IWIB

llinois

orkforcennovationoard

NEWSLETTER

VOLUME 1, NO. 3 MAY 2020

Change in IWIB Lead StaffMark Burgess looks forward to new challenges as performance manager for Office of Employment and Training; Lisa Jones assumes IWIB Staff duties LongtimeStaffto the Illi-nois Workforce InnovationBoard Mark Burgess hastaken on a new role in theOffice of Employment andTraining, as a Performance Manager. A familiar face will as-sumeIWIBLeadStaffdutiesasLisaJones,ManageroftheOffice of Employment andTraining,takesonthosedu-ties. “Markhasbeenanincred-

ible advocate for the IWIBand worked tirelessly tohelpmakepositivechange,”saidJones.“Duringhisten-urehesupported theBoardin developing its first-ev-er policyprocess aswell asa Strategic Plan; increasedboard involvement; and re-ceived recognition at boththe state and national levelforpolicyandbestpracticesthrough theApprenticeshipCommittee and the Service

Integration Policy Work-group.” Everyone involved inIWIB has appreciatedMark’s conscientious atten-tion to detail. “His dedica-tionandenthusiasmforthisworkhasbeenatremendousassetinsupportingtheworkof the IWIB and ensuringworkforce in Illinois meetstheneedsofbusinessesandthose seeking employmentor wanting to advance in

theircareers,”Lisaadded. QuestionsregardingIWIBstandingcommitteesshouldbe directed to the commit-tee chair or staff; otherwisecontact Lisa (Lisa.D.Jones@illinois.gov)forguidance. Allofuswhohavecometo knowMark through ourshared work wish him allthe best as he moves intothisnewrole.

In acknowledgement of thespecial challengespresentedbyremotemeetings,theIWIBSum-merMeetingswillbestructuredandconvenedthroughtwoone-hourwebinarmeetingswithfo-cused agendas. The board willalso receive updates on activi-ties of eachof the boardwork-inggroupsandfromourWIOApartners, originally scheduledfor the cancelled Spring Meet-ing. On June 16, 2020, the IWIBwillmeettoreceiveupdatesandannouncements from our part-ners, IWIBcommittees,andna-tionalagencies. On June 18, 2020, the IWIB

willmeettoreviewanddiscussnew strategies and prioritiesrelated to modifications to theIWIB Strategic Plan for 2020-2022andtakeactiontoapprovethenewmodifications.TheIWIBwill also receive final informa-tionrelatedtotheIllinois’work-force system’sapproach toeco-nomicrecoveryduringandafterthe COVID 19 pandemic andothertopicssuchastherecentlyapprovedBusinessEngagementCommittee and a new EquityTaskForcebeingdiscussed. Watchyouremailforcalendarinvitesandbepreparedtomakethemostofthesewebinars.

Remote June meetings split into digestible segments

Perseverence is keyto LWIA 3 success story TheWorkforceConnection(TWC)(LWIA#3) board hasworked tirelessly to analyzetheworkforceneedsofthetri-countyRock-fordregionandensuretheworkforcesystemisseenasaregionalresourceforbothcareerseekersandemployers.OnestrategyutilizedbyTWCboardistobringemployerandin-dividual success stories to boardmeetings,whichsharesthevalueofourworktostake-holders in the regionwith program opera-tionsandservicedelivery. Noella Badibanga is a refugee from theDemocraticRepublicoftheCongo.Shewasforcedtofleehercountryintheearly2000’sduetoincreasedviolenceandhostilelivingconditions.Shespentnearlytenyearsinaref-

