Centralina Workforce Development Board Shines Bright at 2019 NCWorks Partnership Conference

From October 23-25, 2019, over 1,000 workforce development, education, economic development, and community professionals descended on the Sheraton Greensboro at Four Seasons Koury Convention Center in Greensboro, North Carolina for the 2019 NCWorks Partnership Conference.

With this year’s conference theme of “Be a Leader - It’s All the Buzz,” Centralina Workforce Development Board and NCWorks Centralina staff heard from dynamic speakers and state leaders including North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper who highlighted the hard work and challenges met through education, skills, employer leadership and local innovation. Attendees also had a chance to experience thought provoking and action motivating breakout sessions and workshops.

Centralina  Workforce Development Board (WDB) Executive Director David Hollars served as this year’s conference host, “The 2019 NCWorks Partnership Conference provided workforce, education, and economic development professionals with excellent professional development. With this year’s focus on being a leader, the general sessions, workshops, and Governor’s Awards program helped everyone to gain new skills on how to be a better leader – in their work and their life,” said Hollars.

This year, Centralina WDB NextGen services were honored to receive the 2019 Governor’s NCWorks Awards of Distinction-Innovative Partnership Award for their leading-edge partnership with Wayne Brothers and Kannapolis City Schools. This partnership addresses how to motivate and elevate students who are typically overlooked, provides structure and guidance, and meets the talent pipeline needs of a local employer through training and resources.

During the conference Centralina Workforce Development Board team were active participants as presenters, moderators, committee members, or volunteers.  

Tyana Johnson, Centralina WDB Communication Coordinator, along with Andrew Beal, Communications Specialist with NC Department of Commerce-Division of Workforce Solutions presented “Create a Buzz Using Social Media.” Johnson and Beal gave attendees practical tips, techniques, and examples of best practices from the world of NCWorks. Utilizing these practices would assist NCWorks professionals to tell their organization’s story and spread the word about programs and services in a proficient manner. While applicable to all platforms, the focus of the workshop was on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram.

“Its was truly an honor share my knowledge, experience and expertise with my fellow communication and workforce professionals. Media, no matter the medium is such a power tool and we must use it to continually get our workforce message across to serve those in need,” said Johnson.

Centralina WDB Services Leader Sherika Rich participated in presenting “Build Your Learning Culture,” highlighted the services and system benefits of the NCWorks Training Center, including how to use services, access online registration, and get training information. Rich and the other presenters discussed their personal successful experiences with the NCWorks Training Center and shared an overview of the NCWorks Training Champions initiative and certification.

“The NCWorks Partnership Conference reinforced that anyone can be a leader no matter their technical title,” said Rich. “With that said, I am inspired by any leader who is authentically themselves and that "self" is intrinsically good,” added Rich about leadership.

Solomon McAuley, Centralina WDB NextGen Specialist presented “Youth Engagement: The Untold Story.” This workshop sparked a conversation around basic engagement for youth, with emphasis on those who are receiving NextGen services. The session also discussed the six important E’s to Youth Engagement: Empower, Excite, Educate, Engage, Encourage, and Expose. The interactive workshop was geared for NCWorks staff who work with teens and young adults.

“One thing I wanted the attendees to walk away knowing or understanding is that each youth can teach them something and they know if the staff is really compassionate about what they are doing for them,” said McAuley.

NCWorks Career Center-Cabarrus staff member Dan Marshall presented “Finding a Job with a Less Than Perfect Record.” Approximately one-third of the adult working age population has a criminal record and needs a better strategy to secure employment. Marshall’s session along with supporting data and examples, equipped attendees to engage the challenges faced by those with a criminal record, using solid, proven techniques that will make their reentry into the job market more efficient and productive.

On the last morning of the conference, David Hollars along with Daryle Adams, Kannapolis City Schools; Amanda Roberts, Wayne Brothers and Milton Chicas, KAIM Consulting, LLC, presented “Building a Partnership That Works” sharing with attendees how to open doors for young adults to be successful in their local communities.  This presentation highlighted the NCWorks Governor’s Award for Innovative Partnerships.

 “We are blessed in North Carolina to have such as outstanding annual showcase for workforce development,” added Hollars about the conference.

Next year’s NCWorks Partnership Conference will be the 33rd annual event and will be held on October 14-16, 2020.

For more information about the NCWorks Partnership Conference or to see a complete list of winners, click HERE!

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