Thursday, May 7, 2015Sturbridge Host Hotel andConference Center

Commonwealth Workforce Coalition

SHARING SKILLS~BUILDING CONNECTIONSCareer Ready: For Today and Tomorrow

Community Economic Development Assistance Corporation

Registration7:30 a.m. - 8:30 a.m.

Supporters:Bank of America Merrill Lynch

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts

Boston Mayor’s Office of Jobs & Community Services

Boston Private Bank & Trust Company

Commonwealth Corporation

Eastern Bank Charitable Foundation

Massachusetts Housing Investment Corporation

Massachusetts Housing Partnership

Mel King Institute for Community Building

SkillWorks: Partners for a Productive Workforce

Spaulding Rehabilitation Network

State Street Corporation

The TJX Companies, Inc.

United Way of Massachusetts Bay & Merrimack Valley

Career Ready: For Today and TomorrowThis year’s conference theme is Career Ready: For Today and Tomorrow. The

dynamics of both the global and local labor markets ensure that employer

demands will be constantly changing. It is not enough to prepare participants

for a career based on current employer needs; we need to prepare them to

be actively engaged in their career planning process, continually seeking to

update their skills and experiences to successfully attain and build economic

independence for themselves and their families. Conference attendees will learn

about programs and strategies designed to engage and support participants to

become career ready for both the short- and long-term.

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CONFERENCE AGENDA AND WORKSHOP BY TRACKS AND SESSION

7:30 a.m. - 8:30 a.m. – Registration

Partnering with Employers

Pitching Your Services to Employers: A Hands-On Clinic

Working with Participants

Preparing Individuals with Asperger’s Syndrome to Find and Keep a Job

Moving Forward with Clients – Coaching“In Relationship”

Employment for Homeless Families - Strategies for Effective Career Center Collaboration

Harnessing Change for Success

On Solid Ground: Building Opportunity

Entrepreneurship for Jobseekers

Standing Out in the Job Search - ATS Friendly Resumes

Coaching &Advising

Collaboration Sector Strategies and

Industry Pathway

Development

Policy and Systems Change

8:30 a.m. - 9:15 a.m. – Welcome

9:30 a.m. - 10:45 a.m. – Session #1 Workshops (choose one)

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SHARING SKILLS~BUILDING CONNECTIONSThe 12th Annual Statewide Conference for Workforce Development Professionals

Thursday, May 7, 2015 | Sturbridge Host Hotel and Conference Center, Sturbridge 366 Main Street, Sturbridge, MA

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Culturally Responsive Practice for Work-Based Mentoring Programs

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Taking Networking to a New Level: Using Social Media

Be Sure to Visit Our Exhibitor TablesFind information and resources for your programs and participants at the Exhibitor Tables.

Alexander, Aronson, Finning, Certified Public Accountants & Business Advisors

Burning Glass Technologies Citizens’ Housing & Planning Association, Inc.

Common Good HR

Commonwealth Corporation, Department of Youth Services

Jobs For The Future

Massachusetts Community College and Workforce Development Transformation Agenda

Massachusetts Workforce Training Fund

Office of Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey

The Skilled Careers in Life Sciences Initiative

Work Without Limits, An Initiative of the UMass Medical School

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CONFERENCE AGENDA AND WORKSHOP BY TRACKS AND SESSION

10:45 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. – Break

12:30 p.m. - 1:45 p.m. – Luncheon: Network and Exhibitor Showcase

Bringing Business, Education and the Workforce System to the Table

Creating a Pipeline through Employer Partnership Training Programs

Assessing and Building Participants’ Soft Skills

Your Career Road-Map: How to Conquer Your CORI

Coaching Across a Continuum of Services

Capturing the Impact of Coaching

Developers, Non-Profits, and Cities--Oh My!