--see LWIA 3, page 2

VOLUME 1, NO. 3 IWIB NEWSLETTER, PG. 2

ugeecampinMalawiwhereshe began learning Englishandworked as a hairstylist.Duringthistime,shemetherhusband, theymarried, andtriedtomakethebestoftheirsituation. In2014,Noellare-ceivedthenewsthatshehadfinallybeenacceptedtoentertheUnitedStates. When she and her hus-band arrived in Rockford,they were overwhelmed bycultural, language, and em-ployment barriers. They ac-climatedtotheirnewlifebystarting entry-level jobs tosupport their growing fami-ly.Noellahaddreamsofbe-coming a nurse and creating apositive life forher familyhereinRockfordandwillingtoworkhardtoachievethesegoals. Noella enrolled intoRock Valley College’s Refu-gee and Immigrant ServicesProgram and was referred to the English as a Second

Language (ESL) program toenhanceher language skills.OnceshefeltconfidentwithherEnglishabilities, sheen-rolled into theWIOAAdultProgram to takeGED class-es and receive employmentcounseling.Withthesupportofherteacher,careerplanner,and family, she successfullypassed the GED test at thebeginning of 2019. She uti-lizedTheWorkforceConnec-tion tofinda full-timeposi-tionatLowe’sinRockford,ILas a distribution warehouseassociate working on week-ends.Shemetwithhercareerplanner to make goals andenrolled into general creditcourses at Rock Valley Col-lege(RVC)duringtheweek. InMarch2020,after5yearsofresidence,Noellawasableto take and pass her UnitedStatesCitizenshiptestinChi-cago, IL.Noella continues toworkforLowe’swhiletakinggeneral education classes atRVC and caring for her twosons. She still plans to start

nursing courses at RockVal-ley College in 2021 utilizingWIOAtrainingdollars. Individuals like Noel-la are the reasonwe get upanddothisworkeveryday.By making certain that ourworkforce system in LWIA

3 is responsive to the needsof the region serving BooneStephenson and Winnebagocounties. We know that wecan make a significant im-pacton thequalityof lifeofthepeopleandbusinessesinourcommunity.

n LWIA 3: Workforce dollars support immersion here> continued from front page

InhonorofNationalMilitaryAppreciationMonth,IWIBthanksallwhohaveservedintheUnitedStatesArmedForces.Weappreciateyoursacrificetohelpprotectusathomeandabroad.Illinois,throughthecollaborationofnetworkedpart-nerships,hasmanyresourcesavail-abletoformerandcurrentMilitaryServicesMembers(Active,Guard,andReserve)aswellasMilitarySpouses. ToseewhattheDepartmentofVeteransAffairs(VA)isdoingtosupportveteransandtheirfamiliesduringtheCOVID-19pandem-ic,visittheirwebsite.Learnthe

measuresyoucantaketoprotectyourself,andwhattheVAisdoingtohelpourveteransandtheircom-munities. TheVAhasinformationregard-inghealthbenefitsandfinancialliteracyalongwithhowtoaccessthesebenefitsforveterans. Here’sabrieflistofWIOApart-nersandtrainingservicesavailabletoourMilitaryServiceMembersandSpouses:

Illinois Department of Employment Security

Individualized Career Planning Assistance

Unemployment ServicesIllinois Job Link

Illinois Department of Human Services

Family & Community ServicesMental Health

Rehabilitation ServicesSubstance Abuse

Illinois Department of Commerce& Economic Opportunity

Apprenticeships (Employers & Job Seekers)

Layoffs and Closing Guidance

Honor veterans, spouses for their sacrifices

VOLUME 1, NO. 3 IWIB NEWSLETTER PG 3

ConstructionWorksPoweredbytheIllinois Tollway is an innovative pro-gram to create a qualifiedpipeline ofdiversemenandwomenreadytoen-tercareersintheconstructionindustryandapprenticeships. LakeCountyparticipatesinthepro-gramasapartoftheNorthernIllinoisregion.LakeCountyWorkforceDevel-opmentpromotesopeningsinappren-ticeship tradesprograms, assists indi-viduals with skill training to preparefortheseprograms,andprovidessup-portservices. Juanhadexperienceinconstructionandflooringandwashavingadifficulttimelandingalong-termjobduetoafelonyinhisbackground.Juanattend-ed a ConstructionWorks InformationSession inMarch 2019.With the helpofhisWorkforceDevelopmentCareerSpecialist,Juanresearchedapprentice-shipoptionsandappliedtotheChica-

