2023 Northern Kentucky Workforce Innovation Awards

2023 Workforce Innovation Awards Welcome

Brian Bozeman Vice Chairperson, NKWIB Vice President - Skanska

Keynote

Senator Chris McDaniel President/CEO, McD Concrete

Awards

Brian Bozeman and Correy Eimer

Good Jobs Principles

Deputy Commissioner Michelle DeJohn Kentucky Education and Labor Cabinet Department for Workforce Development (DWD)

Implementing Good Jobs Principles in NKY Correy Eimer Director, NKWIB and Associate Director-Workforce, NKADD Conclusion

Correy Eimer

2023 Workforce Innovation Award Nominees Perennial Champion Lisa Blank, St. Elizabeth Healthcare

Tom Kelly, Close the Loop

Workforce Root Builder Catrena Bowman, NKCAC

Tara Halpin, Steinhauser, Inc

Seed Sower Katie Jo Berkshire Kirkpatrick, NKADD/NKWIB Mike Sipple, Talent Magnet Institute Steven Peed, Brighton Center Aaron Williams, Commonwealth of Kentucky / Education and Labor Cabinet / Career Debby Shipp, Thomas More University Development Office

Workforce Cultivator EC LEARN FEAM Aero Housing Authority of Covington St. Elizabeth Healthcare

Northern Kentucky Community Action Commission Talent Magnet Institute

Speakers Senator Chris McDaniel was born in Covington, Kentucky, and grew up in Taylor Mill. He attended Taylor Mill Elementary and Woodland Middle School prior to attending Covington Latin School for high school. Upon graduation from Covington Latin School, Sen. McDaniel attended The Citadel graduating in 1997, and was commissioned an Infantry Officer in the United States Army.

Senator McDaniel served four years as an Infantry Officer in the Army and after being honorably discharged, he returned home to work in the family business, McD Concrete. He earned his MBA from NKU in 2004 and has served his community in numerous capacities. He has served as a guest lecturer at NKU, taught in the City of Cincinnati’s construction club, served as the President of the Greater Miami Valley Chapter of the American Concrete Institute, on the Board of Directors of the Associated Builders and Contractors, on the Finance Committee and Workforce Development Committee of the American Society of Concrete Contractors, was the President of the Leadership Northern Kentucky Class of 2010, served on the Site Based Decision Making Council at Ryland Elementary, and served on the school board at Covington Latin School. He has also coached t-ball, baseball, basketball, and soccer in numerous leagues around Northern Kentucky.

Senator McDaniel is an active member at Hickory Grove Baptist Church. He and his wife, Renee live with their children in Ryland Heights.

Michelle DeJohn, Deputy Commissioner of the Department of Workforce Development in the Kentucky Education and Labor Cabinet, has over twenty years of experience in workforce development leadership. She is a State University of New York graduate with a bachelor’s degree in psychology and education who worked for ten years in the private sector as a Human Resources and Training Department Manager before beginning her career in the public sector. Her relevant skills in public service include holding positions and duties in business and career services such as Executive Director, Executive Staff Advisor, Manager, Analyst, and Program Coordinator.

In her current role, DeJohn is a leader for the Department of Workforce Development, which provides various programs and services to the Kentucky Career Center system. Under Michelle’s guidance, the Offices of Career Development, Vocational Rehabilitation, Adult Education, Employer and Apprenticeship Services, and Unemployment Insurance work together to spark innovative approaches to assisting career seekers and businesses. The objective is to produce a resilient, motivated, and future-oriented workforce while serving as an access point and one-stop shop for the workforce system.

As Deputy Commissioner, DeJohn leads the state’s efforts, providing services statewide to help businesses with recruiting, training, upskilling, and hiring incentives. In addition, career seekers can receive assistance with resume building, interviewing skills, and training opportunities such as Registered Apprenticeship and soft skills development.

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Talia Frye Workforce Investment Champion Award The Departments of Commerce and Labor have partnered to identify what comprises a good job. Good jobs are the foundation of an equitable economy that lifts up workers and families and makes businesses more competitive globally. They allow everyone to share in prosperity and support local communities and the entire U.S. economy. Workers know the value of a good job that provides stability and security for them and their families. All work is important and deserving of dignity.