Direct Health Care Workers Training Pilot

Workforce Innovation & Opportunity Act (WIOA): What You Need to Know for Implementation

Our State Budget: Choices for our Future

Advocacy 101 for Workforce Professionals

Utilizing the Applied Manufacturing Technology Pathway Certification

Massachusetts’ Food Plan - Predicting Food Sector Job Growth

Ready to Work: Understanding the Impact of Toxic Stress

HiSET®: What You Need to Know to Best Serve Your Clients

11:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. – Session #2 Workshops (choose one)

2:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. – Session #3 Workshops (choose one)

3:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. - Post-conference reception with refreshments

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Post-Conference ReceptionThe conference ends with an informal reception at 3:30 p.m. to provide an opportunity to meet and talk with other

practitioners from around the state. Beer, wine, and soft drinks will be served.

Building a Responsive Workplace: The Benefits of Incorporating Trauma-Informed Practices

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The Practice of Mobility Mentoring®: Principles, Values, and Key Elements

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Industry Challenges and Skills Needed

Workplace Discrimination: What You Need to Know

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Pitching Your Services to Employers: A Hands-On ClinicColleen Moran, Spaulding Rehabilitation Network, Laura Stout,

BCBSMA, Sherrie Saint-Amant, TJX, Dawn Creighton, AIM, Judith

Lorei, Commonwealth Workforce Coalition and TBD

In this hands-on interactive workshop you will have an

opportunity to practice pitching your employment services

to employers who will provide on-the-spot critiques.

Registration for this workshop is limited to 30. Each

participant will be expected to come prepared to simulate

a 3-4 minute cold call with a new employer about their

organization. The workshop will involves mini-simulations

and opportunities for feedback so come ready to put your

best foot forward! Taking Networking to a New Level: Using Social MediaLara Enein-Donovan, Institute for Community Inclusion/UMass

Boston

Social media websites are another avenue for networking

and can be crucial to creating and maintaining links to

employers. This entry-level, interactive session will provide

participants with information on how to use these websites

to build connections with employers, post resumes and

access job openings. Helpful tips will also be shared. Bringing Business, Education and the Workforce System to the Table Meredith Crouse, Boston Private Industry Council, and Joanne

Pokaski, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center

The Boston Healthcare Careers Consortium is a

collaboration that began in 2010, and includes

approximately 20 participating healthcare employers, 12

colleges, and 15 other workforce-related organizations

convened by Boston’s WIB. This workshop will describe

methods used to convene and engage stakeholders, and

work products delivered to date.

Industry Challenges and Skills NeededAngela Brown, Southbridge Sheet Metal Works, Dawn Creighton,

Associated Industries of Massachusetts, Allison Ebner, FIT Staffing,

Inc., and MJ Ryan, Partners HealthCare

What are the biggest workforce challenges currently faced

in the key industries of manufacturing, IT, and healthcare?

Learn from employers what skills are most needed to

12th Annual Sharing Skills~Building Connections Conference

Partnering with Employers Track E

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WORKSHOP LISTINGS BY TRACK

Luncheon: Exhibitor Showcase and NetworkingDuring lunch, we are pleased

to feature a number of diverse

Exhibitors with valuable

information and resources

for your participants and

programs. In addition, we have

some creative ways to help you

meet and network with your

colleagues. We will have table

topics based on your input when

you register for the conference.

Welcome Keynote SpeakerWe are pleased to welcome

Secretary Ronald L. Walker, II

Executive Office of Labor and

Workforce Development

Secretary Ronald L. Walker, II oversees five labor and workforce development

regulatory agencies: the Departments of Unemployment Assistance, Career

Services, Labor Standards, Industrial Accidents, and Labor Relations. In addition,

Secretary Walker manages Commonwealth Corporation-- the Secretariat’s quasi-

public state agency charged with administering work force training funds and the

Joint Task Force on the Underground Economy and Employee Misclassification,

which coordinates the efforts of multiple state agencies to eliminate fraudulent

employment activities and level the playing field for all employers.

Secretary Walker is responsible for directing and executing Governor Charles D.

Baker’s agenda on workforce development and unemployment assistance, job

creation, business services and labor. The Governor has appointed Secretary Walker

to lead two initiatives that will advise him on meeting the needs of employers and

targeted populations of unemployed residents. As chair of the Workforce Skills

Cabinet, Secretary Walker will join his counterparts in Education and Economic

Development in examining the state’s workforce development system and aligning

economic and educational resources to the labor needs of employers. Secretary

Walker will also lead a task force that is charged with improving access to jobs and

training by populations that experience chronic rates of high unemployment.