goRegionalCouncilofCarpentersAp-prenticeandTrainingProgram. Hecompletedaptitudeandqualify-ingtests,attendedamandatoryorien-tationsessionandwasinvitedtocom-plete a 10-week, pre-apprenticeshipprograminElkGroveVillage.Juanhadtoquithispart-timejobtoattendthisunpaidprogram,sohisCareerSpecial-istarrangedforJuantoreceiveasmallstipendwhilecompletingtheprogram.ThisstipendwasavailablethroughtheConstructionWorks Barrier Reductionfund. InNovember2019,Juanwasplacedby Tradesmen International, a con-structionstaffingfirm,atasolarenergycontractor,SunPeak.Thepositionwasto lastonlyonemonth,butSunPeakdecided to hire Juan directly baseduponhisperformanceandthetraininghereceivedattheCarpenter’sTrainingCenter.Juaniscompletingcertification

on the job through theNorthAmeri-can Board of Certified Energy Practi-tioners. He isgrateful toSunPeak forgiv-ing him a chance to demonstrate hisquality. “I have great satisfaction inmyeffortstohaveapositiveimpactontheworld through solar installation.”During the COVID-19 crisis, Juan re-mainedemployed,workingonasolarproject for SunPeak atDePauwUni-versity.

PeoplewhoknowDami-kaJoneswoulddescribeherasago-getter.Someonewithpotential. Someone withambition and drive to takewhat she was given in lifeandmake something better

forherself. Damikahasalwaysbeenambitiousinhercareergoalsbutwasunsure of how shecould achieve what shewanted.She’dworkedase-riesofsmall jobs,butneverreallyfoundsomethingthatwould lead to a career. Shewasworkinga fewhoursaweekatUPSwhenshefirstsawaflierfortheManufac-turing Careers InternshipProgram and became inter-ested in MCIP. She quick-ly realized that there weremuch better opportunitiesfor her with this programthanshe’dgetwithherpart-time jobatUPS,soshequitanddedicatedthenextfourweeks of her life to attend-ing boot camp and elevat-ing her resume, interview,andjobreadinessskills.Sheconvincedafriendtoattendthebootcampwithher,buthequicklydroppedout.Shedidn’t let this deter her—

she became more steadfastand committed to the pro-gram. She would wake upearly each day to take onebus to another bus, just toget from her house to the

churchwherethebootcampwasheld.Sheworkedhard,always asking questions onemployersitevisitsandput-

EARN AND LEARN

SUCCESS STORY

NAMEDamika Jones

ORGANIZATIONBusiness and Career

Services,Inc.PROGRAM TYPE

ApprenticeshipIllinoisCAREER PATHWAY

ManufacturingCREDENTIALS

EARNEDPoweredIndustrial

Lift Truck

Go Getter makes most of career opportunity

--see Go Getter, page 4

ConstructionWorks facilitates pipeline of construction talent

VOLUME 1, NO. 3 IWIB NEWSLETTER PG 4

tingherbestfootforward.Attheendofbootcamp,Da-mikawasreadytowork.Shewas assigned to an intern-shipatMifabwhereshehadto takea latestart,duetoafamilyemergency.Shecameback a week later, ready togo for her six-week intern-ship.At Mifab, she arrivedtoworkontimeeverydayasshe learned Pick and Pack,assembly, and even got thechancetodosomeshippingand receiving. She receivedthe highest praise from hersitesupervisor,whopraised

