee Sabol
Executive Director,
Diversity Council
Rochester, Minnesota
SE MN Workforce Development Board (WDB) Member
since 2017
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What does a Diversity Council do?
The
Diversity Council
is a catalyst and convener; creating environments that allow every person the opportunity to reach their full potential. In our work, we transform organizations, empower adults and youth to act as change makers, equip and mobilize nontraditional leaders, and galvanize equity work in the region. We’ve been based in Rochester for 29 years and work with entities in every sector, around the state and throughout the country.
In terms of workforce and economic development, the
Diversity Council
is here to help individuals and businesses prepare for the future and maximize their impact. In a nutshell, we do workplace preparedness for thriving with a diverse workforce. There is more to balancing different cultures and multiple generations than one might consider. Much of what goes into creating an inclusive business environment is based in what were once labeled “soft skills” and are now indispensable skills for economic growth and success. We train and consult and coach on inclusion and integration. That’s our business. It’s why we are here.
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Spotlight on the Olmsted County Office
Workforce Development, Inc. (WDI)
Rochester, Minnesota
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Welcome to the Rochester office! Our caring and professional Team has a great balance of highly-experienced, veteran staff and those who are newer to the organization. Our Career Planners provide Minnesota Family Investment Program (MFIP), Dislocated Worker, Youth, and Bridges to Healthcare services; along with Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), financial literacy, and universal customer services. They work alongside our Customer Service Specialist, Tameka Coleman, and Intake Specialist, Beth Breuer.
In Rochester, we offer triage career planning every day; any individual visiting the WorkForce Center can meet with a WDI Career Planner for help with a resume, preparation for a job interview, assistance with career planning, or for any other needs. Our newest team member, Bryce Bjork, is our Construction Careers Navigator; helping provide outreach and essential skills training for people interested in our upcoming Laborers Training Session.
Stop in and see us soon!
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Tameka Coleman
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Customer Service Specialist;
Jody Schaber
,
Career Planner
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Lacie Wenthold
,
Social Work Intern;
David Le Garde
&
Rachel Davis
,
Youth Career Planners
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Zaid Al Showbacki
,
Healthcare Careers Navigator;
Beth Breuer
,
Intake Specialist/MIS
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MFIP Team/Career Planners
Steve Hill, Amy Fitt,
Melissa Olson, Cheri Fischer, EmilyYang, Martha Thomford, & Ed Duda
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Jakki Trihey
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Rochester Area Manager
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Savita Katarya
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Healthcare Financial Navigator;
Bryce Bjork
,
Construction Careers Navigator
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July Feature:
Information Technology Sector
Information Technology (IT)
is a growing and constantly-changing field. Work may include working with computer, software, multimedia, or network systems, in addition to designing new computer equipment or working on new computer games.
IT
is the application of
computers
to store,
retrieve
, transmit, and manipulate
data
,
or
information;
often in the context of a business or other enterprise. The
IT Sector
is comprised of companies that produce software, hardware or semiconductor equipment, or companies that provide internet or related services.
Skills needed in
IT
: Problem-solving and trouble shooting; writing; detail-oriented; customer service; cooperation; and manual dexterity.
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Fast Facts from the Southeast Region:
Information Technology Sector
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There are
three
major industry groups within the
IT Sector,
which include Software and Services; Technology Hardware and Equipment and Semiconductors; and Semiconductor Equipment.
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There are
four
Career
Pathways in
IT
. These include: Information Support and Services; Network Systems; Programming and Software Development; and Web and Digital Communication.
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There are
23
careers in the
IT Sector
. The following careers are in high demand in Southeast Minnesota: Applications Software Developers; Computer Network Architects; Computer Systems Analysts; Computer User Support Specialists; Network Computer System Administrators; and Systems Software Developers.
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Brandon:
A Dislocated Worker Program Success Story
With support from his Career Planner at Workforce Development, Inc. (WDI), Brandon was able to land a job as a Service Assistant at Mayo Clinic. He loves his job, as it is a strong match to his Information Technology (IT) interests and he is earning 20% more than he did in his previous position.