In Northern Kentucky, Talia Frye championed a similar holistic wrap around service approach to all aspects of her work at Brighton Center and throughout the community. Her work and dedication across the region was widely recognized, broadened our workforce system, and was evident in so much of the Kentucky Career Center programming. In her nearly 20 years with Brighton Center, Talia led Workforce Development, Family Development, Community Development, and Youth Development programs. Talia provided workforce leadership at Brighton Center as Workforce Development Director, Brighton's Center for Employment Training, Workforce Innovation Director, and Vice President. She has enhanced our regional ecosystem for years with significant contributions to the workforce ecosystem. Talia played a significant role in the creation and advancement of many programs and initiatives, including but not limited to GROW NKY, NKY Chamber Women's Initiative, Opportunity Youth Cohort, The Talent Collaborative of Greater Cincinnati, Trades to Success, and Two Generational Family Approach programming. She won the NKWIB Workforce Innovation Outstanding Workforce Employee of the Year in 2020.

To honor her spirit of dedication and inclusion, the NKWIB has created the Talia Frye Workforce Investment Champion Award in her honor. The inaugural award will be awarded in 2024 to a community partner who exhibits similar dedication, thoughtfulness, and tenacity.

2023 Workforce Innovation Award Nominees Perennial Champion

tive internal cohorts that are outside the typical pipelines for programs such as nursing, sonography, respiratory therapy, radiology technology and surgical technology. They have created the Patient Care Assistant program, a work-based learning program where individuals seeking a career in healthcare can learn how to support acute care across the St. Elizabeth system. To enhance a student nurses’ career pathway, St. Elizabeth is developing critical thinking and confidence in the healthcare role prior to graduation through healthcare and nursing camp support, virtual surgeries, job shadowing opportunities, and hiring minors in healthcare roles. St. Elizabeth’s partnership and support of GROW NKY, the WIB, and other workforce initiatives make St. Elizabeth an employer of choice in Northern Kentucky and beyond, striving for real solutions in the commonwealth’s healthcare workforce pipeline.

A Perennial Champion utilizes Northern Kentucky Workforce partners to gather and leverage local resources to meet their employment needs. This employer and its staff work directly with workforce development partners to receive employment services while using these partners as a liaison with other community partners.

"Alone, we can do so little. Together we can do so much." – Helen Keller As the region's leading community convenor on all workforce-related issues for healthcare pipelines, St. Elizabeth Healthcare has developed relationships with educational partners to increase and support the number of students interested in a healthcare career. St. Elizabeth’s Office of Workforce Development, led by Lisa Blank, System Director, has developed clear pathways for support exploring different curriculums with educational partners. The collaborative programs are innovative and crea-

Close The Loop has raised the standard for transformational employment in Northern Kentucky by providing employment opportunities for those with various barriers. Tom Kelly, Human Resources Manager, along with Michelle Hood, work with the Kentucky Career Center-Northern Kentucky (KCC) staff to fill their work(Continued on page 5)

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this work over the last five years, the NKCAC has more than doubled the agency’s budget, In FY2023, the KCC has brought on six new large initiatives to serve helped place over the community better, 670 job seekers and has established a presence for the agency with local employers in the community like never before. They have worked to create new partnerships throughout the community, including with other non-profits to serve their clients, media partnerships to better promote NKCAC, chamber groups and business councils to establish a presence in the community and work with other employers to make the community a better place to live, work and play.

force needs by opening doors to new opportunities for populations that often face hurdles in finding employment. They have taken bold steps to expand their workforce by connecting with candidates that require adjustments to the traditional policies for most employers.

