SEMCA WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT BOARD Wednesday, September 16, 2015 SEMCA, 25363 Eureka Rd., Taylor, MI MINUTES Members Present Alternates Present Members Absent Charlie Mahoney Bayyinah Burton Judy Cock Naheed Huq Kandi Wood Rory Gamble Gerald Hesson Jeffrey Gisstennar Connie Carroll Nicole McLaughlin Frank Lopez Molly Luempert-Coy Chris LaJoy Wanra Pearson/Gina Coleman Tracy Pierner Sean Sims Aline Lafferty Donald O Connell Marie Alexander Malin Wagner Julie Soderberg Staff Present Gregory Pitoniak Tamara Lamper-Norrix Bill Hellar Patricia LeBlanc Daniel Martinez Rana Al-Igoe Guests Jason Rasizi ETDI Call to Order Chair Mahoney called the meeting to order at 2:13 p.m. Meeting began with the Pledge of Allegiance. Roll Call Board, staff and guests introduced themselves and a quorum was present. New members Marie Alexander, Donald O Connell, Tracy Pierner and Alternate Bayyinah Burton were welcomed. Public Comment No public comment was made upon request. Approval of Agenda MOVED by Hesson to approve the Agenda of September 16, 2015, supported by Carroll. All voting aye, motion carried.
Approval of Minutes MOVED by Wagner to approve the Minutes of May 20, 2015 as presented, supported by Huq. All voting aye, motion carried. Approval of 2016 WDB Meeting Calendar MOVED by Wagner to approve the Workforce Development Board 2016 Meeting Calendar as presented, supported by Carroll. All voting aye, motion carried. Approval of Workforce Development Board Nominations MOVED by Carroll to approve the nomination of Jason Evers, Wayne County RESA as the Adult Education Representative to the Workforce Development Board for a term beginning September 18, 2015 through June 30, 2018; and to forward said nomination to the SEGA Board for appointment, supported by Huq. All voting aye, motion carried. Approval of Talent District Career Councils (TDCCs) Board Appointments for Regions 9 and 10 MOVED by Carroll to approve the Region 9 Monroe County TDCC nominees of Jennifer LaDuke of Monroe ISD representing the sectors of CTE Administrator and ISD in place of William Ferrara; and William Ferrara of Monroe High School will now represent the sector of Local School District in place of Alex Schukow, both for a term ending December 31, 2017, supported by Hesson. All voting aye, motion carried. MOVED by Wagner to approve the Region 10 Wayne County TDCC nominee of Dr. Randy Liepa of Wayne County RESA representing the sector ISD in place of Halyna Bialczyk, for a term ending December 31, 2017, supported by Lafferty. All voting aye, motion carried. Talent District Career Council Update Pitoniak advised that the Region 9 - Monroe County TDCC will have their first meeting on Tuesday, September 22, 2015 with Washtenaw as the lead MWA. Region 10 Wayne County TDCC will have their first meeting on Thursday, October 1, 2015 with SEMCA as the lead MWA. The meetings will be general in nature, reviewing the policies and role of the TDCC, choosing a chair, preparing bylaws, a meeting calendar and a strategic plan. The MWA s within each region must approve the chair for the TDCC. Pitoniak discussed the former role of the EAG s, which have been advisory in nature for the last eight years. The role of the TDCC is very much the same; however, in the Policy Issuance the TDCC will have input on the selection of programs and providers for the Adult Education Section 107 and to have input on the programs and providers who would receive 61b Middle College additional funding. The lead MWA s are awaiting clarification from the Talent WDA of the approval authority of the TDCC. Mahoney noted that if approval is needed by the Board for a timely issue from the TDCC, we need the SEMCA Bylaws to allow email voting for issues that may not need a board meeting. Under WIOA, from a bylaws perspective, they want to us to understand the ability to deal with issues in the new world of social media.
