Welcome and Introductions
Bill Robertson, Chair, Governor's Workforce Investment Board (GWIB), called the meeting
to order at 3:40 p.m. by welcoming board members and guests to the meeting and encouraging all members and attendees
to get the flu vaccine. Members introduced themselves and Mr. Robertson thanked Dr. Martha Smith, President of Anne
Arundel Community College, for hosting the quarterly meetings. He noted that the GWIB staff has been very busy this
quarter with a number of items, including several reports and thanked the staff for their hard work on behalf of the
board.
The minutes from the March Board Meeting were read and accepted.
GWIB Retreat
Mr. Robertson directed members to the Board Retreat Save-The-Date notice, for November 3, 2009. Sites are being
narrowed down and the location and agenda are forthcoming. There will be a conference call in October to discuss the
Retreat and members will have the opportunity to participate if they are interested.
State Energy Sector Partnership & Training Grants Update
Eric Seleznow, GWIB Executive Director, briefly discussed the USDOL State Energy Sector Partnership grant
application, currently being developed by GWIB and DLLR staff. The goal of the grant is to fund worker training for
jobs in the green economy. This $4-6 million Recovery Act grant has many moving parts and a full summary is
available on the website, along with the rest of the board packet materials. He noted that only one application is
allowed per state, and the grant is required to be lead by state workforce boards and workforce divisions of state
agencies (GWIB and DLLR in MD). As required by the grant, a State Energy Sector Partnership Steering Committee is
being formed to help develop the sector partnership teams. Gino Gemignani and Kathryn McGruder have agreed to chair
the Steering Committee, with 25 other members representing the energy and greener jobs communities also
participating. The Steering Committee meets on September 22, 2009, at Howard County Community College for their
first meeting to discuss the grant submission.
Approval of 2010 Board Meeting Schedule
As required by the by-laws, Board members were asked to approve the 2010 dates for the GWIB quarterly meetings:
- Wednesday, March 10, 2010, 3:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.
- Wednesday, June 16, 2010, 3:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.
- Wednesday, September 15, 2010, 3:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.
- Wednesday, December 15, 2010, 3:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.
The board voted to accept and approve the dates.
Maryland Workforce Development Month
The local workforce boards, in partnership with GWIB/DLLR, have organized a "Maryland Workforce Development Month,"
complete with a proclamation signed by Governor O'Malley. A copy of the proclamation was included in the board
member packets. Karen Sitnick, Chair of the Workforce Investment Network (WIN) of MD, provided a brief overview of
the effort to make the month of September Workforce Month. She noted that the local boards are doing a
variety of activities to celebrate the month.
P-20 Council STEM Taskforce Report
Mr. Robertson introduced Brit Kirwan, Chancellor, University of Maryland System, and June Streckfus, Executive
Director, Maryland Business Round Table for Education (MBRT). The GWIB, and every industry sector group have long
advocated for increased science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) programs. As a result, the Governor
created the P-20 Council to move forward on these recommendations. The report was recently presented to the
Governor. Ms. Streckfus and Dr. Kirwan noted that the STEM taskforce partnered with MSDE to create the report.
Mr. Kirwan noted that Maryland has an enviable prosperity and a strong knowledge-based economy, but that
competing states significantly out-produce Maryland in terms of STEM graduates, STEM workforce development, and
STEM-based economic development. Governor O'Malley recognizes the urgency of the current climate of competitiveness.
He charged the P-20 Taskforce with making recommendations for establishing Maryland as a global leader in the
development of its workforce of the future and its STEM-based research and economic development infrastructure. The
final report is the result of that charge, and is a call to action, urging Maryland to adopt a set of initiatives to
ensure that the state is competitive. The report sets higher expectations for teaching and learning at all levels of
the education spectrum including:
- the expansion of the degree-seeking and degree-completing pipeline in STEM-related fields, including STEM teaching;
- the development of strategies to link education, workforce creation, research, and economic development; and
- the creation of measurable goals, benchmarks, and resources to implement this plan.
The Taskforce was divided into three workgroups: STEM education, STEM workforce development, and translational
research and economic development. The Taskforce consolidated the information gathered by the various committees and
offered the following seven recommendations:
- Align P-12 STEM curriculum with college requirements and workplace expectations in order to prepare all
students for postsecondary success.