Close The Loop's commitment to creating a quality workforce is evidenced in their willingness to interview and consider employment for most candidates referred by the KCC, including those who are justice-involved, in recovery, and with limited transportation resources. By considering these candidates, they can maintain a workforce, keep the existing staff from being overworked and maintain consistent production levels, creating better job quality for their employees. Close The Loop has created employment opportunities for non-English speakers who have had difficulty finding employment by hiring bilingual supervisors and creating non-English speaking work crews. In addition to involvement at the KCC through job fairs and hiring events, they engage with other partners, including FIESTA, to empower the Steinhauser Inc. is a model employer for initiating and instituting transformational workplace changes. Led by Latinx community.

Tara Halpin, CEO, and owner, Steinhauser, Inc. has focused on developing and investing in their existing team members at all levels of this locally owned custom label Workforce Root Builder printing company. The Steinhauser leadership team directly supports all employees by listening to their staff's A Workforce Root Builder realizes that the traditional feedback and has implemented fun learning and teamstandards of operations must be reimagined to stay rel- building activities. These intentional actions support evant, cultivate an innovative workplace, and attract what every employee needs to succeed in their jobs. and retain a skilled workforce. Companywide, this emFrom their board to their most recent hire, Steinhauser ployer has dug deep to examine its workplace culture intentionally engages with their employees and stakeand has asked ‘the tough’ questions. By crushing the holders. These strategies have helped make Steinhauser "status quo," they have made transformational changes an innovative employer by setting them apart in their and have become local and national examples. industry. They are held in the highest regard locally and globally with industry partners. This culture of collaboration, learning, and pride in their work has helped them "It is amazing what you can accomplish if you do not develop a brand for themselves, cultivating innovation, care who gets the credit." – Harry Truman ideas, connections, and resources. One significant collaboration for Steinhauser is a partnership with the TalUnder the leadership of Catrena Bowman, Executive ent Magnet Institute (TMI) to provide leadership training Director, the Northern Kentucky Community Action and development for all of their leaders. Tara and the Commission (NKCAC) has led the organization through Steinhauser leadership are putting what they say they transformational growth and made improvements to will do into action by creating meaningful experiences advance the work of the organization. The agency has for their workforce and helping with future talent attracbecome a leader in the social justice movement in the tion. region and the state by bringing together nonprofit leaders to create a public statement proclaiming that Seed Sower the nonprofits stand together against racism and denounce any A Seed Sower is an individual who cultivates connecOver acts that dehumanize tions with clients that create impactful outcomes. This people. Wanting to 123,770 workforce partner goes the extra mile to help their cliequip the agency betents find the right career pathway, perfect training, or a ter to serve a diverse Individuals quintessential new hire. This individual offers the best range of clients, the make up the Northern customer service while also becoming a role model from NKCAC hiring practicwhom others can learn. Partners seek out this person to Kentucky Workforce es have become more answer difficult workforce questions. inclusive, and the staff pipelines demographics are (Continued on page 7) more diverse. Through

2022-2023 Workforce Investment Board Members John Baines, Insight Partners, LLC., Membership and Board Operations Chair* Dr. Vicki Berling, Building Industry Association of NKY/Enzweiler Building Institute Nick Birkenhauer, DBL Law# Blank, Lisa, St. Elizabeth Healthcare Natasha Bowsher, Abrapower, Inc. Catrena Bowman, NKY Community Action Commission, DEI Chair * Brian Bozeman, Skanska Building USA, Business Services Chair* Cara Brooks, Duke Energy# Joe Buerkley, Pendleton County Schools Michelle Cestaric, Staffmark, WIB Chair/EXEC Chair* Brent Cooper, NKY Chamber of Commerce Dana Dobbs, Citi Gina Douthat, TANK Kate Doolittle, PNC Bank Sherra Dunlap, Owen Electric Dr. Fernando Figueroa, Gateway Community and Technical College Mike Flannery, Amazon Janet Harrah, Northern Kentucky University Ryan Henson, KY Office of Vocational Rehabilitation