her ability to learn quicklyandherdesiretobetrainedindifferentareas.Shewant-edtoabsorbasmuchaspos-sible during her internship,notstayingjustintheware-house, but she alsowantedto learn the computer sys-tem and maybe even somedesk work. Attheendofhersix-weekinternship, Mifab did notwant to lethergo,but theyhad to. They were not cur-rentlyhiring,buttheystatedthat theywould takeher inaheartbeatassoonassome-thing opened up. Damikadidnotletthisbotherher—shetooktheremainingtime

ofher internship andmadethemostofit.Sheaskedhersite supervisor to reviewandcritiqueherresume,andeven asked him to conductan exit interview with her.She asked him about whatkindsof thingshe looks forwhen he’s hiring andwhatmistakes candidates often makeduringtheapplicationandinterviewprocess. Whenthelastdaysofherinternship were closing in,Mifab caved. They offeredherapositionasaShippingClerk.Damikawassoexcit-edthatallofherhardworkhadpaidoff. At thesametime,Dami-

ka was taking those skillsthat she learned—skillsfrom the boot camp andskillssheacquiredatherin-ternship—to do more. Sheapplied for a full-time jobatUnitedAirlinesasaCus-tomer Service Representa-tive and theyhiredher.Al-thoughshedidnottaketheposition that her internshipsite had eventually offered,sheusedtheknowledgeandskillsshegainedthroughtheManufacturing Careers In-ternshipProgram,aswellasher “go-getter” attitude, toachievewhatshewanted.

n Go Getter: Intern acquires diverse skills through experience> continued from previous page

IWIB ELECTRONIC SCHEDULE FOR JUNE Herearesometentativemeeting datesanddeadlinesforvariousIWIBactivitiesthroughJune.IWIBmembersareinvitedtoattendanyofthemeetings,alongwithmembersofthegeneralpublic.Alltelephonicorwebinarmeet-ingsaresubjecttoandwillbecompliantwithIllinoisOpenMeetingsActrequirements.Calendar Activity/Group PurposeJune8,2020 IWIBExecutiveCommittee RequesttoApproveSPModificationsJune10,2020 IWIBMeetingPrep MaterialsDistributedJune16,2020 IWIBQuarterlyMeeting BoardUpdates,AnnouncementsJune18,2020 IWIBLeadershipMeeting RoutineDiscussionsJune18,2020 IWIBQuarterlyMeeting IWIBBusinessDiscussionsJune19-26,2020 Stafffinalize2020-2022StrategicPlanModificationsJune27,2020 2020-2022StrategicPlanModificationsDistributedJuly1,2020 2020-2022StrategicPlanModificationsImplementation

For a complete listing, or to track changes, https://www.illinoisworknet.com/WIOA/Pages/BoardActivity.aspx

Wepublishthisnewslettertocel-ebrate the accomplishments of theworkforce systemand its clientsonboth the employer and job-seekersides,andalsotoshareideasandbestpractices for fullyactualizing feder-al and stateworkforce resources topromoteeconomicdevelopmentandtransition targeted populations into

meaningfulcareers. Ideas for future stories in theIWIB newsletter should be directedto Dr. Scott Shook at Illinois StateUniversity (sashook@ilstu.edu) orIWIB board member Mike Conley(mike@trentonsun.net). It is our goal to highlight eachlocal workforce area in Illinois and

theuniqueregionalapproachestheytake to workforce development, toshinealightoneachbusinessmem-ber of IWIB and contextualize theirreasonsforservinginthisvolunteercapacity,andtoliftupthemanyin-spiringstoriesfromaroundthestateof job seekers leveraging thework-forcesystem.

