2015-2016 CounCilreCommendations
January 29, 2016
table ofContents
1 Letter to Governor robert bentLey
2 2015 - 2016 CounCiL MeMbers
3 exeCutive suMMary
•Background
•MissionandAdvisoryDuties
•SummaryofWork
•SummaryofRecommendations
•Conclusion
4 aLabaMa WorkforCe systeM experienCe DesiGn pLan
•StrategicSummary
• IAm…TheNewAlabamaWorkforceSystem
•ExperienceDesignPlan
5 appenDix
•A-RegionalWorkforceCouncilInformationSheet
•B-WorkforceDataQualityCampaign,August2015Research
letter to governorrobert bentley
Governor robert bentLey
AlabamaStateCapitol600DexterAvenueMontgomery,AL36130
Dear Governor bentLey:
OnbehalfoftheAlabamaWorkforceCouncil,wethankyouforyourcommitmenttocreatinghigh-wage,high-
demandjobsinAlabamaandforpreparingfuturegenerationsofAlabamiansforcareersinourstate’smany
thrivingindustries.WeappreciatetheopportunitytoserveyouandthepeopleofAlabamatofurtherthecollective
goalofstrengtheningourworkforceandtrainingprogramstoensureAlabama’sskilledlaborforceremains
competitive.
Underyourguidance,theStateofAlabamahasseensignificantgrowthandinvestmentinbothoureconomyand
workforce.ThroughyourcreationoftheCollegeandCareerReadinessTaskForceandthentheestablishmentof
theAlabamaWorkforceCouncil,theCouncilhasbeentaskedwithdevelopingrecommendationstosupportand
enhancethestate’seffortsbyfosteringanopendialogueamongeducation,business,andindustry.
ThisreportistheproductofayearofhardworkbythemembersoftheAlabamaWorkforceCouncil.During
thistime,eachmemberhasbeenengagedinconversation,research,anddeliberationamongthemselvesand
industryandeducationexpertstodeveloprecommendationswiththegoalofimprovingeducationaloutcomesand
promotingworkforceandeconomicdevelopment.
Wearepleasedthatsomeoftherecommendationspresentedinlastyear’sreporthavebeenadoptedintolawand
presentthisreportinanadvisorycapacityforyourconsideration.Again,wethankyouforyourleadershipandthe
opportunitytoserveonbehalfofourstatetoensurethatallAlabamiansarecollegeandcareerreadyandthatour
workforcedevelopmentprogramsaremeetingthestate’smostpressingneeds.
Sincerely,
Zeke sMitH GeorGe CLark
Chairman,AlabamaWorkforceCouncil Vice-Chair,AlabamaWorkforceCouncil
CC:
MembersoftheAlabamaLegislature
MembersoftheAlabamaStateBoardofEducation
MembersoftheAlabamaCommunityCollegeSystemBoardofTrustees
MembersoftheAlabamaCouncilofCollegeandUniversityPresidents
letter to governor robert bentley // 4
January29,2016
2015-2016alabama workforCe
CounCil members
Zeke sMitHaLabaMa poWer
Birmingham
GeorGe CLarkManufaCture aLabaMa
Montgomery
rep. aLan bakerstate representative
Brewton
toM batesevonik inDustries- retireD
Mobile
Dr. toMMy biCestate DepartMent of eDuCation
Montgomery
Mike brunerinternationaL paper
Decatur
MaC buttraMforMer state representative
Cullman
eD CastiLeDepartMent of CoMMerCe
Montgomery
biLL CatonassoCiateD GeneraL ContraCtors
Irondale
Dr. pHiLip CLeveLanDDepartMent of eDuCation offiCe of Career & teCHniCaL eDuCation
Montgomery
norMan CroWD.t. & freiGHt CoMpany
Tuscaloosa
MiCHaeL Davistoray Carbon fibers aMeriCa, inC.
Decatur
CHairMan viCe CHairMan
2015-2016 alabama workforCe CounCil members // 6
CHuCk DiLauraneptune teCHnoLoGy Group, inC.