- Triple the number of teachers in STEM shortage areas who are prepared in Maryland programs, increase their
five-year retention rate from an estimated 50% to 75%, and enhance the STEM preparation and aptitudes for
elementary and early childhood teachers.
- Ensure that all P-20 mathematics and science teachers have the knowledge and skills to help all students
successfully complete the college- and career-ready curriculum.
- Provide STEM internships, co-ops, or lab experiences for all interested high school and college students to
jump-start their successful transition to the workplace.
- Increase the number of STEM college graduates by 40% from the present level of 4,400 graduates by 2015.
- Boost Maryland's global competitiveness by supporting research and entrepreneurship.
- Create Maryland's STEM Innovation Network to make STEM resources available to all.
Investing in STEM to Secure Maryland's Future
Maryland has a highly educated workforce, a strong technology-based economy, a highly ranked K-12 education system,
and nationally recognized colleges and universities. Maryland is already a leader in STEM-related workforce
development and economic growth, but faces a number of challenges if it is to enhance and sustain its position as a
national leader in the knowledge economy and establish itself as globally competitive in STEM-related education,
translational research, economic growth, and job creation. Maryland needs a workforce that is highly skilled and
innovative, especially in the STEM fields that will drive the economy of the future. The State, with its rich array
of federal government laboratories (NASA Goddard, NIST, APL, NIH) and university research facilities (Johns Hopkins,
University System of Maryland, Morgan State University), should better utilize these resources. They noted that the
substantive recommendations included in this report, also include the recommendation that the state move forward on
an aggressive statewide public awareness campaign.
Dr. Kirwan informed members that the report was presented to the Board of Regents, the governing body for the
University of Maryland System. They approved the report, and voted to fully support it, and ask the Governor and
Legislature to fully fund the changes recommended. Dr. Kirwan and Ms. Streckfus are traveling around the state to
garner support for the report, and will continue to encourage support for the report and track the progress. Mr.
Robertson suggested that the Board vote to endorse the report, and work with the Taskforce to achieve fruition. It
was voted and so moved.
Universal Design Resolution- One-Stop Design & Accessibility
Secretary Raggio, Secretary Perez and other state leaders have been working on a national project with the Heldrich
Center at Rutgers, a nationally recognized workforce think tank. They are working to encourage the concepts and
principles of Universal Design within Maryland's One-Stop Workforce Centers. More information about Universal Design
is available in the GWIB website. Secretary Raggio asked that the GWIB put forth a
resolution that will require DLLR and Maryland's One-Stop Workforce Centers to follow the polices and principles of
Universal Design in an effort to improve access and services for all job seekers in the state.
Secretary Raggio noted that the National Technical Assistance and Research Leadership Center to Promote
Employment and Economic Independence for Adults with Disabilities (NTAR Leadership Center) selected Maryland as one
of three states to participate in its first State Leaders Innovation Institute. This is part of a national effort to
improve employment for adults with disabilities. Implementation of Universal Design across Maryland's workforce
system, particularly in the One-Stop Workforce Centers, was identified as a priority for the state. Universal Design
is a way to provide inclusive access and services that benefit job seekers with a wide range of learning styles,
languages, educational levels, intelligences, and abilities.
The health of Maryland's economy depends upon its ability to meet the workforce needs of businesses. A critical
component of GWIB's strategy to meet these needs is by opening doors to employment for the historically
underutilized and untapped populations including: people with disabilities, at-risk youth, individuals who have been
incarcerated, welfare recipients, those with unstable housing, adults without a high school diploma, English
language learners, and increasingly, dislocated workers.
Motion:
Resolution: In order to assure that there truly are no spare Marylanders, all of Maryland's potential workers
should be provided with universal access, services and processes according to the principles known as Universal
Design. These principles result in workforce services that are designed to benefit job seekers who posses a wide
range of learning styles, languages, educational levels, intelligences, and abilities. The goal is to assist
workforce development system partners, One-Stop Career Centers and other stakeholders to institute polices and
practices that reflect the best principles of Universal Design in the delivery of workforce development services.