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succeed in these industries, how the workplace culture

varies among them, and how to determine which potential

candidates are a good match for an employer.

Building a Responsive Workplace: The Benefits of Incorporating Trauma-Informed PracticesMargaret Leipsitz, Root Cause, and Victor Santana, Boston Public

Health Commission

Participants will explore how to create trauma-informed

workplaces that support the success of young people in

meaningful employment. This session will share theoretical

knowledge as well as offer practical guidance for

developing a job site that accommodates young people

who have complex past experiences.

Creating a Pipeline through Employer Partnership Training Programs Robin Hooper, The Community Builders

Learn about The Community Builders, Inc. (TCB) / CVS

Health Pre-hire Training Program at Plumley Village in

Worcester. This program is a pre-hire training program

designed to provide TCB’s low-income housing residents

with the skills and knowledge in essential areas that will

lead to long-term employment success with CVS Health.

Preparing Individuals with Asperger’s Syndrome to Find and Keep a JobBarbara Bissonnette, Forward Motion Coaching

Discover practical tips for assisting high-functioning

individuals who are seeking competitive employment.

Topics include: focusing individuals on jobs for which

they’re qualified, do’s and don’ts of interview preparation,

creating a manageable job search plan, addressing

challenges on the job such as understanding expectations,

asking for help, and managing anxiety and frustration.

Standing Out in the Job Search - ATS Friendly ResumesAudra Lavoie, Dorcas International Institute of Rhode Island

Learn the significance of Applicant Tracking Systems

(ATS), why employers use these systems to screen job

applicants, and how to create a resume that is compatible

with these systems. Additionally, participants will share

best practices on how to stand out in the job search.

Assessing and Building Participants’ Soft SkillsPatricia Pelletier, Pelletier Consulting

Soft skills, sometimes called job readiness or employability

skills, are required to succeed in a job, postsecondary

education or job training. In this session we will review

some tools to assess participants’ soft skills and

demonstrate some lessons that can be integrated into your

program, class or advising/coaching practices.

Ready to Work: Understanding the Impact of Toxic StressKelly Champion, NE Regional Center for the American

Psychological Association’s ACT Raising Safe Kids Program,

Lemberg Children’s Center

Toxic stress interferes with a client’s ability to obtain and

retain work. It also adversely impacts their families. In

this workshop, learn and practice applying and teaching

interpersonal and parenting skills that aim to prevent on-

going harm that can interfere with a client’s ability to be

career ready and working.

Your Career Road-Map: How to Conquer Your CORIPenny Welch, Straight Ahead Ministries

This workshop will provide a better understanding of

Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI), as well

as provide effective techniques to engage clients with

a criminal record in order to help them become more

employable. Attendees will also learn how addressing

individual skills and collaborating with local community

partners can help overcome CORI barriers.

HiSET®: What You Need to Know to Best Serve Your Clients Ruth Derfler, Massachusetts Department of Elementary and

Secondary Education

HiSET® is the current assessment for the high school

equivalency credential for Massachusetts and replaces the

GED. This workshop will provide updated information on

what it is, how it fits into the overall delivery system for

adult basic education and workforce development, and

how you can best guide your clients in preparing for and

accessing the HiSET® tests.

Workplace Discrimination: What You Need to Know Sheree McClain, Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination

This interactive workshop will introduce workforce

professionals to what may constitute discrimination

against job applicants and employees, and how to

address possible discrimination, including disparate

treatment, harassment, and the denial of a reasonable

accommodation.

Moving Forward with Clients – Coaching “In Relationship”Amy Mazur, Jewish Vocational Service

Participants in this workshop will focus on the critical

coaching/counseling aspects of the work they do, and will

also understand what it means to be actively engaged

with clients. Exercises and tools will be introduced to

help participants focus more on the relationship-building

aspect of their work.

