Monthly Meeting: Skills Gap ‘Cracker Barrel’

Skills Gap ‘Cracker Barrel’

In a recent survey, ninety-two percent of executives said the sustainability of their business is threatened by a job "skills gap.” When asked to define what critical skills are lacking, respondents cited a wide range, including soft skills such as communication, critical thinking, collaboration and advanced leadership skills, STEM (science, technology, education, and math) knowledge and background, and basic computer skills. Diverse causes for these skills gaps have been suggested, ranging from retiring Baby Boomers, failures in our educational system, the rapid pace of technological change and issues such as transportation and affordable child care. Proposed solutions are just as diverse, including partnerships with colleges, enhanced in-house training and lowering emigration barriers.

This interactive "Cracker Barrel” program will give participants opportunities to learn about and discuss the aspects of the skills gap problem that interest them most.

In the Cracker Barrel Format, participants will join tables hosted by “skills gap” specialists from manufacturing, education, health care, and soft skills areas.  Each host will present a short perspective for discussion with discussants.  Participants will have the opportunity to join three different discussions during the ASTD session.

Leading experts that will facilitate the skills gap conversation:

Manufacturing/technical
Manufacturing/technical - Dr. Megan Brogger is a Partner at Lumin Advantage, a consultancy that focuses on leadership and organization development in the STEM sector.  She will discuss ways to adapt initial selection and hiring practice to assure fit of employees to the current technical positions and to future supervisory and leadership roles.  She will also address the use of internal mentoring programs for technical and supervisor development.	Manufacturing/technical - Dr. Victoria Littlefield is a Partner at Lumin Advantage, a consultancy that focuses on leadership and organization development in the STEM sector.   Several reports have noted that the skills gap is not only a technical and computing skills gap, and that an important gap exists in soft skills such as communication, creative thinking, collaboration, and problem solving.   Dr. Littlefield will discuss solutions that organizations have attempted, and provide ideas for implementation.
Manufacturing/technical - John Connelly, is Director of Consulting at Enterprise Minnesota, one of 60 Federal Manufacturing Partnerships chartered to help medium- and small-sized manufacturers compete and grow.  John brings state-wide knowledge on hiring trends and the fit of Minnesota’s workforce to manufacturing needs.  Enterprise Minnesota has just released its 6th annual survey of the “State of Manufacturing in Minnesota.”
Healthcare
Healthcare - Jessica Wandrey is Director of Talent Development for Park Nicollet Health Services.  Park Nicollet has recently combined with HealthPartners, and Jessica leads the organization in recruiting and placing staff members across the employment continuum.  She brings “feet on the street” knowledge about workforce needs in the healthcare sector, and experience with organizational learning challenges and successes as she works to develop the workforce to provide a superior patient, family, and member experience.	Healthcare - Nitika Moibi supervises healthcare workforce planning and analysis for the State of Minnesota.  Based in the Office of Rural Health & Primary Care, she analyzes and reports on healthcare workforce capacity, quality, and needs and recommends solutions for closing the healthcare workforce gap in the state.  Ms. Moibi holds a master’s degree in public policy from the Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities.
Education
Education - Dr. Mary Rothchild is senior system director for workforce development and customized training for Minnesota State Colleges and Universities.  Mary has been with the MnSCU system office for 15 years and, in this position, has responsibility for career and technical education (funded by the Perkins Act), state-wide education-industry partnerships, internet-based career and labor market information (known as ISEEK and CareerOneStop), and the system’s continuing education and customized training.  Prior to this position, Mary directed a statewide project funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation focused on the nursing and healthcare workforce.

Cancellation Policy: With written cancellation notice, received one week prior to the event, you will receive a refund, less a $10 processing fee. Cancellations the week of the event are non-refundable. Notice of cancellation must be faxed to the ASTD-TCC office. No-shows will not receive a refund.

Monthly Meetings are $45 for non-members, $30 for members, and $20 for students.