EVOLVE Business and Professional Magazine August 2017 | Page 21

Recent surveys of manufacturers, healthcare industries and other growth sectors consistently identify one of their top three priorities as workforce development. Companies who are successful at attracting and retaining talented people realize they must be pro-active and become part of their workforce solution. Although technology is providing for endless streams of content, many of today’s students are not making time or using their initiative to bring themselves an awareness to career opportunities which await them. They don’t know the Bethune-Cookman University has worked with Florida Hospital to serve two purposes. The first purpose is to provide public health students the real world experience of working with a patient with a chronic illness to help educate them on patient communication and rapport. The result of this work is hopefully a better, more efficient, care path for residents of our area. What can you do to provide hands on experiences to students opportunities or the educational requirements. to reach that passion point within them which will guide them to healthcare organizations are actively engaging with educational point is building, coding and watching the vision come to life To overcome that obstacle, smart manufacturers and institutions in the community in an effort to inform students, teachers, guidance counselors and parents about the many a meaningful career? In the manufacturing example that passion through teamwork and perseverance. In addition, high school students can be provided shadowing opportunities they have available. opportunities that could lead to summer, work-based learning science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) curriculum. school year. The students learn the company culture, its products, There has been a great deal of work in the schools to promote That is a great push strategy, but a pull strategy added to this program is bound to increase the success rate and provide greater opportunity for all. Starting with middle school age students, these organizations are sending young scientists, engineers, technicians, nurses and physicians to visit local classrooms to talk with students about their work. Students, teachers and parents are also invited to tour the inside of plants and facilities they likely drive by on a daily basis, experiences and possibly part-time employment during the processes, and customers and can contribute to the overall company goals. Many students who start out as part-time workers in high school often progress to achieve consistently higher company positions, becoming supervisors, managers, and executives. Creating, attracting and retaining an educated and passionate workforce is key to having your organization live beyond this generation and thrive into the next. but have no idea of what is actually taking place inside. They tour the facility, are introduced to the workers in the company and see for themselves what takes place at that facility, but nothing beats a hands on experience. Many manufacturers are sponsoring teams for the FIRST Robotics or robot competitions giving students valuable, hands-on experience and also the opportunity to work as team John Guthrie is director of corporate communications at Halifax Health. He is responsible for marketing, public relations and communications. As chair of the editorial committee for EVOLVE Magazine, John enjoys finding and sharing the hidden jewels in Daytona Beach and Volusia County. John is also an accomplished musician and pit master. members with engineers, technicians, and scientists to solve technical challenges. On the healthcare front, Halifax Health is working with all the Volusia County High School health academies and programs to offer tours of the various areas of the hospital, providing the opportunity to see the workings of an emergency room, the dissection of a colon biopsy and even a visit to the helipad where trauma patients land by helicopter, sometimes as many as four a day. Dr. Judith Crocker is President of MJ Crocker & Associates. MJCA provides technical assistance and project management services to organizations and companies facing workforce challenges with services such as strategic planning and development and implementation of projects designed to address talent needs on an individual company or regional basis. Dr. Judith Crocker can be reached at [email protected]. AUGUST 2017 | 21 |