Hosted by Excelsior College

featuring the Center for Economic Growth and in cooperation with Rep. Paul Tonko

Join us for a dynamic forum exploring the realities of—and potential solutions to—the structural and market issues affecting New York’s manufacturing, technology, and energy employers and workforce. This is an event for manufacturers, educational institutions, workforce development advocates, policy makers, and anyone interested in these issues. The forum will feature networking, issue briefings from the Center for Economic Growth and Rep. Paul Tonko, and a demonstration of a new workforce training simulation underdevelopment by Excelsior College through a grant from the National Science Foundation. Following the short presentations, attendees will participate in breakout sessions across five tracks led by local experts. The goal: to develop workable strategies and tactics to increase workforce development, retention, and collaboration in New York state and beyond.

Five Tracks:

Big Picture Challenges: How do we change the perception of manufacturing careers? How do policymakers and employers handle demographic changes?

Collaborations: Based on available resources, what types of collaborations are employers, educational institutions, and other organizations willing to pursue?

Training: How can employers retain institutional knowledge of retiring workers to transfer to new workers? How can employers improve training for existing workers that will lead to career advancement?

Pipeline: How do ensure there is a stable pipeline of trained workers? What types of wrap-around services would help dislocated workers re-enter the workforce?

Wages: From a policy/collaboration perspective, how can we offset costs to spur wage growth? How can employees increase their opportunities to earn a higher wage?

Following the breakout sessions, we will report out our key findings and discuss next steps. The event is free but please come ready to participate!

Agenda:

1:30 pm | Registration and Networking
2:15 pm | Welcome – Excelsior College President Jim Baldwin
2:20 pm | Workforce Development Issue Briefings

New York Environment – Center for Economic Growth

Trainings, Simulations, and Collaborations – Excelsior College

Federal Environment – Rep. Paul Tonko

2:35 pm | Refreshments/Break

2:45 pm | Breakout Sessions – Solutions to Pressing Challenges

Big Picture Challenges

Collaborations

Trainings & Retention

Pipeline

Wages and Growth

3:45 pm | Refreshments/Break
3:50 pm | Report Out
4:30 pm | Next Steps
4:45 pm | Adjourn