Colleen Kirkpatrick, Ethos Laboratories Cristina Marsh, Jefferson Community and Technical College Dean McKay, Skilcraft, WIB Vice Chair & Program Youth Chair* Heather McClanahan, Five Machining Systems, Inc. Summer Morgan, Kentucky Education & Labor Cabinet# Ken Murt, Duke Energy Dr. Randy Poe, NKY Education Council Deborah Ramirez, Mubea NA# Kimberly Rossetti, Be - NKY Connie Schnell, KY Career Development Office Dave Schroeder, Kenton County Public Library, WIB Treasurer* Shannon Starkey-Taylor, Learning Grove / NAVIGO Gina Stough, Kenton County Airport Board/CVG Jarrod Tiemeier, Ironworkers Local 44 Matthew Turner, Boone County Schools Michelle Tyson, Cummins, Inc. Alecia Webb-Edgington, Life Learning Center William Weier, Mazak Kristie Henry Willoby, Heritage Bank *Denotes 2022/2023 Executive Committee Members #Denotes Board Members who have stepped off the board

NKWIB Board Support Staff Correy Eimer - Associate Director - Workforce Melinda Ford - Quality Assurance and Data Specialist Katie Jo Berkshire Kirkpatrick - Workforce Development and Outreach Specialist Liberty Kordish - Workforce Senior Finance Specialist Todd Kyper - Business Services Coordinator Melissa Patchell - Employment Connection Supervisor Tonia Slone - Workforce Project Manager Dede Watt - Business Services Specialist

to for "other duties as assigned." Because of his commitment to teamwork and his positive attitude, he willingly jumps in to support KCC Committee projects and facility situations that are not a part of his job description and shows a great understanding that all customers at the KCC are our collective customers and deserve a great experience!

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"If you want to lift yourself up, lift up someone else." – Booker T. Washington Katie Jo Berkshire Kirkpatrick, Strategic Initiatives Manager, Northern Kentucky Area Development District (NKADD), constantly seeks ways to improve service delivery and connect the dots between workforce team members. Katie Jo excels at taking our work to the next level, ultimately helping the entire team to serve individual clients, businesses, and partners better. She has written countless grants, reports and plans for the NKWIB, making significant contributions to the financial well-being and compliance of the NKWIB with state/ federal rules and regulations. Katie Jo creates tools to make our teams more effective. She digs deeply into problems to find not just band-aids but real solutions for issues from funding constraints to website calendars to event planning. With GROW NKY and NKWIB, Katie Jo listens to all sides and can immediately see where specific resources overlap or could be leveraged better. She has served in many roles, from writing a workforce newsletter to planning the annual workforce innovation awards event, ensuring that our stakeholders understand the important work occurring in the workforce space. Katie Jo thinks about who needs to know things and then makes sure to keep people in the loop. She sometimes sees gaps and fills them before others even know there is an issue. Katie Jo is the dot connector, as we say. She loves people and is constantly working to understand the roles, responsibilities, and interactions between all of the colleagues and partners who she meets.

Led by Debby Shipp, Director of CoMore than operative Education & Corporate Engage14,770 customer ment, Thomas More received services University's professional development series through the KCC helps employers grow in in FY 2023 the future. Debby has curated a series of proOnsite - 10,163 fessional development Offsite - 4,611 sessions utilizing Thomas More University’s faculty, who have realworld business experience. For employers, the series helps to empower the people who may manage their organizations in the future, making it possible for their teams to meet and exceed expectations by finding the right career pathway within the organization through innovative, relevant, and valuable training. With topics such as Managing A Remote Workforce, Supervision and Management, and Building Teams with Effective Management, employees leave the sessions able to immediately use the information learned. Employers that improve their employees’ skills through Thomas More University’s Professional Development sessions enhance their employee’s performance. By incorporating development sessions into employee training, employers are seeing employees gain more knowledge, excel in their positions, and feel more capable and confident in their roles. Employers are seeing increased retention rates since employees are feeling more fulfilled with their work.

As a “go to” staffer at the Kentucky Career In the last year, Center (KCC), Steven Peed, Business Ser55 new vices Representative participants (BSR), has built positive relationships with enrolled in WIOA his peers across the Adult, Dislocated KCC partners, and they routinely turn to him to Worker and Youth connect job seekers Programs they are working with to job opportunities.

