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VOLUME 1, ISSUE 1
IN THIS ISSUE NIMBLE NAVIGATORS: ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STEERING COMMUNITY TOWARD FLOURISHING FUTURE CENTER OFFERING WAYS FOR CORPORATIONS AND WORKERS TO SUCCEED TRAILBLAZING EFFORT LAUNCHED TO ALLEVIATE REGIONAL CASE MANAGER SHORTAGE IN-DEMAND JOBS WEEK AND EDUCATIONAL PATHS TO SUCCESSFUL CAREERS
NIMBLE NAVIGATORS: ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STEERING COMMUNITY TOWARD FLOURISHING FUTURE What convinces a company to locate to Hancock County, stay there for the long haul, and maybe even expand operations over time? The answer: people, particularly those who create a great community for working and residing. It’s people who have helped Findlay be named Site Selection Magazine’s top micropolitan in the nation for nine consecutive years (2014-2022). Findlay-Hancock County Economic Development (ED) director Dan Sheaffer and his team are some of the key stakeholders responsible for local business attraction, growth, and retention, along with corresponding efforts like community planning and downtown improvement. “It is our objective to have more employees and associates living here as well as working here,” Sheaffer said. ED works to recruit prospective companies to the community. By facilitating visits for undisclosed companies, ED showcases sites for purchase, details available infrastructure (e.g., roads, railways, utilities, etc.), and promotes Hancock County’s talent development strategies. ED may also arrange community tours during these visits to paint the full picture of residential projects, education options, and other companies investing in Hancock County.
“The attraction of new industry is strategic,” said Sheaffer. Although Hancock County continues to serve as a regional hub for the auto-mobility sector, ED is always recruiting other industries, including those that rely on a supply chain. Findlay’s geographic proximity to a significant proportion of the US population, major cities, highways, airports, and railways makes it an ideal location for companies. To learn more about Economic Development visit findlayecondev.com/.
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HS Business Camp Volunteer with us at Bowling Green State University as high school students create a simulated business startup, hear keynote presenters, and complete exercises that will guide them to create a business plan, financials and marketing materials.
Career Expo: Healthcare M AY 1 1 , 2 0 2 3
SUMMER 2023
Once again Raise the Bar will coordinate industry workplace tours and employer interactions for Hancock County’s K-12 educators. Spots will be limited and applications will open in May 2023. Stay informed at http://bit.ly/3G9GXyi
CONNECT WITH EMPLOYERS Great news! All Hancock County educators get unlimited access to the resources and contact information shared during Raise the Bar’s Career Expo Series. Follow the QR codes below to access.
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Area graduates seeking well-paying jobs that are close to home have a new community resource working in their favor. Three regional educational providers — Bowling Green State University, University of Findlay, and Owens Community College — formed the Center for Advanced Manufacturing to better serve companies and leverage local talent.
JUNE 18-23, 2023
Summer Educator Experience
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JOIN EMPLOYERS
Raise the Bar will host 25 high school students and their teachers in this one-day experience. Attendees will learn about tehnician roles in healthcare, engage with many employees, and tour several workplaces. Details at http://bit. ly/3TXXECg.
