By: Jocelyn Liberatore, Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce
Whether you are new to the Chamber or have been a long-term member, you probably have seen our staff engaged in workforce development. From Career Tour to the annual Morning Access: Education & Workforce Breakfast, we’ve been working hard knowing that the most prosperous communities are those developing comprehensive and collaborative strategies to address talent development, re-engagement, retention, and recruitment.
At the start of the 2018-2019 school year, the Chamber launched the Toledo Region Academic & Industry Network, or TRAIN. As a re-branded approach to Career Tour, TRAIN is a tool for educators and employers looking to connect with each other to provide career exploration experiences to students and student influencers (teachers, counselors) through a streamlined application and matchmaking process. When we launched TRAIN, we knew from our past efforts that there was a great need for the region to strategically develop, attract, and replenish our talent pool. We also knew that many schools and other organizations have identified this need and have been busy bringing together key players in the region to address these challenges.
At the start of the 2018-2019 school year, the Chamber launched the Toledo Region Academic & Industry Network, or TRAIN. As a re-branded approach to Career Tour, TRAIN is a tool for educators and employers looking to connect with each other to provide career exploration experiences to students and student influencers (teachers, counselors) through a streamlined application and matchmaking process. When we launched TRAIN, we knew from our past efforts that there was a great need for the region to strategically develop, attract, and replenish our talent pool. We also knew that many schools and other organizations have identified this need and have been busy bringing together key players in the region to address these challenges.
TRAIN is about connecting and coordinating existing resources, not creating duplicative programs, in order to provide maximum exposure of opportunities to the students and education professionals.
We have already seen the direct impact from these connections. Since its launch, TRAIN has made connections in construction, engineering, agriculture, finance, marketing, cosmetology, and even foreign language classes. From middle school to high school, TRAIN has brought to light a variety of industries and in-demand careers to students around the region. Educators from 14 different school districts have either already been connected to employers or have identified that they are in need of an industry expert to help students discover in-demand opportunities available to them.
We have already seen the direct impact from these connections. Since its launch, TRAIN has made connections in construction, engineering, agriculture, finance, marketing, cosmetology, and even foreign language classes. From middle school to high school, TRAIN has brought to light a variety of industries and in-demand careers to students around the region. Educators from 14 different school districts have either already been connected to employers or have identified that they are in need of an industry expert to help students discover in-demand opportunities available to them.
Middle school students tour Yarder Manufacturing One connection between a middle school and manufacturer led to a tour of the business and exposure to all the careers that are available within the walls of a manufacturing facility. What did the students have to say?
“The tour had me thinking of all the metal objects around us…like the steel fence around my house. My favorite was the metal shaping because you can make difference objects.”
“The cmm [coordinate measuring machine] is what I want to do [when] I grow up. The only thing is you really have to be smart for that job.”
“The tour had me thinking of all the metal objects around us…like the steel fence around my house. My favorite was the metal shaping because you can make difference objects.”
“The cmm [coordinate measuring machine] is what I want to do [when] I grow up. The only thing is you really have to be smart for that job.”
Or maybe you’ve seen students at the Chamber’s Focus on Business Lunch? Thanks to the support from the United Way, 8 students and teachers were able to attend each business lunch during the school year to practice networking and connecting with other professionals. That’s an introduction to nearly 250 business professionals for the 32 student and educator attendees over the course of the program.
Students from Toledo Public Schools pose with Dr. Rogers of Bowling Green State University
Students in a summer school program hear from Export Director Sabrina D'Onofrio
Our connections have also led to bigger, career-focused events. Not only did we assist with five separate career days/programs in four districts so far in 2019, the Chamber even hosted a group of high school students in our downtown office. Students were able to learn more about chambers of commerce and what small business development centers can do for the entrepreneurs of the Toledo region along with all the resources that are available for these future business owners right here in their backyard.
With the release of the Toledo Region Talent Alignment Strategy, we have a deeper understanding of which skills the workforce currently has, which skills employers need, and how to fill in gaps within our workforce pipeline. These strategy recommendations help keep us laser focused on bringing in-demand opportunities, as well as the skills needed to succeed within these opportunities, to students and educators to ensure our employers have the workforce they need to succeed.
The region has made great strides this past year and with your help, we can continue to grow and bring these experiences to more students around the region.
All employers are encouraged and able to access TRAIN through the Chamber’s website: toledochamber.com/train.
The region has made great strides this past year and with your help, we can continue to grow and bring these experiences to more students around the region.
All employers are encouraged and able to access TRAIN through the Chamber’s website: toledochamber.com/train.
 | Jocelyn Liberatore As Workforce Initiatives Manager for the Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce, Jocelyn actively works to support workforce development efforts as part of the overall strategy to attract and retain talent in the Toledo Region. Jocelyn joined the Chamber in 2016 after studying politics at Bethany College. If you need her, you can find her at a coffee shop, the dog park, or talking about TRAIN. |
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