Whereas, Maryland's workforce development system, including the Local Workforce Investment Boards and
One-Stop Career Centers are called upon to serve a diverse range of customers, including individuals with
disabilities; and,
Whereas, the goal of the Local Workforce Investment Boards and One-Stop Career Centers is to produce
successful employment outcomes for all Marylanders seeking employment, while ensuring cost effectiveness in serving
a diverse pool of job seekers; and,
Whereas, according to the Institute for Community Inclusion, the principles of universal design include:
- Principle One: Equitable Use
- Principle Two: Flexibility in Use
- Principle Three: Simple and Intuitive
- Principle Four: Perceptible Information
- Principle Five: Tolerance for Error
- Principle Six: Low Physical Effort
- Principle Seven: Size and Space for Approach and Use
Be it therefore, resolved that the Governor's Workforce Investment Board strongly supports the adoption
of the principles of Universal Design to be implemented in Maryland's One Stop Centers as articulated by the
Institute for Community Inclusion (attached herein).
The motion was read and approved.
Federal Workforce Policy/Post-Secondary Success Discussion
Mr. Seleznow and Mr. Robertson noted that the Obama administration, major national workforce and educational
organizations and foundations have been focusing a great deal recently on post- secondary success strategies, adult
learning leading to credentials, and developing career pathways that result in the skills and credentials required
for 21st century jobs. This is an important policy conversation occurring in Congress, at the White House, and in
workforce boards across the nation, especially with Congress currently discussing the re-authorization of the
Workforce Investment Act in the near future. Mr. Seleznow engaged the members in a brief discussion about some of
the current issues and efforts in Maryland in order to explore the future direction of the GWIB's policy advocacy
and programs that support post-secondary success. Mr. Seleznow noted that he would continue discussing this issue at
the GWIB retreat in November.
DLLR/ARRA Update
Andy Moser, Assistant Secretary for DLLR, described his recent work with the local One-Stops implementing Recovery
Act programs, and spending funds as directed by the President, the Governor, GWIB and DLLR. In what will be a
regular feature of the quarterly meetings, Assistant Secretary Moser reported on DLLR's progress and local WIB
success at expending these funds as intended.
As of August 31, 2009, MD has expended more than $7 million as follows:
- $471, 250 for adults
- $6,388,613 for youth
- $920,553 for dislocated workers
With these funds, 9,318 youths were employed statewide during the 2009 Summer Youth Program. The rest of these
funds were utilized for training, the Maryland Workforce Exchange (MWE), and Maryland Business Works (MBW), which
focuses on incumbent worker training. Despite the fact that guidelines require the funds to be spent as expediently
as possible, Mr. Moser noted that the funds are good for two years. These summer youth funds, allowed local WIBs to
develop a summer youth program in areas of the state where none had previously existed.
New Americans Report
Secretary Perez described the work of the Maryland Council for New Americans, which was established by executive
order in December 2008 to assist the Governor and State agencies to maximize immigrant integration in Maryland. The
Council, co-chaired by Sec. Perez and Montgomery County Executive Isiah Leggett, was charged with reviewing and
recommending new policies and practices to expedite immigrant integration into the economic and civic life of the
State. Following this work, they prepared a comprehensive report with recommendations for the public, private, and
nonprofit sectors,
A FRESH START: Renewing Immigrant Integration for a Stronger Maryland. Secretary Perez noted that the report
holds some surprising results about the educational levels of Maryland's immigrants. The 15 key recommendations in
the four focus areas are summarized below.
Workforce Recommendations
1. Improve licensing, credentialing and support systems for foreign-trained professionals.
2. Strengthen and standardize training and English Language Learning (ELL) systems statewide.
3. Increase coordination among public, private, and nonprofit sectors to maximize efficiencies.
Citizenship Recommendations
4. Establish and fund a robust coordinated citizenship initiative for Maryland with a companion citizenship public
education campaign.
