46th SER Annual
Conference
"America's Emerging Workforce: Strategies for Progress."
October 25-26, 2011
Hotel Albuquerque
800 Rio Grande Blvd. NW Albuquerque, NM
Corporate partners, affiliates, and customers came together at SER’s 46th Annual Conference in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The conference attendees were able to participate in various workshops that provided targeting training on new technology tools, career coach techniques, program improvement and performance, and leadership practices.
We had the opportunity to hear the Honorable Cindy Padilla, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Aging, of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Administration on Aging share insights about the importance of providing services to the most in need and how these services help make our country strong. At the end of the day, all gathered for the Chairman’s welcome reception where Ms. Rose Marie Rodriguez and Mr. Eloy Gonzales were honored for their dedication and commitment to the SER organization in New Mexico.
On Wednesday, Irasema Garza, Senior Counselor to Secretary Hilda Solis, U.S. Department of Labor and Eric E. Peterson, U.S. Vice President, Diversity, and Director, Industry Dealer Affairs, General Motors Company offered their remarks to the crowd at the SER Awards Luncheon. The SER National annual awards not only recognize outstanding skill, talent, and work, but reward dedication to serving our communities with programs and services that transform lives and ensure that dreams of education, employment and empowerment are achieved by so many.
The 2011 SER National award winners are:
Affiliate of the Year
SER-Jobs for Progress of the Texas Gulf Coast
Houston, Texas
Nory Angel, Executive Director
One-Stop Operator of the Year
SER-Jobs for Progress of San Antonio
San Antonio, Texas
Linda Rivas, President
Jesse Leos Award, SCSEP Large Area
SER-Jobs for Progress, Inc. -- San Joaquin Valley
Los Angeles County, California
Rebecca Mendibles, President/CEO
Jesse Leos Award, SCSEP Small Area
Florida SER-Jobs for Progress
Miami, Florida
Jose Cela, President
Community Service Award
Lissa Dreyer, Former Executive Director
SER-Jobs for Progress of Rhode Island
Pawtucket, Rhode Island
Innovative Contribution Award
For SER At-Risk Youth Green Job Training
SER-Jobs for Progress
Santa Fe, New Mexico
Alex Martinez, Executive Director
Corporations of the Year
AT&T
Accepted by Jerry M. Fuentes, President, Arizona/New Mexico
General Motors
Accepted by Eric E. Peterson, U.S. Vice President, Diversity, and Director, Industry Dealer Affairs
IBM
Accepted by William T. Trotter, Senior Executive Emeritus
To end the Conference, Ignacio Salazar, President and CEO of SER National invited all attendees to the President’s dinner and dance where he outlined the critical need for the services of SER.
Event Resources:
Benefits of Hiring Mature Workers
Mature workers offer many benefits to employers. Learn what they are, and how to communicate them to an employer.
Presenter: Laura Connelly- Founding Partner, Talent Resource Solutions
Building for the Future: Talent Management and Succession Planning
Having the right talent within your organization is critical to sustainability and growth. Identifying, building, and retaining strong talent will ensure that your organization has a distinct leadership advantage. Come discuss the growing importance of succession planning and talent management and how to build a robust succession process that will support your organization’s strategic goals and mission.
Presenters: Tony Morales, SER National Director of HR; Rachel McDonald Romo, SER National Director of Network Initiatives
Conflict Resolution – Confronting Workplace Conflict
If allowed to run rampant, conflict in the workplace drags down morale, creates tension and frustration, and prohibits productive, successful outcomes.
This training is designed to help staff handle the inevitable conflicts that arise with customers — assertively, calmly, and rationally.
- Discover how to analyze different types of conflict situations, and appropriate response mechanisms for each.
- Learn techniques to help deal with aggressive behavior, negative attitudes, and other sources of customer conflict, through positive and productive strategies.
- Decrease chaos and indecision with customers/participants.
- Help customers manage change, make decisions, and solve problems.
- Negotiate compromise calmly and effectively.
Watch problems dissolve and roadblocks fall as you use these proven, time-tested conflict resolution techniques to gain customer cooperation and build mutual trust.
Presenter: Chantel Devaughn
Financial Opportunity Centers: Offering critical economic
empowerment for families
Come learn about the Financial Opportunity Centers/Centers for Working Families model that the Local Initiative Support Corporation (LISC) has funded at three SER affiliates. Here from SER Metro Detroit, SER Central States and SER Houston about the model and how to implement it at your site. Prepare for new rounds of funding as they become available.
Presenters: Veronica Sanchez Peavy, SER Metro Detroit; Guadalupe Preston and Michelle Rafferty, SER Central States; Joyce Burrell, SER Houston
From Efforts to Outcomes (ETO): Streamlining Your Business Practices
with SERformance -powered by ETO Software
Arduous paperwork and processes involving redundancy, rework, and replication require time that could otherwise be dedicated to the people you serve. Learn how to increase your outcomes while reducing tedious efforts with the cutting-edge performance management system –SERformance. SERformance is supported and licensed by Efforts to Outcomes (ETO) Software, a product of Social Solutions.