Policy/Funding Updates The governor seems to have reduced the Michigan Works Agencies from 24 to 16 but he has still not reached his goal of one Agency for each of the 10 Prosperity Regions. SEMCA has filed its Initial Designation, which retains out-wayne and Monroe counties. Oakland, Macomb/Shiawassee and Detroit all filed retaining their current status. We will wait to see if the governor approves our Initial Designation. This list has not been released and we begin on October 1, 2015. Pitoniak noted that the revised Bylaws are due by December 31, 2015. Mahoney has asked Aline Lafferty to head up a committee to review the bylaws to assure we are in compliance with the WIOA Act. Lafferty agreed and Soderberg and LaJoy also agreed to help on the project. Mahoney and SEMCA staff will also help. Pitoniak discussed the implementation of WIOA. The final rules and regulations are expected to be issued in December or January. We are working with the rules and regulations currently in draft form. USDOL is providing reassurance that they want innovation and we will not be sanctioned in this interim phase. Industry Recognized Credentialing is one area of concern. Pitoniak announced that he read in the Detroit Free Press that SEMCA had been awarded a $4 million American Apprenticeship Innovation Program grant in partnership with Henry Ford College and WIN. It was a surprise to both Pitoniak and Lisa Katz WIN Executive Director, who was able to confirm that the source was a White House Press Announcement. The President announced at Macomb Community College $11 million total for SEMCA, Focus Hope and Macomb Community College for our region. Pitoniak proceeded to connect some dots for the Board that demonstrated how various partnerships and collaborations have led to this other successful outcomes. Pitoniak noted the second quarterly reports handouts from WIN and the ability for SEMCA to have access to real-time data. WIN staff is gaining in credibility with state and federal agencies about regional collaboration. Pitoniak reported that he thought the President arrived in Michigan to announce the recent award of a Department of Defense grant for $5.9 million to Macomb County due to the defense industry being downsized. WIN staff put the grant together after Lisa Katz, through federal grant connections, talked to a DOD official about these types of transition grants and he urged her to submit an application. This was not a competitive grant. Approximately $1.5 million will come to WIN/SEMCA for specific project elements. Pitoniak discussed the Investing in Manufacturing Communities Partnership (IMCP) designation, which WIN headed up the 13-county regional federal grant award. Our region is branded Advanced Michigan, and it has received $17 million in federal funding from the IMCP designation, which included the three grants Pitoniak previously mentioned. Pitoniak commended Wayne County Government and Bryce Kelley, as well as WIN, for there extraordinary efforts to obtain the IMCP designation. He also recognized the new county administration for having continued supporting the program and providing leadership to move it forward. This designation provides SEMCA with access to information, funding and collaboration with both public and private sectors.
SEMCOG is the administrator of Prosperity Region 10 grant funds and have developed a plan for regional economic development. Pitoniak also discussed the handout My Bright Future for Career Awareness and Career Pathways. This is the first WIN Public Policy Initiative that we are promoting. It is about connecting students, teachers, counselors and parents with industry and employers. There will be some pilots next year, and it is targeting careers where youth are not showing an interest. Pitoniak discussed the reaccreditation process of SEMCA through the Council on Accreditation (COA). SEMCA should have begun the process last year, but with all the changes that occurred with substance abuse and Ruth Sebaly announcing that she was leaving SEMCA, it was just impossible for us to complete it. We are obtaining a one-year extension. We have completed the application and self-assessment tool. The site visit is scheduled for next week, where they will view documentation and meet with staff as well as Charlie Mahoney and Commissioner Haidous. Once this is completed we start all over again with the four-year reaccreditation. It is extremely valuable to reevaluate our policies and procedures and being current with administrative and management styles. Greg gave credit to SEMCA s COO, Sonya Grant, who has led the team on this project. Pitoniak also discussed the recent Customer Service Training that SEMWAC was contracted to complete. SEMCA and its contractors had a total of 196 staff and 77 managers participate in the training. SEGA Board Update Pitoniak discussed the need for revising the Interlocal Agreement between the five members of SEGA, Downriver Community Conference, Conference of Eastern Wayne, Conference of Western Wayne, Monroe County and Wayne County, and the amendments that were required under WIOA implementation. SEMCA will also update its bylaws to remove all references to substance abuse services. There is actual liability assigned to the five members if there are ever disallowed costs and the percentages were based on outdated population estimates so that information was also updated. We have obtained approval from four out of the five members. Our last meeting is scheduled for October 1, 2015 with Wayne County and it is expected to be approved. Program Updates WIOA, ES, TAA, OJT, STTF, IWT Al-Igoe provided a written update that is part of your agenda packet. Al-Igoe highlighted one new project that is a high-priority for the governor, Project Rising Tides. He chose ten cities, one for each Prosperity Regions, and for Region 10 he selected River Rouge. SEMCA is working with MSHDA and MEDC on getting the city redevelopment ready. It is a new concept, and we are working quickly according to the governor s timeline. He is set to make an announcement in two weeks on the project, and it should be a hot topic for the next couple of months. PATH, Earn & Learn, Prisoner Reentry, MLB Martinez provided a written update that is part of your agenda packet.