Tallassee
JeD DoWnsQuaLiCo steeL
Webb
Dr. WiLL fernianyuab HeaLtH systeM
Birmingham
bLaine GaLLiHerWinDoM GaLLiHer & assoCiates
Montgomery
DaLe GreerCuLLMan eConoMiC DeveLopMent aGenCy
Cullman
Jason Harpertennessee vaLLey autHority
Guntersville
aLLen HarrisbaiLey-Harris ConstruCtion
Auburn
Dr. Mark HeinriCHaLabaMa CoMMunity CoLLeGe systeM
Montgomery
Jennifer HiMburGaLfa
Montgomery
MiCHeLLe HurDLeairbus aMeriCas, inC.
Mobile
pHiLip “CHap” JaCksonCoosa CoMposites, LLC
Pelham
Donny JonestusCaLoosa CHaMber of CoMMerCe
Tuscaloosa
ranDy JorDanbryant bank
Mountain Brook
Dave kinGDynaMiCs, inC.
Huntsville
Mike kitCHensaCipCo
Birmingham
2015-2016 alabama workforCe CounCil members // 7
sanDra kobLasaustaL usa
Mobile
Jerry MaysforMer Mayor of pHiL CaMpbeLL
Muscle Shoals
tiM MCCartneyMCCartney ConstruCtion
Gadsden
Dr. Joe Mortonbusiness eDuCation aLLianCe
Montgomery
kasey MyersGkn aerospaCe, aLabaMa fueL systeMs
Tallassee
Mike oatriDGeHonDa ManufaCturinG of aLabaMa
Lincoln
CLeve pooLepioneer eLeCtriC Cooperative, inC.
Greenville
ranDy roGersevonik inDustries
Mobile
Gary savaGeb.L. Harbert Corporation
Birmingham
Dr. art tiptonsoutHern researCH institute
Birmingham
fitZGeraLD WasHinGtonaLabaMa DepartMent of Labor
Montgomery
terry WaterstHe assoCiation of eDison iLLuMinatinG CoMpanies
Birmingham
2015-2016 alabama workforCe CounCil members // 8
keitH WeiLGoLDen DraGon Copper tubinG
Pine Hill
exeCutivesummary
exeCutive summary // 10
baCkGrounD
TheAlabamaWorkforceCounciliscomprisedofbusiness
executivesfromsomeofthemostimportantindustries
andorganizationsinthestateofAlabama.TheCouncil’s
goalistofacilitatecollaborationbetweengovernment
andindustrytohelpAlabamadevelopasustainable,
top-notchworkforcethatiscompetitiveonaglobalscale.
Sinceitsinception,theCouncilhasbeencommitted
toanalyzingimportantissuesrelatedtoworkforce
developmentandmakingsoundrecommendationsthat
willhelptocreatemoreandbetteropportunitiesforall
Alabamians.
In2013,GovernorRobertBentleyestablishedtheCollege
andCareerTaskForce,whichwascomprisedofleaders
fromeducation,industry,andgovernment.Onekey
recommendationbytheTaskForcewasforthestateto
establishtheAlabamaWorkforceCouncil.
In2014,theLegislaturecreatedtheAlabamaWorkforce
Councilandmemberswereappointed.TheCouncilwas
taskedwith:
u Developingrecommendationstosupportand
enhancethestate’seconomicandworkforce
developmenteffortsbyfosteringanopendialogue
amongeducation,business,andindustry.
u AdvisingandsupportingtheStateSuperintendent
ofEducation,theChancelloroftheAlabama
CommunityCollegeSystem,andthePresidentsof
Alabama’sfour-yearinstitutions.
u Promotingcoordinationacrosspre-Kthrough12th-
grade,two-yearcolleges,four-yearcolleges,and
businessandindustryontheregionalandstate
levels.
InJanuary2015,theAlabamaWorkforceCouncil
presenteditsfirstsetofrecommendationstoGovernor
Bentley,theLegislature,andothers.Manyofthose
recommendationswereimplementedintolawduringthe
2015LegislativeSession.Onerecommendationresulted
intheCouncilbecominganofficialgovernmentagency,
whichishousedinthenewWorkforceDevelopment
DivisionoftheDepartmentofCommerce.
TheCouncilanditsmembersremainedhighlyengaged
throughout2015,workingdiligentlywitheducation,
industry,andgovernmentstakeholders.TheCouncil
hasalong-termviewtowardbuildingacomprehensive
structurethatwilltransformAlabama’sworkforceand
economy.