Presenters: Brian Marques/Jason Urias
From Case Worker to Career Coach: The Evolution of Case Management
in Workforce Development
This workshop provides proven techniques to implement throughout your organization that will create a culture of Career Development. A successful workforce model always has the end-goal in mind….Create an organizational culture that infuses strong pre-placement strategies from the start to ensure successful post program placement upon completion. Everyone within the organization has a responsibility to assist every participant in achieving long term placement and retention success.
Workshop will discuss:
- Concepts of bi-level case management that assist individuals with overcoming barriers, while simultaneously helping them take progressive steps forward.
- Discuss innovative, responsive workforce development models to address skill shortages and challenges. Create “Placement Pathways” for participants that provide detailed tracking and goal facilitation.
- How staff can create a model employment culture that participants will emulate.
- Establishing and expanding industry-education partnerships.
- Drive Performance through Participation
- Create an Engage-Inform-Empower Platform
Presenter: Chantel Devaughn
High Touch with High Tech: Using Technology Tools
to be a More Effective Career Coach
This workshop provides information on how to infuse innovative technology tools into workforce strategies. Participants will get detailed information on a number of technology tools and resources that can be used in their daily workforce operations. The integration of innovative technology with effective workforce development principles provides the best service delivery system for program participants.
Workshop will discuss:
- Models for seamless service delivery to jobseekers with multiple resource needs.
- Technical Assistance Resources
- Communities of Practice – How to Navigate the Knowledge Model
- Information Gateway – Using a Web-Based Approach
- Creating competency-based workforce models.
- Infusing technology into training modules.
Presenter: Chantel Devaughn
Designed for Coaching to Care Sub-grantees. This workshop is limited to 10 participants due to technology lab capacity.
HR Law Updates 2011: What’s new, what’s hot and what can get you into a law suit
With new laws and regulations being implemented in 2011, it is important to know what will be affecting you and your organization. This session will deal with the latest changes and how to make sure you are in compliance with them.
Presenters: Tony Morales, SER National Director of HR; Cynthia Gomez, SER National HR Generalist
Implementing an Effective Employer & Host Agency Outreach Program
Learn how to communicate your value to an employer or host agency, including research and preparation for a marketing outreach plan, elevator pitches, getting past the gatekeeper, marketing call verbiage, addressing concerns, and more. This session is packed with practical advice for anyone involved with employer and host agency outreach.
Presenter: Laura Connelly- Founding Partner, Talent Resource Solutions
Marketing Yourself to Win the Job
Learn how to market yourself to potential employers, including company research, 30 second commercials, building your confidence, how to address employer concerns, and more. This session is packed with practical advice for the mature job-seeker.
Presenter: Laura Connelly- Founding Partner, Talent Resource Solutions
Designed for SCSEP Participants.
Now Hiring-The Healthcare Industry: Exploring Healthcare Career
Opportunities with the Virtual Career Network
Of the fastest growing occupations in the United States, half are related to healthcare, and they are expected to grow faster than any other industry; approximately 22% or 3.2 million new jobs between 2008 and 2018. Get a jump start on the competition by learning how to explore careers and find job opportunities in this high growth field with only “One-Stop”--the Virtual Career Network healthcare career website.
Presenters: Brian Marques/Jason Urias
Designed for SCSEP Participants.
“ Paperwork—How to Get It Right the First Time”
This workshop is designed for staff to understand SCSEP form requirements. By understanding this, field/SG staff will be able to fully and properly document all pertinent information in a file consistently.
Presenter: Karen Brown
Rethinking WIA in a Time of Economic Uncertainty
This workshop will feature a discussion of the current status of Congressional discussions regarding reauthorization of the Workforce Investment Act. While there have been promising indications of an increased focus on advancing sector-based strategies and career pathways development, the uncertainty of the federal budget situation could mean major changes for public workforce systems. The presenter will share insights from the JFF Workforce Policy Team.
Presenter: Stephen Lynch, Jobs For the Future
SCSEP Program Accountability
All federal programs require that grantees collect and report participant data. This session will cover requirements that apply to the SCSEP data that is collected and reported in SPARQ database system. This will include a review of each required data validated element and the documentation required in the case file to ensure compliance with federal requirements as well as a review of some sample data validation worksheets.
Presenter: Gabby Black
SCSEP Round Table – Part I & II
The flow of SCSEP From Eligibility to Employment
Eligibility, Enrollment, Case Management: consisting of Participant Files, PPRPs, Rotations, and Nov/May schedule. Recruitment and Placements
Presenters: SCSEP Staff