Employed by the WIOA Direct Service provider, Brighton Center, he evaluates employers' needs and connects them to other KCC partner's services, so employers' benefits are maximized. Steven has earned trust due to his integrity and excellent follow-through. He goes above and beyond to ensure the customer has the best experience possible.

Steven has also been critical in GROW NKY Pillar 3's work to increase the number of individuals earning career-readiness certifications. He has worked off hours to ensure that employers could use KCC facility space to train and onboard their employees. Steven is also a go-

Under the leadership of Mike Sipple, Jr., President/ CEO, Talent Magnet Institute (TMI) has created a unique approach to workforce development. Mike and the TMI team have created a unique platform and leadership development system that goes above and beyond to offer a wide array of services to help job seekers, incumbent workers and leadership development for companies looking to improve how they attract and retain talent. The system includes a digital, interactive platform that helps job seekers gain insights into their own leadership potential while also providing professional 1-1 coaching options and facilitated ongoing training in a professional setting.

This customizable approach can be utilized in individual settings by people looking for new careers or by companies looking to train incumbent workers. Mike and his

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that will "move the needle."

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team have been incredibly active in making connections with the NKWIB, NKADD, Brighton Center and many, many others who impact workforce needs in not only the Northern Kentucky region but also with the Commonwealth. Seen Covington Works has as a leader in our region, he strives to work served over with others in impactful 40 Covington ways. With a passion for meaningful partnerResidents ships and fostering collaborative relationships, through skills and Mike’s energy when employe based presenting and sharing with others is contatraining. gious and inspiring.

"Great things in business are never done by one person; they're done by a team of people." – Steve Jobs.

EC Learn uses its voice and resources at regional and state levels to influence early childhood education. EC Learn’s Executive Director/CEO Sandra Woodall and her team are leading efforts to elevate awareness of childcare’s essential role as “the workforce behind the workforce.” EC LEARN approaches challenges with innovation and out-of-the-box strategies. By recognizing childcare’s systemic role in our workforce structures, EC LEARN identifies unique and sustainable long-term solutions for employers, early childhood professionals, and the families they serve. By amplifying employer and employee voices through local, state, and federal advocacy, we can effectively share the stories that matter most those that illustrate the invaluable importance of quality As the Disabled Veterans' Outreach Specialist (DVOP) childcare and its effects on a productive workforce. By chairing the Early Childhood Education Pillar of Growing at the Kentucky Career Center, Aaron Williams, Jobs For Veterans State Grants (JVSG) - Disabled Veteran Regional Outcomes Through Workforce (GROW NKY), Woodall and her EC LEARN team have cultivated supOutreach Program - Veteran Talent Counselor, has been instrumental in making a positive impact on many portive relationships with businesses to increase responveterans’ lives in our community. He provides intensive sive, family-friendly policies that support employee services to meet the employment needs of disabled vet- childcare needs, including promoting the Employer Childcare Assistance Partnership Program (ECCAP). The erans and other eligible veterans, with the maximum ECCAP has resulted in local businesses activating this emphasis directed toward serving those who are ecobenefit for their employees, making childcare more nomically or educationally disadvantaged, including homeless veterans and veterans who face hurdles when affordable for families, and concretely demonstrating an employer’s commitment to their workforce. At the end securing employment. Aaron provides case manageof the day, EC LEARN’s team is proud that their work ment to veterans with barriers to employment and has a lifelong impact on the children, families, early unique training needs through Kentucky’s Education childhood professionals, businesses they serve, and the and Labor Cabinet – Career Development Office. He future of the entire Northern Kentucky region. While the collaborates closely with the Local Veteran’s Employwork is extensive, the impact is more significant. ment Specialist (LVER) and KCC's Business Services Team (BST) to ensure veterans in Veteran Readiness and Employment (VR&E) programs, also known as Currently, there is a shortage of aircraft mechanics in Chapter 31 programs, who are 'job ready' receive priority the aviation industry, and the local demand for these in their job search. Aaron conducts outreach in the positions continues to grow, as CVG has become the Northern Kentucky Region to locate veterans who may seventh-largest cargo airport in North America and be in need of services. In addition, Aaron lends support serves more than seven million passengers per year. To to fellow JVSG staff members in the Bluegrass Region address this need, FEAM Aero and its president, Cam when needed – making sure the veterans in that area Murphy, partnered with Epic Flight Academy to build a are receiving applicable and timely services. By guiding, new aircraft mechanic training facility on the Cincinnati/ empowering, and inspiring our customers, we will conNorthern Kentucky International Airport (CVG) campus. tinue our mission to create success stories across the In less than a decade, Commonwealth.

