1. EMERGING ISSUES IN WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT HowWorkforce Boards respond to Employer needs now and in the future. PiedmontTriad Regional Council Northwest PiedmontWorkforce Development Board Director ofWorkforce Development Althea Hairston

2. The PiedmontTriad is located in the southeastern US, in the central part of North Carolina.We are located halfway between NewYork and Florida and halfway betweenWashington DC andAtlanta GA .We are a 12 county region serving 1.6 million people.Twelve counties and 60 municipalities comprise the PiedmontTriad Regional Council. 3. N.C. STATE OF THE WORKFORCE REPORT Workforce Strategies in the Piedmont Region comprehensive economic development efforts, such as the one completed in 2005 by the Northwest North Carolina Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS).The Northwest NC.CEDS, covering the Winston-Salem metro area and counties northwest, major challenge: Challenge-The regions low attainment level and poor alignment of workforce skills with job opportunities Strategy-calls for improving access to the workforce and education system to help those hit hardest 4. REGIONALISM 2006 The sixWorkforce Development Boards in the PiedmontTriad region, in conjunction with theWIRED (Workforce Innovation In Regional Economic Development Project), identified the following Industry Clusters to focus upon in a forward-thinking approach to prepare the region's workforce for career ladder advancement into high-wage/high skill jobs: Advanced Manufacturing Logistics and Distribution Creative Enterprises & the Arts Allied Health 5. PIEDMONT TRIAD REGION TriadWorks is a consortium of fiveWorkforce Development Boards in the North CarolinaTriad who are committed to identifying and implementing regional solutions to support a globally competitive, highly skilled, forward-looking workforce. TriadWorks serves 12 counties in the west-central part of the state:Alamance, Caswell, Davie, Davidson, Forsyth, Guilford, Montgomery, Randolph, Rockingham, Stokes, Surry andYadkin. 6. REGIONAL PARTNERS **PiedmontAlliance forTriad Healthcare **Advanced ManufacturingAdvisory Board Piedmont RegionalWorkforceAlliance (9 C.C.) North Carolina Division ofWorkforce Solutions Workforce Development Board (supporting Business and Industry) ** (Employer Lead) 7. PRIORITIES/OBJECTIVES Promote broader understanding of assessments and key competencies Expand partnership to include economic development and curriculum programs Analyze data and share best practices Promote awareness of existing programs Foster the development of new initiatives Encourage communication among stakeholders in the region 8. INDUSTRIES THAT EMERGED AFTER 2008 Allied health Advanced Manufacturing/Aviation 9. PRE-MACHINING MODEL Developed an 18 week pre-machinist training model with aviation employers that will provide a standard training experience through the region. The 9 community college is the PiedmontTriad have implemented the model in their continuing education programs. 81% of the programs graduates are working 10. EVOLVING THE MODEL Identify common core skills Screen applicants to position students for success Options for students who dont meet screening criteria Messaging to employers that accurately reflect what students will be taught Transferrable skills, both technical and soft skills Cont. 11. EVOLVING THE MODEL Eligibility to transfer credit to curriculum Techniques for keeping potential students engaged if there is a wait for a course to be offered 12. CONTACT INFORMATION Althea Hairston Workforce Board Director 336-761-2111 ahairston@ptrc.org