WIB Welcomes New Members

The WIB is pleased to welcome three new members to the Board. These individuals and others to be named soon are coming to the Board as part of its 2006 membership campaign to expand the leadership capacity and regional impact for the WIB.

As the Human Resources officer for Able Manufacturing and Assembly, LLC, Susan Adams, represents the targeted sector interests of Advanced Manufacturing for the WIB. She is active in the local Industrial Management Consortium and also chairs the Youth Outreach Workforce Partnership for the Joplin Chamber of Commerce.

Adolfo Castillo is a consultant in the Joplin area where he works with local leaders to promote Hispanic involvement in government issues and regularly consults and speaks on education, workforce, health, and welfare impacts of the Hispanic community. For the WIB, he’ll represent the private-sector with the Board’s Global Workforce Relations strategy.

Steve Borders of UMOS, Inc. represents the Migrant/Seasonal Farm Worker public sector for the WIB. UMOS operates this workforce program in Southwest Missouri through the Monett Career Center. As Steve is based at UMOS headquarters in Wisconsin, Anita Franson of the local UMOS staff will sit in for Steve in an ex-officio manner for the WIB.

The "Facts About Modern Manufacturing" Profiled in New Report

The WIB has long held the position that manufacturing in Southwest Missouri is a dynamic, growth-oriented sector. For the most part, the opportunities in local manufacturing have promising wages in high-quality work environments. Like any business sector though, manufacturing has its strengths and weaknesses. A new report from the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) highlights the role that manufacturing serves in the U.S. economy and the challenges that go with such an evolving sector.

“The Facts book sets the record straight about manufacturing’s central role in the U.S. economy,” said NAM President John Engler in an announcement of the new report, The Facts About Modern Manufacturing. “It is an essential resource for anyone interested in the future of manufacturing in America – from policymakers and the media to educators and political candidates who need to know how manufacturing supports their state’s economy and how they can support manufacturing.

“Some mistakenly believe manufacturing in the United States is in decline because of the continuing evolution of global sourcing and competition. In fact, U.S. manufacturing is vibrant, robust and contributes greatly to the dynamic American economy,” added Dennis Cuneo, Senior Vice President at Toyota Motor North America, a sponsor of the report project.

The Facts book highlights six manufacturing pillars that support today’s U.S. economy:

• Manufacturing made the highest contribution (15 percent) of all sectors to real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth between 2001 and today.
• Manufacturing is the engine of American technology development and innovation, responsible for more than 70 percent of private sector R&D
• Manufacturing’s high productivity rate – which determines real wage and benefit compensation – increased by more than 50 percent over the past decade and was far higher than for services.
• Manufactured goods make up more than 60 percent of U.S. exports, helping to pay for U.S. imports. While agricultural exports amount to about $50 billion a year, manufacturers export that much each month.
• Manufacturing wages and benefits are approximately 25 percent higher than in non-manufacturing jobs.
• Manufacturing has a greater multiplier effect on the rest of the economy than does any other sector; each manufacturing dollar generates an additional $1.37 in economic activity.

The report is available online for download at NAM's website.

Workgroup Advances One-Stop Chartering Project

Missouri’s Training and Employment Council, functioning at the state WIB, has officially adopted the standards of One-Stop Chartering at its October meeting. This means full speed ahead for a local One-Stop Workgroup of the WIB that is preparing Southwest Missouri to excel as one of the leading region’s in the state for One-Stop Chartering.

The Workgroup is leveraging local resources and energies with a One-Stop Enhancement Grant from the Missouri Division of Workforce Development (DWD) to make facility improvements and service upgrades at the Joplin Career Center, develop a policy framework for integrated management through a One-Stop Operator, and design an innovative business plan that meets and exceeds chartering guidelines.

Helping to consult the workgroup and steer the process in a strategic manner is Nina Babich and Donna Cruder from the Corporation for a Skilled Workforce. The consultants provide technical assistance to the workgroup and represents the workgroup in seeking ongoing policy guidance and clarification from DWD to successfully implement the group’s business plan.

Several members of the workgroup will participate in upcoming Business Plan training. The workshops by the Small Business Development Center at Missouri Southern State University is set for December 6th.

Southwest Missouri Highlights from State Workforce Conference

The 2006 Governors Conference on Workforce Development was held October 11-13 in Osage Beach. One of the Super Sessions for the conference profiled the WIB Benchmarking Project. Southwest Missouri was one of our leading edge WIBs in the Show-Me State selected for this research project, which is gaining national attention. WIB member Gary Little and WIB Executive Director Jasen Jones participated as panel speakers for the event.


The recent state workforce conference honored Individual Achievement Award nominees from each of Missouri’s fourteen workforce regions. The award recognizes a Missouri Career Center customer that successfully reaches employment and training goals while overcoming significant obstacles through extreme determination and use of the Center’s resources. The WIB’s One-Stop Workgroup nominated Peter Cowles of the youth program. Peter overcame underemployment, homelessness, and extreme family medical issues and now earns $12-$17/hour (based on output) at La-Z-Boy Manufacturing in Neosho. Peter noted, “They reached out their hands to me when I was in a desperate time of need. All I can say is thank you for all the people who believed in me.”

Joplin Chamber, WIB, & School Project Wins State Award

The Joplin Area Chamber of Commerce netted two "Awards of Excellence" from the Chamber of Commerce Executives of Missouri (CCEM). One of the awards in the category of "Outstanding Programs" was presented to the Chamber for the Youth Outreach Workforce Partnership, developed last year by the Chamber in conjunction with the WIB and Joplin High School through a grant program administered by the WIB.

The initiative targets at-risk youth unable to acess adequate skill resources and who are in need of vocational direction to adapt to today's ever-changing job market. Students selected for this program participate in job readiness components such as job applications, resume development, job interview practice, customer service skills, and job retention/survival skills.

Congrats to the Chamber for this and its "Outstanding Website" award for joplincc.com. Chamber officials plan to submit profiles on both the youth program and the website for consideration in a nationwide competition later this year with the American Chamber of Commerce Executives association.

The 2006-2007 youth outreach project is already underway. Youth will tour the Joplin Career and participate in career readiness training October 25th. This year’s project builds upon last year’s WIB grant funds and is now completely funded by sponsorships from Joplin Chamber members.

WorkforceZone.Net Website

The new website for the WIB is coming along. All news items will be placed in this weblog to get the news out quicker and make it easier for our constituents to access. Check out our progress at www.workforcezone.net.

Fast Forward to the Future of Training Success

Grants developed through the WIB and funded through the Missouri Division of Workforce Development have brought a new realm of training possibilities to Southwest Missouri. In partnership with Alchemy Training Systems, the Missouri Career Centers of Joplin and Monett are proud to introduce SISTEM, a dynamic training solution that boasts savings in time and money with positive results. The One-Stop Career Centers in Southwest Missouri are leading the state in rolling out SISTEM, the Standard Industry Skills and Education Media product. SISTEM incorporates competency-based applications into an interactive training format that provides a rich and enjoyable learning experience for the job seekers and incumbent worker students. Check out SISTEM in Southwest Missouri online at www.workforcezone.com/SISTEM.html.