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TRAILBLAZING EFFORT LAUNCHED TO ALLEVIATE REGIONAL CASE MANAGER SHORTAGE One hundred and two. That’s the number of daily tasks that a group of Hancock County case managers recently tallied when they examined their profession at the microlevel. The mind-boggling number, which surprised even those who identified the tasks, was necessary to progress with a collaborative endeavor that’s intended to better design job descriptions, training, and career pathways for essential but increasingly unfilled positions. “For several years, community stakeholders, especially those representing social services, have been noticing a retention and recruitment struggle for a lot of different roles,” said RTB Executive Director Tricia Valasek. National studies mirror this trend. As advocates within health and social services, case managers, who range from social workers to community support personnel, connect individuals with available resources they need to navigate circumstances like a health crisis or homelessness. Finding and implementing effective solutions to the regional case manager shortage is the goal. RTB workforce strategies are being used in connection with a method to “decode” jobs so the community, employers, and education providers can best foster a talent pipeline. In March, two days were spent with seven subject matter experts from Blanchard Valley Center, Family Resource Center, and Job and Family Services decoding the case manager role. Valasek said this deep dive was “validating” for the workers and necessary for the next step: creating a list of competencies that will be used to better align education curricula with realworld duties. Also, increased transparency will ensure that future case managers know what they’ll be facing on the job so that they stick with it. “It is a very complicated job. It takes a certain kind of person to accomplish a lot of these human services roles. But that doesn’t mean there isn’t a role for everyone,” said Valasek. Results from this multi-phase effort are expected to be released in Fall 2023.
Talent development, automation, systems integration, and supply chain management are the Center’s targeted areas. Spearheaded by Executive Director Tim Mayle, the Center is learning what companies need to succeed and how prospective workers can prepare for such careers, which he pointed out can take people further than they ever expected. Mayle calls manufacturing jobs “a career pathway” that often leads to advancement. “Manufacturers invest in their associates through formal education, continuous improvement, safety, and many other ways,” he said. “There are numerous ways to begin as an entry-level associate and transition to line leader and beyond.”
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17,363 anticipated openings at Ohio’s manufacturers over next 3-5 years
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anticipated openings among 7 Hancock County manufacturers in next 3-5 years
Innovation, collaboration, and creativity are three more substantial assets within the manufacturing sector. With companies always seeking to improve quality and efficiencies, teamwork and ingenuity are valued. “Employers will embrace new ideas on how to improve processes,” Mayle said. For its part, the Center has already completed several supply chain analyses that have identified millions in savings, Mayle said. “Northwest Ohio’s economy is anchored by manufacturing and it’s critical to support them to retain the companies we have and attract new companies.” Mayle is also excited about the opportunities the Center for Advanced Manufacturing and local corporations are already providing, particularly for students prior to graduation. “Employers are looking to engage students through internships, coops, and on their campuses,” he said.
Center for Advanced Manufacturing MOU Signing. Individuals (L to R): Rodney K. Rogers, President Bowling Green State University; Dr. Dione Somerville, President Owens Community College; Randy Gardner, Chancellor Ohio Department of Higher Education; Dr. Katherine Fell, President University of Findlay
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IN-DEMAND JOBS WEEK AND EDUCATIONAL PATHS TO SUCCESSFUL CAREERS
Ohio’s In-Demand Jobs Week takes place May 1-5, 2023. Governor Mike DeWine’s Office of Workforce Transformation describes it as “the statewide celebration of the jobs, industries, and skills that are indemand in Ohio.” Leaders are encouraging community leaders to plan activities “that will inspire excitement and awareness among students and job seekers.” This year highlights training paths Ohioans can take to land a successful career. The state’s primary success pathways are: (1) career technical education that provides students with the skills to become lifelong learners; (2) pre-apprenticeships, which teach entrylevel technical and job-readiness skills in preparation for a formal registered apprenticeship; (3) College Credit Plus, which allows high school students to take college courses and earn college credits; and (4) industryrecognized credentials, which formally recognize the
knowledge and skills students have gained through hands-on learning in a specific job or industry. Northwest Ohio’s in-demand jobs revolve around advanced manufacturing, food processing, automotive, energy, and logistics/distribution. A list of Ohio’s top jobs available at topjobs.ohio.gov/top-jobs-list. Regional information available through Regional Growth Partnership or rgp.org.
LET’S STAY CONNECTED! We’ve heard your interest in learning more about our community’s careers and industries, and that’s what helped spark this newsletter. We want On the Rise to be a newsletter you look forward to receiving. We also want you to feel informed about workforce trends, how to connect with employers, and the many career opportunities that exist locally.
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