From the Suite Source

“Our team is using industry-led innovative ideas coupled with our strong community-based resources to create talent development solutions addressing the demands and opportunities in Montgomery County.” – Dr. Ellie Giles

As the WSM team works with the many strong organizations and employers to support talent development (established July 1, 2016), there is a lot of enthusiasm about our mission and direction. As we are still very much in the development phase and our capabilities are constantly growing, I thought it would be helpful to share our continued improvements and accomplishments.

Our mission is threefold:

• To meet the talent attraction, development, and retention needs of strategic industries.
• To meet the needs of the underemployed and unemployed.
• To develop career pathways that lead to sustainable wage jobs and support a thriving mission.

Here are just a few examples of activities and accomplishments to address our mission. Please see our website for more information.

Increased Capacity

• Awarded as lead or partner eight new grants totaling $2 million a year enhancing programming for underserved demographics and enhancing in-demand industry sectors.
• Enhanced partnerships with community-based organizations, convening and supporting services to address community specific needs for both job-seekers and employers .

Integrated Approach

• Will establish pop-up job centers in partnership with Montgomery County libraries to increase accessibility starting April 2017.
• Redesigned our American Job Centers (Wheaton, Germantown and the Montgomery County Correctional Facility in Boyds)
• Created an integrated service delivery with our core partners, including the Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services, the Maryland State Department of Education Division of Rehabilitation Services (DORS), the Maryland Department of Human Resource’s Temporary Cash Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) and the Literacy Council of Montgomery County.
• Updated the Job Centers to be more customer–focused and results oriented.

Economic Empowerment

WSM looks forward to working closely with our economic development organizations, such as the Montgomery County Economic Development Corporation (MCEDC) and our fantastic chambers of commerce along with our County Government, to convene key stakeholders to enhance economic empowerment and entrepreneurship across demographic areas. WSM is committed to collaborating with communities to provide creative programs and initiatives that enhance quality of life.

Outcomes from our Business Solutions include:

• Employer Response: WSM holds an average of two targeted recruiting events per week.
• Construction Pipeline Development: We’ve partnered with Donohoe Construction and contractors to support all talent needs.
• BioScience: We’ve partnered with MedImmune and Biohealth Innovation to establish post-doc programs to better attract needed talent.
• IT/Cyber: We’ve partnered with Montgomery College on two grants: America’s Promise and Tech Hire.
• Energy Careers: We’ve partnered with Pepco to address STEM-related opportunities.
• Health Care: We’re expanding the EARN grant to address the nursing shortage.
• Development of an entrepreneurial training program

Career and collage pathways for our young adults

WSM will collaborate with our education partners to establish strong career and college pathways.

• We are developing career pathway maps in the targeted industry alliances to respond to changing career pathways and prepare for jobs of the future.
• We formalized a strong partnership with the Montgomery County Public Schools, Identity, TransCen Inc., Montgomery College and the Universities of Shady Grove to enhance the industry-recognized certification programs and employability skills for our youth.
• We have created new and exciting programs, such as our Leadership Lab and Pathway Explorer programs. Click here for more information: http://worksourcemontgomery.com/job-seekers/young-adults/

Data-driven

• WSM is committed to maintaining, analyzing and disseminating labor market data.
• WSM has researched labor market databases and will be purchasing two highly regarded databases that will provide up-to-date labor market data by both industry and geography.
• We have established WSM performance data dashboards.

And this is only a snapshot of what we do. To learn more about us, I invite you to call or email us. We’d love to tell you more about what we do!

In closing, our offices will be moving on March 31 to 1801 Rockville Pike, where we are excited to be located with MCEDC and Visit Montgomery. Please stop by for a visit!