Loretta Young

Fritz Gale

Jeremy Esch

WDB Staff Attain

Workforce Development Specialist Certifications

The Workforce Development Board's Employment Focused Services (EFS) grant Case Worker Fritz Gale, Alternatives to Incarceration (ATI) grant Case Manager Jeremy Esch, and Pathway Home 2 grant Lead In-Facility Counselor Loretta Young recently graduated from the Workforce Development Specialist (WDS) Training Program, attaining their Workforce Development Specialist Certifications.

The Offender Workforce Development Specialist training is a comprehensive training that requires 180 hours of training, including both classroom training as well as out-of-class practicums and hands-on assignments over the course of five months. 

The training addresses numerous competencies, including career development theory and application, ethics training for the career development facilitator, and transition interventions for the offender population. 

Through this training participants are provided the knowledge and skills required to deliver effective workforce development services, promote collaborations that will result in increased positive employment outcomes, and create an array of community referral sources, all of which will help assist re-entry candidates into a smoother transition into society. 

This training is also required to teach "Ready, Set, Work (RSW)" --which is a 20-hour skill-based training that teaches re-entry candidates the necessary tools to get and retain quality employment.

"The WDS training certifies us to teach the Ready, Set, Work class, which Fritz and I are planning on doing soon in the Utica office," says Mr. Esch. "As you can see there was a lot of material covered and the training provided a great foundation to build on in many of the areas we work in every day.

"The sections of the training that stood out to me the most were learning how to identify the barriers people face and helping clients develop action plans to remove, minimize or reframe those barriers.

"The career development theories were also very interesting. Those theories can help me to assist individuals to identify what’s important to them with career planning, which is a big part of our role at the WDB.

"The training was definitely challenging! Thank you to Christina Spagnuolo [ATI Project Director] for always having fantastic guidance, to Julie Ford [WDB Executive Assistant] for making all of the accommodations, to Fritz for being a great partner through all the work we had to do, and to Alice Savino [WDB Executive Director] for the opportunity to attend."

Ms. Young says, "Following the completion of the RSW training I will be able to utilize my training within the facility to better serve those in the community, especially the justice-involved individuals.

"Coming from an International Banking world, the RSW training has opened my eyes to a different aspect of the criminal justice system and how we can assist individuals to identify barriers internally and externally and how to prepare them to overcome these barriers.

"Since graduation, I have taught two RSW Class at OCJ [Oneida County Jail] with the assistance of Patricia Frazier [Pathway Home 2 Project Director]. Special thanks goes out to Patricia and all the Workforce Development Staff for their contribution during my training."

Mr. Gale says, ""I had a great time learning about the best ways to assist community members avoid barriers, and picking up new skills that have already made a difference in my approach with clients.

"Thank you to Alice Savino for asking me to attend, to my supervisor Tiffany Richardson [EFS Program Director] for her support, and Jeremy Esch for being a great study partner. Shoutout to everyone who graduated with us, and to Frank Cangiano [Office of Probation and Correctional Alternatives (OPCA)] for leading the class so well."

Congratulations, Loretta, Jeremy and Fritz!

Virtual Job Fair - Success!

On Wednesday, July 12th, the Workforce Development Board's Regional Apprenticeship Development and Readiness (RADAR) grant project hosted a free virtual job fair for all businesses and job seekers in a seven county region: Herkimer, Madison, Oneida, Onondaga, Chenango, Delawre and Otsego.

The event was very well attended, with 101 job seekers registered and representatives from 48 local businesses available discuss their more than 250 job opportunities, totaling some 2,000 vacancies.

We also had our Workforce Development Board grant staff on-hand to speak with potential participants about our free training grant programs and supportive services and how we can help them jumpstart a career in a chosen career field.