Mission anD aDvisory Duties
The Alabama Workforce Council concentrates its efforts on:
u Enhancingeducationandindustrycollaborationon
anongoingbasis.
u Promotingaccess,articulation,andcommunication
alongtheeducationalpipeline.
u Ensuringappropriatedevelopmentofessential
professionalskills(alsoknownas“softskills”or
“essentialworkplaceskills”).
u Raisingawarenessofandpromotingaccessto“high
potential”careerpathways.
The advisory duties of the Council include:
u Reviewingwaystostreamlineandaligntheexisting
workforcedevelopmentfunctionsofthestate.
u Evaluatingthebestwaystoincreaseawarenessof
andeducatestudentsaboutavailableopportunities
inindustry.
u Consideringwaystocreateafeedbackloopfor
industryandeducation.
u Evaluatingpublic/privatepartnershipstocreate
industry-fundedscholarshipsforcommunity
colleges,vocationalprograms,anddualenrollment
programs.
u Assessingthevalueofincreasingthemarketing
associatedwithcareerreadinessandskilledcraft
trades.
u Evaluatingthestandardsformembershipand
operationoftheRegionalWorkforceDevelopment
Councils.
u Consideringrealignmentofcountiesineach
RegionalWorkforceDevelopmentCounciltomeet
theneedsofemployers.
exeCutive summary // 11
suMMary of Work
InJanuary2015,theAlabamaWorkforceCouncil
approveditsfinal2014-2015recommendationsand
submittedaformalreporttotheGovernorandthe
Legislature.Immediatelyafterthesubmissionofits
report,theCouncilshifteditsfocustotheimplementation
ofthoserecommendationstofurtherencouragethe
improvementofeducationaloutcomesandthepromotion
ofworkforceandeconomicdevelopment.Manyofthese
recommendationsresultedinactionbytheLegislature
duringthe2015RegularSession.TheCouncilhasbeen
involvedwiththefollowingactivitiesduringthepast12
months:
u Recommendedadditionalfundingforcareer
coaches.
ResulTs:
• $700,000inadditionalfundingwasincluded
intheFY2016EducationTrustFundbudget
toemploynewcareercoaches.Anadditional
$500,000wasallocatedasaconditional
appropriationforthecareercoachprogram.
• Thestateincreasedthenumberofcareer
coachesfrom36in2014to68in2015.
u Recommendedestablishingamorestreamlined,
centralized,andaccountableorganizationalstructure
forthecoordinationandmanagementofworkforce
developmentprograms.Alsosupportedtheefforts
ofthestate’sleadershiptoassessthestructureof
theWorkforceInvestmentBoards.
ResulTs:
• Legislationwaspassedtoconsolidatethe
primaryworkforcedevelopmentfunctionsofthe
stateintotheDepartmentofCommerce.This
legislationcreateda“WorkforceDevelopment
Division”withintheDepartmentofCommerce.
• TheWorkforceInvestmentBoards,Alabama
CareerCenters,IncumbentWorkerTraining
program,AlabamaIndustrialDevelopment
Training,andtheAlabamaWorkforceCouncil
arenowhousedwithinthisnewdivision.
• Thestate’seconomicdevelopmentandsmall
businessfunctionsweretransferredtothenew
“BusinessDevelopmentDivision”withinthe
DepartmentofCommerce.
• Legislationwaspassedtocreatean
independentgoverningboardfortheAlabama
CommunityCollegeSystem.
exeCutive summary // 12
u Recommendedthecodificationandfundingofthe
RegionalWorkforceDevelopmentCouncils.
ResulTs:
• LegislationwaspassedtocodifytheRegional
WorkforceDevelopmentCouncilsandto
transferthemtotheWorkforceDevelopment
DivisionwithintheDepartmentofCommerce.
BackgroundinformationabouttheRegional
WorkforceDevelopmentCouncilsisavailablein
AppendixA.
u Recommendedestablishingastatewidelongitudinal
datasystem.
ResulTs:
• GovernorBentleyissuedExecutiveOrderNo.
6onMay21,2015toestablishtheAlabama
P-20WLongitudinalDataSystemandthe
AlabamaOfficeofEducationandWorkforce
Statistics,anindependentofficethatishoused
attheDepartmentofLabor.TheOfficeof
EducationandWorkforceStatisticswillbe
governedbyanadvisoryboardthatwilloversee
theoperationsofthedatasystem.TheOffice
willbeledbyanappointedChiefPolicyOfficer.
