business backgrounder | education & workforce
realizing benefits
But there are more benefits to workforce development than helping companies fill open spots on the shop floors. Apprenticeships are the backbone of the middle class in many countries, but not in America, Poischbeg said.“ Here we have a great opportunity to strengthen the middle class,” he said. Scott Anderson of CSR Marine said he had trouble in school but gained valuable skills in metal shop classes.
He had seven job offers when he graduated high school, and later founded his own company.
Employers also heard from innovative education leaders that are shaking up the traditional public school model, including the leader of Spokane Valley Tech, an Eastern Washington high school focused on college and career readiness.
Principal Camille Nielsen says she’ s battling the notion that all students must get a four-year college degree, and constantly encouraging kids to investigate“ fantastic living wage jobs” available through two-year degrees, certifications or training.
“ We need you as community members … to help us communicate that message,” Nielsen said.
AWB’ s most recent Employer of the Year award recipient shared their strategies to create and maintain a strong workforce.
Michele Beehler of Schweitzer Engineer Laboratories said her company structures employee benefits around long-term incentives like retirement, stock and onsite medical, fitness and childcare for both employees and their families.
Steve Lorence of Energy Northwest says his organization makes major investments in training employees. He noted that a nuclear power plant could be shut down by federal regulators if certain positions are unfilled. Energy Northwest managers also make an effort to seek employee feedback, develop and train leaders, and take other steps to reduce turnover and boost morale.
Dan and Jodi Martinez of AllStar Glass in Spokane came to learn more about developing a future workforce pipeline for their commercial glazing company. They wanted to get out of their backyard, Dan Martinez said, to see what was working in western Washington. They intend to connect with the Aerospace Joint Apprenticeship Committee to learn more.
“ We’ re glad we came,” Dan Martinez said.
40 association of washington business