Attending Businesses:

• NYS OPWDD
• CABVI
• Birnie Bus Service
• Community Wellness Partners
• UPS
• Chenango County Gov't
• Otsego County Gov't
• Fred F. Collis & Sons
• Community Bank N.A.
• Arc Herkimer
• Bassett Healthcare Network
• Hartman Enterprises, Inc.
• All Metro
• Hutchings Psychiatric Center
• Stafkings Healthcare Systems
• Utica Police Department

• Resource Center for Independent Living
• Slocum Dickson Medical Group
• First Choice Staffing
• New York State Public Health Corps Fellowship Program
• Catholic Charities Oneida/Madison County
• ACCO Brands
• Wolfspeed
• Leonard Bus Sales, Inc.
• CIRCARE
• Mirabito Holdings Inc
• McClurg Remodeling & Construction
• CCI Companies, Inc.
• Brookdale Clinton
• SUNY Upstate Medical University
• HP Hood LLC

• Opportunities for Otsego, Inc.
• Adirondack Bank
• The Neighborhood Center, Inc.
• Secure Treatment and Rehabilitation Center
• Saputo Cheese USA
• Springbrook
• Lithia & Driveway
• Prime Care Coordination
• Cornell Cooperative Extension of Oneida County
• St. Joseph's Health
• City of Norwich
• Crouse Medical Practice
• Arc of Onondaga
• Comfort Systems USA (Syracuse) DBA Woodcock & Armani Mechanical Contractors

Stay tuned for information about our next free virtual job fair happening in September. Date TBD. More information to come!

Learn more about our training grant programs here.

L to R: Sommer Edwards, Paula Ford, Sarah Roby

RADAR Grant Staff Visit the Carpenters Union Training Center

In July, RADAR Grant Project Director Sommer Edwards and Case Managers Sarah Roby and Paula Ford were invited to the Carpenters Union training center in Syracuse, NY. 

"We are fortunate to have built a strong relationship with the Carpenters Union over the past two years as they continue to play a large role in our ability to train and retain workers in quality Pre-Apprenticeship and Registered Apprenticeship programs," says Ms. Edwards.

"Union representative, Marie Weiss and her counterpart Jennifer Jones gave our staff a tour of their training facility and graciously set the time aside to get down to the bones of what it means to be a Union member. We are so excited to continue educating job seekers on the opportunities available to them in the Trades."

_____

The RADAR grant program is available in the following counties: Onondaga, Cortland, Oneida, Madison, Chenango, Herkimer, Otsego, Delaware, Fulton, Montgomery, or Schoharie. 

If you are a business looking to upskill your employees or a job seeker who is interested in becoming an apprentice, contact Sommer Edwards at 315.207.6951 x133 or email: sedwards@working-solutions.org

Photo Courtesy Sommer Edwards 

WDB Rural Healthcare Grant Project Director

Jennifer McGauley Graduates from the

Center for Leadership Excellence Class of 2023

The Center for Leadership Excellence (CLE) at MVCC connects and inspires leaders from across the Mohawk Valley to think and lead in new and innovative ways to make a positive difference in our region.

“LMV was such a gratifying and educational experience, says Ms. McGauley. "It was great to meet new colleagues from across numerous industries in the area, and to learn about the different facets of our community organizations.

"For our impact project, our class chose to create a Butterfly and Kindness Garden on the grounds of Hospice Palliative Care. We cleaned up the area, planted flowers, created a rock garden, and built benches- all in the rain!

"The project came together beautifully and I hope that anyone who stays at or visits Hospice finds some peace enjoying the new spaces.

"I’m so grateful to have had the opportunity to participate in the class and join the ranks of LMV alum!” 

Congratulations, Jennifer!

Learn more about The Center for Leadership Excellence

Photo Courtesy MVCC CLE

BUSINESSES:

WE CAN HELP YOU UPSKILL YOUR WORKFORCE

The Workforce Development Board of Herkimer, Madison & Oneida (WDB/HMO) has partnered with the NYCAN (NY College Apprenticeship Network) grant to reimburse on-the-job training costs for advanced manufacturing companies that have less than 50 employees and a registered apprentice program.

Wages can be reimbursed at 50% up to $25 an hour for six months of on-the-job training (OJT) with minimum paperwork. The undirected funding provides many benefits for small to medium-sized manufacturing companies and ensures the apprentice is trained in accordance with the company’s standards and procedures.

If you would like to know how your company can take advantage of this funding or know of a company that would benefit, please contact Meghan McBennett at mmcbennett@working-solutions.org.

