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Jobs summit targets employers

By Eric Morris emorris@heraldstandard.Com 3 min read

Officials from the state Department of Labor and Industry are aiming to educate employers on how to connect with a skilled workforce, and will hold a summit to spread the word.

According to Julia Hearthway, secretary for the state Department of Labor and Industry, the inaugural JOBS1st Summit is targeted towards employers and workforce development agencies to help businesses better find the workers they’re seeking.

“It’s about the training of our Pennsylvanians for the jobs of today and the jobs of tomorrow, having that sort of pipeline to develop talented workers,” Hearthway said. “(The summit) will focus on employers and personnel in companies who work to get that pipeline of talent coming in the doors.”

The two-day event will feature discussions by more than two dozen leaders in the energy, manufacturing, healthcare and education sectors — most of which spearhead businesses and institutions headquartered in Pennsylvania.

Guest speakers include U.S. Steel president and CEO Mario Longhi, UPMC executive vice president Steven Shapiro and University of Pittsburgh chancellor and CEO Dr. Pat Gallagher.

The summit will be held Aug. 25-26 at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center in Pittsburgh.

Hearthway said the summit will be used as a platform to discuss the success stories of business owners — specifically, how they were able to successfully find or develop a workforce of capable, skilled workers.

“It’s perhaps a bit different from summits held in the past because we’re so heavily employer-focused in terms of our speakers,” said Hearthway. “We have a stellar lineup of individuals that have been successful in developing talent, who will speak on their advancements. I think their insight into this area would be extremely valuable.”

Numerous panels and breakout sessions will include industry representatives who will explain the cutting edge advancements they have made and how other business owners can use these methods to find success.

The ideas that will be discussed at the summit could be beneficial to businesses in Fayette County, Hearthway said, especially when it comes to talent development.

The county’s unemployment rate of 6.4 percent currently ranks 53rd among the state’s 67 counties.

“Marrying up a person without a job with someone looking for people with the appropriate skills will be a thing we’re focusing on (at the summit),” she said.

Fay-Penn Economic Development Council will be represented at the summit by economic development department manager Dana Kendrick and workforce development specialist Thomas Cramer.

Westmoreland-Fayette Workforce Investment Board said executive director William Thompson will also be in attendance.

Despite the summit’s emphasis on employers, local workers and job seekers can benefit, as well, Hearthway said.

There are often skilled, well-paying entry-level jobs that people don’t realize are available — a topic that will be discussed at the summit, she said.

“You can build yourself a nice career ladder by starting off at these positions,” she said.

One of the summit’s featured discussions, dubbed “The Game Changer: Energy = Jobs,” will take place between Gov. Tom Corbett and BP Capital Management Chairman T. Boone Pickens, focusing on the state’s energy policy and how the state can continue to capitalize on its energy resources — including preparing workers for jobs in the energy field.

In addition to Hearthway, others who will address attendees at the event will include David Malone, Workforce Investment Board chair and state Lt. Gov. Jim Cawley.

For more information or to register for the event, visit online at www.jobs1stsummit.com. The cost of registration for the two-day event is $475.

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