FEAM Aero’s footprint in the Northern Kentucky region has grown Through the KCC in Workforce Cultivator from a few technicians FY2023, over at CVG to one 100,000 A Workforce Cultivator nourishes meaningful collabora- sq. ft. hangar with 300 1,370 tions, leverages community reemployees and a secsources, and exemplifies the imond 150,000 sq. ft.

Unique Employers portance of breaking down silos. hangar under construcreceived Services.

This partner and its staff work tire- tion that will employ at lessly to understand the regional least 250 people at full workforce ecosystem, recognize capacity. FEAM Aero potential impactful collaborations, (Continued on page 10) and champion workforce initiatives

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Career Center Staff Jennifer Adkins Lauren Allhands Ellen Bates Douglas Beard Angela Becker Christine Billiter Darene Bradford Kimberly Bunch Robin Campbell Rhonda Chisenhall Cyndi Clifton Kail Clifton Chelsea Cobb Michelle Cobb Dawn Combs Brad Dansberry Jad Davis Lesley DeMarcus Gina DeWard Correy Eimer Lisa Elliott Mary Fennell Melinda Ford John Franzen Tammy Freeman

Kairi Freudenberg Mark Freudenberg Christi Godman Ania Gomulka Yolanda Gould C.J. Grote Jessica Habermehl Amber Hager Melissa Hall Sommer Andrea Heil Ryan Henson Emilee Hunt SaMya Hurry Gladys Hutchins Nicole Ignacio Madrigal Alexandra Ingram Bridget Jackson Dorisa Johnson Sheila Jones Susan Kidwell Katie Jo Kirkpatrick Adam Klaas Kristen Koehler Todd Kyper Lou Lancaster

Tina Lee Carol Leonhart Marie Mahan Mary Mendell Jane Myers Ingrid Nunes DeSouza Samantha Oldiges Sandy Paige Dana Papas Heather Pass Melissa Patchell Hannah Pearson Steven Peed Rhonda Perry Mindy Puckett Stacy Rettig Rudi Revere Tina Rollinger Kim Ross Natalie Ruppert Peg Russell Rachel Schnatz Connie Schnell Kara Schulte Dara Schumaker

Justin Sebastian Karen Sherman Elizabeth Singleton Susie Skeens Catherine South Stephanie Stark Lisa Staub Olivia Thompson Maureen Topper Kimberly Tromans Dave Tucker Tina Vice Sydney Ward Jessica Warner Dede Watts Carol Weber Aaron Williams Phyllis Wocher Sandy Woodall Christie Young Melissa Young Kelly Zumwalt

Career Center Locations Covington - 1324 Madison Avenue, Covington, KY 41011 Carrollton - 1209 Highland Ave., Suite S, Carrollton, KY 41008 CVG Career Center - 3087 Terminal Drive, Hebron, KY 41048 Florence - 8020 Veterans Memorial Drive, Florence KY, 41042 Williamstown - 1350 N Main St, Williamstown, KY 41097 Kenton County Public Library, Erlanger Branch - 401 Kenton Lands Road, Erlanger KY, 41018 Owen County Public Library - 1370 Hwy 22 East, Owenton, KY 40359 Pendleton County Public Library - 801 Robbins Ave, Falmouth, KY 41040