• TheCouncilcontinuestoresearchandpursue
additionalstepsforfundingtheestablishment
ofthedatasystemandtheOfficeofEducation
andWorkforceStatistics.
u Beganresearchtocreateastatewideawareness,
branding,andmarketingstrategy.
u Laidthegroundworktodevelopa“one-stopshop”
onlineresourceforAlabamaworkforcedevelopment
information.
u HostedameetingattheMercedes-Benzplantin
Vance.Duringthatmeeting,Councilmembersheard
areportfromtheRegion3RegionalWorkforce
DevelopmentCouncilexplainingtheimportantrole
thatregionalcouncilsplayinthestate’sworkforce
developmentsystem,aswellastheirsuccesses
creatinganindustry-drivenregionalsolutionfor
workforceneeds.
u FormedaStrategicImplementationCommitteeto
focusonthemanagementandimplementationof
theCouncil’srecommendations.TheCommittee’s
effortsincluded:
• ServingasaresourcetotheDepartmentof
Commerceinconnectionwiththeestablishment
oftheWorkforceDevelopmentDivision.
• Assistingeffortstodevelopnewworkforce
developmentresources.
• Creatingaworkinggrouptoformacareerfair
andtradeshowstrategy.
• Providingadviceinconnectionwiththereview
ofrealignmentoptionsforthestate’sWorkforce
InvestmentBoards.
• Meetingwithindustryexpertstoevaluatestates
withsuccessfulworkforcedevelopmentefforts.
• CollaboratingwiththeGovernor’sSteering
CommitteeonWorkforceDevelopment.
ResulTs:
• TheresearchandworkoftheStrategic
ImplementationCommitteeresultedin
theCouncilvotingtoretaintheIDEAS
Group,aconsultantbasedinOrlando,
Floridathatreviewed,analyzed,andmade
recommendationsonmovingAlabama’s
workforcedevelopmentsystemforward.IDEAS
specializesinmediaandexperiencedesignand
wasformedthroughamanagementbuyout
ofseveralDisneybusinesses,combining
them,cuttingcosts,improvingcreativity,and
extendingcapabilities.
• Overathree-monthperiod,IDEASconducted
meetings,interviews,andinformational
sessionsacrossthestatethatinvolvedmore
exeCutive summary // 13
than1,000peoplefromallaspectsofthe
workforcespectrumandrepresentedadiverse
setofAlabamians.
• TheIDEASGroupreviewincludedananalysisof
Alabama’sinterconnectedprovidersofworkforce
services,includingallofthegovernmental,
educational,andprivate-sectorcomponents
thattrain,prepare,andmatchjobseekerswith
employers(collectivelyreferredtointhissection
andtheIDEASGroupExperienceDesignPlanas
the“AlabamaWorkforceSystem”).
• TheIDEASGroupproducedaplanbasedupon
theinformationgatheredfromtheirworkin
Alabama.TheExperienceDesignPlanwas
presentedtotheCouncilonJanuary20,2016,
andisincludedaspartofthisreport.
u AsaresultoftheCouncil’sworkin2015,andthe
involvementofthebusinesscommunityinthestate’s
workforcedevelopmentinitiatives,Alabamawas
oneoftwostatesfeaturedinanAugust2015report
bytheNationalWorkforceDevelopmentQuality
Campaign(SeeAppendixB).
suMMary of reCoMMenDations
Thefollowingisanoverviewoftherecommendations
thattheAlabamaWorkforceCouncilissubmittingtothe
Governor,theLegislature,theStateBoardofEducation,
theAlabamaCouncilofCollegeandUniversityPresidents,
andtheAlabamaCommunityCollegeSystemBoardof
Trustees.
MembersoftheCouncilhavereviewedanddiscussedthe
findingsoftheExperienceDesignPlan.Themembers
believethedeterminationsmadeintheplanvalidatetheir
recommendationsandthatthereisanopportunityto
furtherrestructure,streamline,andclarifytheAlabama
WorkforceSystem’sfunction.Thereisalsoanopportunity
tocreateabrandthatencompassesallofthestate’s
currentdisparateproviderandprogrambrandsandis
unique,relevant,respected,andeasilyunderstood.
