Building the Supply Chain Workforce

By Jesse Simmons Supply Chain OKI

Today’s greatest challenges for employers are finding, training, and retaining workers. SCOKI helps employers with these challenges in several creative ways:

GROW NKY’S MISSION IS TO leverage the community’s full complement of assets to grow, attract, and retain a globally competitive workforce. Through its 70+ regional partnerships, GROW NKY seeks innovative solutions to Northern Kentucky’s workforce challenges. GROW NKY Pillar 2 is focused on “career readiness” and has strengthened and promoted “industry collaborative” coordination to provide meaningful opportunities for exposure, exploration, and experience in high-demand workforce sectors, including supply chain & logistics.

Supply Chain OKI (SCOKI) is a 501c3 collaboration of employers, educators, and community organizations focused on finding workforce solutions for SCOKI business partners. In addition, SCOKI helps low-income youth and adults get good-paying jobs with careers in the supply chain, construction, and manufacturing sectors. Our financial sponsors are Barking Squirrel Media, Brighton Center, Cintas, DHL, Duke Energy, FedEx, Jurgensen, Kroger, Legion, Perfetti, P&G, Purina, PROXIMO, Talbert House, TQL, Workforce Council of Southwest Ohio, Workforce Investment Board NKY and Uber Freight.

• SCOKI Youth Programs provide a menu of programs that educate the teachers, parents, and students about career opportunities with businesses in our region, specifically in the supply chain, construction, and manufacturing fields. Information includes facts about both entry-level jobs and career advancement opportunities available with partner companies.

• Flagship community organizations including Brighton Center, EastersealsRedwood, Talbert House and Greater Cincinnati Urban League provide job readiness skill classes for youth and adults seeking employment.

• Business partners provide part-time co-op jobs for high school seniors in our region and tuition reimbursement for full-time employees pursuing college coursework.

• SCOKI, under a new initiative, will provide 90 days of transportation support to new hires, in collaboration with targeted business partners, to ensure job acceptance and retention.

• SCOKI Academy provides upskill training options for employed youth and adults to facilitate promotion and career advancement.

GROW NKY Pillar 2 sub-committee lead and NKY College & Career Connector with Navigo/Learning Grove Lorraine O’Moore says this about SCOKI, “SCOKI is a phenomenal partner to the school districts of Northern Kentucky, providing a wide range of work-based learning opportunities including lunch and learns, company tours, paid co-ops, and guest speakers. They are progressive in their thinking, always looking at “what’s next” and are there at the table to listen, collaborate, and address the needs of all the communities they serve - businesses, schools, families, and community partners. SCOKI is leading the way in addressing the most common barrier facing NKY residents – access to reliable transportation to and from work! They are also leading the way in partnering with schools to provide experiential learning opportunities for students. And they are leading the way when it comes to true collaboration – they are present, they participate, and they follow through! It is a pleasure to partner with SCOKI to better serve our students, to foster strong partnerships between our schools and businesses, and to develop robust talent pipelines within our schools.”

To learn more, go to www.supplychainOKI.com or email grow@nkadd.org. NKY