Call For Content

ThegenesisofMarlonMcClinton’sfuturecareerwasformedwhenhewasintheseventhgrade.Anengineervis-itedhis school onCareerDay todis-cuss engineering as a career and hismostrecentprofessionalassignments.Marlon was interested in the subjectmatter, but hewasmostly impressedwiththeman,andthewayhecarriedhimself. “I was impressed with his confi-dence and poise and the quality ofhis presentation,” saysMarlon today.“And, he looked like someone frommycommunity,myblock.He lookedlikeme.ItwasonthatdaythatIdecid-edtobecomeanengineer.” Hisdecisionwouldinformtherestof his educational pursuits, and hislife.Byestablishingagoalforhimself--tobecomeanengineer--hewasabletofindthewillandinitiativetoacceptthechallengeofhisparentstoattendandgraduatefromcollege. “I attended Lindblom TechnicalHigh School where I had an oppor-tunityto takeadvancedmathematics,drafting,andabroadrangeofscienceand technical courses,” said Marlon.“Lindblompreparredmewell for theUniversityofIllinoisatChicago,whereIearnedmyB.S.inMetallurgicalEngi-neering,andlateranM.S.inMaterialsSciencefromNorthwesternUniversityinEvanston. As he embarked on a careerwithfirst Inland Steel Research Laborato-ries and later Gas Research Institute,Marloncontinuedtoharborentrepre-neurialvisionsforhisfuture. “Pehaps I was influenced by mygrandparents,whomigratedfromtheSouth and purchased a three-storyapartment building for our extendedfamily,ormyunclewhomanufacturedand soldhair careproducts,”Marlonsaid.“IknewearlyonthatIwantedtoleveragemyworkexperienceintomyownbusiness.” In order to achieve the goal ofmerging his engineering educationwithhisbusinessaspirations,Marlonwouldlearntoleanoncontinuouspro-fessionaldevelopment. ItislikelynoaccidentthatMarlon

landedas thechairmanof theIllinoisWorkforce Innovation Board’s (IWIB)ContinuousImprovementCommittee;itisthegroundworkonwhichhissuc-cesshasbeenachieved. An experience early in his careerillustrated the power of continuingtrainingandeducationtoMarlon. “As a young engineer I gave anextremely poor business presentationon the status of an important projectto a large department of the compa-ny,”Marlonrecalls.“Iwascommittedto overcoming this setback by takingseveral professional developmentcoursesonpublicspeakingandeffec-tive presentations. The problem wascompletelyresolved,andIevenbeganlooking forward to public speakingopportunities.” The value of continuing skill de-velopment, alongwithdisciplineand

commitment on his part, convincedMarlontoseekadditionalopportiuni-ties that expanded his business acu-men and prepared him for the nextstepsofhiscareer. Eventually,Marlon’spath ledhimto complete the Executive MBA pro-gram at Northewestern University’sKelloggGraduateSchoolofBusiness,withaspecialfocusonStrategicBusi-nessManagement.Marloncompletedtheprogram,andsuccessfullyfacilitat-edacorporatemergerforhisfirm. Withhisbusinessskillshonedtoasharpedge,andhischildren’seduca-tional needs accounted for, and a ca-reerspentbuildinganetworkofener-gyprofessionals,Marlonwasreadytostarthisownbusiness. UtilivateTechnologieswasformedon an infamous day in U.S. history,September11,2001. The company pioneered the con-ceptofhomeperformanceandtestinginIllinois,includinghomeweatheriza-tionandotherperformancemetrics,tolowerincomecommunitiesinChicago,withspecial focusonemployingspe-cial populations including formerlyincarceratedindividuals,unemployedyouth, and other at-risk groups. Byintroducing a viable career pathwayinhomeperformanceandweatheriza-tioncontracting,Utilivatewasabletoinfluenceliveswhileprovidingexcep-tional,value-addedservicesforitscus-tomers,utilizinga trulydiverse teamofprofessionals. Utilivate earned Building Perfor-mance Institute (BPI) certification ofits own personnel, and subsequentlycompletedtheotherrigorousrequire-mentsneeded tobecomeaBPICerti-fied Training and TestingCentr for abroadrangeofhomeperformancecer-tifications. Eventually,Utilivatespunoffasub-sidiarytodirectlyhireitsbeststudentsto provide top-notch weatherizationand home performance contractingservicestoresidentsinthegreaterChi-cagometropolitanarea. “A source of great satisfaction was

VOLUME 1, NO. 3 IWIB NEWSLETTER PG 5

--see McClinton, page 6

Why We IWIB.In which members

explain their reasons for serving workforce.

