2020 alabamaworks! virtual conference
 

About the Conference

Hear new and innovative approaches to workforce practices, education initiatives to grow the workforce pipeline, strategies to increase collaboration and partnerships, and so much more! We are bringing together experts from business, industry, education, and workforce to identify challenges, focus on solutions, and develop a more dynamic workforce for Alabama – and it’s all virtual, allowing you to learn in the safety and
comfort of your home or office.


Registration Now Open!

  • Experience
  • Explore
  • Connect

Envisioning the future
of workforce in a
constantly changing world.

Who should attend?

Career Tech Educators • Human Resources Professionals • Policy Makers • Economic Developers • Chambers of Commerce • Workforce Development Teams • K-12 Educators • Government Officials • Business & Industry Leaders • Elected Officials • Non-Profit Professionals • Civic Leaders • Higher Education • Career Counselors and More!

From business and industry leaders to career tech educators, the AlabamaWorks Virtual Conference is the one event you need to attend in 2020! Just as workforce development is broad and expansive in its scope, so are the many individuals who play a role in Alabama’s workforce initiatives. However different – they share a common goal of adding highly skilled and credentialed workers to Alabama’s Workforce.

Agenda


All Day

 8:00-8:20

Welcome & Opening Address

Ed Castile
Deputy Secretary of Commerce, Director of AIDT
 8:20-8:45

Workforce Initiatives Update

Nick Moore
Governor's Office of Education Workforce Transformation

How is Alabama bridging the education to workforce talent pipeline? From the ACCCP to Strong Start Strong Finish, hear updates on Governor Ivey's Success Plus initiatives.

 8:45-9:00

BREAK

 9:00-9:30

Breakout Session #1 (Choose Rural, Technical or Workforce Pipeline)

Rural Focus

Combating the Teacher Shortage: How to recruit and retain teachers in Academics and Workforce Education

Chuck Marcum
Superintendent, Roanoke City Schools
Dr. Suzanne Lacey
Superintendent, Talladega County Schools
David Wofford
Superintendent, Chickasaw City Schools.
Jim Purcell
Alabama Commission on Higher Education


Technical Focus

Navigating the Labor Market Information Highway

Tonya Lee
 Alabama Department of Labor, Labor Market Information Division Assistant Director
Governor's Office of Education and Workforce Transformation, Director of Division of Education and Workforce Statistics
Labor Market Information can enlighten us about the workforce trends in the state, but sometimes it’s difficult to put it all together. This will cover the concepts of Labor Supply and Demand using the resources available to you, and provide you a glimpse of what’s to come with the Alabama Terminal on Linking and Analyzing Statistics, ATLAS on Career Pathways.


Workforce Pipeline Focus

The art of 3-D Presentations: Develop, Design and Deliver

Joseph Seymour
Corporate Trainer and Development Coordinator
The ability to engage, educate and empower others through well-developed, meticulously designed and masterfully delivered presentations is one of the most sought-after skills in workforce development. This workshop will introduce you to the art of the 3-D Presentation by providing insightful instruction on the 3 D’s of effective presentations: Development, Design, and Delivery. First, we will discuss the best ways to research and plan for a presentation. Next, we will review best practices in PowerPoint design. Finally, we will learn strategies for effective delivery. These skills will have an undeniable impact on your employer presentations, participant workshops and orientations, staff trainings and team meetings. Come ready to laugh and learn as you take your presentation game to the next level.
 9:30-10:15

Keynote Address:  How to Swim Your Best Race in Choppy Waters

This interactive session will focus on obtaining a mindset to navigate through changing times, panic, and move to confidence.  First with you, then with your clients, customers, and team.  
Dr. Kevin Elko
Best selling author and motivational speaker

 10:15-10:30

BREAK

 10:30-11:15

Breakout Session #2 (Choose Rural, Technical or Workforce Pipeline)

Rural Focus

Workforce Recruiting Strategies: How industry in rural Alabama is meeting the workforce challenge to stay profitable.

Meredith Heath
AMNS Steel
Christy Knowles
Coosa Valley Medical Center
Larry Burton
Corporate Director of Human Resources, Wellborn Cabinet
Moderator, Jim Byard
Byard Associates


Technical Focus

“Just Pull Yourself Together” – Youth Program/Career Center Partnership for Success

Mandy Waters
Alabama Career Center System & Jeannie Bryan, Youth Enrichment Services Program
This interactive presentation describes the strong working relationship developed over 17 years between the Enterprise, Alabama Career Center and Regional Alliance 4 Children’s Youth Enrichment Service, an out-of-school youth WIOA program. Highlighting best practices for recruiting, retaining, and motivating the youth of today, topics to be addressed include: how to “find” the out-of-school youth, how to assess for suitability and success, and how to document performance benchmarks. Opportunities will be given for the audience to ask questions and share their success strategies. Keeping in mind the motto, “If it isn’t documented, it didn’t happen,” this workshop will stress developing partnerships between programs and career centers for eligibility determination, documentation of performance attainment, and follow-up.