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Coaching & Advising Track A

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Culturally Responsive Practice for Work-Based Mentoring ProgramsCharline Alexandre and Danielle Niedzwiecki, Commonwealth

Corporation

This workshop introduces participants to the elements

of Culturally Responsive Practice and Positive Youth

Development (PYD/CRP). Participants will better

understand how to incorporate culturally responsive

practice (CRP) at their organization and develop high-

quality employer/teen employee relationships. This

workshop is geared towards employers and supervisors of

youth (mentors).

Coaching Across a Continuum of Services Marybeth Campbell, SkillWorks: Partners for a Productive

Workforce, Jill C. Dagilis, Worcester Community Action Council,

Laura Lucas, CONNECT, and Doreen Treacy, Jewish Vocational

Service

Participants must navigate services across a continuum of

providers, often each with it’s own coach who works with

the participant. This session will explore models for how

different service providers are using a holistic approach

to meet participants’ individual needs through enhanced

coordination of coaching services across the continuum.

Capturing the Impact of CoachingZeida Santos, SkillWorks/Boston Private Industry Council

The work of career coaches is instrumental to participant

success in obtaining employment, transitioning and

succeeding in post-secondary education or training. Yet,

often these final outcomes reported to funders don’t

capture the full impact of coaching on participants’

success. Learn new ways to identify and report the

additional outcomes that positively impact participant’s

lives.

The Practice of Mobility Mentoring®: Principles, Values, and Key Elements Jennifer Lowe and Judy Parks, Crittenton Women’s Union

In response to the growing complexity of poverty and

research on the impact of trauma and stress on executive

functioning skills, CWU developed Mobility Mentoring®.

Come learn the key elements of how to partner with

clients so they may acquire the resources, skills, and

sustained behavior changes necessary to attain their

economic independence.

Employment for Homeless Families - Strategies for Effective Career Center CollaborationKen Demers, BerkshireWorks Career Center, and Lisa Lapierre,

Corporation for Public Management

Learn about the Secure Jobs Initiative designed to

better serve homeless families through multi-agency

collaboration. Career Centers in Western Massachusetts

will share the three key actions for success based on their

model for collaboration among all workforce agencies on

a regional level. Participate in facilitated regional break-out

groups for problem-solving.

Developers, Non-Profits, and Cities--Oh My!Marie Downey, BEST Corp., Hospitality Training Center, and Trinh

Nguyen, Mayor’s Office of Jobs and Community Services

This workshop showcases the three-way partnership

between a hotel developer (CV Properties), a non-

profit (BEST Corp.), and the Mayor’s Office of Jobs and

Community Services (Boston). The partnership was

designed to encourage and prepare Boston residents

for upcoming careers in the well-paying and benefited

hospitality industry at two hotels developed by CV

properties.

Direct Health Care Workers Training Pilot Olga Yulikova, Executive Office of Elder Affairs

The demand for direct care workers is growing rapidly.

These jobs represent entry-level access points to health

care careers for many adults. Learn about a successful

partnership between multiple local and state agencies and

employers to train and place mature workers as

Personal and Home Care Aides.

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Entrepreneurship for Jobseekers Peter Friedland, Workforce Central Career Center-2014, and Amy

R. Mosher, Expressive Capital Consulting

Jobseekers who develop an entrepreneurial mindset—

whether or not they ever go into business for themselves—

have a competitive advantage in today’s economy.

This interactive workshop will reveal the structure, best

practices, and lessons learned from an entrepreneurship

program piloted between 2012-2014 at a One-Stop Career

Center in Central MA.

Utilizing the Applied Manufacturing Technology Pathway CertificationLeslie Parady, Massachusetts Manufacturing Extension Partnership

Learn about the Applied Manufacturing Technology

Pathway Certification, a recognized quality career

pathway, and how it can encourage people to consider

careers in manufacturing and allows employers to readily

understand the skill set of an applicant. Learn how it can

be incorporated into existing programs and the benefit to

program participants.