SEMCA and Genessee/Shiawassee were selected by Michigan Workforce Development Agency and DHHS to participate on a Job Search Assistance (JSA) strategies evaluation team. They will be looking at ways to improve job search strategies for PATH participants that lead to quicker employment and more sustainable employment. They recently completed a two-day session with all of the applicable partners. The goal is to see if we can deliver services in a different way without being tied to the work participation rate. This will allow more creativity, digging further into what the customers need, and program our resources toward those needs. We were complimented for our involvement because of our work with the Work Participation Rate (WPR) and AEP programs within PATH. If it moves forward it will be very innovative. Pitoniak discussed the history of the federal requirements of the Work Participation Rate (WPR). For example, GED completion is not a core activity and the hours spent obtaining a GED does not count toward the hours that make-up WPR. However in order to obtain employment a GED or diploma is needed. This pilot will hopefully explore ways on how we can keep a high WPR and still engage the customers in activities like GED completion that are more meaningful in achieving self-sufficiency. WIA Youth Update LeBlanc provided a written update that is part of your agenda packet. LeBlanc provided a PowerPoint presentation on the Michigan Education Partnership (MEP) Graduation and the UAW-Ford Skilled Trades Training. MEP provides onsite and online instruction at no cost to our youth in helping them with GED preparation and high school diploma completion. SEMCA had 12 participants in the graduation held on June 4 th and LeBlanc thanked Lopez for attending the ceremony. UAW-Ford Skilled Trades Training for Youth had 12 participants in this year s program with five being female, and a mentor/teacher s assistant from last year s program. UAW-Ford provides the free training and SEMCA provides a paid-work experience for attending the training. SEMCA is so fortunate and appreciative for this partnership. LeBlanc discussed the upcoming advanced manufacturing WIOA youth tour to Schoolcraft College in the morning and then to tour Linear Mold & Engineering that actually recruits from Schoolcraft College in the afternoon. LeBlanc turned it over to Wagner to discuss Manufacturing Day. Macomb County was recognized nationally last year for their Manufacturing Day Event. They had over 1000 students. This past year Detroit Economic Growth Corporation (DEGC) received a grant for the tri-county area to reintroduce Manufacturing to the region. There were no students from Wayne County including Detroit so a pilot program began by meeting with administration from Robichaud, Crestwood, and Annapolis. Student will tour the Plastics Omnium Plant. They also included MTEC s early college and they will tour the Rouge Truck Plant. Currently from the tri-county area has 200 students from out-wayne, 200 from Detroit, 2,000 from Macomb and 400 from Oakland planning to participate in the event. Manufacturing Day t-shirts will be distributed to each student and each company will receive a large banner. The plan is to start in January with a committee to plan next year s event. Wagner thanked LeBlanc for her all help in making this year s event happen. Lopez thanked LeBlanc for inviting him to the graduation and announced that he hired one of the graduates and told a second graduate to come and see Aztec first when he graduates from U of M. Lopez recognized the enthusiasm SEMCA has for their programs and projects. He also noted and
importance and recognized Wagner for his energy and desire to reestablish advanced manufacturing back into the schools. October 9 th there is a forum on manufacturing hosted by the Southern Wayne County Regional Chamber at Wayne County Community College. WIN Update Previously updated. New/Old Business O Connell stated there was a deep discussion about education at the GTIB meeting. They have only had two meetings. They are working on their goals and mission, but it is expected to come together quickly. Next GTIB Meeting in December will be held at the Operating Engineers in Detroit. Donald O Connell stated there is going to be a special guest. Pitoniak advised that GTIB meetings are public and Tamara will communicate the details, when available, to the Board. Mahoney thanked O Connell and Haidous for sitting on the GTIB. J. Rasizi from ETDI asked if any of the whispers of a potential government shut-down will have any ramifications against SEMCA s programs. Pitoniak noted that we have been through it before both at the federal and state levels, and there was no adverse financial circumstance for our system. However, it depends on how long of a shut-down before that question can be answered. A government shut-down would be very bad politically for either party. With SEMCA s management of carry-over funding, SEMCA and its contractors had not really felt it during previous shut-downs. Huq advised that SEMCOG General Assembly will take place at Schoolcraft College on October 22, 2015. Governor will be speaking on Talent and Workforce and there will be a panel of educators to discuss their programs. It is a public meeting and you do not need to be a SEMCOG member. Mahoney thanked Lafferty, Soderberg and LaJoy for agreeing to work on the bylaws. MOTION by Hesson to adjourn the meeting, supported by Lopez. Meeting adjourned at 3:46 p.m. The next full board meeting is scheduled for November 18, 2015. Respectfully submitted, Tamara Lamper-Norrix Executive Assistant - SEMCA