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Chandler:
A Youth Program
Success Story
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Chandler, a 16-year-old junior at Austin High School, heard about Workforce Development, Inc. (WDI) programming from a letter that was sent out to families that were income eligible for the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Work Experience Grant.
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Bridges to Public Sector Careers Program
A $200,000 Pathways to Prosperity Grant
Workforce Development, Inc. (WDI) recently received a $200,000 Pathways to Prosperity (P2P) grant to fund a
Bridges to Public Sector Careers
program in partnership with Hawthorne Adult Basic Education, Rochester Community and Technical College (RCTC), several area counties, and private-sector employers. The
Bridges to Public Sector Careers
training will provide Northstar Digitial Literacy certification, along with a Customer Service Certification from the National Retail Federation. The training will prepare students for any one of six diploma, certificate, or Associate Degree programs at RCTC. Students completing this program will be well- prepared for living-wage employment in a wide variety of roles, including Eligibility Specialists, Case Aides, Customer Service Representatives, Administrative Assistants, Healthcare Office Professionals, Health Unit Coordinators, and more.
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July Feature:
MaxAbility Employment Taskforce
Mission Statement:
To maximize career success for people with employment barriers and develop opportunities for businesses to meet hiring needs.
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To fulfill their mission, the
MaxAbility Employment Taskforce
has created three subgroups to support their strategic initiatives:
- Marketing - We have a team working to grow awareness of MaxAbility and the business case for this journey, along with creating a branded presence. This team helps promote the Southern Minnesota Disability Employment Network (SMDEN) meetings, along with the Career Connections Job Fair through various social media platforms.
- Career Connections & Employer Engagement – Career Connections is an annual job fair for employers to connect with people with disabilities. The event is scheduled in October to celebrate National Disability Employment Month. In addition to meeting job seekers with diverse abilities, employers attend an education session to learn more about hiring people with disabilities. We need to continue to engage and grow employers in this journey to increase inclusion of people with disabilities in our local workforce.
- Southern MN Disability Employment Network (SMDEN) - The quarterly network meetings provide opportunities for employers, job coaches, educators, and non-profits to learn, to network, and to work together as we grow competitive employment opportunities for people with disabilities. The SMDEN subcommittee focused on moving beyond awareness this year. The meetings provided attendees face-time with people with disabilities to increase your comfort, confidence, and competence within this diverse population.
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"It takes an open minded individual to look beyond a disability, and see, that ability has so much more to offer, than the limitations society tries to place upon them."
Robert M. Hensel
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(Photo above)
MaxAbility Employment Taskforce: Southern MN Disability Employment Network
Reverse Job Fair
April 25, 2018
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Save the Date
July 17:
Workforce Development, Inc. (WDI) and MN Department of Corrections Career Technical Education. Employers Panel Discussion: Benefits to Hiring Justice-Involved Individuals. WDI, Rochester.
August 2:
SE MN Regional Strategic Planning Session. Wood Lake Meeting Center, Rochester
August 6:
The (2nd) Union Laborers Training Begins at the Rochester WDI office.
August 15:
MaxAbility Employment Taskforce: Southern MN Disability Employment Network -
A Celebration of Inclusive Culture Success Stories.
Learn how companies are working differently to create staffing solutions. One company will share how creating flexible training methods and removing expected limitations can increase productivity for all employees. Another will highlight how a universal system can accommodate your workforce. Sharing best practices from a variety of industries can help us all to discover ways to build an inclusive culture at work.
8:30-10:30am. Wood Lake Meeting Center, Rochester.
Free and open to the public.
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SE Minnesota Employment Trends
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Learn More about the
Agriculture
Sector
in the Upcoming August Issue!
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Workforce Development, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Program Provider and a proud partner of the American Job Center Network.
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Connect with your local WDI office on Facebook:
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