By Megan Cardiff
October 1, 2012

The Conference of Mayors Leadership, Conference of Mayors Workforce Development Council members, and private'sector leaders came together in Dallas on September 24, for the 2012 Fall Leadership Meeting, sponsored by Siemens. Participants discussed ways in which cities can expand their local workforce system and create good-paying jobs. Conference of Mayors President Philadelphia Mayor Michael A. Nutter presided over the meeting, which was hosted by Work and Opportunity Task Force Chair Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings.

“U.S. cities require a highly skilled, trained workforce that can compete globally” said Nutter. “It is critical, as leaders of these cities, to do our best to ensure that our citizens are globally competitive and have the means to obtain skills that will lead to careers and a better life for them and their families.”

Conference of Mayors Jobs, Education, and the Workforce Standing Committee Vice Chair West Sacramento Mayor Christopher Cabaldon and Associate Vice President of Network Engagement and Growth for the National Academy Foundation Bill Taylor kicked off the meeting. Cabaldon and Taylor discussed Career Academies and highlighted the importance of mayoral leadership in integrating college and career curricula into high schools. Both emphasized the importance of public/private partnerships.

“Every student should graduate from high school ready for college and career.” Cabaldon emphasized, adding, “We want education to be relevant so that students feel it come alive. Mayors can play in this domain at the policy level and provide leadership at the district level. We, as mayors, have to be the connectors and translators between business and the workforce.”

Taylor described the extensive work the National Academy Foundation does to make sure youth are prepared for college and career success through the organization’s proven educational model, which includes industry-focused curricula, work-based learning experiences, and business partner expertise. Taylor stated, “Every child is capable of high academic rigor and career ability – it’s our job to make that available. We can’t afford not to take this approach in the way we are educating our youth in the K-12 system.”

Another important best practice in workforce development focused on at the meeting is the development of public/private partnerships with higher education. Charlotte Mayor Anthony Foxx was joined by Siemens Technical Training Manager Pam Howze, Dean of the Harris Campus at Central Piedmont Community College Mary Vickers-Koch, and Charlotte Works CEO Steve Partridge to present the city’s successes in partnering a major corporation with a community college and a local workforce board to train individuals for jobs.

“There is a real danger for all of us in training people just to train them. We have to make sure the jobs people are being trained for actually exist,” stated Foxx.

The panel presented the successful partnership between Charlotte, Siemens Industry, Piedmont Community College and Charlotte Works when Siemens’ expanded the city’s facility – needing 750 additional workers in just two years. “Only when you see the skill sets of the citizens in your city can you see where the gaps are that need to be filled. We know where the jobs are coming from in Charlotte,” said Partridge.

In line with the topic of public/private partnerships in higher education, Rawlings, President of Workforce Solutions Greater Dallas Laurie Bouillion Larrea, and Chancellor of the University of North Texas System Lee Jackson talked about the successful partnership in their city.

“We have got to do what employers need us to do in the community – it’s employer driven. If we don’t engage people and make them excited about important careers in STEM, we’re lost. We have got to make them excited about STEM careers,” stated Larrea.

In the final hours of the meeting, participants heard from business leaders regarding the talent development pipeline and the future workforce needs of private'sector industries. President and CEO of Siemens Industry Daryl Dulaney discussed the resurgence of the manufacturing industry in the U.S., with the peak period being predicted as between 2015 and 2020.

“The American worker is three times as productive as the average overseas worker,” said Dulaney. “Efficiency and productivity are not enough. We have a significant skills gap when we go to hire people and bring them into our business.” Workforce development is critical if we really want to take advantage of this predicted manufacturing boost.”

Senior Vice President of Talent Development and Chief Diversity Officer at AT&T Debbie Storey spoke on the company’s work to help close the nation’s skills gap and improve education in the country. “We are investing in this country -- investing in America means investing in jobs as well. We struggle to fill candidates in many areas because of lack of skills and workforce readiness.”

Storey stressed that the issue of individuals lacking the technical skills to hold jobs is not just an AT&T or manufacturing and technology issue, but an issue in every industry and every business. She pointed out that today’s increased need for well-developed technological skills is one of the big challenges facing business and the workforce system when it comes to closing the skills gap.

President of the Bank of America Charitable Foundation Kerry Sullivan spoke to participants on the current work and future plans of the organization to help disconnected youth, hard-to'serve populations, and the chronically unemployed and underemployed. Sullivan announced that the Foundation will be announcing a workforce grant by early October that will help to increase the organization’s workforce efforts across the nation.

“Corporations need to hear from you and where your gaps are – we have an army of people who do want to make a difference. The workforce system can be a major player with Bank of America through validating all you’ve done,” Sullivan stated.

Nutter and fellow Conference of Mayors leadership held a press conference to stress the importance of improving local job growth and preparing the future workforce as the economy continues to recover. The mayors also discussed the recently released Conference of Mayors report prepared by HIS Global Insight identifying specific sectors of the economy expected to have the highest and fastest job growth.

“U.S. cities require a highly skilled, trained workforce that can compete globally,” said Nutter. “There is nothing more important than building successful programs that support the individuals in our communities to develop skills for the jobs of the future, and enable personal and professional growth.”