Continous improvement, thy name is Marlon McClintonInspired as a seventh grader, CIC chair built career on the foundation of professional development

Marlon McClinton brings the principles and practices from his own successful business career to his work on the workfore board.

VOLUME 1, NO. 3 IWIB NEWSLETTER PG 6

seeing newly employed graduatesproudly visit our office and trainingcenter with their families,” saidMar-lon, “providing real evidence of thevalue of training in helping to buildsuccessful, prosperous, and growingfamilies.” Inmorerecentyears,tomeetmarketdemand,Utilivateshifteditscorporatefocus to target thecommercial, indus-trial, andpublic sectors as a ProgramImplementororServiceProviderforabroadrangeofutilityenergyefficiencyservice offerings including energy as-sessments, benchmarking, and directinstallservices. Anessentialelementof Utilivate’s role in these programshasbeentoconductextensiveoutreachto recruitandengageabroadanddi-versecrosssectionofIllinois’business-es, not-for-profit organizations, andfaith-based organizations populationfocusing on under-represented com-munities. Itwasmyvision,fromthestart,toorganicallybuildanorganization thatcouldeffectivelyintegratemystrategicbusinessacumen, innovationmanage-ment expertise, and energy industry

experiencetoprovideexceptional,val-ue-addedservicesforcustomersutiliz-ingatrulydiverseteamofprofession-als,”Marlonsaid. Utilivatehasbeenafamilybusinessin every sense of the term. Marlon’swife Jewelutilizesheradvancededu-cation degrees to lead the company’straining, marketing, and outreach ef-forts.Theiradultchildren--Jamila,Aar-on,andAnisa--haveappliedtheirownexpertiseinthefieldsofmanagement,journalism,andhospitalitytothecom-pany’sbenefit. The framework of Marlon’s busi-nessandhisownbeliefinthevalueofcareertrainingmadehimanaturalforIWIB,andin2018hewasaskedbythegovernor’sofficetobecomeamember,basedonhistrackrecordofemployeroutreachandcareerservicestoIllinois’most underserved and underrepre-sentedpopulations. “Iwasdelighted to join IWIBbothbecause of my personal experiencewith the role of training inmy careerdevelopmentandtherealopportunitytohelpimprovejobandcareeroptionsfor workers and job seekers throughan effective, highly-integrated Illinoisworkforcesystem. IhavebeenactiveingeneralBoarddeliberationsandthe

workoftheCareerPathwaysCommit-teeandhaveobservedhowtheIllinoisworkforcesystemisdirectlyimprovingthe lives of countless workers in Illi-nois,”saidMarlon. Morerecently,Utilivatehasexpand-editsroleintheenergyefficiencysec-torevenmore,andnowspecializesinverifying and quantifying the impactof many energy efficiency programsthrough the state, and providing rec-ommendations for continuous im-provement. MarlonwasaskedtochairtheCon-tinuous Improvement Committee in2019, and theremay be nomore har-monic convergence in the workforcesphere.Hisbackground,hiscareer,andhislifeareallowedtoaconstantstriv-ingforsomethingbetter,anaspirationforfurthereducationandachievement,a commitment to accountability andprofessionaleducationandtraining. ForMarlon, serving the IWIB andtheCICisitsownreward.“Ithasbeentruly one of the most rewarding andsatisfying challenges in my career,”said Marlon, before revealing one fi-nal piece of poetic symbolism. “Per-hapsonly second to servingas careerdayspeakeratChicagoneighborhoodgrammarschools.”Fullcircle.

Marlon McClinton’s entrepreneurial spirit runs through his family, all of whom have con-tributed to Utilivate’s evolution and success.

> continued from previous page