Workforce Pipeline Focus

From Transactional to Transformational: Creating an Exceptional Customer Experience

Joseph Seymour
Corporate Trainer and Development Coordinator
One of the prominent themes throughout WIOA legislation is a renewed focus on the customer experience. Organizations pursuing success under WIOA will have to reflect this focus in their programming, customer flow design, and overall service delivery. This exciting and interactive workshop will equip you with the strategies, tools, and principles needed to empower your organization or team to transition from basic transactional customer interactions to a culture built on delivering transformational customer experience. Learn tried and true best practices from leading customer service organizations including Disney, Southwest, Zappos.com and the Ritz Carlton. 
 11:15-12:30

AIDT & TRANSFR: Innovating Workforce Development for All Alabamians to Succeed

Bharani Rajakumar
CEO & Founder TransfrVR
Dr. Brock Kelley
Southern Director of Workforce Development, Alabama Community College System
Katelyn Cutshall
Community Development Analyst, Alabama Power
David Walters
State Director of Adult Education/Special Projects and System Initiatives, Alabama Community College System
Jacquie Allen
Assistant Director of Communications and External Affairs, AIDT
Dr. Josh Duplantis
Dean of Workforce Development, Coastal Alabama Community College
This session will highlight how AIDT and various partners addressed the challenges in their local area or industry to bridge talent gaps and connect Alabamians with careers. How can you work with major employers to get students jobs right out of high school? Can you save industry millions with pre-apprenticeship programs? How do you prepare people for jobs at a manufacturing site that doesn’t yet exist? Stay tuned for a dynamic review of success models and inspiring case studies that are changing how we approach workforce development.
 12:30-1:15

Career Centers: Not the Unemployment Office

Stephen Smith
Employment Service Senior Manager for Planning and Evaluation, Alabama Career Center System
“Drawing Your Pennies” was once the main reason for visiting what is now known as the Career Center Office. “The Unemployment Office,” as it was called for many years, was a separate physical location from “The Employment Office” until the mid-to-late 1990s. As the Alabama Career Center System has evolved and expanded, so have the services provided.
 1:15 - 1:30

BREAK

 1:30-2:30

Apprenticeship as a Workforce Solution

Josh Laney
Director, Alabama Office of Apprenticeship
This session will highlight how to utilize apprenticeship programs to recruit, train, and retain skilled employees.
 2:30-3:15

Breakout Session #3 (Choose Rural, Technical or Workforce Pipeline)

Rural Focus

How Placemaking and Collaboration Develop Rural Alabama’s Jobs and Quality of Life

Mary Shell
Alabama Communities of Excellence

Mary Helmer
Main Street Alabama

Gina Clifford
Design Alabama

Matt Leavell
University of Alabama Center of Economic Development



Technical Focus

Creating a New Path: From Veteran to Employee

Donal Cieutat
Alabama State Jobs for Veterans Coordinator Alabama Career Center System

Paulette Risher
President / CEO Still Serving Veterans 

Exploring the challenges for Employers and Veterans as Veterans transition to the Civilian workforce.


Workforce Pipeline Focus

Project MFG

Gregory A. Harris, Ph.D., P.E.
Associate Professor Industrial & Systems Engineering Director, Interdisciplinary Center for Advanced Manufacturing Systems (ICAMS)

Matt Anthony
Principal Advisor, BrandWell Partners

Project MFG promotes the value of a career in the manufacturing trades and accelerates new entrants into the workforce. Attendees at this session will hear how Project MFG in partnership with the Department of Defense is developing and scaling up machining and welding skills to ensure a skilled workforce pipeline.
 3:15-4:30

Building a Workforce Pipeline & Innovator Awards

Ed Castile
Building a workforce pipeline is a key component in reaching the attainment goal of Governor Ivey's Success Plus plan. See how two school systems in Alabama embrace Strong Start Strong Finish to help students map out their education and training journey to become tomorrow's workforce and hear how Alabama is focused on developing a workforce for future industry demands.

Governor Ivey
Governor Kay Ivey addresses the conference providing an update on workforce programs and future challenges.

Presentation of AlabamaWorks Innovator Awards.

Frequently Asked Questions

Add Settings
A virtual conference is hosted entirely over the Internet. Attendees will be able to access live and pre-recorded sessions while participating with questions and comments in real time
This event should be attended by individuals within government, education and non-profit industries, whose duties directly include or impact workforce development throughout the state.
No, this is a free conference to all our registrants.
After registration, you will receive a confirmation email with login instructions for the day of the event. You will not be able to login until the day of the event.
No, you will still need to register for the Alabama Works! Virtual Workforce Conference.
The content will be available on-demand for 30 days following the date of the live conference.
Yes, you will be able to chat in real time with other conference attendees.
Yes. Like any physical event, we will have a swag bag for you! You can add all of the documents available to the online swag bag in your account and then email them to yourself or share items with colleagues and friends by simply entering their email.
No, you do not need to download any software to access the Alabama Works! Virtual Workforce Conference. All you need is a standard web browser and a stable internet connection.
Send an email to alwksvirtualconf@getvfairs.io for any technical assistance
Closed captioning will be added to all sessions after the live streaming. Please check back after Monday, September 21, 2020 for the enhanced videos which will be available until October 17, 2020.