The Fastest Growing and Declining Industries in the U.S.

Bureau of Labor Statistics

Read the article and view larger image at VisualCapitalist

Courtesy VisualCapitalist

YouthBuild Construction Training Grant Enrolling Now

“We are seeking individuals who are looking to gain an education and training within the construction field to better pave a career path for themselves," says YouthBuild Program Director Grant Calogero.

The grant provides job training and educational opportunities for youth ages 18-24 who are residents of the city of Utica and who have previously dropped out of high school.

Youth will split their time between the training work site and the classroom, where they earn their high school diploma or equivalency degree, learn to be community leaders, and prepare for post-secondary training opportunities. These include college, apprenticeships, and employment. 

The program includes significant support systems, such as mentoring, follow-up education, employment, and personal counseling services; and participation in community service and civic engagement.

To learn more and how to participate, contact Grant Calogero at GCalogero@working-solutions.org or call 315-207-6951 extension 109.

The total cost of this YouthBuild Program is $1.5 million dollars; (100%) funded through a United States Department of Labor Employment and Training Administration grant.

NYSDOL Child Care Job Opportunities Microsite

NYSDOL has been partnering with OCFS to support the critical child care worker needs throughout the state and has now launched a new Child Care Opportunities Microsite to highlight these critical opportunities to job seekers.

When businesses post their recruiting needs to the NY Job Bank, opportunities in the Child Care sector will automatically be pulled into the Child Care Opportunities microsite.  

Please share and promote this new resource and add it to your “toolbox” so that we can better assist jobseekers interested in these positions and work to address the Child Care Desert issues in our area! 

You can see the microsite here: https://nychildcare.usnlx.com/. 

Photo courtesy NYSDOL

Advance 2 Apprenticeship Enrolling Now -

Open House August 8th 

>Are you comfortable with applied math and computers?  

>Are you 18 years old or older?  

>Do you like working with your hands and like creating things? 

>Are you willing to learn to earn by participating in pre-apprenticeship courses?  

You may be interested in exploring careers in Advanced Manufacturing through Advance 2 Apprenticeship!  

Advance 2 Apprenticeship is offered at Mohawk Valley Community College in partnership with the Strong Center for Developmental Disabilities at the University of Rochester to improve access to apprenticeship programs. Advance 2 Apprenticeship offers pre apprenticeship programming in manufacturing for people with and without disabilities who can benefit from additional support to succeed. 

Mohawk Valley Community College's Advance 2 Apprenticeship is paving the way for neurodiverse learners to succeed by utilizing universal design within curriculum and offering wrap around supports through disability resource coordinators.

The Advance 2 Apprenticeship video provides a view into the employment success possible for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) within the manufacturing industry. 

The project is a collaboration with Mohawk Valley Community College (MVCC), Manufacturers Association of Central New York (MACNY) and the Workforce Development Board, Herkimer, Madison, Oneida Counties, Inc.  

Enroll Now! Course starts Fall 2023. 

Open House: (Come see the classroom space, meet your instructors and learn more about the course) 

Tuesday, August 8^th at 5:30pm 

MVCC-Utica campus: 

Alumni College Center, Rm 116 

Utica, NY 13501 

For More Information and to Learn How to Enroll: 

Contact: Brandy Solomon, Employment Project Coordinator  

Email Teresa

The Workforce Development Board has learning/training grants that you may be eligible for!

View our Training Grant Programs Here

The WDB also has a Facebook page where we featurie news about our grant learning programs and incentives. Please Like/Follow us and share our posts to get the word out about these valuable programs! https://www.facebook.com/WDBHMO

You can also follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hmowdb/

Get notified by text when we have new opportunities for you, such as job fairs, hiring events, and new learning opportunities!

To sign up simply text HMO to 315-470-0055 or use the QR Code.

Happy August!

Next Month's Issue:

Do you have something you'd like to share? A hiring event, learning/training opportunity, announcement, community news, program news, staff news, success story or personal achievement? Photos are always welcome! Please email Jodi Delapaz,

Communications Coordinator:

jdelapaz@working-solutions.org