Massachusetts’ Food Plan - Predicting Food Sector Job GrowthAlexandra Risley Schroeder, Massachusetts Workforce Alliance

Job creation is an explicit part of the new Massachusetts

Food System Plan. This workshop provides an introduction

to food system sectors and jobs, a picture of opportunities

for job growth and information on how to both benefit

from and influence the state’s planning process.

Harnessing Change for SuccessMary Wright, Jobs for the Future

Every new initiative – no matter how perfect it sounds -

will require the organization to change in order for it to be

successful. In this session, attendees will be reintroduced

to the concepts of successful change management, as

well as have a chance to discuss how to better manage a

change in their organization.

On Solid Ground: Building OpportunityLibby Hayes, Homes for Families, and Rachel Heller, Citizens’

Housing and Planning Association

Family homelessness is a complex problem. A new cross

sector partnership is forming to change the public policy

approach to homelessness. This workshop will present

research findings and coalition efforts to change state

policies and shift the focus from shelter numbers to

housing and economic stability.

Workforce Innovation & Opportunity Act (WIOA): What You Need to Know for ImplementationRichard Chavez, US Department of Labor, Region One

The first legislative reform in 15 years of the public

workforce system, WIOA is designed to help job seekers

access employment, education, training, and to match

employers with the skilled workers they need to compete

in the global economy. Come learn more about policy

changes that are shaping the workforce field starting in

July.

Advocacy 101 for Workforce ProfessionalsJan Hennessy, New York Association of Training & Employment

Professionals

As WIOA begins the next phase of workforce nationally,

it is even more critical that we continue to push for what

works and smart policies. Come learn the time-tested

steps to successful workforce advocacy, and tools to build

engagement into your day-to-day work. With a few simple

tweaks we can get workforce at the top of the agenda.

Our State Budget: Choices for our FutureNicole Rodriguez, Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center

The state budget is about choices: how we as a

Commonwealth choose to invest our resources to support

vulnerable residents, and build a vibrant economy. In this

workshop, MassBudget examines the choices we have

made, where we are now, and the opportunities ahead

with a specific focus on how the state budget supports

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Policy and Systems Change Track S

Sector Strategies and Industry Pathway Development Track

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Commonwealth Workforce Coalition

SHARING SKILLS~BUILDING CONNECTIONSCareer Ready: For Today and TomorrowThursday, May 7, 2015

Sturbridge Host Hotel & Conference Center, Sturbridge, MA

Conference Registration Procedure

Conference Fee: $150 early bird registration (early bird ends on April 2 by 4 p.m.)

$195 for registrations received after April 2 by 4 p.m.

Online registration features an option to pay by check or credit

card. In order to receive the early bird registration fee, checks

MUST be postmarked by no later than April 9. Please note, you are NOT considered registered, and will not receive a confirmation, until payment has been received.

All payments via check must indicate which participant(s) the

check is for, and be made payable to:

CEDAC

Attn: Sharing Skills

One Center Plaza, Suite 350, Boston MA 02108

CEDAC’s Federal ID #: 04-2657382

• Each individual must register separately online.

• There will be no refunds.

• Registrations are transferable.

• You are not considered enrolled until payment is received. If

you have NOT paid you will not be able to participate in the

conference.

• We will email confirmation of registration upon receipt of

payment.

• Photographs will be taken at the conference. By registering and

attending the conference, you are giving CWC permission to use

your photo in written materials or on its website.

• Admission to 3 workshops from a selection of 29

• Continental breakfast and 3-course luncheon

• Post-conference reception with a complimentary drink

• Conference materials, including attendee contact list

Come and stay the night before at the Sturbridge Host Hotel

& Conference Center for a reduced rate of $110 plus tax. When

making your reservation, be sure to mention that it is for the

Commonwealth Workforce Coalition conference.

Contact the hotel at (508) 347-7393 or visit their website:

http://www.sturbridgehosthotel.com.

The Final Registration Deadline is April 16 by 4 p.m. Visit our website to register: http://cwc.cedac.org

One Center Plaza, Suite 350, Boston MA 02108

Tel: (617) 727-5944

Community Economic Development Assistance Corporation

Registration policies

Payment by check or credit card

Registration includes

Hotel accomodations

Supporters: