Our mission is to develop and advance the workforce of Southeast Minnesota.
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National Apprenticeship Week
is a national celebration that offers leaders in business, labor, education, and other key partners a chance to demonstrate their support for apprenticeships. The week also gives apprenticeship sponsors the opportunity to showcase their programs, organizations, and apprentices in their communities. The week-long event highlights the benefits of apprenticeship in preparing a highly-skilled workforce to meet the talent needs of employers across diverse sectors.
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Meet Andy Toft
Training Director
South Central MN Electrical Apprenticeship
International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) - Local 343
SE MN Workforce Development Board (WDB) Member since 2014
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Why did you decide on a career in the electrical industry and who/what influenced you to decide on this career?
After a year of college in a pre-architectural program and not being accepted into the 5-year School of Architecture Program, which would mean another year in the pre-architecture program, I looked at the cost and explored other options. My father was a licensed electrician and had been an electrical contractor, so I looked at attending a 2-year Construction Electrician Program. At the end of school, I was accepted into the SE MN Electrical Apprenticeship Program and went to work in Rochester for an electrical contractor. I went on to pass the Minnesota Class A Journeyperson and Class A Master Electrical licenses. The wages, benefits, and having a lifelong skill were some of the influences in my decisions.
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Spotlight on the Administration Office
Workforce Development, Inc. (WDI)
Rochester, Minnesota
Located in Rochester, Administration's main function at WDI is to provide the support and resources necessary to allow agency staff to carry out their duties and to serve the needs of job seekers and employers in Southeast Minnesota. As with every WDI office location, Administration is staffed by experienced professionals who care deeply about the people and communities in which they live and serve.
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Workforce Development, Inc.'s
Data Specialist Registered Apprenticeship:
The Critical Role of the
MIS Intake Specialist Position
The MIS Intake Specialist role at Workforce Development, Inc. (WDI) is a critical position for our organization. For us to be successful and get credit for the great work we do, it is imperative that our data is correct. Program eligibility needs to be accurate, timely, and documented to ensure we maintain our excellent monitoring and audit results. As an agency, we promote the value of apprenticeships. Two years ago we decided to walk the walk and initiated the Registered Apprenticeship program for our own critical MIS Intake role. An intense training program was developed and approved by the Department of Labor that included 220 hours of formal education, 55 hours of safety training, and 2,000 hours of on-the-job training. Once approved, members of the Workforce Development Board reviewed the applications and selected the three Registered Apprentices who have spent the last 18+ months completing the intensive training.
We are incredibly proud of their hard work and dedication as they move to Data Specialist Journey Worker status, upon final completion and approval of their coursework!
~Wanda Jensen, Operations Director, WDI
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Meet WDI's Data Specialist Registered Apprentices
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Click on the names above to read about their apprenticeship journeys!
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Success Story: Tanner
Overcoming Barriers to Employment
Tanner came to Workforce Development, Inc. (WDI) in April 2014 after hearing about the Youth Program through his Children’s Mental Health Case Manager, Missy.
Tanner was in tenth grade and finding that it was difficult to secure employment on his own with his social phobia, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), and Asperger’s Syndrome. Tanner was also struggling in school and was at risk of not graduating on time.
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Building Trades Training
Pathways to Prosperity (P2P) Grant
Today, many high growth, high demand careers require specialized, skilled workers. Contractors have shared that traditional methods for hiring skilled employees are no longer resulting in the quality or the quantity of workers needed.
The goal of the
Building Trades Training Grant
is to recruit new people in SE Minnesota, especially women, people from minority populations, the previously incarcerated, unemployed, and underemployed persons, into the trades field. The grant is being used to offer short-term, essential skills and trades-focused training programs, so as to increase the number of well-trained trades people working in the market.
Workforce Development, Inc. (WDI) is excited to be a part of this robust training framework, leading to careers that pay family-sustaining wages.
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November Feature:
Workforce Development, Inc. (WDI) Staff
Services & Trades Sector Update
The
Service & Trades Sector
is one that oversees a variety of good careers in the SE Minnesota Region. The Trades sector generally consists of careers involving construction of either buildings or infrastructure. Examples of Trades careers available in our area are: Carpentry, Masonry, Electrician, Plumbing, Heating and Cooling, and Cement work. The Services Sector is a broader sector that includes careers that have a lot of customer face-to-face interaction. Examples of Services Careers in our area include Customer Service, Call Center Operator, Retail Associate, Hospitality Worker, and Restaurant Employee.
Click Here to Read More
For further information or to join the
Services & Trades Sector Committee, contact
Mike Postma
.
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In the News:
Minnesota Coalition for the Homeless
2018 Annual Conference: The Future is Now
September 13 & 14, 2018
Duluth, Minnesota
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In September, Workforce Development, Inc. (WDI) Career Planners,
Melissa Olson
,
Gloria Olson
, and
Martha Thomford
,
had the opportunity to attend The Minnesota Coalition for the Homeless (MCH) 2018 Annual Conference. The two-day conference convened hundreds of participants from diverse backgrounds. The only event of its kind in the region, the annual conference brought together participants from across Minnesota, North Dakota, and Native Nations.
Marc Dones, a leader in equity-based systems transformation and the Senior Lead for Equitable Systems at Future Laboratories, was the Keynote Speaker. In his presentation, he talked about the following four points, as next steps for Service Providers working to end homelessness in their communities: 1) connect with your Workforce Development Board (WDB); 2) connect with employers; 3) summer job programs; and 4) 21st Century Voc/Tech.
"Marc Dones,
Designing Justice
keynote speaker at the MCH, helped me identify WDI's role in affordable housing in the community. He reinforced the importance of job seekers identifying a career path and how this impacts sustainable housing in our communities. This information was valuable to me as a Homeless Community Network Committee member. The Supporting Partnerships for Anti-Racist Communities (SPARC) can be a resource website for the equity issues related to affordable housing. In addition, Mr. Dones facilitated the third meeting of the Heading Home Leadership Circle. Mr. Dones utilized his expertise to assist the committee in developing and strengthen their membership to ensure all voices and communities in Minnesota have representation. He reminded the group that our equity experts live within 30 minutes of our service area and about the importance of tapping into their knowledge and inviting them to be part of the committee. The next meeting is scheduled for December 19th, 2018, which I plan to attend."
~
Martha Thomford
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Hello friends,
These are just a few of the phrases shared by our job seeker and employer customers when talking about the life changing services they received from Workforce Development, Inc. (WDI). Getting a new job, completing a training program, hiring just the right person; these are the kinds of successes we see every day at WDI. Some of the first questions asked when meeting someone new are, “What do you do?" or "Where do you work?" Our jobs are a big part of our identity; it’s part of who we are and how we relate. At WDI, we help people develop their skills and explore new opportunities that lead to that next great job.
November 15
th
is Give to the Max Day
.
Today we are asking you to consider making a donation on
Give to the Max Day
to help us to continue to support our customers as they gain new and exciting jobs and careers. You can find out more
about WDI and make a donation at
GIVE MN Workforce Development, Inc.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
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Randy R. Johnson
Executive Director
Workforce Development, Inc.
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Save the Date
November 22 & 23:
Workforce Development, Inc. Offices Closed
December 3:
International Day of Persons with Disabilities Celebration
, held from 12pm-6pm, at Rochester Civic Theatre in Rochester
See Event Flyer
December 6:
Workforce Development Board
and Sector Meetings
, held at Workforce Development, Inc. in Rochester
December 14:
Workforce Development, Inc. All-Staff Meeting
in Rochester
January 15:
Equity Logic Series - Essential Intercultural Dynamics; Formerly Incarcerated Workforce
8am-10am, held at Woodlake Meeting Center in Rochester
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Recent Event Highlights
The Laborers’ International Union of North America’s (LiUNA) Training and Networking Event.
Bryce Bjork and Susan Boehm from the WDI Olmsted County/Rochester Office recently attended
LiUNA’s Training and Networking Event
.
Read More
STEM Forward - Fall Educator Forum.
Desirae Dyke from the WDI Dodge County/Kasson Office attended the
STEM Forward Fall Educator Forum
on November 7, 2018, at Woodlake Meeting Center. The theme of the forum was “Together Toward Tomorrow,” with keynote speaker Dr. Julie Evans, CEO, from Project Tomorrow presenting. Dr. Evans shared valuable information and data regarding STEM learning trends, drivers for STEM education, digital learning trends in STEM classrooms, and students’ career interests in STEM Fields. Breakout sessions followed with a variety of topics related to coding and game design, resources to move schools towards innovative student-centered initiatives, and students preferences for career exploration and personalized learning. The Spring Educator Forum will be held on April 10, 2019, at 4:30pm.
Construct Tomorrow. WDI Youthbuild students and WDI sta
ff (Bryce Bjork, Susan Boehm, Desirae Dyke, Josh Hetrick, Rachel Davis, and Tom Martelle) had the opportunity to explore construction and engineering careers through interactive, hands on experiences at
Construct Tomorrow
on October 22, 2018. From block laying to hanging sheet rock, or operating a backhoe to using a welding simulator, the event was full of opportunities to try out a career. Students also received valuable information about unions, training options, career pathways, and what a day looks like in the Service and Trades Industry.
Construct Tomorrow Event Flyer
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SE Minnesota Employment Trends
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Learn More about the
Human and Social Services Sectors
in the Upcoming December 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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