5. Reduce the financial burden on LPRs pursuing citizenship.
6. Establish regular community meetings with Local, State and Federal Government.
7. Support Comprehensive Immigration Reform at a Federal Level.
Financial Services Recommendations
8. Create mechanisms within State government to assist in reducing fraud and scams that prey on immigrant communities.
9. Provide educational outreach tools to increase understanding, trust, and interpretation of government and law.
10. Provide linkages to a wide variety of financial service providers.
Governmental Access Recommendations
11. Establish a Cabinet-Level Office for New Americans.;
12. Track data concerning New Americans accessing government.
13. Develop and monitor agencies' cultural and linguistic competencies.
14. Make critical information easily available through New American Welcome Centers.
15. Encourage and support county and municipal "New Americans Initiatives."
Construction Energy Workforce Forum Update
Acceptance of Construction and Energy Reports
Mr. Robertson talked about the GWIB's Construction and Energy Workforce Solutions Forum held on July 21, 2009, at
the Marriott BWI Airport Hotel. He asked the Construction Committee Co-Chair, Gino Gemignani, to recap the Forum for
Board Members. Mr. Gemignani shared that the event was a great success and more than 250 Maryland construction and
energy industry leaders and other stakeholders from government, education, and the workforce and economic
development communities attended. The GWIB Construction and Energy Committees lead the process, and were integral in
the planning and execution of the event. Governor O'Malley gave the keynote address, discussing Maryland's national
leadership in smart, green, and growing initiatives, and his administration's commitment to growing jobs in the
greener economy. He also announced the creation of the Maryland Center for Construction Excellence and Innovation
(MCCEI). The Center, which will support Maryland's vital construction industry and ensure an adequate workforce, is
being established at Towson University as a partnership with secondary and post-secondary education institutions,
the construction industry and state government agencies. The MCCEI will be a knowledge center for Maryland's
construction industry. The vision for Center is to increase the supply of qualified construction personnel and work
collaboratively to improve the awareness and perception of Maryland's construction industry.
Bracken Hendricks, Senior Fellow at the Center for American Progress, was the featured program speaker. He
described the potential areas of job growth resulting from policies that reduce carbon emissions, and public
investments in clean technologies. He also discussed how energy efficiency, particularly in residential and
commercial building retrofits, will provide the greatest job growth at the highest return on investment. The Forum
also included a panel discussion on technology and trends that drive workforce development. Each committee released
a draft report defining their respective workforce challenges and recommendations to improve the attraction,
retention, education and training of a skilled workforce in Maryland. Revised, final copies of the reports will be
presented to the board during the December meeting.
Mr. Gemignani thanked the Governor, GWIB staff, and Board Members for their hard work and efforts in making this
event happen. Mr. Seleznow directed members to the green jobs handout in the packets. The full text is available
online at the GWIB website.
Committee Updates
Youth Workforce Policy Summit
Committee Co-chair Karen Sitnick, on behalf of the Committee and Co-chair George Littrell, thanked the members of
the Emerging Workforce Committee for their work over the last two years. The Committee is charged with ensuring that
all young people are ready to be successful for the 21st century workplace. The Committee gathered a group of young
people to review the key policy recommendations from the Maryland State Youth Employment Policy introduced
in the white paper in August 2009. Seventeen youth, ages 15 to 21, from Baltimore City, and Baltimore, Carroll,
Montgomery, and Prince George's Counties participated in the discussion facilitated by Donnice Brown, from the
Mayor's Office of Employment Development (MOED). The purpose of the focus group was to review and validate the
recommendations and key action steps in the report. The results of this focus group are available in a supplement to
the policy paper. Ms. Sitnick noted that the young people were very concerned with ensuring that all young people
have access to work-based learning experiences prior to graduation. She noted that the committee was trying to
follow the Governor's lead in helping to ensure that every young person who graduates has had some workforce
experience and is ready for the workplace upon graduation. Mr. Robertson asked the Board to approve a motion to
accept the report. The motion was moved and accepted.
Adult Learning Oversight Committee
Mr. Seleznow briefly discussed the Committee's activities over the last few months. On June 26, 2009, the Adult
Education Division and employees moved to their new offices at DLLR. The work space was remodeled and incoming staff
were given the opportunity to participate in the design the floor arrangement and select office colors. IT
installation went smoothly (as a result of close coordination between MSDE and DLLR IT staffs), and both computer
and phone systems were ready to go when employees transferred on June 29th. DLLR now has a Memorandum of
Understanding with the State Board of Education to continue the issuance of State Diplomas and updates to COMAR are
forthcoming. DLLR will provide a report back to the BOE to provide accountability. Future meeting dates are
scheduled for March 1, 2010, at the Maryland Dept of Agriculture in Annapolis.
New Business
Mr. Seleznow acknowledged several guest attendees and noted that despite the economic downturn, the Census had hired
10,000 persons and that there is some movement in the unemployment numbers. He reminded Members that more
information is to come about the retreat, and that he was looking forward to their input.
Meeting Adjourned
The meeting adjourned at 5:40 pm.
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