TheExperienceDesignPlanincludedinthisreport
articulatestheactionsrequired,timelinesfor
implementation,potentialfundingmechanisms,
governancestructures,andotherrelevantinformationfor
eachrecommendationlistedbelow.
u Thestateshouldfund12additionalcareercoaches,
whichwouldresultinthestatebeingatfullcapacity
of80careercoachesandwouldplaceonecareer
coachineachhighschoolatleastonedayperweek.
u ThenewAlabamaWorkforceSystemmustbedriven
bybusinessandindustrydemandandcriteriafor
skillsandtalent.Astrongnetworkofeffective,
funded,andempoweredregionalworkforceentities
(currentlyRegionalWorkforceDevelopmentCouncils)
shouldbetaskedwiththecentralroleofbridging
businessneedswitha“talentsupplychain.”Eachof
thesenewentitiesshouldbeledbyapaidexecutive
directorwhoreportstoaboardofregionalbusiness,
industry,andeducationleadersandbesupportedby
theDepartmentofCommerce.
u ConsolidationoftheRegionalWorkforce
DevelopmentCouncilsandthealignmentof
thoseconsolidatedregionswiththeeffortsof
localcommunitycollegesisessentialtoeliminate
redundancies,enhanceeaseofuse,andassure
accountabilitytothebusinesscommunity.
u Aneasytonavigateandcomprehensivestatewide
educationandtrainingresourcesystemshouldbe
developedtoenableeach“supplypoint”(including
K-12,two-yearcolleges,four-yearcollegesand
universities,AlabamaIndustrialDevelopment
exeCutive summary // 14
Training,AlabamaTechnologyNetwork,
careercenters,andprivatetraining
companies)toexcelatmeetingbusiness
needs.
u Anew,online“one-stop”resourcemust
beestablishedtoserveclearandfocused
needswhilebeingaccessiblebybusiness,
government,education,andpublicusers.A
newglobaldatabaseisrecommendedasan
analyticaltooltobenchmarkperformance
andprovideinsightintousers.
u Anew,unified,anduniversalbrandfor
theAlabamaWorkforceSystemshouldbe
createdandimplemented.Thebrandshould
encompassthestate’sdisparateprovider
andprogrambrandsandbecomplementary
toco-brandedpartners.
ConCLusion
Theadvisoryrecommendationsinthisreportarethe
culminationofmonthsofhardworkoninitiativestohelp
Alabamiansdeveloptheirpersonalpotentialthroughan
effectivecareerpathway.TheCouncilisproposingthese
recommendationstohelpgrowthestate’seconomy,
increasetheavailabilityofskilledlabor,andpreparethe
nextgenerationofstudentsforsuccessfulcareersinthis
state.
ItisimportanttotheCouncilthatpreparingfor
employmentisacontinuousjourneyforallAlabamians
thatbeginsatthepre-Klevelandneverends,assuring
thatallworkersareproperlyequippedatallpointsalong
thecareerpathway.TheCouncilmembersbelievethat
theRegionalWorkforceDevelopmentCouncilsmust
playacentralroleintheoverallworkforcedevelopment
systemsothatbusinessandindustrydrivesthesystem
byarticulatingtheirworkforceneeds,andaregional
effortallowsbusinessandindustrypartnerstomatch
theirneedswithbest-fittrainingandeducation.The
developmentandimplementationofastatewide
workforcedevelopmentbrandwillprovidethestate(for
thefirsttimeever)withaclear,accurate,consistent,
sustainablestorythatwillembodythevaluesofAlabama
andthemessagethatmustbesharedwithworkersand
otherstakeholders.
Awell-trainedworkforceisthefutureofbusinessand
industryinAlabama.Councilmembers,asbusiness
leadersinthisstate,arerecommendingtheseactionsto
createamoresustainableworkforcethatwillenablethe
statetoprovidemoreemploymentopportunities,higher
educationalachievementandskillattainment,andmore
dynamiceconomicgrowth.WebelieveinAlabama,its
people,anditsfuture,andwearepleasedtosubmit
theserecommendationsforyourconsideration.
alabama workforCe system experienCe
design plan
regional workforCe CounCil
information sheet
appendix a
workforCe data Quality
Campaign, august 2015
researCh
appendix b