Career Center Partners

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Nearly The Northern Kentucky Community Action Commisand Epic Flight Acadesion (NKCAC) works towards bringing innovative and 1,000 Northern my are workforce productive workforce programs to its clients. Rhonda champions because Chineshall, Vice President of Community DevelopKentuckians they not only are ment and Stephanie Stark, Senior Employment Promeeting (and will conwere assisted through gram Director, continuously look for resources and astinue to meet) emsistance to help anyone who walks through the door at the Lift Up ployment demand, NKCAC, whether they would be in one of the commiscreating numerous Collaborative sion's programs or not. They have worked to revise old well-paying, skilled processes and create new ones to ensure clients can rePartnership jobs, but they are also ceive the job training and assistance they need to rebuilding for the future enter the workforce, especially seniors who found it of the aviation indusdifficult after COVID. NKCAC works with Kentucky Catry at CVG, creating opportunities for sustained growth reer Center staff to ensure Senior Community Service and building an aviation ecosystem on the airport’s cam- Employment Program (SCSEP) Representatives are regpus. This partnership will shape new mechanics for toularly onsite to help enroll candidates into regional promorrow’s needs, not just for FEAM Aero and the CVG grams by training participating staff on the work that region but for the industry. the Kentucky Career Center partners do so that they can promote the services to clients they interact with. Through SCSEP, the commission has provided The Housing Authority of Covington understands the 64,000 hours of community service and employment importance of providing more than just housing to its residents. Led by Chris Bradburn, Deputy Director, the training to the participants and community during those Authority implemented the HUD Jobs Plus Initiative pro- five months. The commission and its staff never give up. ject with excellence and integrity. Her leadership skills allowed residents to receive financial incentives, job Talent Magnet Institute (TMI) and Mike Sipple, Jr., training, job opportunities, and education. This program President/CEO, work to enhance our regional workallowed City Heights residents to make a difference in force ecosystem daily. TMI's mission is to help compatheir own lives by receiving the support of many people nies attract and retain top talent and become an emand agencies to help them build skills and gain connec- ployer of choice in their industry and the region. TMI tions that would not ordinarily be available. The proestablished a leadership development and training platgram contracted with Brighton Center to provide on-site form to help companies grow their talent and create case management and program services for the grant's supportive, innovative, people-centered cultures that duration. Chris Bradburn and the staff at the Housing provide quality jobs for the region. Their platform pairs Authority of Covington are true workforce champions online resources with valuable tools, personal coaching, through tirelessly working and never giving up regardand consulting to help companies identify and address less of the obstacles and because of their ability to move challenges. They are a leading voice in our community the needle in the lives of the residents that lived in City for strong leadership development, job quality and DEI Heights. efforts that make our community a more welcoming and inclusive place. This greatly benefits our regional workforce ecosystem by attracting and retaining talent St. Elizabeth Healthcare’s Workforce Development division works tirelessly to develop the local healthcare to the region. They partnered with the Commonwealth workforce pipeline by meeting students where the stu- of Kentucky and became a WIOA-approved program on the Eligible Training Provider List, allowing registered dents lie in their career journey. They are the region’s WIOA customers to access funding for their training leading community convenor of all workforce-related through the approval process. TMI's goals and mission issues within the healthcare pipelines and invest reare to lift up area employers and, support employers in sources into job shadowing, intern programs, apprenchampioning their ticeships, pre-apprenticeships, new “earn while you learn” pipeline programs. Their Student Nurse Achieve- leadership staff, and ment program tiers nursing students and allows them to create cultures where Over people want to work, gain confidence, team building, professionalism, and live, and engage in the competency in the nursing role prior to graduation. St. 22,000 community. They are Elizabeth thinks outside the box on how to address champions for our reNKY students these issues, whether it’s Pre-K-5th healthcare educagion by celebrating tion from an interactive coloring book called “Where’s took the YouScience Winston?” or middle and high school camps and simula- other area employers who are also working to Career Aptitude and tion experiences to expose the student to Healthcare. move the needle on job Additionally, St. Elizabeth offers Virtual surgeries to Interest Assessment high school students where they can talk to the surgeon quality and our region's and the team directly and see robotic surgery in action. workforce.

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